shall fall out lay down the Money and give in an Account at the next Quarterly Meeting in Order to their Relief if it appear that they are thereby overcharged and let all things be done without Favour Affection Relation or any respect to Persons even for the Lord's Sake and his blessed Everlasting Truth that God may bless and prosper his People And let all things be written down both as to your monthly and quarterly meeting Collections what you Receive what you Disburse that all may be fair and clear to the satisfaction of all that desire to see and Examine the Books And the Lord's Fear and Life and Power was over all in which the Lord God preserve his for ever The next day being the Seventh day of the Week was imploied in visiting of Friends and preparing our selves for a further Journey that is to say G. K. R. B. B. F. and My self Finding Letters here from the Friends of Dantzick complaining of their heavy Sufferings they underwent informing us also that the King of Poland was there asking advice about an Address to Him it fell upon me to write the following Letter in the Name of the Friends of Dantzick TO THE KING OF POLAND Great Prince ACtions of Justice Mercy and Truth are worthy of all Men but in a most excellent manner of the serious consideration of Kings and Princes We certain Inhabitants of the City of Dantzick have been long great Sufferers not for any Wickedness committed against the Royal Law of God or any Breach of those Civil Laws of this City that relate to the well Government of it in all Natural and Civil things but purely and only for the cause of our Tender Consciences towards God This severity being by us represented to the Magistrates of this City we could not as yet receive from them any Relief some expressing as if easing the Burthen of our Oppressions should give thee O King an occasion of Dissatisfaction against them who art our acknowleged Protector Being thus necessitated and in a manner driven to make this address unto Thee take it not amiss that we with that Humility and Patience that becometh the Servants and followers of Jesus and with all manner of Christian respect and sincerity of Mind briefly relate to Thee the most Fundamental Principles most surely believed by us which we hope Thou wilt believe deserve not those Punishments that are inflicted upon us as evil doers 1. We do reverently believe that there is one God and Father one Lord Jesus Christ and one Holy Spirit and these three are one Eph. 4.6 2. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to have been given forth by Divine Inspiration and that they are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness able to make the Man of God wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 16. 3. That these Holy Scriptures are not to be understood but by the Discoveries Teachings and Operations of that Eternal Spirit from whence they came 4. We beleive that all Mankind through Disobedience to the Spirit of God are fallen short of the Glory of God and in that State are under Condemnation but that God out of his infinite Goodness and Kindness hath sent his Son a Light into the World that whosoever believeth and obeyeth this Light should not abide in Darkness but have the Light of Eternal Life 5. We believe this Gift of Light and Grace through Jesus Christ to be Vniversal and that there is not a Man or Woman upon Earth that hath not a sufficient measure of this Light and to whom this Grace hath not appeared to reprove their ungodly Works of Darkness and to lead them that obey it to Eternal Salvation And this is the great Condemnation of the World at this Day under all their great professions of God Christ Spirit and Scriptures that though Christ hath enlightned them yet they will not bring their Deeds to the Light but hate the Light and love their dark Customs and Practices rather than the Light because their Deeds are Evil. 6. We do believe in the Birth Life Doctrine Miracles Death Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord and that he laid down his Life for the Vngodly not to continue so but that they should deny their Wickedness and Vngodliness and live Soberly Righteously and Godlikely in this present evil World as the Saints of old did that were redeemed from the Earth and sat in Heavenly places 7. We do believe that as the Devil through Man's Disobedience brought sin into Man's Heart so Christ Jesus through Man's Belief in and Obedience to his Holy Spirit Light and Grace cleanseth the Heart of Sin destroyeth the Works of the Devil finisheth Transgression and bringeth in everlasting Righteousness that as the Devil hath had his Kingdom of Darkness in Man so Christ may have his Kingdom of Light Life Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost in the Heart of Man and not that Christ Jesus saveth Men from Wrath and not from-Sin for the Wages of Sin is Death in whose heart soever it liveth but the Gift of God is Eternal Life to all that believe and obey through Jesus Christ 8. We do believe that all true Ministry and Worship only stand in the experimental Sense Operations and Leadings of this Holy Light Spirit or Grace that is shed abroad in the Hearts of Men and Women to conduct them in the Holy way of Regeneration unto Life Eternal this was the Ancient Apostolical Doctrine they spoke what they had seen Tasted and Handled of the Word of God And this is our Faith Doctrine and Practice in this day And be not displeased with us O King we intreat thee if we give this for the reason of our absenting our selves from the publick and common Ministry or Worship Namely that we have no Taste or Relish no Sense or Evidence that their Ministry and Worship are Authorized and performed by the Apostolical Power and Spirit of Jesus but rather that they are the Inventions Studies and Powers of Man's Nature all which are but strange Fire and therefore cannot kindle a true and acceptable Sacrifice to God for it is not Man's Spirit and degenerate Nature Speaking and Professing the Words of God's Spirit that giveth acceptance with the Lord or adminstreth Heavenly Edification to Men nor can we believe that where Envy Passion Wrath Malice Persecution Envy and Strife Lusts Vanity Wantonness and Worldly Mindedness have such Sway and Power that the true Christian Spirit Life and Doctrine can be heartily received and followed And as this is the Reason in the sight and presence of that God that made Heaven and Earth and will Judge the Quick and Dead wherefore we cannot join in the common and publick Worship of these parts so doth the same Light and Spirit of God lay an Holy necessity upon us with a Meek and Quiet Spirit to come together after the
and have beheld his Glory and confessed it to be the Glory of the only begotten Son of God and who by Obedience to his appearance are become the Children of Light and of the Day and as the First-Fruits to God after this long Night of Apostacy might for ever walk and dwell in his holy Covenant Christ Jesus the Light of the World because in him we have always Peace but out of him comes all the Trouble And whilst this heavenly Sense rested with me the Lord God that made me and called me by his Grace unto Salvation laid it upon me to visit you in an holy Exhortation And it is the Exhortation of my Life at this time in the earnest and fervent Motion of the Power and Spirit of Jesus to beseech you all who are turned to the Light of Christ that shineth in your Hearts and believe in it That you carefully and faithfully walk in it in the same Dread Awe and Fear in which you began that that holy Poverty of Spirit that is precious in the Eyes of the Lord and was in the Days of your first Love may dwell and rest with you that you may daily feel the same heavenly Hunger and Thirst the same Lowliness and Humility of Mind the same Zeal and Tenderness and the same Sincerity and Love unfeigned that God may fill you out of his heavenly Treasure with the Riches of Life and crown you with holy Victory and Dominion over the God and Spirit of this World That your Alpha may be your Omega and your Author your Finisher and your first Love your last Love that so none may make Shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience nor faint by the Way And as in this State we are kept in holy Watchfulness to God as in the beginning the Table which our heavenly Father spreads and the Blessings with which he compasseth us about shall not become a Snare unto us nor shall we turn the Grace and Mercies of the Lord into Wantonness but we shall eat and drink in an holy Fear apparel our selves in Fear buy and sell in Fear visit one another in Fear keep Meetings and there wait upon the Lord in Fear yea whatsoever we take in hand to do it shall be in the holy Fear of God and with an holy Tenderness of his Glory and Regard to the Prosperity of his Truth yea we shall deny our selves not only in the unlawful things but in the things that are even lawful to us for the Sake of the many Millions that are unconverted to God For my Friends and Brethren God hath laid upon us whom he hath honoured with the beginning of his great Work in the World the Care both of this Age and of the Ages to come that they may walk as they have us for Examples yea the Lord God hath chosen you to place his Name in you the Lord hath entrusted you with his Glory that you might hold it forth to all Nations and that the Generations unborn may call you Blessed Therefore let none be Treacherous to the Lord nor reward him Evil for Good nor betray his Cause directly by wilful Wickedness nor indirectly by Negligence and Unfaithfulness But be zealous and valiant for Truth on Earth let none be slothful or careless O remember the slothful Servant's State And let the loving-kindness of the Lord overcome every Soul to Faithfulness For with him are Riches and Honour and every good thing And whither should any go he hath the words of Eternal Life O let none loose their Testimony but hold it up for God let thy Gift be never so small thy Testimony never so little Through thy whole Conversation bear it for God and be true to what thou art convinced of And wait all upon the Lord that you may grow in your heavenly Testimony that Life may fill your Hearts your Houses and your Meetings that you may daily wait to know and to receive Power to do the Will of God on Earth as it is in Heaven And O! that the Cross of Jesus may be in high and honourable Esteem with every one that the Liberty of all may stand in the Cross which alone preserveth for it is the Power of God that crucifieth us to the World and the World to us And through Death way is made unto Life and Immortality which by this blessed Cross the Gospel the Power is brought to Light So shall the Seed of Life that God hath sown in our Hearts grow and in that Seed shall we all come to be Blessed unto whom God hath appointed the Dominion over us and it is good for all to live under the Holy Government of it for the Ways of it are the Ways of Pleasantness and all its Paths are Peace and all that are born of it can say Thy Scepter is a Scepter of Righteousness And O! That all Friends every where may continually bow unto his righteous Scepter and keep to his holy Law which is written in their Hearts that it may be a Light to their Feet and a Lanthorn to their Paths So shall they come to witness that holy Promise made good unto them That the Spirit which I have given unto him the Seed and the Words which I have put into his Mouth shall not depart from him nor from his Seed nor from his Seed's Seed unto all Generations Wherefore Friends redeem the Time because the Days are Evil God hath given you to see they are so and be ye separated more and more yea perfectly disentangled from the Cares of this World And be ye not cumbred with the many things but stand loose from the things that are seen which are Temporal And you that are Poor murmur not but be Patient and trust in the Lord and submit to his Providence and he will provide for you that which is convenient for you the Days of your appointed Time And you that are Rich keep in the Moderation and strive not to multiply earthly Treasure nor to heap up uncertain Riches to your selves but what God hath given you more than what is convenient for your own Use wait for his Wisdom to employ it for his Glory that you may be faithful Stewards of this World 's Mammon and the Lord God shall reward you into your Bosoms of the Riches of that Kingdom that shall never have an End O my Friends and Brethren whether Rich or Poor in Bonds or at Liberty in whatsoever State you are the Salutation of the universal Life of Jesus is to you And the Exhortation is to bow to what is made known unto you and in the Light by which ye have received in measure the Knowledg of God watch and wait diligently to the farther Revelation of the Mind and Will of God unto you that ye may be endued from on High with Power and Might in your inward Man to answer the call and requirings of the Lord that ye may be enabled to make known to the Nations what is the Riches
Sanctuary for ever Farewell Farewell Thy Friend and the Lord's Servant W.P. Briel 30. 8th Month S.N. 1677. Next morning the Pacquet-boat arrived and about Ten we went on board having first taken our solemn leave of our Friends that accompanied us thither We immediately set sail with a great number of Passengers but by reason of contrary and tempestuous Weather we arrived not at Harwich till the third day about the 6th hour Whence next Morning I writ this following salutation and Account to the Friends of Holland and Germany A Letter from Harwich to Friends in Holland and Germany containing the Passages from Holland to England Let this be sent to Friends in High and Low-Dutch-Land O My Soul magnifieth the Lord and my Spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour who hath rebuked the Winds and the Seas and made us to drink of his Salvation upon the great Deeps Yea we could not but praise him in the Tempest for all things are full of his Majesty Blessed is the eye that seeth and the heart that dependeth upon him at all times there is not another God he is the Lord alone that the holy Ancients trusted in and were not confounded what shall my Soul render unto the Lord. We are full of his Mercy he hath made us Witnesses of his care We can say in righteousness they are blessed whose God is the Lord and that serve all the day long no other Master than our God Friends this is an endeared Salutation to you all in High and Low Dutch-land in the deep and fresh sense of the Lord 's preserving Power O that you may abide in that sense of him which he hath begotten in you and in the reverent knowledge of him according to the manifestation which you have received of him in the light of his dear Son O that you may be faithful and fervent for the Lord that his glorious life and power may break thro' you And these Lands long dry and barren as the Wilderness may spring and blossom as the Rose For what have we to do here but to exalâ— him that hath visited and loved us yea saved us in great measure Aâ— he is worthy my Spirit reverenceth him my Heart and Soul do bow before him eternal Blessings dwell for ever with him Dear Friends my love followeth to you as a fountain God even my God and your God hath made you dear to me yea dearer than all natural Kindred You are Flesh of Flesh indeed Sea nor Land Time nor Place can never separate our Joy divide our Communion or wipe out the remembrance that I have of you yea the living Remembrance that my God often giveth me of you in the life of his Son abideth which breaketh my heart to pieces and I can say I have left most of my heart behind me and the Lord only could have outwardly separated me so soon from you O this Love that is stronger than Death more excellent than the love of Women that endureth for ever this Privilege have all the Saints Jesus the light of the World that saveth from the World be with you Amen We got well last night about Seven to Harwich being three days and two Nights at Sea Most part of the time was a great storm of Wind and Rain and Hail the Weâ—ther was against us and the Vessel so leaky that two Pumps went night and day or we haâ— perisht 't is believed that they pumpt twice more water out than the Vessel could contain but our peace was as a River and our joy full The Seas had like to have washt some of the Seamen over-board but the great God preserved all well Frights were among the People and Despondencies in some but the Lord wrought deliverance for all we were mightily throng'd which made it the more troublesome But it is observable that though the Lord so wonderfully delivered us yet some vain People soon forgot it and returned quickly to their wanton Talk and Conversation not abiding in the sense of that hand which had delivered them nor can any do it as they should but those that are turned to his appearance in their hearts who know him to be a God nigh at hand which may it be your Experience and Portion for ever And the Lord be with you and refresh and sustain you and in all your Temptations never lâ—ave you nor forsake you that Conquerors you may be and in the end of Days and Time stand in your Lot among the Spirits of the Just made perfect Amen Amen Yours in that which is Eternal W.P. Harwich 24. of the 8th Month 1677. Here I left dear G F. G Diricks and her Children that came over with us to follow me in Coach who having a desire to be that day at Colchester Meeting went early away on horse-back G K. accompanying me we got the Meeting and were well refresht in Friends That Evening we had a mighty Meeting at J. Furly's house where we lay many being there of the Town that would not come to a publick Meeting and indeed the Lord 's divine Power and Presence was in the Assembly Next day we had a great Meeting at a Marriage where we had good service for the Lord. Afternoon about four we took horse for London G. F. c. through miscarriage of a Letter about the Coach not being come to Colchester That night we lay at I. Ravens eight miles on our Way there we met Giles Barnadiston and Willam Bennet with whom and some other Friends thereabout we were comforted in the Life and Power of the Lord. The day following we took our journey for London came there in good time that Evening where I found all things relating to Friends in a good condition blessed be the Name of the Lord. I stayed about a week in Town both to visit Friends at Meetings and to be serviceable to the more general Affairs of Truth The first day of the next week I went to Worminghurst my house in Sussex where I found my dear Wife Child and Family all well blessed be the name of the Lord God of all the families of the Earth I had that Evening a sweet meeting amongst them in which God's blessed Power made us truly glad together and I can say truly blessed are they who can chearfully give up to serve the Lord Great shall be the encrease and growth of their Treasure which shall never end To Him that was and is and is to come the eternal blessed righteous powerful and faithful One be glory honour and praises Dominion and a Kingdom for ever and ever Amen William Penn. TO THE Children of Light IN THIS GENERATION Called of God to be Partakers of Eternal Life in JESUS CHRIST the Lamb of God and Light of the World My Endeared Friends and Brethren MAny Days and Weeks yea some Months hath my Heart been Heavy and my Soul unusually Sad for the sake of this Nation the Land of our Nativity For I have
admonish their Brother or Sister before they tell the Church and it is desired of all that before they publickly complain they so wait in the Power of God to feel if there is no more required of them to their Brother or Sister before they expose him or her to the Church Let this be weightily considered 8. And farther when the Church is told and the party admonisht by the Church again and again and he or she remain still unsensible or unreconciled let not final Judgment go forth against him or her till every one of the Meeting hath cleared his or her Conscience that if any thing be insisted upon any farther to visit such a Transgressour they may clear themselves if possibly the party may he reacht and saved and after all clear of the Blood of such an one Let the Judgments of Friends in the Power of God go forth against him or her as moved for the Lord's Honour and Glory's Sake that no reproach may come or rest upon God's Holy Name Truth and People 9. As much as possible can be let all Difference be ended by some honest Friends and trouble not the Monthly or Quarterly Meetings with them and if that will not doe proceed to your particular Monthly Meetings but if they be not there ended neither then take aside six honest Friends out of the Quarterly Meeting and let them hear and determine the matter and in case any Person or Persons be so obstinate as that they refuse the Sense and Love of Friends and will not comply with them then to proceed towards them according to the way of Truth in such Cases 10. That all such as behold their Brother or Sister in a Transgression go not in a Rough Light or upbraiding Spirit to reprove or admonish him or her but in the Power of the Lord and Spirit of the Lamb in the Wisdom and Love of the Truth which suffereth thereby to admonish such an Offender so may the Soul of such a Brother or Sister be seasonably and effectually reach'd unto and overcome and have cause to bless the Name of the Lord on their behalf and so a blessing may be rewarded into the Bosom of the Faithful and tender Brother or Sister that so admonisheth 11. And be it known unto all we cast out none from among us for if they go from the Light and Spirit and Power in which our Unity is they cast out themselves and it has been our way to admonish them that they may come to the Spirit and Light of God which they are gone from and so come into the Unity again Foâ— our Fellowship standeth in the Light that the World hateth and in the Spirit that the World grieveth vexeth and quencheth and if they will not hear our Admonitions the Light condemneth them and then goeth our Testimony out against them 12. That no Condemnation is to go farther than the Transgression is known and if he or she return and give forth a Condemnation against him or her self which is more desireable than that we should do it this is a Testimony of his or her Repentance and Resurrection before God his People and the whole World As David when Nathan came to admonish him Psalm 51. 13. That no Testimony by way of Condemnation be given forth against any Man or Woman whatever crime they commit before Admonition and till such time as they have had Gospel-order according to Christ's Doctrine 14. And if any Brother or Sister hear any Report of any Brother or Sister let him or her go to the Party and know the Truth of the Report and if true let the thing be judged if false go thou to the Reporter and let him or her be judged and if any should report it at a second or third hand without going to the party of whom the Report goeth let such be brought to Judgment for thou shalt neither raise nor suffer a false Report to lie upon my People saith the Lord for they are to be Holy as he is Holy and Just as he is Just 15. And if any Controversie or Weakness should appear in either Mens or Womens Meeting let it not be told out of your Meetings because such Speeches tend to the defaming of such Persons and Meetings and to the Hurt of the common Unity and Breach of the Heavenly Society and Previlege This is an account of what passed in that Meeting Next day notice being already given we had a large publick Meeting in which the sound of the everlasting Gospel Testament and Covenant went forth and the Meeting ended with a sweet and weighty Sense that Evening we had a more select meeting of Friends than the day before in which the Nature of Marriage and the practice of Friends relating to it and other things were very weightily and closely discoursed the Resolutions were these following 1. A Scruple concerning the Law of the Magistrate about Marriage being proposed and discoursed of in the fear of God among Friends in a Select Meeting it was the universal and unanimous sense of Friends that joining in Marriage is the work of the Lord only and not of Priest or Magistrate For 't is God's Ordinance and not Man's and therefore Friends cannot consent that they should join them together for we Marry none 't is the Lord's Work and we are but Witnesses 2. But yet if a Friend through tenderness have a desire that the Magistrate should know it before the Marriage be concluded they may publish the same after the thing hath by Friends been found clear and after the Marriage is performed in a publick Meeting of Friends and others according to the Holy Order and Practice of Friends in Truth throughout the World the manner of the holy Men and Women of old to go and carry a Copy of the Certificate to the Magistrate they are left to their freedom herein that if they please they may Register it But for Priests or Magistrates to marry or join any in that Relation it 's not according to Scripture and our Testimony and Practice have been alwaies against it It was God's work before the Fall and it 's God's work only in the Restoration 3. If any Friend have it upon him to reprint any Book already Printed and approved either in England or here they may do it upon their own Charges 4. It is also agreed that the care of reading and approving Books be laid upon some of every Meeting to the end no Book may be Publisht but in the Unity yet any other faithful Friends not so Nominated are not thereby excluded though in all these cases it is desired that all would avoid unnecessary Disputes about words which profit not but keep in the love that Edifieth 5. It is farther concluded that the general Stock of the Quarterly Meeting be not disposed of but by the consent of the Quarterly Meeting but if betwixt times there should be a pressing necessity concerning the Publick let that monthly Meeting where it
yea the noble Arm of the Lord was truly awakened and the weight and work thereof bowed and tendered us also after an unusual and extraordinary manner that the Lord might work an Heavenly Sign before them and among them that the Majesty of him that is risen among the poor Quakers might in some measure be known unto them what God it is we serve and what Power it is we wait for and bow before yea they had a Sense and Discovery that day what would become of the Glory of all Flesh when God shall enter into Judgment Well let my right hand forget its Cunning and my Tongue cleave to the roof of my Mouth when I shall forget the loving kindness of the Lord and the sure Mercies of our God to us his Travelling Servants that day O Lord send forth thy Light and thy Truth that all Nations may behold thy Glory Thus continued the Meeting till about the Seventh Hour which done with Hearts and Souls filled with Holy Thanksgivings to the Lord for his abundant Mercy and Goodness to us we departed to our Lodging desiring to know whether our coming the next day might not be uneasie or unseasonable to her with respect to the Affairs of her Government it being the last day of the Week when we were informed she was most frequently attended with Addresses from her Peoplâ— but with a loving and ready Mind she replyed That she should be glad to see us the next Morning and at any time when we would The next Morning being the Seventh day we were there betwixt Eight and Nine where R.B. falling into some discourse with the Princess the Countess took hold of the Opportunity and Whispered me to withdraw to get a Meeting for the more inferiour Servants of the House who would have been Bashful to have presented themselves before the Princess and blessed be the Lord he was not wanting to us but the same blessed Power that had appeared to Visit them of High appeared also to Visit them of Low Degree and we were all sweetly tender'd and broken together for Vertue went forth of Jesus that Day and the Life of our God was shed abroad amongst us as a sweet savour for which their Souls bowed before the Lord and confess'd to our Testimony which did not a little please that Noble Young Woman to find her own report of us and her great care of them so effectually answered Oh what shall we say is there any God like our God Who is glorious in Holiness fearful in Praises working Wonders To his Eternal Name Power and Arm be the Glory for Ever The Meeting done the Princess came to us expressing much Satisfaction that we had that good opportunity with her Servants telling us she much desired they should have a true and right Character of us and that therefore she chose to with-draw that they might have freer access and that it might look like their own Act on Words to that Purpose The Twelfth Hour being come we returned to our Inn letting them understand we purposed the Lord willing to Visit them some time that Afternoon I must not here forget that we found at our Inn the first Night at Supper a Young Merchant of a sweet and ingenious Temper belonging to the City of Bremen who took occasion from that Night's Discourse the sixth day at Dinner and Supper and the Seventh day also to seek all opportunities of conference with us and as we have reason to be believe he stayed Twenty Four Hours in that City on our Account We opened to him the Testimony of Truth I know not that in any one thing he contradicted us At last he plainly discovered himself unto us to be a Follower of a certain Minister in Bremen that is even by his Fellow-ministers and Protestants reproached with the Name of Quaker because of his singular sharpness against the formal lifeless Ministers and Christians in the World We laid fast hold upon this and askt him in case any of us should Visit that City if he would give us the opportunity of a Meeting at his House which he readily granted us So we gave him some Books recommending him to the true and blessed Testimony of Christ Jesus the Light and Judge of the World and Life of them that receive him and believe in him and so we parted It being now about Three in the Afternoon we went to the Princess's where being come after some little time the Princess and Countess put me in Remembrance of a Promise I made them in one of my Letters out of England namely that I would give them an account at some convenient time of my first Convincement and of those Tribulations and Consolations which I had met withal in this way of the Kingdom which God hath brought me to After some pause I found my self very free and prepared in the Lord's love and fear to comply with their request and so after some Silence began But before I had half done it was Supper time and the Princess would by no means let us go we must Sup with her which importunity not being well able to avoid we yielded to and sat down her to Supper among the rest present at these Opportunities it must not be forgotten that there was a Countess Sister to the Countess then come in to Visit her and a French Woman of Quality the first behaving her self very decently and the last often deeply broken and from a light and slighting Carriage towards the very Name of a Quaker she became very intimately and affectionately kind and respectful to us Supper being ended we all returned to the Princess's Chamber where making us all to sit down with her she with both the Countesses and the French Woman prest from me the Continuance of my Relation but none more than the Countess ' s Sister which tho' late I was not unwilling to oblige them with because I knew not when the Lord would give me such an opportunity and I found them affected It continued till about Ten at Night yet many particulars omitted partly through forgetfulness and partly for want of time howbeit I must needs say they heard me with an Earnest and Tender Attention and I hope and believe the Lord hath made it profitable unto them This done some discourse they had upon it and afterwards we spoke about a Meeting for the next day being the first day of the Week and that we might have not only as many of her own Family but as many of her Town as would willingly be there she yielded to it and appointed the Meeting to begin at the Second Hour so we parted being near the Eleventh Hour at Night The next Morning we had a Meeting among our selves in our Chamber wherein the Lord refresht us and there was a great Travail upon our Spirits that the Lord would stand by us that day and magnifie the Testimony of his own Truth by us that he might have a Seed and People
in that place to lift up a Standard for his Name At Dinner there were several Strangers that came by the Post-Waggon that day among whom there was a Young Man of Bremen being a Student of Duysburgh who informed us of a sober and seeking Man of great Note in that City of Duysburgh to him we gave some Books There was one more who was tender and inquiring to whom also we gave some Books The Second Hour being at Hand we went to the Meeting where were several as well of the Town as of the Family the Meeting began with a weighty Exercise and Travel in Prayer that the Lord would glorifie his own Name that day and by his own power he made way to their Consciences and sounded his wakening Trumpet in their Ears that they might know that he was God and that there is none like unto him Oh the day of the Lord livingly dawned upon us and the searching Life of Jesus was in the midst of us Oh! the word that never faileth them that wait for it and abide in it opened the way and unsealed the Book of Life yea the quickning Power and Life of Jesus wrought and reacht to them and vertue from him in whom dwelleth the God-head bodily went forth and blessedly distilled upon us his own Heavenly Life sweeter than the Spices with pure Frankincense yea than the sweet smelling Myrrh that cometh from a far Country and as it began so it was carried on and so it ended Blessed be the Name of the Lord and confided in be our God for ever Assoon as the Meeting was done the Princess came to me and took me by the hand which she usually did to us all coming and going and went to speak to me of the Sense she had of that Power and Presence of God that was amongst us but was stopt and turning her self to the Window brake forth in an extraordinary Passion crying out I cannot Speak to you my Heart is full claping her Hands upon her Breast it melted me into a deep and calm tenderness in which I was moved to Minister a few words softly to her and after some time of Silence she recovered her self and as I was taking my leave of her she interrupted me thus Will ye not come hither again Pray call here as ye return out of Germany I told her we were in the Hand of the Lord and being his could not dispose of our selves but the Lord had taken care that we should not forget her and those with her for he had raised and begotten an Heavenly Concernment in our Souls for her and them and that we loved them all with that love wherewith God had loved uâ— with much more to that purpose She then turned to the rest of the Friends and would have had us all gone down to Supper with her but we chose rather to be excused we should Eat a bit of her Bread and Drink a glass of her Wine if she pleased in the Chamber where we were At last we prevailed with her to leave us The Countess the French Woman and the Countess's waiting Woman stay'd with us and we had a very retir'd and seasonable Opportunity with them After the Princess had Supt we went all down and took our Solemn leave of her the Countess her Sister the French Woman with the rest of the Family whose hearts were reach'd and opened by our Testimonies recommending unto them Holy Silence from all Will-worship and the Workings Strivings and Images of their own Mind and Spirit that Jesus might be felt of them in their Hearts his holy Teachings witnessed and followed in the way of his Blessed Cross that would crucifie them unto the World and the World unto them that their Faith Hope and Joy might stand in Christs in them the Heavenly Prophet Shepherd and Bishop whose voice all that are truly Sheep will hear and follow and not the voice of any stranger whatever So we left them in the Love and Peace of God praying that they might be kept from the Evil of this World So we returned to our Lodging having our Hearts filled with a weighty Sense of the Lord's appearance with us in that place and being late towards the Ninth Hour we prepared to go to Rest The next Morning being the Second day of the Week G.K. B.F. and my self got ready to begin our Journey towards Franckfort w câ— by the way of Cassel is about 200 English Miles R. B. prepared himself to return by the way weâ—came directly back to Amsterdam But before we parted we had a little time together in the Morning in our Chamber whither came one of the Princess's Family and one of the Town The Lord moved me to call upon his great Name that he would be with them that stayed and with them that returned also and with us that went forward in wild and untrodden places and his blessed Love and Life over-shadowed us yea he filled our Cup together and made us drink into one Spirit even the Cup of Blessings in the Fellowship of the everlasting Seed in which we took leave of one another and after having Eaten it being about the Seventh Hour we departed the City We came to Paderborn that Night six German Miles which are about thirty six English it is a dark Popish Town and under the Government of a Bishop of that Religion howbeit the Woman where we lodged was an Ancient Grave and Serious Person to whom we declared the Testimony of the Light shewing her the difference betwixt an outside and an inside Religion which she received with much kindness We left some Books with her which she took readily There was also with us at Supper a Lutheran that was a Lawyer with whom I had very good Service in opening to him the great loss of the power of Godliness as well among them who separated from Rome as in the Roman Church which he confessed I directed him to the Principle of Light in his Conscience that let him see the lifeless State of the false Christians and if he turned his mind to that Principle and waited there for Power he would receive Power to Rule and Govern himself according to true Godliness and that it was the loss of Christendom that they went from this Principle in which the Power standeth that conformeth the Soul into the Image and Likeness of the dear Son of God and thither they must come again if ever they will have the true knowledge of God and enjoy Life and Salvation with much more to that purpose all which he received lovingly The next Morning we set forwards toward Cassel but through great foulness of Weather having only naked Carts to Ride in the Waters being also High with the Rains We got not to Cassel till the next day which was the Fourth day of the Week It being late we made little inquiry that Night being also wearied with the foulness of the Ways and Weather But the next day we
would to God all Princes were of that mind But I have not chosen this way of Application I am driven to it by the disappointment thy absence from this Court gave me and the necessity I am under to expedite my Return And though I cannot so fully and consequently not so clearly express by Letter the Grounds inducing me to attempt this Visit yet this being all the way that is left me I shall declare them as well as I can In the first place I do with all sincere and Christian respect acknowledg and commend that Indulgence thou givest to all People professing Religion dissenting from the National Communion for it is in it self a most Natural Prudent and Christian thing Natural because it preserves Nature from being made a Sacrifice to the savage Fury of fallible yet proud Opinions out lawing Men of Parts Arts Industry and Honesty the grand Requisites of Humane Society and exposing them and their Families to utter Ruine for meer Nonconformity not to Religion but to Modes and Fashions in Religions Christian since the contrary expresly contradicteth both the Precept and Example of Christ who taught us to love Enemies not to abuse our Friends and triumph in the destruction of our harmless Neighbours He rebuked his Disciples when they called for Fire from Heaven upon Dissenters it may be Opposers Certainly then he never intended that they should kindle Fire on Earth to devour Men for Conscience And if Christ to whom all Power was given and his Apostles refused to employ Humane Force and Artifice so much as to conserve themselves 't is an Arrogancy every way indefensible in those that pretend to be their Followers that they assume an Authority to supercede controul and contradict the Precepts and Examples of Christ and his Apostles whose Kingdom not being of the nature of this ambitious violent World was not erected or maintained by those Weapons that are Carnal but Spiritual and Intellectual adequate to the Nature of the Soul and mighty through God to cast down the Strong-holds of Sin and every vain Imagination exalted in Man above the lowly meek Fear of God that ought to have the preeminence in the Hearts of the Sons of Men. Indulgence is Prudent in that it preserveth Concord No Kingdom divided against it self can stand It encourageth Arts Parts Industry to show and improve themselves which indeed are the Ornaments Strength and Wealth of a Countrey It encourageth People to transplant into this Land of Liberty where the Sweat of the Brow is not made the Forfeit of the Conscience And lastly it rendereth the Prince peculiarly Safe and Great Safe because all Interests for Interest-sake are bound to love and court him Great in that he is not govern'd or clogg'd with the Power of his Clergy which in most Countries is not only a Coordinate Power a kind of Duumvirateship in Government Imperium in Imperio at least an Eclipse to Monarchy but a Superior Power and rideth the Prince to their Designs holding the Helm of the Government and steering not by the Laws of Civil Freedom but certain Ecclesiastick Maxims of their own to the Maintenance and Enlargement of their Worldly Empire in their Church And all the Villany acted under the sacred peaceable and alluring Name of Christ his Ministry and Church though as remote from their Nature as the Wolf from the Sheep and the Pope from Peter The next thing I should have taken the liberty to have discours'd would have been this What Encouragement a Colony of vertuous and industrious Families might hope to receive from Thee in case they should transplant themselves into this Country which certainly in it self is very excellent respecting Taxes Oaths Arms c. Further to have represented the condition of some of our Friends and thy own Subjects who though they are liable to the same Tax as Mennists c. not by part the Case of other Dissenters yet the Vaught of the Town where they live came yesterday to forbid all preaching amongst them which implies a sort of Contradiction to the Indulgence given And in the last place for as much as all Men owe their Being to something greater than themselves to which 't is reasonable to believe they are accomptable from whence follow Rewards or Punishments I had an earnest desire to have spoken of the Nature of Truth Use Benefit and Reward of Religion and therein as to have discours'd what is Christian Religion in it self freed from those unreasonable Garbs some Men make it to wear so justly offensive to wise and thinking Men so to have proved the Principle and Life of the People in scorn called Quakers to have been sutable to the true Followers of Holy Jesus But as the Particulars would swell a Letter to a Book I shall take the Freedom to present thee upon my Return with some Tracts treating upon all these Subjects Prince my Soul is filled with Love and Respect to thee and thy Family I wish you all true and lasting Felicity and earnestly desire that you may never forget your Afflictions and in the remembrance of them be dehorted from those Lusts and Impieties which draw the Vengeance of Heaven upon the greatest Families on Earth that God may look upon you with the favourable Eye of his Providence And blessed is that Man whose God by profession is the Lord in reality viz. that is ruled and governed by the Lord and that lives in subjection to his Grace that having a Divine Sense of God in his Heart delights to retain that Sense and Knowledg of him and be meditating in his Noble Royal Law that converts the Soul to God and redeems Man from the sensual Pleasures of this World to the true Satisfaction of the Intellectual and Divine Life O the meanness and lowness of their Spirits that abandon themselves to the Government of Sense the animal Life thereby debasing their Natures rejecting the Divine Light that shineth in their Hearts saying Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die forgetting whence they are descended and not considering the Peace and Joy of the Vertuous I desire that the Lord would put it into thy Heart to think of thy latter End and with the Light of Christ in thy Conscience examine how it stands with thy Soul that thou mayest know and diligently watch to do those things that belong to thy eternal Peace One thing more give me leave to recommend to thee and that is to be very careful of inculcating generous free and righteous Principles into thy Son who is like to succeed thee that when thou art gone the Reputation of the Country may not sink by contrary Practices nor the People of divers Judgments now thy Subjects be disappointed distressed or ruined Which with sincere desires for thy temporal and eternal Good conclude this Thy unknown but sincere Friend William Penn. From Manheim 25th of 6th Mo. 1677. Which being done and having refreshed our selves we returned that night by the Rhine
to Worms from whence we the next Morning being the first day of the Week walked on Foot to Crisheim which is about six English Miles from Worms We had a good Meeting from the tenth till the third Hour and the Lord's Power sweetly opened to many of the Inhabitants of the Town that were at the Meeting yea the Vaught or chief Officer himself stood at the Door behind the Barn where he could hear and not be seen who went to the Priest and told him that it was his Work if we were Hereticks to discover us to be such but for his part he heard nothing but what was good and he would not meddle with us In the Evening we had a more retired Meeting of the Friends only very weighty and tender yea the Power rose in high operation among them and great was the Love of God that rose in our Hearts at the Meeting to visit them and there is a lovely sweet and true Sense among them we were greatly comforted in them and they were greatly comforted in us Poor Hearts a little handful surrounded with great and mighty Countries of Darkness 't is the Lord's great Goodness and Mercy to them that they are so finely kept even natural in the Seed of Life they were most of them gathered by dear William Ames The next Morning we had another Meeting where we took our leave of them and so came accompanied by several of them to Worms where having refresh'd our selves we went to visit the Lutheran Priest that was at the Meeting the sixth Day before at Crisheim he received us very kindly and his Wife not without some sense of our Testimony After we had discours'd about an Hour with him of the true and heavenly Ministry and Worship and in what they stood and what all People must come unto if ever they will know how to worship God aright we departed and immediately sent them several good Books of Friends in High-Dutch Immediately we took Boat about the third Hour in the Afternoon and came down the River Rhine to Mentz where we arrived about the fifth Hour in the Morning and immediately took an open Chariot for Frankfort where we came about the first Hour in the Afternoon We presently informed some of those People that had received us the Time before of our return to that City with desires that we might have a Meeting that Afternoon which was readily granted us by the Noble Women at whose House we met whither resorted some that we had not seen before And the Lord did after a living manner open our Hearts and Mouths amongst them which was received by them as a farther confirmation of the coming of the Day of the Lord unto them yea with much joy and kindness they received us The Meeting held till the ninth Hour at Night they constrained us to stay and eat with them which was also a blessed Meeting to them before we parted we desired a select Meeting the next Morning at the same Place of those that we felt more inwardly affected with Truth 's Testimony and that were nearest unto the State of a silent Meeting which they joyfully assented to We went to our Lodging and the next Morning we returned unto them with whom we had a blessed and heavenly Opportunity for we had room for our Life amongst them it was as among faithful Friends Life ran as Oil and swom a-top of all We recommended a silent Meeting unto them that they might grow into an holy Silence unto themselves that the Mouth that calls God Father that is not of his own Birth may be stop'd and all Images confounded that they may hear the soft Voice of Jesus to instruct them and receive his sweet Life to feed them and to build them up About the ninth Hour we departed from that Place and went to Vander Walls where the Meeting was the Time before and there we had a more publick Meeting of all that pleased to come The Lord did so abundantly appear amongst us that they were more broken than we had seen them at any time yea they were exceeding tender and low and the Love of God was much raised in their Hearts to the Testimony In this sensible frame we left them and the Blessings and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ with and among them And after having refresh'd our selves at our Inn we took Boat down the Main to Mentz where we arrived about the fifth Hour 't is a great City but a dark and superstitious Place according to the Popish Way and is under the Government of a Popish Bishop we stayed not longer there than till our Boat was ready which might be better than half an Hour From Mentz we went on our way down the Rhine six German Miles and came that Night to Hampack from thence the next Morning we went by Bacherach Coblentz and other places upon the Rhine to Tresy that Night being about eleven German Miles Next day being the sixth Day of the Week we got to Cullen a great Popish City about the third Hour in the Afternoon We gave notice to a sober Merchant in that Town a serious Seeker aâ—ter God that we were there arrived who presently came to us We sat down and had a living and pretious Opportunity with him opening to him the Way of the Lord as to us it had been maniâ—ested intreating him if he knew any in that City who had desires after the Lord or that were willing to come to a Meeting that he would please to inform them of our being here and of our desire to meet with them He answered That he would readily do it This night when we were in Bed came the Resident of several Princes a serious and tender Man to find us out we had some discourse with him but being late promised to see us the next Day The next Morning came the aforesaid Merchant informing us that it was a busy Time several preparing for the Mass or great Fair at Frankfort yet some would come and he desired it might be at his House in the Afternoon about Three In the Morning we were to visit that Resident whom we met coming to see us but he returned and brought us to his House We had a good Time with him for the Man is an antient Seeker opprest with the Cares of this World and he may be truly said to mourn under them his Heart was opened to us and he blessed God that he had lived to see us We gave him an Account how the Lord appeared in the Land of our Nativity and how he had dealt with us which was as the cool and gentle Showers upon the dry and scorched Desart About Noon we returned Home after we had eaten we went to the Merchant's House to the Meeting where came four Persons one of which was the Presbyterian Priest who preach'd in private to the Protestants of that Place for they are no
therefore laid aside so shall it Vindicate us in Due Time in the Eyes of all Nations and present us a People owned beloved and protected of God in whom we have firmly believed Nor is this Presumption as some may think who being not so well acquainted with that Entire Resignation and Supreme Faith of which Jesus is the Author that removes Mountains into the Sea conclude from meer Natural and Human Considerations against us yet we know him in whom we have believed and the same that hath Cured us of our Diseases the same said unto us Arise and Walk in this Way of Faith Trust in me and not in another And truly this is much of that Wonder which Men shall have in their Minds and Mouths about us in those Latter Days In Troubles not to be dejected and in Jeopardies not to be concerned to make to our selves Defences but as the Lillies that neither toil nor spin yet feed and grow so we may both be preserved and become Victorious without Worldly Force or Projections For we must shew our selves to be that Little City and Hill of God that hath only his Salvation for our Walls and Bulwarks by whom he will renown his Arm and magnifie his Power above the Arts and Contrivances of Men. Our Weapons and our Armour is Spiritual it hath prevailed and it will prevail if we keep in the Faith which was first delivered to us a blessed Shield by which the Just live And therefore My Dear Friends let us be Careful not to mingle with the Crowd lest their Spirit enter us instead of our Spirit entering them and we thereby come to fall into the same Temptations they are liable to of Fear and Flying to the Hills and Mountains to protect them confiding in the Arm of Flesh to deliver them no no! they must come to us we must not go to them Yet can we not be Unsensible of their Infirmities as well as we shall not be free from some of their Sufferings we must make their Case as our own and travail alike in Spirit for them as for our selves Let us stand in the Counsel of our God and he will make us Preachers-forth to them of the Works of his Divine Power and the Virtue of that Faith which comes from Heaven yea he will make us as Saviours to the People that they may come to know the Holy Law and Word of the Lord their Creator in their Hearts and have their Minds and Souls turned to him and stay'd upon them that Iniquity may no more abound nor Ungodliness find a place but that in Truth Righteousness and Peace they may be establisht and the Land keep its SABBATH to the Lord for ever Then shall God lift up the Light of his Countenance upon us and water us from Heaven and bless us with all Temporal and Spirital Blessings and we shall be yet called THE ISLAND SAVED BY THE LORD Amen Amen! This was upon my Soul from God to you I could not Visit you all with a Distinct Message upon many Accounts besides the Time is Short and the Confusion appears to me to be at hand Therefore have I sent it by way of Epistle with the Brotherly Salutation of Unfeigned and Unalterable Love to you all in your Respective Meetings and Families And the Lord God of our Visitation and Redemption stir you up to these things and keep us all in his Holy Fear Wisdom Love and Patience through all those Travails and Exercises to the End of our Days that having finisht our Testimonies our Heads may go down to our Graves in Peace and our Souls be received into the Rest which is reserved for the Righteous with God and with his Blessed Lamb forever I am Your Brother and Companion through the many Tribulations of our Day and Testimony William Penn. Worminghurst in Sussex the 4th of the 9th Month 1678. I desire that this Epistle may be read in the Fear of the Lord in your several Meetings 22d 5. Month. London 2â—d Essex 24th Colchester 25th Harwich 26th â— Month. 27th 2â—th Briel Rotterdam 2â—th 30th 5 Month. 31st Leyden 1st 6 Month. Haerlem Amsterdam 12th 6 Month. 13th 6 Month. 14th 6 Month. 15th 6. Month. 16th Naerden 18th Osnabrug 19th 6 Month. Herwerden 10th 20th 6 Month. 11th 12th â— Month. 12th 22th 6 Month. 13th 23th 6 Month. Paderborne 14th 24th 6 Month. 15th 25th Cassel 16th 26th 17th 27th 6 Month. Frankfort 21st 31st 6 Month. 22 1 6 Mon. Isa 59.21 5.23 6 Month. Crisheim Franckenthall 7.25 6 th Month. Manheim 1.26 6th Month. Worms Crisheim 2.27 6 th Month. Worms 3.28 Mentz Frankfort 4.29 6 th Month. Mentz Hampack 5.30 6 th Month. Tresy 6.31 Cullen 7.1 7 th Month. 1.2 7 th Month. Duysburgh Mulheim 2.3 7 th Month. Duysburgh Holton 7th Month. 3.4 Wesel 7 th Month. 4.5 Rees Emrick Cleve 7th Month. 5.6 Nimwegen Utrecht 7 th Month 6.7 Amsterdam 7 th Month 7.8 7 th Month. 1.9 Horn. 7 th Month. 2.10 Enckhuysen Workum Harlingen 7 th Month. 3.11 Wesel Leeuwaerden Wiewart 7 th Month. 5.13 Lippenhusen 7 th Month. 6.14 Groningen 7.15 Delfzyl 7 th Month. 1.16 Embden Lier 17 th 2. Bremen 7th Month. 3.18 7th Month. Herwerdâ—n 7.22 7 th Month. 8.23 7 th Month. 2. â—4 7 th Month. 3.25.4.26 27 7th Month. Wesel 28th Duysburgh 29th Dusseldorp 8.30 Ceulen 2.1 8th Month. Dusseldorp 3.2 Duysburgh 3. 8th Month. Wesel 5.4 8th Month. 6.5 Cleve 8th Month. 7.6 Utrecht 1.7 Amsterdam 2.8.5 3.9 8 th Month. 4.10 5.11 Leyden 8 th Month. 6.12 Hague Delft Rotterdam 8 th Month. 7.13 8 th Month. 1.14 2.15 8th Month. Nortwyck 8th Month. 4.17 Hague Delft Rotterdam 8th Month. 5.18 6.19 8 th Month. 7.20 Briel 8 th Month. 1.21 2.22 3.23 Harwich 4.24 Colchester 8 th Month. 5.25 6.26 London 9th Month. 5.1 Worminghurst Hague