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ICtbrarg lutuprattg nf PtttHburgli
'Darlington M^orial Library
(HiVLBB Cf..T
Suok- C;^^5G Avi
O R,
Hiflorical Account
O F T H E
LIFE, TRAVELS and
Christian Experiences,
OF THAT
Antient, Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ,
TEO MAS C HAL.K LET, ;^;^f
Who departed this Life in the Island of TORTOLJ, the fourth Day of the Ninth Month, 1 74 1.
I vjUl feud theft that efeape of themtinto the Nations, to Tarfhini, Pull, and Lud, that draw ths Bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the Ijles afar off, that have not heard my Fame, neither have feen my Glory ; and th/y jhall declare my Glory among the Gentiles. Ifaiah Ixvi. 19,
The Second Edition.
LONDON:
Printed and Sold by Luke Hinde, at the Bible
in George-Tardy LomhardStreet. ly^i.
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[iii]
THE
TESTIMONY
O F T H E
Monthly-Meeting of Friends
I N
VHILADELVHIJ,
Concerning our Antient, Worthy Friend,
THOMAS CHJLKLET, Deceafed.
THE ChnJlianExpcnenccs of the Faithful being ufeful to dired: fuch as are defirous of following them in the Paths of true Religion and Virtue, and their good Examples fhining with the greateft Clearnefs, when they have, with the Flefli, put off all human Infir- mities ; Juflice to their Memory, and a Concern for the Benefit of their Survivors, demand our grateful Remembrance of them, and the contri- buting our Endeavours to render their Labours ufeful to Pofterity. ^
A 2 The£b
[in
Tliefe Conliderations engage us to preface the Writings of this our efleemed Friend and Elder in the Truth, with this Teftimony concerning him.
He was a Member of our Monthly-Meeting above Forty Yeais, fo that feme of us had Op- portunities of being intimately acquainted with him, and of knowing his Fidelity and Diligence jn promoting the Caufe of Truth, and the Edi- fication of tLe Church of Chriji-, this having been the principal Engagement and Concern of his Mind, and which he preferred to any other Con- fideration ; as will evidently appear to thofe, who, with an honeft and unprejudiced Intention, pe- nife his Journal of his Life and Travels.
By this it will appear, that he was, in the early Part of his Life, fenfibly affedted with the Vifitation of divine Life and Grace, and, by ad- hering thereunto, was preferved from the Vani- ties and Follies, which often divert and alienate the Minds of Youth from the due Remembrance and awful Regard of their Creator \ fo that he was enabled to bear a Teftimony of Chriftian Patience and Self-denial in his youthful Days, and, by keeping under that Exercife, as he ad- vanced in Years, attained to further Knowledge and Experience in the 'Work of Religion, in which he had a Sight of the Necellity of keeping in a State of Humility, and of bearing the Crofs of ChriJ}, v/hich mortified him to the World ; fo that tiie Lofs many fuftain by the anxious Pur-
fuit
f ^3
fuit of the lawful Things thereof appearing to him, he was concerned to avoid it, and in Obe- dience to the Precept of Chrijt, tojeek fij-ft the Kmgdom of Gody and his Righteoujnefs^ having Faith in his Promife, that all theje ihings (necef- fary for him) fjould he added.
Thus the Love of God influencing his Mind, and opening his Underflanding, he became con- cerned for the general Good of Mankind, and received a Gift of the Miniftry of the Gofpel of Chri/i^ before he had attained the Age of Twen- ty-one Years j in the publick Exercife of which, he foon after travelled thro' many Parts of Eng^ landy and into Scotland, and the next Year, be- ing 1697, he came to vifit Friends in this and the adjacent Provinces of America^ where his Miniftry and Converfation were to the Comfort and Edification of the Faithful (asfome of us can with Satisfaction declare, from our Knowledge and Remembrance of him at that Time^ and the near Fellowfliip and Union he then had with Friends here (^wc believej contributed to his more fpeedy Determination of fettling among us, which he afterwards thought it his Duty to do, tho* the leaving his Parents and Relations ('as he after- wards exprefted) was no fmall Crofs to him, be- ing of a dutiful and affe<5lionate Difpofition.
After fixing his Refidence among us, he per- fever'd in his Concern and Labour for the Edifi- cation of the Churches, and gathering People to Faith and Dependance on the inward Teachings
A3 Qf
[vi]
of Chrijl, and for that Purpofe only he travelled many long Journies and Voyages through the fe- veral EngliJI;) Colonies on this Contiment, and mofl of the Illands in the We(i-Indtes, and in Europe, through England^ Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Hol- land, Frizeland, and feveral Parts of Germany^ and the adjacent Northern Kingdoms-, and in many of thefe Places his Miniftiy and religious Labours were blefled with the defired Succefs, of which there are yet fome WitnefTes living, and others who were convinced of the Principles of ' Truth by his Means, became ferviceable Mem- bers of the Church, and continued therein to the End of their Lives.
But as the wife King Solomon formerly obfer- ved, that one Event cofneth to the Righteous, a?id to the Wicked, (o it happened to this good Man, who met with various LofTes and Difappoint- ments in his temporal Eftate ; after which, the Circumflances of his Aifairs engaged him to un- dertake fome Bulinefs, in the Management of which he was obliged to crofs the Seas frequently : This, however, did not abate his Zeal and reli- gious Care to make ufe of all Opportunities of vifiting the Meetings of Friends when among them, and of calling, at other times, to fuch who might be accounted as the Outca/i d?/Ifrael, cud the Dijperfedof ]uddh, or as Sheep not yet of the Fold of Chvid ; and his Services of that Kind are worthy to be commemorated, having been often produdive of good EiFeds.
His
I vii ]
His Patience was remarkable in Difappoint- ments and Afflictions, of which he had a large Share ; and his Meeknefs, Humility and Circum- fpedtion, in the general Courfe of his Life and Converfation, were confpicuous and exemplary;^ and as he frequently exhorted and admoniihed others to the Obfervation and Pradlice of the many excellent Precepts and Rules of Chriji, our Lord and Law-giver, and more efpecially thofe cxprefled in his Sermon on the Mount (which contains the Sum of our moral and religious Du- ties) fo he manifefted himfelf to be one of that Number, whom Chriji compared to the wile Builder, who laid a fure Foundation ; fo that his Building flood unfhaken by the various Floods and Winds of Tribulations and Temptations he met with, both from within and without.
He was a Lover of Unity amongfl; Brethren, and careful to promote and maintain it, (hewing the Example of a meek, courteous, and loving Deportment, not only to Friends, but to all o- thers, with whom he had Converfation or Deal- ings y fo that it may be truly faid, That few have lived Jo imiverfally beloved and refpeSled among us : And it was manifeil: this did not proceed from a Defire of being popular, or to be feen of Man : For his Love and Regard to Peace did not divert him from the Difcharge of his Duty in a faithful Teftimony to thofe that profefled the Truth, that they ought to be careful to maintain \ good Works ; and he was often concern'd zeal- oully to incite and prefs Friends to the Exercife
of
[ viii ]
of the good Order and Difcipllne eflablifhed in the Wifdom of Truth, by admonifliing, warn- ing,, and timely treating with fuch as fell fliort of their Duty therein, and by teftifying againft thofe who, after loving and brotherly Care and Endeavours, could not be brought to the Senfe and Pradlice of their Duty 5 and thereby he fome- times (har'd the Ill-will and Refentment of fuch Perfons.
The feveral ElTays he wrote on religious Sub- jeds at Sea, are further Proofs that his Mind was principally engaged in the great Bufinefs and Concern of Religion 3 and as he continued under the fame Engagement to the End, we are fully perfuaded the Words with which he conclu- ded his laft publick Teftimony on the Illand of Tortola^ maybe truly and properly applied to him, 'That he had fought a good Fight ^ and had kept the Faith^ and, we doubt not, he now enjoys a Crown, of Righteoujnefs, •
Much more might be truly faid of his Integri- ty, Faithfulnefs and Worth, but we do not think it neceilary ; our chief Intention being to exprefs our refpeclful Remembrance of him, and our Unity with his Labours and Services, and in or- der to aflure thofe, to whom he was not perfon- ally known, of the Truth of what he has him- felf wrote of his Life and Travels j for we believe, as he was a Man fignaily influenced with the Spirit of univerfal Love and Good-will to Man- kind,
[ix]
kind, this was his chief Motive for writing; and we are lincerely defirous that his good Defign may be anfwered, and that the Glory of every good and perfedt Work may be attributed to that divine Power alone, which can quahfy others to fupply the Places of thofe faithful Minifters and Servants of Chrift^ who have been of late Years removed from among us, and are of that Num- ber, of whom it is written, Blejfed are theDeady which die in the Lord^ from henceforth, yea^ faith the Spirit^ that they fnay reji from their Labour s^ and their Works do follow them.
Signed on Behalf, and by Appointment of the Monthly-Meeting of Friends in Phi^ ladelphia, the Twenty-eighth Day of the Second Month, 1749, by
ISRAEL PEMBERTON.
JOURNAL
OF THE
Life, Labours, Travels, 6^c.
o F
THOMAS CHJLKLET
J JAVING great Catifi to acknowledge the Re- *1 gard and ProteB'ion of Divme providence in the feveral Stages of fw;^ Life^ I think it ma'^ be of Service to others^ to leave behind me the following Ac- count of my Life and 'Travels.
WAS born on the Third Day of the Third Month 1675; 1675, in Southwark, and defcended of honeft C/STSJ and rehgious Parents, who were very careful of me, and brought me up in the Fear of the Lord •, and oftentimes counfellcd me to Sobriety, and reproved me for Wantonnefs ; and that h'ght Spirit, which is incident to Youth, they were careful to nip 'I
in the Bud : So that I have Caufe to blefs God, through Chrift, on the Behalf of my tender Parents.
And I may not forget the Dealings of God with me 16S4, in my very tender Years. When between eight and vx"y->w»
ten
2 Th JOVR-N AL of
1684. ten Years cf Age, my Father and Mother fent mC «wO(^v-> near two Miles to School, to Richard Scoryer, in the Suburbs of London. I went moftly by my felf to the School ; and many and various were the Exercifes I went through, by Beatings and Stonings along the Streets, being diftinguifhed to the People (by the B,idge of Plainnefs which my Parents put upon me) of what Profeflion I was j divers telling me, ^Twas 710 more Sin to kill me^ than it was to kill a Dog. Rotherhith ^^out this Time the Lord began to work flrongly pariih, in on my Mind by his Grace, infomuch that I could not ^outhwark forbear reproving thofe Lads who would take the Name of the Lord God in their Mouths in vain, re- minding them of tiie third Commandment, ^hou foalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain^ for the Lord will not bold him g^dltlefs that taketh his Name in vain ; and of Chrift's Saying, Every idle Word that Men fjall fpcak, they fjall give an Account thereof in the Day of Judgment ; for which I was mocked and de*- rided by fome, and others would fometimes refrain from fuch bad Words when I reproved them.
One Timel remember I was amongil fome Men, one of whom I had reproved, and he told the reft of it, and turned to me, and faid. That I was no Chri' Jiian, and afl-:ed mc, •when I faid the Lord's Prayer ? I afked him if he laid it ? He laid. Yes. I then allied him how he could call God Father, and befo wicked as to fwear and take God's Name in vain ? which I had heard him often do; and I toid him what Chrift faid to the Jews, 2m are of your Father the Devil^ be- l^J^ J ^^^y^ his IVorks ye do-, and that thofe that did the Devirs Work could not truly call God Father, ac- cording to Chrift's Doctrine. So being convicted in their Confciences that what I faid was true, they were all filenr, and wondered that I, being lb young, fhould fpeak in fuch a Manner; in which I remember I had great Peace and good Satisfadion : And from thence- forth thefe Men let me alone,
Notwith-
rnOMAS CHALKLET, 3
Notwithftanding I hated to hear wicked Words, I 1685. loved Play exceedingly^, being perfuaded that there {^^'^^ was no Harm in that, if we ufed no bad Words. One Time I was at Play at a Neighbour's Houfe with the Children, and in the midft of my Sport I was reach'd to with ft rong Convidions, infomuch that I could not forbear Weeping. The Childrens Mother obferving that I wept, laid. Why do you Weep, Tommy ? I told her I could not tell, except it was becaufe I was a nnughty Boy. Oh\ faid fhe, don't lelievehim, for that's the Devil tells you fo, for you are the left Boy in all our Street. But I knew I was told the Truth by Convi6lion, and that fiie was miftaken : For I plainly undcrftoodby clear Conviftion, and by the holy Scriptures f which I had been trained up in the Readino- ofj that I was too vain and wanton ; for I loved Mufick, Dancings and playing at Cards., and too much delighted therein betimes, and was followed with the Judgments of God therefore in the Secret of my Soul.
Whad did in thofe Sports and Games, I always took care to do out of the Sight, and without the Know- ledf^e of my tender Parents -, for I was afraid of their Reproofs and Correaion, the which I was fure to have, if they had any Intelligence of it.
I remember that, unknown to my Parents, I had bought a Pack of Cards, with Intent to make ufe of them when I went to fee my Relations in the Country, where there was Liberty in the Family fo to do, at a Place called Woodford^ about feven Miles from Lon- wooiferi, don, where I got Leave fometimes to go •, and at the in £irf*". Time called Chriftmas, I went to fee them, and five Miles on my Way went to a Meeting, at_ a Town call'd Wanflead ; at which Meeting, a Minifter oUvav.jietd, Chrift declared againft the Evil of Gaming, and par- ticularly of Cards •, and that the Time which People pretend to keep Holy, for Chriil's Sake, many of them fpend moftly in Wickednefs, Sports, and Games s even ■f fome
4 Ti;^ J O U R N A L ^
1685. fome pretending to be Religious: And, generally WV*^ fpeaking, more Sinand Evil iscommitted in this Time, than in the like fpace of Time in all the Year befidesj fo that the Devil is ferved inftead of honouring Chrift. From this Meeting at Wanjlead^ I went to the Houfe ol my Relations, v/here the Parfon of the next Parifh lodged that Nighr, who ufed to play at Cards with them fometimes •, and the Time drawing near that "we were to go to our Gam^es, my Uncle called to the Doelor, (as he called him) to me, and to my Coufin, to come and take a Game at Cards ; at which Mo- tion I had llrong Convi6lions upon me not to do it, as being Evil •, and I fecretly cry'd to the Lord to keep me faithful to him ; and lifting up my Eyes, I faw a Bible lie in the Window, at the Sight of which I was glad. I took it, and fat down, and read to my felf, greatly rejoicing that I was preferved out of the Snare. Then my Uncle called again, and faid, Come^ Doc- tor, you and /, and 7ny Wife and Bmghter^ will have £1 Gamt at Cards, for I fee my Coufin is letter difpofed. Then he looked upon me, and faid. He was better difpofed alfo. So their Sport for that Time wasfpoiled, and mine in that Pradlice for ever ; for I never (as I I remember) play'd with them more, but as foon as I came Home, offer'd my new and untouch'd Pack of Cards to the Fire. And of this I am certain, the Ufe of them is of evil Confequence, and draws away the Mind from Heaven and heavenly Things ; for which Keafon all Chriftians ought to fhunthem as Engines of Satan t And Mufick and Dajuing^ having generally the fame Tendency, ought therefore to be refrain'd from. The Sentiments of the Waldenfes, a People in great Efleem among Proteflants^ are worthy the Con- sideration of all true Protefiants and Chriftians -, which were ** That as many Paces, or Steps, as the Man «' or Woman takes in the Dance, fo many Paces or " Steps thev take towards Hell/*
i
THOMAS CHALKLET. $
I very well remember the Work of God upon my 1685. Soul, when I was about ten Years of Age ; and par- C/*/\J| ticularJy at a, certain Time when I had been rebelling againft God and my Parents, in Vanity and Lightnefs: And has I had offended both, fo I was corredted by both : For I had not only the Anger of my Parents, but the Lord frown'd upon me, infomuch that I trem- bled exceedingly, and was as tho* I heard a vocal Voice fay to me, fFbai will become of thee this Night, if I fiould take thy Life from thee? At which I was amazed, and in great Fear. Then I covenanted with God, that if he would be pleafed to fpare my Life (for I thought God would have taken my Life from me that very Moment^ I would be more fober, and mind his Fear more than I had done before.
Neverthelefs I broke Covenant with God my Ma- ker, my Adverfary tempting me fo to do, telling me I was buta Child, and that it was natural for Children to be brilk and to play, and that God would wink at my Childhood ancf Youth, and it was time enough for me, when a Man, to become Religious. But flill God followed me with his chaftiling Rod, and ofteij put me in Mind of my Covenant that I made with him in my Diftrefs ; and that he had granted my Requeft ' which I then made to him ; and unlefs I would take up a Crofs to my own corrupt Will and Inclinations, he Ihould take me out of the World. Then, Oh then ! I cried, Lord help^ or I die! Save me^ or 1 perifb >
for ever! I cannot keep thy Covenant, nor do thy Will, without thy Help and Affiftance ! And indeed if the Lord had not helped, I had been undone for ever.
So I continued bow'd down in my Mind, calling on the Lord -, thinking and meditating on Heaven and heavenly Things: But, as I am fcnfible, I had an in- ward Enemy that always fought my Hurt and Over- throw, I have Caufe to blefs God, who by his Grace (as niine Eye was turned to \i) helped me to do his
Will,
6 T;?'^ J O U R N A L c/
1685. Will, as he was pleafed to manifeft it to me i fo that t-'^VNhJ thereby feme Change was wrought on me, both in- wardly and outwardly.
And I then began to delight in ReadingandSobriety, which before were irkfome to me : And when I read the holy Scriptures, I defired that God would open them to my Underrtanding, which he did to my Edi- fication many Times. I alfo begged earneftly ot the Lord, that he would be pleas'd to be with mc, and make me like to thofe his Children and Servants, of whom I read in the holy Scriptures, who faithfully ferved him all their Days. And when I read of the Crucifixion of our bleffcd Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, it would break my Soul into Tendernefs. I thought it was enough to awaken and humble any Soul that was well-meaning, and had any Senfe of the Power, Love, and Grace of Chrift. Thus I wenc on for fcveral Years, feeling that Peace which paffeth natural Underftanding, which many Times accompa- nied my .poor and needy Sou! : And being advanced to about 14 or 15 Years of Age, I remember that I ufed to Ihun the Crofs of fpeaking in the plain Lan- Thfmet g^^g*^ fwhich I, alvvays read in the holy Scriptures) Seuthvuark. to thofe whom I converfed with, except my Father and Mother, who would not allow me to fpeak other- wife : I was convided in my Confcience that it was not right to play the Hypocrite after that Manner; and on a certain Time I had Occafion to fpeak with an Officer, a great Man in our Neighbourhood, and my Heart moved within me for fear I fhould fhun the Crofs of Chrifl : For it was Chrift's Language to all, as we may read in the New Teflament -, and the Scriptures, from Genefis to the Revelaimn^ fpeak Thee and Thou, to a fingle Perfon, in a general Way.
So I took up the Crofs, and faid Thee to him ; and he was much afiVonted, and faid, T^hee} whatdofi ihou Tbee me for? I foberly afl<ed him if he did not fay Thee to his Maker in his Prayers ? and whe-
■ ther
"Thomas chalklek 7
ther he was too good, or too great, to be fpoke to in the fame Language in which he vaddrds'd the Al- mighty? Unco which he made no Reply, but (etm'd to fall from his Paffion into Admiration., as one imic- ten in himfelf. And he bore roc Relpid: ever aftcrj and I greatly rejoiced that I was preferved faithful. Tho' it may look like a little Thing to fome^ yet I found it good (as the Scripture faichj /w( to defpife the Dayof fmall 'Things.
About the twentieth Year of my Age, I was pref- 1694. fed and carried aboard a Veffel belonging to a IVIan of '^./^/-v War. I was put down into the Hold in the Dark, 'not having any Thing to lie upon but Cafks •, and what made it worfe to me, I was among wicked, de- bauched Men *, and as we were fhut up in Darknefs, fo was their Converfation dark and hellifh. In the Morning (for which I longed more than the Watch- men) the Lieutenant called us up on Drck, and exa- mined us whether we were wil ing to lerve the King. He called me to him, and aflced me, If I were 'juilling to ferve his Majefi-j ? I anlw^rM, that I was ^• willing to ferve him in my Bufinefs, and accord- ing to my Confcience-, but as for War or Fighting, Christ had forbid it, in his excellcrnt Sermon on the Mount •, and for that Reafon I could not be^^r Arms.; nor be inftrumental todeftroy or kill Mi-n. Then the Lieutenant looked on me, and on the People, and faici. Gentlemen i what Jhall we do with this Fellow ? he fwear^ he will not Fight. The Commander of the VcfTel made Anlwer, No^ no ! he will neither Swear nor Fight. Upon which they turn'd me on Shore. I was thankful that I was delivered out of their Hands ; and my tender Parents were glad to fee me again.
Now as I grew in Years, the World began to take too much Root in me •, and my unweaned Enemy would tell me that it was lawful enough (and indeed I fee that he hurts many with lawful Things, with
B whom
8 fk JOVRN AL of
169^4. whom he knoweth the unlawful Things will not take) "•••"V""^ and here I had been loft if God had not been gra- cious to me. But he, in whofe Prefence I delighted, withdrew, and deprived me of that Enjoyment which was graceful and comfortable above all Things to my Soul. Then did I pray, with Tears, O that it might be vv'ich me as it was at other Times before ! and I was willing to let the World go, rather than Grace and God's Giory. The Pfalmifi faith. No good Thing ^nll he with 'hold from them that walk uprigbil'j, Pfal. Ixxxiv. Verfe 1 1. j^Cqr. About this Time there was a great Concern on my i-.^/^ Mind, rightly to diftinguifh between the Voice of Chrift, and the Whifperings of Satan, and thus it open'd to me : That Chrift, the Truth, always fpeak- eth Good, and for a good End, and that there is divine Life to the Soul in this Speaking ; but the Devil never fpeaks Good, unlefs fometimes for a bad End, and then not Goovl in Reality, only coloured with a good or fair Shew.
And keeping under this Exercife, the Lord appeared tome again, and many Timd refrefh'd my Heart with his Goodnefs. And when I was in my Bufinefs •amongft Men, I did witnefs the holy Ghoff, the Comforter, to be near me ; which was more to me than all the World, or the Riches, Glory, and Beau- ty of it *, the Love of God being fo fweet to my Soul and Spirit, my Breathings, Prayers, and Supplications, were to the Lord, that my Neighbours, Acquaintance, and Relations, might alfo partakeof the like precious Faith and Love which I enjoy'd ; and that the Chil- dren of Men might anfwer that great and good End for which the Lord did create them -, which is, that Glory, Honour, and Praife, might afcend and be gi- ven to him.
1 had fuch a Senfe and Fear of Difhonouring God, that I often, with Tears, cry'd, Never let me live to dilhonour Thee. Oh ! it had been better for me, that
I
THOMAS CHALKLET, 9
I had never been born, or my Mother's Womb had 1695. been my Grave, than that I Ihould live to difhonour KyyTsJ^ Thee, or wilfully reproach the Nameof'Chrift, who, with the Father, is only worthy ot Divine Honour.
In this Concern I felt theGofpel Power of our Lord Jefus Chrift to work upon my Soul, and the Word of God was as a Seed in my Heart, groWingand opening in me, fpeaking to me, and making my Underftanding fruitful in the Things of his Kingdom ; and in that A- bility which was given me of God, through his Grace ^nd holy Spirit, I exhorted People to Repentance and Amendment of Life; and I always humbly defir'd the Help and divine Influence of God's eternal Word therein. Oh ! I did fervently pray, that I might mini- fter the Gofpel in the Power of Jefus ; for I clearly difcern'd in the Light of the Son of God, that all MiniftringoutofChrift's Power, was neither edifying nor efficacious unto Souls : Therefore I did earneftly befeech God for the Continuance of the Gift of his Spirit, that I might be enabled to preach the Gofpel in the Power of Chrift Jefus. The Concern that was upon me on this Account at that Time, is hard, to be cxprefs'd in Words.
The latter End of the Year 1695, my Father fenc me into EJfeXy on fome Bufmefs, which, when I had accompli Hied, I vifued fome Meetings of Friends there, and my Mind being much affefted with the Apprehen- fions of an impending Storm, ('the Nation being about this Time threatened with an Invafion from France^ in favour of the late King James^ fo that there was Ex- pedation ot much Bloodfhed and Confufion in the Land) I wrote a Letter to my Parents, and another to Friends of the Evening Meeting (kept Weekly at my Father's Houfe)exprefringmy great Thankfulnefs to the Almighty, in Remembrance of the many pre- cious Vifitations of divine Love and Favour we had been made Partakers of, to the uniting our Hearts to him, and to one another ; and my earned Prayer* B 2 and
10 'Th/J OU R N A L c/
1695, and Supplications, that we might be preferved in true -/"V~^ Love, and the Unity of the Spirit, which is the Bond of everh\{ling Peace, and that the World might be made fenfible of this true Peace, which abounds in thofe who love and fear the Lord, and truly believe in the Name of Jefus. Oh ! furely they would then depaf-t from Sin., and abandon Iniquity .> by which they incur the Wrath of the Lord^ and provoke the jufi 0ns to Anger ; fo that the Line of Conjufon feems to be f retched over the City and Nation, and the Eye of the Faithful feeth it to the Grief of their Souls. Tet the Mercy of the Lord, even of the juji Cod (who will render a jufi Reward to every one according to bis Deeds done in the Body) is fill handed forth to the Land, Oh that the Inhabitants thereof would confider their Ways J and be wife.^ and turn to the Lord with unfeign- ed Repentance, while the Day oj Mercy lafteth, before; it be faid^ Now it is hid from thine Eyes, for the Lord, even the God and Falhtr of Spirits, hath fiid. My Spirit fJmtl not always drive with Man, for that he alfo is FlefJj^ Gtn. vi. 3. 1696. On the Hxpiration of my Apprenticefhip, having ""y^V""^ fervedmyFarherfaichtuUyfeven Years, lenteredmore ftrongly into Covenant with my heavenly Father and Mafter, to ferve him all my Days, thro' his AfTi- ftance; and was foon after drav/n forth, in the Spirit and Love of Chriif , to vifit the Meetings of Friends Weftward irom London^ viz. thro* Surry, Suffex^ Hampjbire, Wiltfhire, Devonfloire, and Cornwall, to the Land's End; in which Journey I was accompanied by William Hornould. Ac one of our Meetings at Falmouth in Cornwall, two Men fcalled Gentlemen) came from the Inn to hear the Strangers -, and after Meeting, they laid they could take their Oaths that I was a Jefuir, and that they had heard me preach in a RomiftJ Q^w\'^t\ m France \ which was utterly falfe: For I nc'.er was in France in my Life. Befides had I
been
THOMAS CHALULET. ii
been a Papiji, or popijhly inclin'd (which I was not) i 696. I was too young to be a Jefuit. <^/~V~v^"'
Indeed I thought I was mean for the Work of the Miniftry, but the good Remembrancer brought thoie Truths to my Remembrance, which flrengthened me in the Work and Service of God. The Spirit hreatk- eth ivbere it lijleth ; Out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou hajl perfected Praife^ &:. We having great Peace in our Labours in this Journey, and be- ing edify'd therewith, return'dto L^;?^^;/, after about four Months Abfe. ice from Home. '
And after I had been two Weeks at Home, my dear 1 607. Mother departed this Life, in a fweet Frameof Spirit, t/VN." praifing the I ord. She was one who lived the Life London. of the Righteous, and whofe latter End was like theirs, and left a good Report behind her, being well belo- ved (I think I may fafely fay) by all our Neighbours; not only by thofe of our own Society, but others al- fo, to whom fhe was often very helpful.
So I went to my Calling, and got a little Mony, (a little being enoughj which I was made willing to fpend freely, in the Work and Service of my great Mafter Chrift Jefus. And about this Time I was con- cerned to travel into the North of £;7^/^»^, md Part oi Scotland^ which I did in that Ability God gave me ; and that Difpenfation which I had freely received, I free- ly handed forth to the People, devoting my Strength and Time to fervehim (that had done fo much forme; and I had the Satisfa6lion to find divers conftrlFing the Truth, as it is in Jefus. In this Journey I was from Home about four Months, being moRly alone as to any Yoke-fellow in that Work, travelling many Hun- dreds of Miles, btingas far as Edingburgh^ in Scotland^' Eii^,i,.ff.^i, "where our Meeting was in the Street, we being lock'd out of our Meeting-houfe by the then Power, and great Numb-rs of People were there. This News being carried to the ProvoO: of the City, he faid, The Qjakers would do more Hurt out of Doors, than • B 3 zvithiu, .
12 W^ JOURNAL c/
1697. within, and he ordered Friends their Key. Since
vx"V^ which I have undcrftood that Friends in that City have
enjoyed their Meetings in the Meeting-houfe ; and
fometiines when the Rabble have difturbed Friends,
the Magiftrates have fent Officers to difperfe them.
Now^fter I had vifited the Churches of Chrift in divers Parts of En^^and^ and had many fweet Seafons :v of God's Love, and good Opportunities with my Friends, and others in this Nation ; fthe Word of Life being declared in the Simplicity of the Gofpcl, in fe- veral Places People were very open-hearted, and re- londoH. ceived the Teftimony of it with Gladnefs.) And after I had been at my Father's, and at my Calling, a little , after this~North-country Journey, I found myfelf en-
gaged in the Love of the Gofpel to vifit Friends in America •, and having acquainted my Friends and Relations of my Mind (they being wijlii g to give me up) in order for the Voyage, Friends of the Monthly Meeting gave me a Certificate, and I iiad another from the Meeting-of Miniders in London.
My Father, and feveral other Friends with me, took Boat from London^ and accompanied me to Grave/end^ on the 2 iff of the 10th Month 1697, and I went on 'jp.'rt/. board ihtSiKi^Jofiah^'Thoinas Z.z^r/f«^,Mafler,andfail'd
that Day from Gravefend, and got to the J)owns the next Day, where we tarried fome Days for a fair W ind ; _ » in which Time leverai others that were concern'd in
the fame Gofpel-labour, came on board, viz.Tbojnas Turner^ William Ellis^ and Aaron Atkinfon. In about four Days Time the Wind was fair tor us, and we fet '\« sc*, S;,i]^ and in a little Time we got out of Sight of the Land •, foon after which the Wind was contrary, and vv^e proceeded but a fmall Diftance for feveral Weeks; the Weather was rough and the Sea boifterous, fo that with the Motion thereof, mod of the PafTengers were Sick. In this Time we loft a Lad, that fell into the Sea (as he was drawing a Bucket of Water) and was drowned j the Ship running fwiftly, he could not be
faved.
tHOMAS CHALKLET, 13
faved, altho' it was fpeedily endeavoured. Several 1697. odiers died before we got over ; but for the mod Part ^^r-y^ we were Healthful. The Lord be prais'd, he was, is, and will be, with thofe that faidifuUy ferve him to the End.
We were three Ships in Company, but by Diftrefs of Weather, foon after we came out, we parted. After we had been at Sea about eight Weeks (on the 25thofthe i2thMonthjwefawtwoVeffelsafternofus. One of them came up with, and the People hailed us, and told us they came from Brijlolt and had been out ten Weeks. The other came up with us next Day. The People informed us they had been at Sea ^twtn. Weeks, and that they had a dreadful Time of it. She had loft Part of her Topmaft, and herSpritfail Topmaft was gone. She was a new Ship, and never at Sea before, belonging to London^ and bound for Virginia^ as near as we could underftand : Our Ship loft none of her Tackling, thro' the great Mercy of God to us, tho' the Wind and Sea was wonderful high at Times ; the Mate told me I might go to Sea all my Life, and not fee the like j he faid he had been at, orufed theSea, twenty Years, and neverfawitfo rough and high before. We had Meetings twice a Week, fe- veral of which were comfortable and refrelhing Meet- ings, towhichmoftofthePaffengers, being in all about Sixty in Number, fometimes came-, and feveral of them were affeded with the Senfe of Trutii, and the Lord ftrengthened our Faith and Hope in him.
Oh for ever blelTed be the living and eternal God, who kept my Soul above the Fear of Death, Hell, and the Grave ; for my Truft was in him, and he did bear up my Spirit above the Waves of the Sea ; and in the Time of Tolling with Tempefts, I was comforted and chearful, praifing the Lord in my Heart, both in the Day Time, and in the Night Seafon.
I was much concerned in my Mind, for many of the PalTengers, who with the fecond Mate, and feveral of
B 4 the
H^ I'be JOU RN AL 0/
1697. the Seamen were very Sick (by fome it was thought yw^ near unto Death) I cried to the Lord to heal tiiem, in the Name of his dear Son, and that it might be a M^ans to convince them of the Efficacy ot Love to, and Faith ia Chrift Jefus, the Phyfician of Value ; and the Lord was pleafed to heal them. The Mate of the ' Shipdcfired that I would come and pray by him. I went to him, and prayed in the Power and Name of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the Lord helped him ; that he faid he was fine and eafy, and thanked me tor my , Love; and in a jitiie Time he recover'd. Several othersof theSeamen andPaflensers I was inflrum.ental to help in their Sicknefs. The Lord blelTed my En- deavours in fupplicating him, on their Behalf, and adminiflring what I had to them. One of the Seamen iaid. He was bound to pray for me as long as he lived ; and- that the Lord u-ould hlefs me. Another ot the PafTengersfaid, That I was the blejfed BoBor ffor there •was not a Surgeon, or Do6lor, in the Ship.) I was very free to communicate of what I had to any fick Perfon in the Ship, and feveral blefTed the Lord on my Behalf. Indeed 1 thought I could fcarcf'. do enough for any that were jn Diftrefs. I write not thus, that I might feem popular, but with my Mind bowed before the Lord. Many Times in this Voyage there were Confultations in my Mind, whether I had befl write a Memorandum hereof; but at laft conceiving in my Spirit that it might ftrengthen and excite Love to God, and Faith in his beloved Son, in true Belivers, 1 wrote as aforefaid ; and tlien 1 was fatisfied, and gave the Glory to God.
Before we came to the Land, we faw a Ketch which had faved the Lives of fome that belonged to a Ship that was a little before founderM in the Sea : Who faid alfo, that a Fleet of New- Engl and Ships who had been upon that Coaft, by ftormy Weather, were forced to Barbadoes, and within a few Days after we faw the land oi Virgiuia^ and alfo a New-England Ship,
who
rnOMAS CHALKLET.
is
who failed or came from England three Weeks before us. We arrived within the Capes of Virginia the gift of the id Month 1698, and overtook the 7^/^« and ^^P"«f Margaret J a Ship that came out of the Englifh Channel ' ^"*"^- with us (the Mafter, Ihomas Salmon, being dead) and the next Day we anchored our Ship at the Mouth of Patuxent River in Maryland^ where our Boats were hoifted our, and we were rowed up Patuxent River twelve Miles, to Arthur Toung's Houfe, where we Jodged that Night •, and for our Prefervation and fafe Arrival, we blefs'd the Lord our God, and mv Spirit prais'd him who lives for ever and ever. Our Voyage was above twelve Weeks, it being then Winter Time, and lor t^ie moft Part the Winds lo high, that the Ships could carry but little Siil, which made our VoyagC' the longer.
About four Days after we ]anded, we had a Meeting f^tuxem Bear Patuxent River: And a blelTed one it was ! When River, m it was ended, we went (that Night) to Daniel Raw- ^'"'>^^''"'^' lings, and from thence to the Clifts^ to Richard John's, a Friend that came with us from England^ at whofe Houfe we had a Meeting, wherein God's Prefence was powerfully felt. We had feveral Meetings on that Side the Bay called the Weftern Shore, and then we failed over to the Eaft Side of Che/apeak Bay, with Thomas Everden^ in his Sloop, went to his Houfe, and had a Meeting, where many People came. Here we met with our Friends, Jonathan Tyler ^ Henry Pay- ton^ and Henry P^3;/o«'s Sil>er. W^hile I was at this Friend's Houfe, there was one Robert Cathing, who being very ill, fentfor Thomas Everden^ and he (not being very wellj defired me to vifit the fick Perfon. So I went, and the Man was near to Death. Howbeit he faid he was comforted mu:h with the Vifir, and that he never had received fo much B-nefit by the Pa- rifh Priefl in his Life : Jltho\ faid he, // cofi me dear for what I had \ and if ever 1 live to get over jt^ by the AJfijiance of Qod I fhall have nothing to ■ ' dd
i6
1698.
Vir^iniHt
Marykni.
itia.
r^^ J O U R N A L 0/
do with them more. But, he faid, he jhould ?iot live three Days. And before the End of three Days he expired. He defired (if I were not gone) I would be at his Funeral. On Notice hereof, about ten Friends went j and there was a greu many People, • among whom we had a good Opportunity, and ma- ny weighty Truths were opened to them in the Love of God J and fome of them were tender and wept ; and the moft, if not all (I think I may fay) werefolid and weighty.
From Thomas Everden's Houfe we went to George bruit's, at whofe Houfe we had a Meeting. This Friend and I went to an Indian Town not far from his Houfe, becaufe I had a Defire to fee thefe People, having never feen any of them before. When we came to the Tovv^n they were kind to us, fpoke well of Friends, and faid they would not cheat them (as fome others d\A.)
From George Truii's, in Maryland, we went down to Virginia ; and in Accomack and Northampton Coun- ties we had large Meetings, and I hope they were ef- fedtual to many ; I think my Hope is not without Ground. In thofe Parts we had feveral Meetings, where we were informed Friends had not had any before. And really I cannot but blefs the Lord for the Opportunities v/e had with the People ; for the Goodnefs of God, thro' Chrift our Lord, was great, both to us and them, and with Tears they did acknow- ledge the Truth. Now Thomas Turner^ who had hitherto accompanied me, went by the Sea Side the neareft Way to Philadelphia ; and afterwards I had a Meeting at George Truit'% Brother's, and on the firft Day, another near the Court-houfe, and went to Ihomas Everden's, and fo to Levin Denwood's., and thence to Nanticoke River, and vifited Friends up the Bay until I came to the River Choptank, about which there is a pretty many Friends. So I v/ent on, and took the Meetings till I came to Philadelphia, in
and
THOMAS CHALKLET, %7
and about which Place, and in other Parts of the Pro- 1 6gS. vince of Fenfyhania^ I had many large and precious v^"V'>w' Meetings, the Power of the eternal Son of God being wonderful, in which Power we many Times bleffed his Name together. It was in my Heart much to exhort Friends to Love to God, and to Unity one with another, without which there is no fulfilling the Law or Gofpel. There are many Friends in that Pro- vince, and many fober young People, which greatly rejoiced my Spirit ; fothat for their Encouragement, the Lord opened my Mouth in a prophetick Manner to declare unto them the Bleffings which he had in Store for them, on Condition of their Walking in the Truth. Glory to God on high ; Untruth decays, and the Branches of it mightily wither; the Darknefs is much paft, and the true Light fhineth glorioufly in many Souls. O powerful Praifes be given to God, who is Light for ever !
From Philadelphia I went to Burlington, and fo to CroJwickSy where we had a large Meeting under the weft" Trees, where fome were convinced of the Truth. J^rfj. From hence I went to Shrewjhury^ and had Meet- ings there : From Shrew/bury we went (moftly by Water) to PFoodbridge and Staten-Jjland, from thence state* to Long-Ifland, being accompanied by feveral Friends, ^l^^^n^^g^ On Long'IJland we had feveral large and good Meet- °"^ ings, wherein Chrift was preached freely ; and after we had been two Weeks there, we went on board a Sloop bound for Rhode-Ijland^ and by the Way we touched at Fijher's, and Block Iflands, and on the firfl Day Morning we fet fail from Block- IJland lo, Rhode-Jjland, E'^"''' the Yearly Meeting being juft over when we got there. Jflands That Evening we failed over to Connanicut-lfland, On j/and, the third Day of the Week had a Meeting; there, and ^ irom thence we went over to JSarraganfet^ and had a ifland. Meeting, and fo over to Rhode-IJland again (where Narreg^n. Ruth Fry, a fober young Woman, was convinced, and ^'^^' remained a Friend till her Death.) Here I met with
feveral
Warwick and Pro- videnee.
Salem. Hampton.
The J O U R N A L 0/
feveral travelling Friends. From the IQiind we went over to the Main, and had a large Meeting on firft Day, at a Place c^lkd Greenwich. It was thought there were about five Hundred People, and many of them were tender. We went over the fime Night to the Ifland ; and after fev-ral open Times with Friends and others on Rhode-lfland, about twelve Friends of that Ifland wen r with me to PFarwick and frovidence Yearly Meetings, in our Friend Borden's Boat. We fet Siil about Noon, and having but Jictle Wind, it was late in the Night before we got there, and very dark, infomuch that we could neither fee nor know one another, but only by our Speech, and the Dark- nefs occafioned us to run our Vefiel againlt the Rocks ; but at laft we got on Shore (with our Horfes) and after going over a very dirty Slough, we entered a difmal Wildernefs ; fo that thefe Difficulties occafioned our not getting to the Friend's Houfe till the next Day, which, being the laft in the Week, we had a Meet- ing ; and on the firft Day we had a large and fatis- fafiory Meeting. Many of us were fo united in the IjQve of God, that it was hard for us to part one from another. ,'
From Troviddnce I went to Bofion and Salem, where I Jiad Meetings, and from thence to Hampton. In thofe Parts God Almighty hathfhortned the Power of Perfecutors, and hath brought his righteous Judgments lipon them for their Unrighteoufnefs. Oh that New- England*^ ProfefTors might live in the Senfe of the fame, and repent. I being a Stranger and Traveller, could not but obferve the barbarous and unchriftian- ]ike Welcome I had into Bojlon., the Metropolis of New-England. Oh! what pity (faid onej it was, that all of your Society were not hanged with the other ^ Four I In the Eaftern Part of New-England God hath a Seed left of his People. From
* Mdrrmdule Stevenfon, IFilliam liohinjon^ Mxry Dyer, and IfiUUm Lsdir.1, who were put to D^ath in 1659 and id'o.
rUOMAS CHALKLET. 19
From thence I returned in order to get a Paf- 1698. fage to the Ifle of Nantucket \ and from a Place s^/^\'-^ called Cujhnet, we failed over t© the faid JQand in a- bout ten Hours, where we tarried leveral Days, and had Five Meetings. The People did generally ac- knowledge to the Truth, and many of them were tender-hearted. Some of the Ancient People faid, HaMueket, That it was never known that fo ?nany People were toge- ther on the IJJand at once. After the firft Meeting was over, one alked the Minifter (fo called) Whether we might have a Meeting at his Hoiife. He faid with a good Will, We might. This Minifter had fome Dif- courfe with me, and afl<;ed, What induced me to come hither., being fuch a young Man. I told him that I had no other View in coming there, than the Good of Souls, and that I could fay with the Apoftle, that aNeceflity was laid upon me, and Wo would be to me if I did noi preach the Gofpel. Then iaid he, / wiJJj you would preach at m-j Houfe in G O D's Na?ne. So next Day we had a Meeting at his Houfe ; and on the firft Day we had the largeft Meeting that we had on the Ifland. It was thought there were about two Hundred People. The Lord in his Power did make his Truth known to the Praife of his Name. Oh ! how was my Soul concerned for that People ! The Lord Jefus did open my Heart to them, and theirs to him : They were alfo loving and kind to us. The chief Magiftrate of the Ifland defired that I would have a Meeting at his Houfe, there being no fettled Meeting of Friends before I came -, and after Meeting he difputed about Religion with me. 1 thought we weie both but poor Difputantsi and I cannot remember all that pafs'd between us, but that in the Clo'e of our Difpute, he faid, I difputed with your Friends in Barbadoes, and they told me^ That we mujl cat the fpiriiual Flejhy and drink the fpiritual Blood of Chrijl : A?id, iaid the Governor, Did ever any one hear of Juch Fiejb and tlood j for
is
20
The ]OVK'N AL of
jLynn, Salem.
Ifle of Shoali.
is it not a Contradi5lio?i in Nature, that Flejb and Blood Jhould be Jpiritual ? O furely, faid I, the Governor hath forgot himfelf; for what Flefh and Blood was that which Chrift faid. Except ye eat my Flefh,, and drink my Blood, ye have no Life in you. IVhy^ faid he, I don't think they were to gnaw it from his Arms and Shoulders. Then I told him, he had anfwer'd himfeU. Thus our Difpute ended. [And from that Time forward they have continued a Meeting, and there is nov/aMeeting-houfe, and a Yearly Meeting for Worfhip, it is a growing Meeting to this Day, and fe veral publick Friends are raifed up amongft them, who preach the Gofpcl of Chrift freely.]
At this Time a Friend was convinced, whofe Name was Starhucky who became very ferviceable, and lived and died an eminent Minifterof Chrift on that Ifland. Several Scores of themcame and accompanied us to the Waterside-, and when we embarked on board our Sloop, they defired that I would come and vifit them again. So I recommended them to the Grace of our Lord Jefus, and we parted in great Love and Tendernefs. In the Evening ofthe next Day we got to the Main Land, where we were gladly received. Now it was in my Heart again to vifit the Eaftern Parts of New-England before I left America \ therefore I went to Bofion Yearly Meeting, thence to Lynn and Salem, where we had a Iweet comfortable Time ; likewife to the Yearly Meet- ing at Dover, and fo to Pifcataway, where we had feve- ral Meetings, which were profitable Opportunicies to many. From Pifcataway, J ames Goodbridge 2J\d I went over to the Ifle o^ Shoals -, we had with us a ChurcH- member ofthe Prefipytcrians, whofe Brother invited her over with us to the faid Ifland, to the Meeting which was at his Houfe ; and while he was talking with her in the Yard or Garden, I fa w a Bible, and took it, and read therein. When flie came into the Houfe fhc afked me. What I did with that Book ? I told her, Ifjhe was offended I would lay it down. No,' Noy faid fhe,
don'i
"THOMAS CHALKLET, 21
ilont think to come off fo^ for -jou dtfown or deny that 1698. Book. I told her. She was mijlaken ; and afked, t^V%J Who told herfo? Why^ faid fhe, cur Minifter in his Pulpit. I replied, 'That it was a great Ahufe upon us^ for I had been trained tip from my Childhood in the Reading and Belief of the Scriptures^ and my Father and Mother were Friends ('chat is, fakers.) She wil- ling to try me further, faid, Did your Father and Mo- ther fuffer you to read the Bible when you were a little Boy? Tes, faid I, and gave me Corre5lion when I was not fo willing to read therein as they would have me. Then., faid fhe. Our Minifler has h elf d you -^ and f nee you fay fo, if it pleafe God, I will go and hear you: She went with us to Meeting ; and after it was over fgoing Homej one afked her^ How fhe would an-- fwer it to their Minifler, for going to Meeting. She replied, // was a Truth fhe had heard, and fhe would fiand by it through the Grace of Chrijl^ and need not be afloamed of it (though we are of ourfeJves but poor weak Creatures J This Woman was fober and religi- ous, and one of good Report. By the foregoing we may fee how Slanders flow from fome Pulpits ; the more is the Shame and Pity ! We went on, and preach- ed the Gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift in that Ability he gave us, with which the People were affeded, and would have had us tarried longer, but we could not ("although they much importuned us) becaufewe had appointed a Meeting at Oyfier River. After we had had feveral Meetings about Pifcataway and Dover^ we went to Hampton.^ where we had Meetings -, and at Ham%n, Salijbury we had a large open Meeting, as it was fup- pos*d, of about three Hundred People (which was at this Time accounted a great Concourie of People there- abouts ',) alfo at Jamaica and Haverill v/e had Meet- ings, and from thence went to Salem and Lynn again, where we had good Service for Truth, and then to Bojlon, and had a Meeting at the Meeting- houfe, and another at a Friend's Houfe in the Evening, at which ^°^''^^'
there
22 r/je JOVkN AL of
1698. there were m.iny People. From Bojlon I went to vifit w-^'S''''^ Friends about Cape Cod, till I came again to Rhode- jjland. By the Way I met with Aaron Atkinfon^ who was on a ViPr to Friends in New-Englfind. I had fe- vera) c;oo'i Opportunities, and powerful IVIeetings in thofe Part.'i, and Truth wrought a Tendernefs in divers at Rhode IJland, The Pretence of him, who faid. Where two or three are met in my iSame^ there am I in the midjl of them ^ being fenfibly witnelTcd by many ; for nc- was with us of a Truth. From thence I went Narraian. round the Narraganjet Country, and had Meetings at ■^''* feveral Places, and was accompanied by John Rodman
and William Beackly^ thro' ConneElicut to Long- IJlandy which is accounted two Hundred Miles. We had one Meeting by the Way, in which Cnrift was preached to CoHHcfti. them, as he is the Li^ht of the World, at a Place where we were told there never was a Friend's Meeting before. I came to Long-Ifand about two Weeks be- fore the General Meeting, and vifited Friends in feve- Lon^ ral Places on this Ifland, as at Ha?npftead^ Jenifalem^
ifland. Jericho^ and Bethpage^ where there were large Meet- ings, and much Opennefs among the People, and fome were convinced. We had a Meeting at a Place called Matifiicok, where I met with fome ot the People cal- led Ranters, whodifturbed our Meeting. I may fay- as the Apoftle Paul (only altering Ephefus to Mati- nicok) that I fought with Bealb there •, and thence I New travelled to New-Tork, where we had two Meetings; J"*""^- from thence we went to l\\tJerfeySi and there we had Jcrjeyt. ^^^^^^^ ferviceable Meetings that were large •, and fo to Penfihania^ where there are many very large Meet- ings ot Friends, and the Lord is with his People there, and profpereth them fpiritually and temporally. Here I met with my dear Friend, JVilliam Ellis. From F^nfyiva. pjjiiadelphia, Richard Gove (of that City; and I tra- velled to Maryland, and vifited Friends on the Weft- ern Shore, and from thence to Virginia. In Virginia^ viriinia. ncaf James\ River, I met with an aged Friend whofe
Name
'THOMAS CHAyLKLET. ^
Name was William Pvrter. He was ninety- two Years p6g8. of Age, and had then a Daughter two Years old *. vj>*v*^s>'' We had feveral Meetings there amongft Friends and others, many being wellfatisfied concerning the Truth, .-^ .■ .*. and ipoke well of it.
And after we had had feveral good and open Meet- ings in ^fr^z^z/i^, we found ourfelves clear oi America^ and in order for our Paffage, we agreed with our Friend F. Johnfan^ on board the Elizabeth and Mary^ to ca rry us ior England.
On the nth of the Firft Month 1698-9, we were igqg.q accompanied on board by feveral Friends, who abode\.x-sy-sJ with us all Night -, and the next Day, being the firft Day of the Week, we had a little comfortable Meet- ing, and then parted in much Love, having the Evi- dence of the Power of the Almighty with us. We waited for a fair Wind until the 20th of the aforefaid Month,, and left the Gapes of Virginia that Day, and at Night we got our Ship into a failing Pofture •, and I was glffjd in my Spirit, that I Vv-as feccing my Face towards my native Land ; and more glad that I was returning. with Peace in my Bofom.- On ! the Power At sex. and Prefenceof Hirn who faid, Go teach all Nations, was fweet to my Sdyl at that Time, and now in fome Meafure I enjoy'd the Fruits of my having laboured in that Ability God had given me. Glory to God, throVChrift, who is worthy for ever ! The'Prefc^c^^ of God was with us on the great Ocean, and we were ftrengthened through liis Goodnefs wonderfully. We C had
^^*Some Years after I law him, and he was weeding Indinn Corn with a Hoe. He was then about 106 Years of Age, and had. upwards of feventy Children, Grand-Children, and c^r.-at-Grand- C hildren. We wer« divers Friendsof us to fee him and he preach- ed to us a fhort, but very aiFeding Sermon, which was (as near as I remember_) Verbatim thus; " Frien (s, you are come to fee me " in the » ove of God. God is Love, and thofe that dweUin " God dwell in Love. I thank God, I feel his. Divine life •^ every Day and every Night.'* He lived to fee his above iwenti- ohed Daughter married, and died, aged 107 yeajte.tt»i.*iU hj.oi
a4 ^-7h J OVR-N AL of "^-"^
1699. had feveral good Meetings on board our Ship, and W*^ were opened (m the Love of God; to the poor Sea- men very largely. At Sea. When we launched forth into the Deep, we were
feveral Ships in Company ; but we had been but a lit- tle Time at Sea, before we loft Sight of them all. Se- veral Ships pafTed by us about a Week after we fail'd; and about this Time we faw a very large Whale, who lifted himfelf part out of the Water with his Mouth open, which looked like the Entrance of a large Cave. We likewife faw feveral other large Sea Filh, fuch as GrampufTes, Sharks, (^c. All which fhew forth the wondrous Works of the Great Creator of all Things. Elizabeih IVebb and Elizabeth Lloyd went over with us in this VelTel, both virtuous Women. About two Weeks the Winds were moftly fair for us, in which Time we got finely on our Way ; but for above a Week afterwards the Winds were moftly contrary, and the Ship had a great Motion, which caufed fofne of us to be Sea-fick, efpecially Elizabeth Lloyd f (who was but weakly.; One Night our Sailors thought that an Enemy or Pyrare was near us, who fired two Guns, and.fo paired by us ; but it being Night, we could not certainly know what fhe was. I rather judged it might be fome Ship in Diftrels, for we faw one of the Ships that Evening that came out with us, and the next Morning we could lee none at all, and there was hard- ly any Wind that Night, lo I feared that our Compa- nion had fprung a Leak and foundered ; and when I told our Mafter my Opinion, he faid, he feared the fame likewife. Now for two Weeks Time, or there- abouts, we beat about the ^ea, and made little Pro-
grefs.
+ She was the Daughter o^ThomAs lloyi, late Deputy-Gorer- nor of Pefijjlvania. he lived and died a virtuous Woman; and, I thinK, generally beloved by all who were acquainted with her. When (he died fhe was the Wife of Daniel Zuchaty, a Merchant at Bofton, New-Enghnd, well known, and much be- loved tiicrc, for his Piety and Virtue;
THOMAS CHALKLET, 2^
grefs. Howbeit we had feveral good Meetings, where- in we gave Glory to God our Saviour ; and for ever Jet it afcend, faith my Soul, to him over all ! After -^^^ea. contrary Winds, about two Weeks, the Wind fprung up Wefterly, and was fair for feveral Days *, in which Time we got finely on our Way again, and left the Wejiern IJlands about two Days Sail behind us ; and then the Wind was contrary again. Contrary Winds are commonly tedious at Sea(butefpecially to thofe that know not where to ftay their Minds) but we being feveral Friends of us on board that were PalTengers, had oftentimes good Meetings feveral Times a Week ; and if any of our Ship's Company came to Meeting, they always were fober, and fometimes tender ; and truly, God's Love was extended towards them. And when it was not our Meeting Days, we fpent not our Time idly, but for the moft Part in Reading the holy Scriptures, and Writing, i^c. in which we were ac fundry Seafons greatly refrelhed, flrengthened, and comforted. O my Soul ! glorify God thy Maker, and Chrift thy Saviour for ever, in the Senft? of his Goodnefs and Mercy, both by Sea and Land, by Night and by Day ! After we had been aim oft (tvQn WeeksatSea, we thought that we were near the Land, but we founded feveral Days, and found no Bottom, altho' we let out Abundance of Line, I think above 300 Yards.
About this Time our Doctor dreamed a Dream, which was to this Effed:, himfelf relating it to me : He faid, " He dreamed that he went on Shore at a *' great and fpacious Town, the Buildings whereof *' were high, and the Streets broad ; and as he went *' up the Street he faw a large Sign, on which was wri- " ten in great golden Letters SHAME. At the Door *' of the Houfe (to which the Sign belonged) flood «* a Woman with a Can in her Hand, who faid unto " him, Do5lor, will you drink? He reply'd, with ** all my Heart, for I have not drank any Thing but
C 2 *« Water
'The JOURNAL o;^
" Water a great whiL^ (our Wine and Cyder being all '* fpent, having h;.d a long Pnffige) and he drank a At Sea. 4t hearty Draught, which he faid, made him merryj ■'•--■•' *' To went up the Street reeling to and fro., when a '* grim Fellow coming behind him, clapp'd him on *' the Shoulder, and told him, that he arrejledhim in '^ the Name of the Governor of the Place. He afk-, «« ed him for what, and faid. What have I done ? He^ *•' anfwered, tor Jlealing the Woman's Can -, the Can '* he had indeed, and fo he was had before the Gover- '' nor, which was a mighty bfack Dog, the biggeft ** and grimclt that ever he faw in his Life ; and Wit- " nefs was brought in againfthim by an old Companion *' of his, and he was found guilty, and his Sentence " was to go'^Prifon, and there to lay for ever."
He told nte this Dream fo punctually, and with fuch
an Emphafis, that it afi^efted me with ferious Sadnefs,
and caufed my Heart to move within me (for to me
the Dream feemed true, and the Interpretation fure^
I then told him he was an ingenious Man, and might
clearly fee the Interpretation of that Dream, which ex-
a<5lly anfwered to his State and Condition, which I thus
interpreted to him : " This great and fpacious Place,
" wherein the Buildings were high, and the Streets
*^ broad, is thy great and high Profe/Tion: The
" Sign, on which was wrote Shamet which thou
'*« laweft, and ilie Woman at the Door, with the Can
'*• in her Pland, truly reprefents that great, crying
" and fhamefu! Sin of Drunkennefs, which thou
'' knows to be thy great Weaknefs, which the Wo-
*' man with the Can did truly rcprefent to thee: The
" grim Fellow which ar relied thee in the Devil's
*' Territories is Death, who will afluredly arreft all
" Mortals: The Governor which thou faweft, re-
'* prefentinga great black Dog, is certainly the De-
*' Vil, who after his Servants have ferved him to the
" bSil, will torment them eternally in Hell." So he
got upj as it were in haite, and faid, God forbid I It is
nothing
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 27
nothing but a Dream. But I told him it was a very 1699. Significant One, and a Warning to him from the »->'''y*^ Almighty, who fometimes fpeaks to Men in Dreams, channoi,
la ^tvtxi Weeks after we left Sight of the Land of America^ we faw the Scil^ Iflands, and next Day we faw the Land of England, which was a comfortable Sight tousi in that God Almighty had preferved us hitherto, and that we were fo far got on our Way. ■We drove about the Channel's Mouth for feveral Days for want of Wind ; after which, for two Days the 'Wind came up, and we got as far up the Channel as Lime-hay^ and then an Eafterly Wind blew frefh for feveral Days, and we turned to Windward, but rather loft than got on our Way, which was tirefome and te- dious to fome of us.
Now about this Time (being fome Days after the
Doflor's Dream) a greivous Accident happened to us.
We meeting with a Dutch Veffel in Li?ne-bay a little
above the Starts hailed her, and fhe us. They faid
they came from Lijhon, and were bound for Holland,
She was loaded with Wine, Brandy, Fruit, and fuch
like Commodities j and we having little but Water to
drink (by reafon our PalTage was longrr than we ex-
pe6ted) therefore we fent our Boat on board, in order
to buy us a little Wine to drink with our Water. Our
Daflor, and a Merchant that was a PafTenger, and one
Sailor, went on board, where they ftaid fo long until
fome of them were overcome with Wine, altho' they
were defired to beware thereof ; fo tiiat when they
came back, a Rope being handed to them, they (being
filled with Wine unto Excefsj were not capable of
ufingit dexterouOy, infomuch that they overfet the
Boat, and fhe turned Bottom upv/ards, having the'
Doctor under her. The Merchant caught hold of a
Rope called the Main Sheet, whereby his Life was
faved. The Sailor not getting fo much Drink, as the
other two, got nimbly on the Bottom of the Boat,
and floated on the Water till iuch Time as our other
C 3 Boat
s^ ^^ JOURNAL 0/
Boat was hoifted out, which was done with great Speed, and we took him in 9 but the D<;6lor was drowned before the Boat came. The Seaman that fat upon the Boat faw him fink, but could not help him. This was the greatefl: Exercife that we met with in all our Voyage •, and much the more fo, as the Doflor was of an evil Life and Converfation, and much gi- ven to Excefs of Drinking. When he got on board the aforefaid Ship, the Matter fent for a Can of Wine, and faid, Do^or^ will you drink? He replied, YeSy with all my Heart .^ for I've drank no Wine a great while. Upon which he drank a hearty Draught, that made him merry (as he faid in 'r;isDrc'amj*j.^.ndnotwithftand- ingthe Admonition which wasfoclearly manifeftedto him but three D.iys before, and the many Promifes he had made to Almighty God, fome of whsch I was a Witnefs of, when ftrong Convictions were upon him, yet now he was unhappily evercome, and in Drink when he was drowned. This is, I think, a hvely Reprefentacion of the tender Mercy, and jufl Judgment of the Almighty to poor Mortals i and I thought it was worthy to b- recorded to Poflcrity, as a Warning to all great Lovers of Wine and ftrong Liquors. This Exercife was fo great to me, that I could not for feveral Days get over it ; and one Day while! was mufingin my Mind on thole Things re- lating to the Dodor, it was opened to me, that God and his Sc^rvants were clear, and his Blood was on his own Head ; for he had been faithfully warned of his evil Ways.
We were obliged by contrary Winds to put into Plymouth Harbour, and from Pfynouth I went by Coach to London^ where I was gladly received by my
Relations
N. B. This Relation about the Dcflor's s-ream, when I was at Birbadoes, I had Occalion to write about it to a friend in Jrehnd, which he got printed there, and is the fame with this in Sujjftance, only that is fomew hat fuller and larger.
THOMAS CHALKLEr 29
Relations and Friends. In this Journey I travelled about 2000 Miles by Land, and 6000 by Water. I got to the Yearly Meeting of Friends in London, in the Yean 699 (which waslargejand was atdivers pub- lick Meetings for the Worlhip of Almighty God. I ^ondon^ may truly fay, the holy Ghoft was amongft us, blefTed ed be God our Saviour for evermore.
In this Year I thought it my Place to enter into a married State, and I acquainted my Father of my De- lign, and that I inch"n'd to make Choice of Martha Betterton, a religious young Woman, whom I entirely lov.'H for that Pi'^ty, Virtue, and Modefty, which I beheld in her ; {I was in the twenty -fourth Tear of my Age, andjhe in her twenty-firjl.) I jikewife acquaint- ed her Father and Mother with my Intentions, to which both our Parents confented ; her Father faying (when I fpoke to him) Go together, and the Lord blefs you together. And my Father faid, If I was worth my Weight in Gold, fhe defervedme. The Heartinefs ot both our Fathers in/ this Matter, was more to me than a Portion of ^Iver or Gold, of which we had but very little -, but our Love to each other was very great, and being well and honourably grounded, ic was not eafily Ihaken. So after Confent of Parents, we propofed our Intentions of Marriage to the Month- ly Meetings unto which we belonged ; and becaufe I had been travelling in America, I had Certificates from my Brethren there fnot onlyj of my Induftry and Labour in the Minillry, with the good Effedts thereof, but alfo of my Clearnefs in Relation to Mar- riage -, and after having twice publifh'd our intention?, we had Liberty of the faid Meeting to proceed to the Solemnization of our Marriage, which was accom- plilhed at Devon/hire -Houfe^ in London (at a Meeting appointed for that End) on the 28th Day of the feVE^Month, in the aforefaid Year, in the Prefence of many hundreds of People, and many worthy Bre- thren and Elders. A Day of Days it was to my Soul!
D 4 wherein
30 ?^^JOUrRNALY
1 699. wherein I was made fenfi-ble of the Love and Goodnefs v/V"'*^ of God in a pirticular Manner, which to mc;, was an Earncftof ourfuturewell-doing. My dear Wife wasone who truly loved and feared God, and had an excellent Gift of the Miniftry given unto her, and was fervice- able therein. [A Paper cornii.g to my Hands of her ov/n Hand- writing and compofing, I tranfcribeit here. She calls it An Account of the Exercife t/Martha Bet- terton, viz. " As I was walking in the City of- London^ '' with a Concern on my Mini, in beholding the *' abominable Pride of the People -, it opened upon '* my Mind in this wife: IVo^ Wo I 'Jo the Crown oj " Pride ! And then I was deeply bowed in my Spirit •' before the Lord, and it was faid to me, I ivill yet *' /pare a little longer ; / have Sheep which I will ga- *' ther Home to me^ and there [hah he one Shepherd ** and one Sheepfold. Then 1 faid in my Heart, Ob *' Lord ! Shall I be one of thy Sheep bt longing to thy *' Sheepfold of eternal Refl. And again it was anfwer- *' ed me, Aly Sheep hear ?ny Voice, and they follow *' me. Then a Cry was railed in me, Caiife me to " hear thy Voice -, and not only jo., but enable me to *' obey the fame. And then this Charge was returned *' tome. Be thou faithful y] 'fM-v-^ Soon after I was married, I had a Concern to vifit
iiufx. Friends in the Counties of Surry^ Sujfex^ and Kent, js>idKm- ■vi^iTiich J performed in about two Weeks Time, and came Home and followed my Calling, and was indu- ftrious therein ; and when I had gotten fomething to bear my Expences, and fettle my Wife in fome little Eufinefs, I found an Exercife on my Spirit to go over ■feiitrJ. to Ireland, to vifit our Friends and Brethren on that Ifland, in vjh'ich fViuiafnI'own/Ijend zccon\pa.nied me, and Friends in that Nation were generally fatisfied Vv'ith our Service amongthem. When we had been from Home about ten Weeks, and had vifited moft Farts oi that Nation, having had many Meetings among Friendsj and others, we found Freedom in
our
THOMAS C HALKLET. 31
our Minds to return Home, which we did, being 1699. comforted in our Service, and bleffed the Name of s.y\-^ the Lord.
After fome few Months I acquainted my Wife and my Bather, with her Father and Mother, that I thought it my Duty to go over and live in America, ' To which Propofal, my Father confented, tho' with Tendernefs of Heart, confidering that I muft be fo far feparated from him. I alfo laid it before the Monthly Meeting of Friends at Horjly-down^ in Souih- wark (of which Meeting I was a Member j who con- fented to it (tho' fomewhat unwilling to part with us) and gave us their Certificate, to let our Brethren know that we were in Love and Unity with them, and walked according to our ProfefTion. And when we were ready, and in order for going, we agreed for the Freight of our Goods and Servants, with John. Snowdon^ and Ihipped them on board the Jofiah^ bound for Maryland. When the Ship was at Grave/- a^evef. end, and ready to fail, feveral of our dear Relations '«''• and Friends accompanied us to the Ship, on board of which we had a good Meeting, and took our fo- Jemn Leave of one another, as never expeding to fee each other any more in this World. It was a folemii Time indeed ! We prayed for one another, and fo parted, our Ship failing that Evening, and we got to Margate-Road, where we anchor'd, and the Wind a great fprung up very frefh, and blew tempeftuoufly, iQ^^rmm that we broke our Cable, and lofl our bed Bower- RoadT^' Anchor, and drove violently towards the Goodwin Sands, We let go our Sheet- Anchor, and three more, •which were all we had, but they did not ftop her •, upon which theMafler ordered the Carpenters tofland by the Main-maft, with their Axes upon their Shoul- ders, and when he gave the Word, then they were to cuttheMaft. The People in the Ship fthere being divers PafTengers) were in a great Conlternation, ex- ipefting nothing but Death : But for my Part, being
exceedingly
32 "Tk JOURNAL of
1699. exceedingly Sea-fick, and having been in many -/"VnJ Storms, I was not fo much iurprized with this, the Sailors fometimes making a great Noife when there is but little Danger •, but there was more Danger than I was aware of, as appeared afterwards. One of the Paffengers came weeping, and faid. Our Cafe was very had. The Dodor alfo came in the fame Man- ner; and cry'd, Oh ! Mr. Chalkley, we are all dead Men! Then I thought with myfelf, I would go out on Deck, and fee what the Matter was •, and when on Deck, J went to the Pilot, who had the Lead in his Hand, and he founded, and cry*d out. Lord havi Mercy upon us ! (he is gone., jheisgone^ Jhe is gone! by which I perceiv'd that we were very near the Goodwin Sands, on which many Ships have been loft with all their Crews. In this Senfe of Danger I feni for the Paflengers into the Cabin, and told them that I thought it would be v/ell for us to fit ftill together, and look unto, and wait upon God, to fee what he would pleafeto do for us ; that, if Death came, we might meet him in as good a Frame of Mind as we could, and that we might not be furpriz'd beyond Meafure: And as we were thus compofed in our Minds, a Concern came upon my dear Wife, andfhe prayed to God, the Father, in the living Power and Senfe of his Son i and he heard from his holy Habita- tion, and anfwered the Prayer : For immediately af- ter the Wind abated, and our Anchors held us. This was a great Deliverance, which is not to be for- gotten. When we faw the long'd-for Morning, we were very near the Sands, and the Sea ran prodigi- ouQy high, and broke upon them mightily, fo that we were forced to leave our Cables and Anchors, and make the beft of our Way to D^^/, as well as we could. One of the Owners being on Shore, and fee- ing us in Diftrefs, fent off a Cable and Anchor to us ; and we anchored before Deal with our new Cable and Anchor, and fent a Boat for our other Anchors and
CableSj
THOMAS CHALKLET. 33
Cables, when it was Calm, which brought them to 1700. us. And after we had fupply'd ourfelves with what we v-^'V*^ wanted, we put to Sea again, and had fair Winds till we got as far as the Wefiern IJlands^ where Captain jvcrum Cant being in Company with us, he fpoke with our iJiuHds. Captain in the Evening, and the two Captains con- cluded it would beftormy that Night, which happened accordingly. They took in their Sails, and we all but our Mainfail ; notwithftanding which, the Storm was fuch, that we loft our Main-maft, fprung the Head of our Fore-maft, and broke our Crofs jack- yard, and thus lay rowling upon the Sea for about two Weeks ; The Ship Brijiol Merchant coming by in that Time, lent us a fpare Top-maft, of which we made a Main-maft, and a Top-maft of our Top-gallant- maft, and lo refitted out as well as we could, and had a pretty good PafTage afterwards. We were about eight Weeks from the Lands- End to the Capes of capesof Virginia ; had Meetings twice a Week on board, and yirgimt. they helped to ftay our Minds on our Maker, tho* our Bodies were toffedtoand again on the mighty Waters. We went on Shore at Patuxent River, and went by MsryfoKg Land to Herring-Bay, where I, my Wife, and Fami- ly, tarried that Winter ; and I, with my three Ser- vants, followed my Calling. In the Spring we tranf- ported ourfelves, our Goods, and Servants, from j^^q, Maryland to Perifihania, where we intended to fettle >o''-\,«Jj when we came from our native Country. At Phila- Pf>i/ade!. delphia I bought a Lot of Ground upon the River De- ^^""^ laware^ and there I followed my Calling that Summer; and in the Fall I had an inward Call to vifit Friends in Barhadoes, which I propofed to our Monthly Meet- ing, and they certified on my Behalf, that they had Unity with me in my Propofal, Converfation and Mi- niftry: So I took Ship at Philadelphia (about the 20th ot the 7th Month, 1701J on board the Mra^ ham. Street^ Commander, and was about a .^
Month on our Voyage ; Jofiab Langdale (was with
me.j
34
"The JOURNAL /
v^
1701. mej We had feveral good Meetings in the Ship to v./'V"*^ our S-;tisfa<5lioni and were well received, and had Earbadoes. many Meetings at Barhadoes^ which were often very large and open, and fome of the People loving and tender. We had feveral Meetings at Bridge-Town^ Speight's Town^ the Springs and the Thickets^ and at Pumpkin-Hill i and after being there about fix Weeks, ticmudnt, we went in a Sloop to Bermudas^ where we found but very few Friends, yet had Meetings in feveral Places, and at the Houfes of fome People who were not of our Profeflion ; and the longer we tarried, the larger ouf Meetings were -, and many began to be affedt- ed, and fpoke well of us and our Devotion, but fome were difturbed, and fpoke to the Governor to break up our Meeting (which at the Defire of one of the Inhabitants we had appointed at his Houfe^ upon which he fent Orders by one of his Colonels to break . Tjp our Meeting, which troubled divers fober People. After this I met with the Governor at the Houfe of one Judge Stafford -, and he being a moderate Man, we had the following Difcourfe, viz.
Gov. How do you like our Country ? We are but a little Spot in the Sea.
*T, C. I like it well for its moderate Climate. If the People were moderate alfo, it would be well.
Gov. Doth it anfwer your End in coming? '^. 5". C. My End in coming, was to vifit the People in Chriftian Love.
Gov. Do you think the People will be brought over ?
T. C. If they are brought to Truth and Righteouf- nefs, it will be well for them. That is the End of our coming.
Gov. If you had acquainted me with your Defign, when firft you came, you had done well. It was your Duty.
T. C. If we had known the Governor's Will herein, or that thou v/ouldft have fpoken with us, we fhould
have
rHOMAS CHALKLE T. 3^
have readily anfwered it: But knowing nothing of jyoi, ■ it, we could not tell but that it might be.taken for i^vSi Rudenefs in us, confidering our hom,e).y,„W^y-, and. Manner of addreffingfuch Men. '.t.^-Jr/ ,., .
Gov. Then your Defign in coming here was to preach. Had you no other End ?
' 3l C.'Tes.. As we found a Concern upon us to preach, and a De fire in the People to hear.
Gov. Why don't you- tarry with them ? That looks ftrange. Flere the People are affed:ed with you, and you go away and leave "rfiem : Upon my Word I blame you for that.
T. C, We don't direft them to Man, but to the Lord Jefus Chrift, their Teacher, and Bilhop of their Souls. And whyfliould our leaving them look flrange to the Governor ? For it was the Pradice of the Apoilles of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and his own^ Pradice and Command to his Followers. And fur- ther the Apoflles Cwhich Word fignifies Ambafiadors or Meflengersj fay, Follow us^ as we are Followers of Chrift. And they travelled up and down the World preaching, the Gofpel j and our great Lord himfelf had not whereon to lay his Head,
Gov. The Apoilles were infpired Men : Infpired by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gofpei. I fuppofc you don't pretend to be infpired.
y. C. Every true Chriftian ought to pray for the Pouring out of the holy Spirit, .or holy Ghoft upon him. The Church of England * alfo prays for it, the Receiving of which is Infpiration.
Gov. Your Reafons being grounded on Scripture, you are well grounded ; for no Man can deny the Scriptures. Then you fay yoa are infpired?
T. C. I hope lam. I pray for it with great Ear- neftnefs.
Gov. Then it is but alk, and have, you think.
T. C
* Of which Church the Governor was a Member.
36 "TJoe jOVKN AL of
1 70 1. T. C. If we afk in Fnith, without wavering, we v./V'"*^ IhaJl receive, according to the Doftrine of Chrift and his Apoftles in the New Teftament.
Gov. Well, If any have a Defire to hear you, you may preach and welcome.
After I had this Difcourfe with the Governor, it was reported on the Ifland that the Governor had given us a Licenfe to preach fwhich Report was not true, further than the aforefaid Difcourfe) and then we had larger Meetings than before. We had a Meet- ing at Judge Stafford's Houfe, and one at a Houfe not far from his.
It is obfervable, that this Ifland hath formerly been a very healthy and fruitful Place. Red Cedar, or Sweet Wood, is ail the Timber they have in the Ifland, with which they build their Houfes, make their Houfhold Goods, build their Ships and Sloops, and make their Fires •, fo that there is continually a fragrant and pleafant Smell, which we could fmell at Sea fome time before we faw the Land ; and it is yet a pretty healthy and fruitful Ifland, but not fo heal- thy and fruitful as formerly. In one of the Meetings I was concerned to let them know, that it was the Evil of their Ways and Doings that had caufed the Almighty to with-hold from them the Fruits of the Earth, and to make their Ifland moreunhealthful than formerly it was. After Meeting the Judge told me, I had faid truly, for that was the Caule i and if I had fpokemore rothat Matter, or on that Subject, I had done well. Several were convinced at this Time on this Ifland.
Soon after an Opportunity offered, in a Sloop be- longing to this Ifland, that was bQund^ov Philadelphia^ in which we (being clearj embarked, and on our At Sea. Voyage had indifi^erent good Weather, only one hard Gale of Wind, which c;\uled us to hand our Jib. A Molatto Man na ned Stavo Cbeing the Mafl:er s Ser- vant) went out upon the Bowfprit to hand the Sail,
and
HHOMAS CHALKLET. 37
and there came a Sea and wafhed him ofF; and the 1701, VefTel ran over him ; and, in aJl probability, he had {^Y'SJ certainly been drowned, had he not been a good Swimmer ; for he fwam, as we judged, three Quar- ters of a Mile, before he got to the Sloop, it not coming into any one's Mind to lower the Sails, until I Iharply order'd it to be done, which they then did readily ; and the Courfe of the VelTel being flopp'd, he foon got on board, having flripp'd himfelf of his Clothes in the Sea, and brought them in his Mouth. I was very thankful for the poor Fellow's Life, and praifed the Lord in the Secret of my Soul, for his Prefervation. In about two Weeks Time we arrived at Philadelphia, and I had great Peace in my phUadeU Labours in this Vifit, in which I was from Home/*'** about five Months. The Friends of Barbadoes were fo well fatisfied with this Labour of Love, that they certified the fame by Way of Certificate, more than is proper for me to mention. But tho' they thought fo well of me, yet I had occafion to think very meanly of myfelf, for I was emptied to exceeding great fpiri- 'tual Poverty at Times.
After I came Home from Barhadoes and Bermudas, 1702. I followed my Calling ; and kept to Meetings dili- •%i^'%''NJ gently •, for I was not eafy to be idle •, either in my fpiritual or temporal Callings ; and at Times travelled in the Work of the Miniftry in our own Province Cin which there are many large Meetings of Friends, and they increafe and multiply from time to time.) Since my fettling in this Province, which is now about a Year, fome Hundreds of People are come here to fettle, and divers Meeting-houfes are built; and I do certainly know from above, that this Province of Penfyhaniay and City of Philadelphia, will flourifli both fpiritual ly and temporally, if the Inhabitants will love (and live \x\) Righteoufnei's, and in the Fear of God i otherwife the Hand that planted them can foon pluck them up. After fome time I was drawn fotth
to
3§ "the JOVRN AL of
1703. to vifit Friends m Maryland^ Virginia^ and North' /"V"^ Carolina^ and went with the Unity of Friends, hav- ing their Certificate (according to the good Order eftablifhed among us) fo about the 26th of the firft Month, 1703, 1 went thro Maryland^ and vifited fiiaryMi. priends in Virginia and North-Carolina, to the River Nofthc'a. PamphlicOy where no travelling publick Friends (that roima. ever I heard of) were before, and we had fcveral Meetings there on each Side of the River. One Day going out of our Canoe through a Marfli, I trod on a Rattle-fnake fwhich is accounted one of the mofb poifonous SnakeSy^ but it only hiffed at me, and did no Harm. This was one Deliverance, among many, the Lord by his Providence wrought lor me ; and I blefs his holy Name for all his Mercies. In going to, and coming from this Place, we lay two Nights in the Woods, and 1 think I never flept better m all my Life. It was the eighth Hour in the Evening when I laid dovm on the Ground one Night .fmy Saddle being my Pillow) at the Root of a Tree, and it was four a Clock in the Morning when they called me. When I awoke, I thought of good JacoFs Lodging he had on his Way to Padanara?n, when he faw the holy Vifion of Angels, with the Ladder, whofe Top reached to Htaven. Very fweet was the Love of God to my Soul that Morning, and the Dew of the ever- lafbing Hills rcfreihed rae ; and I went on my Way prailingrheLord, and magnifying the God of my Sal- vation. In this Journey I met with another remarkable Deliverance ; going over a River eight Miles broad, we put our Horfes [we being eight Men and feven Horfes] into two Canoes ty'd together, and our Horfes flood with their Fore- feet in one, and their Hind- feet in the other. It was calm when we fet out, but vi'hen v/e were about the Middle of the River the Wind arofe, and the Seas ran high, and fplit one of our Canoes fo that with our Hats we were obliged to ca^ out the Water ; and with much DifHculty (at laft)
all
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 39
all of us, with our Horfes, got fafe on Shore, through 170?. the good Providence of God. And on Return ^^''VN^ xhvou^ North-Carolinay we had feverallarge Meet- ings, and an open Time it was ; as alfo at Nanfimund and Chuckatue, and feveral other Places in Virginia ; and when my Service was over in thofe two Provinces I went back to Maryland, and vifited Meetings there, and then went Home. As near as I can compute it, I rode about a thoufand Miles in this Journey. After fjjUaiti. which I ftaid at Home, following my Bufmeis, in phia. order to the Maintenance of my Family, being blefled with Wife, Children, and Servants, and with other Things ; for which I am truly thankful.
While I was at Home I vifited the neighbouring 1704.' Meetings as I found a Concern on my Mind ; and v/v~^ on the 6th Day of the third Month, 1704s I laid be- fore our Quarterly Meeting of Minifters and Elders an Exercife that was upon my Mind, to vifit our Friends Meetings on Long-IJland, Rhode-IJland, and in New-England, and the Places adjacent ; from which Quarterly Meeting I had a good Certificate Cwhich I thought it my Duty to endeavour to live up unto ;) and being accompanied with feveral Friends to Burlington and Crojwicks, Jofeph Glajler being my j^feyu Fellow- labourer in the Work of the Gofpel ; at the two aforefaid Places, we had Meetings, and then we travelled to New-Tork and Long-]Jla?id-> where we had ia»^- divers Meetings ; ^s:\\.Flufhing^ fFeftbury, Jerufalem,^^'*''^' Jericho, Bethpage^ Matinicock^ and alfo at Pt^eli- Chef- ter, ontheMain, and from thence we travelled to Rhode-IJland Yearly Meeting, which was large and ^^^^J* ferviceable to many. From hence Jofeph Glajler went towards Bofton, the inland Way, and I went by the Sea-fide, and we met together, after I had been at Meetings at divers Places, viz. Darttnouth and Dmm0wth, Nantucket Ifland, at which Ifland there are large Meetings, People there being moftly Friends, and a fober growing People in the beil: Things •, tho' not
D of
40 "Tk ]0VR1<^ AL of
1704. of our Society when they firft received the Truth-, vS*"^ yet they received it with Gladnefs; and altho' divers of the People called Prejbyterians were very cruel in their Expreffions, and bitter in their Spirits againft us, yet there were fome who went under that Name, who were more open and charitable towards us, and received us gladly with Tendernefs •, and at fome Places we had Meetings at their Houfes to our mutual Satisfadtion. We like wife had Meetings at Suckanufet, ^find-witi. Sciluak^ and Sandwicb. About this Time the /i'^iiw^i were very barbarous in the Deftru6lion of the Eng- Ufh Inhabitants, fcalping fome, and knocking out the Brains of others (Men, Women, and Children) by which the Country was greatly alarmed, both Night and Day -, but the great Lord of all was pieaf- ed wonderfully to preferve our Friends, efpecially thofe who kept faithful to their peaceable Principle, according to the Doctrine of Chrift in the holy Scriptures, as recorded in his excellent Sermon which he preached on the Mount, in the vth, vithand viith Chapters of M^///:?^'K^5 which is quite oppofite to Kill- ing, Revenge, and Deftrudion, even of our Enemies: And becaufe our Friends could not join with thofe of fighting Principles and Pradices, fome of them were put into Prifon ; divers People railing and fpeaking very bitterly againft their peaceable Neighbours, and v/ifiiing the ^lahrs might be cut off. Some of the I^^a-iv- England Prieils and Profeffors were fo bitter againit Friends, that inflead of being humbled, un- der the mighty Hand of God upon them, in fuftering the Indians to defiroy them, they exprefs'd their En- mity againft the poor ^mkers, on a Day appointed for Kumiliation and a Faft j and particularly in a Ser- mon preach'd byoneof their Prieits, which he divided into three Heads, viz. Fir/?,That the Judgments of God were upon them, in letting Joofe the favage Indians to deftroy them. Secondly^ In that he with-held the Fruits of the Earth from them (for there was great
Scarcity)
THOMAS CHALKLET, 41
Scarcity, j Ihirdiy, That the ^z^^^^(?rs prevailed, and ' 1704. wfere fuftered to increafe fo much among them ; which '^/y^\Jl he faid, was worfe than the Indians dedroyingof them, and gave this abfard Reafon for it, Tbe Indians ds- firoy our Bodies, but the Qiiakers deftroy the Soul. ^ This is an abominable Falfhood ; for it is Sin that deftroys the Soul : And fuch as thofe that preach to the People that there is no Freedom from it in tiiis World, co.n- tradidt Chrift's Dodlrine, Be ye perfect, &c. And that ot the Apoftle's, He that is born of God cannot Sin. And thus their blind Guides miftake Light for Dark- nefs, and Darknefs for Light. Among the many flundreds that were (lain, 1 heard but of three of our Friends being killed, whofe Deftru6tion was very re- markable, as I was informed (the one was a Woman, the other two were Men.) The Men ufed to go to their Labour without any Weapons, and. trufted to the Almighty, and depended on his Providence to pro- ted them (it being their Principle not to ufe Weapons of War, to offend others, or defend themfelves) but a Spirit,of Diftruft taking Place in their Minds, they took Weapons of War to defend themfclves ; and' the J;z^fi3«i, who had feen them feveral Times with- out them, and lettb.em alone, faying, They were peace- able Men^ and hurt nobody^ therefore they would not hurt ihem^ now feeing them have Guns, and fup- pofing they defigned to kill the Indians, they therefore fhot the Men dead. The Woman had re- mained in her Habitation, and could not be free to go to'a fortified Place for Prefervation, neither fhe, her Son, nor Daughter, nor to take thither the litcle Ones ; but the poor, Woman after fome Time began to let in a ilavifn Fear, .and did advife her Children to go wij:h her to a Fort not fi\r from tficir Dwelling.
'D 2 Her
..yj.i v-,;J ^-' /_ ,•
, i'iiviin ?.;.-.v I •; . . ;____
* This Prieft was foon after Idlled by the IfiJijj.;:s-, as I was told by a Miiiifter.
42 " r/je ]OVRN AL of
1704. Her Daughter being one thattrufted in the Name of i^'yyj the Lord, the mighty Tower, to which the Righteous flee and find Safety, could not confent to go with her; and having left a particular Account in a Letter to ker Children of her and their Prefervation, I think it worthy to be inferted here in her own Words.
<« \ 7|T HEN the cruel Indians were fuffered to kill « VV and deftroy, it was Ihewed me, That I " muft ftand in a Teftimony for Truth, and truft: « in the Name of the Lord, that wasa ftrong Tow- *' er, and we fliould wait upon him. And I often *' defired my Mother and Hufband to fit down, and ** wait upon the Lord, and he would fhow us what " wefhoulddo: But I could not prevail with him, *' but he would fay it was too late now, and was in *' great halle to be gone ♦, but I could not go with *' him, becaufe I was afraid of offending the Lord : *» But ftill he would fay I was deluded by the Devi), ♦' fo that my Mother would often fay, ^ Houfe divided ** could not Ji and', and fhe could not tell what to do, *' altho' fhe had moft Peace in flaying, yet fhe had *' Thoughts of moving, and faid to me. Child, Can '^ thee certainly fay it is revealed to thee that we fhould *-^ ftay\ if it he ^ I would willingly flay, if I was fur e it *' was the Mind of God. But I being young, was <* afraid to fpeak fo high, faid. Mother, I can fay *' that It is fo with me, that when I think of flaying «' and trufling in the Name of the Lord, I find great '* Peace and Comfort, more than I can utter, with ♦* a Belief we fhall be preferved ; but when I think <' of going. Oh the Trouble and Heavinefs I feel, «» with a Fear fome of us fhould fall by them I And ** my dear Mother fighed, and faid, She could not •« tell what to do. But I faid to them, If they would •' go, I would be willing to flay alone j if thev found ** Freedom, I was very willing, for I was afraid of *' offending the Lord. But ftill my poor Hufband
♦* would
THOMAS CHALKLEr. 43
^^ woM fa.yt I took a wrong Spirit for ihe right. And 1704. *« he would fay how I fhould know, For if I was ^-^-^^ '' right, I would he willing to condefcend to him. And *« then I faid, in Condefcention to him I would move; *' but I hope the Lord' will not lay it to my Charge, *' for was it not to condefcend to him, I would not *« move for the World ; and after I had given away <« my Strength, in a little Time there came Men *« from the Garrifon, with their Guns, and told us, *' They came for us, and told us, The Indians, they " thought, might be near; and then away we went i '< and my Mother went in with my Brother-in- " law, altho' I perfuadcd her not to do it. But fhe *« faid, (Vhy, my Child is there : And why may not I ** he with him as well as thee ? And fo we went along *' to Hampton, to my Hulband's Brother^s. But O «' the Fear and Trouble that I felt! And told my *' Hufband it feem'd as if we were going into the " Mouth of the Indians. And the next Day was the " firft Day of the Week; and our dear Friend, <« Lydia Norton, came with my dear Mother ; and *' in her Teftimony, fhe faid there was there that '' was very near to her Life, that was very near " Death. O then 1 was ready to think it would be " I, becaufed I believed we had done amifs in mov- *« ing, and great Trouble was I in, and told dear iLj^/a " of it ', but fhe comforted me as much as fhe could, *' and faid, She did not think it would he I. And my *' dear Mother went to my Sifter's again, to the " Garrifon, where fhe found herfelf not eafy ; but, *« as fhe often faid to many, that fhe felt herfelf in a *' beclouded Condition, and more fhutfrom Counfel '* than ever fhe had been fince fhe knew the Truth ; " and being uneafy, went to move to a Friend's Houfc " that lived in the Neighbourhood ; and as fhe was «« moving, the bloody cruel Indians lay by the Way, ** and killed her. O then how did I lament moving! '• And promifed if the Lord would be pleafed to fpare D 3 '' my
44 Jh J OVR'N Ah of
16S5. ^« my Life, and Hufband, and Children, and carry 1/^"^) tc ys Home again, I would never do fo more. BuC " O the Fear, and Trouble, and Darknefs, that '*• fell upon me, and many more at that Time ! And *' three or four of us kept our Meeting : But altho* " welat and v/aitedas well as we could, yet we fat *^' under a poor beclouded Condition, till we retur--, *■' ned Home again, then did the Lord plcafe to lite '' up the Light of his Love upon our poor Souls. *' O then I told my Huiband, alci.o' he had built a '■'^ little Houfe by the Garrifon, I could not move " again. So he was v/illing to ftay while the Winter *■' Seafon lafted, but told me he could not ftay when 'f Summer came, ior then the Indians would be «' about i and fo told me, That if I could not go to ',' the Garrifon, I might go to a Friend's Houfe that *Vwas near it.- And i was willing to pleafc him, if *■'■' the Lord wasv/iliing •, and then applied my Heart ^': to knov/. the. Mind of Truth, and it was fhevved ^' mie, that if Lmoved again, I fliould loofethe Senfe ** of Truth, r.ndl fhould never hold upniy Head *' again. O then I told my Hufband he muft never '.' au'i me to move again, for I durft not do it. Still '' he would fay it v/as a Notion, till our dear Friend *' 'Tbcmas Slor\\ came, and told him. He did not fee '•'' that 1 could have a greater Revelation than I had* , ** And fatisfied my Huiband fo v/ell, that he never **^ aflced memore to go, but was very we 1 Contented " to ftay all the Wars ; and then Things were made «•• more eafy, and we law Abundance of the wonder- *' ful Work.s, and of the mighty Power of the Lord, " in keeping and preserving of us, when the Indiana " were at our Doors aad Windows, and at other " Times ; and how the Lord put Courage in you, ••' my dear Children ; don't you torgct it, and don't " think that as you were young, and becaufe you ■ '> knew little, fo you feared nothing ; but often con- ." fider how you ftaid at Home alone, when we went
'* to
THOMAS CHALKLET, 45
c* to Meetings, and how the Lord preferved you, 1704. ^' and kept you, fo that no Hart came upon you : v-'^'Vn.' ^^ And I leave this Charge upon you. Live in the Fear ** of the Lord, and fee you fet him always before *« your Eyes, left you fin againft him : For if I had " not feared the Lord, and felt the Comforts ot his *' holy Spirit, I never could have ftood fo great a " Trial, v/hen fo many judged, and faid, I was de- " luded, and that all the Blood of my Hufband and " Children, would be required at my Hands ; but *^ the Lord was near to me, and gave me ftrength '« and Courage, and Faith to trufl: in him, for I " knew his Name to be a flrong Tower, yea, and " flronger than any in the World •, for I have oftimcs *' fled tnere for Safety. O BlefTmg and Honour, «' and everlafting high Praifes, be given to the Lord, «• and to his dear Son, our Saviour and Mediator, " Chrift Jefus, Amm. Mary Doe.
• A Neighbour of the aforefaid People told me. That as he was at Work in his Field, the Indians faw and called him, and he went to them. They told him, That thf^y had no Quarrel with the ^mkers, for they were a quiet, peaceable People, and hurt no- body, and -that therefore none fhould hurt them. But they faid that the Pre/hyterians m thefe Parts had taken away their Lands, and fome of their Lives, and would now, if they could, deflroy all the Indians.
l^hofe Indians began about this Tim.e to flioot Peo- ple down as they rode along the Road, and to knock them on the Head in their Beds, and very barbaroufly murdered many : But we travelled the Country, 'and had large Meetings, and the good Prefence of God was with us abundantly, and we had great inward Joy in the holy Ghoft in our outward Jeopardy and Travels. The People generally rods and went to
D 4 their
46 7b^ J OVR'N AL of
1704. their Worfliip armed, but Friends went to theif s-/"V"^ Meetingo without either Sword or Gun, having their Truft and Confidence in God.
After having had divers good Meetings in thofeEa* BofteH, Uc. ftern Parts of New-England, I return'd to Salem^ Lynny Bojlon^ and fo on towards Rhode-IJland^ and Harragan ^lx. divcrs adjacent Places ; as in the Naraganjet oirmoutb. Country, we had divers Meetings, alfo at Dartmouth^ Sandwich^ and Scituate. As I was entering into the Town of Bojlon in Company with many others, a Man rode up to me, and aflc'd in a fcoffing Manner, Whether I faw or met with any Quakers on the Road ? I pleafantly told him, we fhould not tell the Prejhy- terians, lead they fliould hang them. He not think- ing of fuch an Anfwer, went fneakingly away.
Now having thoroughly vifited Friends in thofe Parrs, in Company with my Friend Thomas Story, I ComeSii^t j.,.^^gijg^ through Conne^icut Government, and had 'in'i'd ffveral Meetings in that Colony •, and came to Long- IJland, where we had divers Meetings to the Satisfac- tion ot ourfelves and Friends. From Long-IJland^ at^ ter we were clear of the Service and Exercife of the Work of the Miniftry, and had vifited Friends Meetings as we travelled ; and in divers Places found Opennefs among the People who were not of our Profefiion (which fometimes came in great Numbers to our Meetings, and leveral were convinced in fome good Degree, and many comforted, ftrengthened, and edified, in Chrifl our Lord J we came to Phila- fhiiadcU delphia, the Place of our Habitation. Let ffaith my f^/<f. Soul) his Name have the Praife of all his Works for ever.
After being at Home fome Time, I vifited Friends Meetings in our own County, and feveral Parts of New-Jer- Nezv-Je7'fey, Maryland, and the Lower Counties on f'y- Delaware. At Joneses I appointed a Meeting at a
CmmUs. publick Houfe near the Court-houfe fgeneral Notice M^ryhftd. being given thereof^ there came one ■ ■ < Crawford,
a.
THOMAS C HALKLET. 47
a Prieft, with many of his Hearers, and in the Begin- 1704. ning of the Meeting he read a Sermon fas they called W'*VNJ h) which was a Tranfcript of the Work of fome of our Adverfaries, which we defired to have from them to anfwer. They faid. If I would anfwer it myfelf^ I Jhould have it. The which I tuld them I fhouid, if they would let me ; but tho* they promifed it, they did not perform, but were worfe than their Word. We heard them read it over patiently ; and after they had done, we had our Meeting. The Auditory was large, and nioft of the Magiftrares were at it. The Prieft's Reading, and my Teftimony occafioned this Meeting to hold long -, after which as we were getting on Horfeback, the Prieft cry'd out among the Peo- ple, 'That he did not think we Jhould go away fo fneaking- ly. We having twenty Miles to ride that Night, and he near his Home, he having the Advantage in that Refpecl, fome thought it made him the bolder, for he let me get on Horfeback before he uttered that fneaking ExprefTion, I told him, to challenge was enough to fet a Coward to work, and we were no Cowards ; for he knew we could venture our Lives for our Religion, which I queftion*d whether he would do for his ; fo 1 difmounted, and he having the Bible open in his Hand, 1 being near him, chanced, againfl my Will and Knowledge, to touch it with my Foot. Look you ^ Gentlemen^ fays he, he tramples the Word of God under his Feet. For which grafs Abufe his own Hearers openly rebuked him, and puc him to Shame. Then he faid. He would prove us no Minifiers of Chrijl. I bid him prove himfelf one, and he would do the Bufinefs. Well^ fays he, how (hall we know who are Chriffs Minijiers? Why, faid I in anfwer to him, art thou willing to be try'd by Chrift's Rule, for he hath given us a plain Rule to know them by. What is that Rule P Let*s hear it, fays he. 'Tis fhort, but full, namely. By their Fruits you Jh all know them: For Mm don^t gather Grapes of
7hornSf •
4^ fT/;^ JOURNAL o/
1705. thorns ^ nor Figs of Thiftks; wherefore by their Fruits N-OT"^ tliey are known. I den-j ilj fays Priefl Crawford {for that was the Name he v;ent by here, he going under anotiier eliewhcre) that they are known by their Fruits. I anfvvered. Then tliou denies the plain and naked Truth of Chrift. So I called aloud to the People to take Notice what a blind Guide they had-, and indeed he was wicked, as well as blind, and his Fruits not good ; which may make one fuppoH-, that he was not willing to be tryM by his Fruits: For foon after, Nevv's came that he had a Wife in Eng- land^ and as he had another here, his Fruits VN/ere wicked with a Witnefs ; and according to Chrift's Doftrine, no Good could fpring from his Minillry, therefore he proved himfelf by his evil Deeds to be no Minifler of Jefus Chrift. Near the aforefaid Place we got a Meeting fettled, which is called Little Creek Meeting •, and about the fame Time a Meeting was eftabliflied, and a Meeting-houfe built at D//c/(*-Cr,?<?L The People in thofe Parts about this Time began mightily to fee through the formal Preaching of fuch as preach for Money or Hire, who love the Hire, tho' they don't love to be called Hirelings. Kottin^. In the Year 1706, having fome Concerns ift the *iZrf% Province of Maryland^ I had divers Meetings as I '^*"" ' travelled on the Road, as at Nottingham, Elk River, Northeafr^ Sufquehannah^ Bufj -^vA Gunpoivder'R'wtxs,', at feme of which Places 1 don't know that there had been any Meetings before. At one of thefe Meetings were one Edwards a Prieft, and a Lawyer the Attor- ney-General, and feveral of the Juftices of the Peace. The Pried was angry, and faid, // was an unlawful AJjhnhly, the Houfe not being licenfed by Law. The Juftices told him, That he and his People being there to hear, if any unwarrantable or falfe Do6lrine was preached, he had a fair Opportunity to lay it open before all the People. So they deiired him to hear patiently and quietly. He feem'd to like the Propo- ;^ fmon,
rno MAS CHALKLET. 49
fition, and fat down by me. We had not fat down 1706, long before I flood up, and fpoke to the People fome confiderable Time-, and the Lawyer fit oppofice to me, and took what I faid in Short-Hand, for about Half an Hour ; but growing weary, he laid down his Pen, and took out of his Pocket a Bottle of Liquor, or Spirits, and faid, Come Friend, here is to thee^ (or you) )'(?« have fpoke a great While ^)ou need foraething to refrej]j '^ou. So I made a Stop, and laid to the People, here is your Minifler, and here is fome of the Fruits of his Miniftry, of which he and all fober Peo- ple may be afhamed. And then I went on again without any Oppofition till I had done ; but after- wards they were in a Rage, and threatned what they would do to me, if ever I came to have a Meeting any more there. But I told 'em if they had Power to take our Lives from us, they were not dear to us for the Sake of Chrift and his Gofpel ; and that we did not matter their Threatenings. I defired the Lawyer to give me a Copy of what he had written : He went about it, but did not do it ; neither was he candid in penning my Words •, for feveral of the Peo- ple then prefent did bear Witncfs he had not writ it Verbatim^ nor truly taken the Senfe of what I fpoke, v/herefore I charged him to be Jufl, otherwife he had many WitnefTes againfl him ; at which the Prieft bent his Fifl, and held it up to me, but did not ftrike me, and away they went in a Fret. Soon after we h:id ano- ther Meeting at the fame Place, which wtis large and quiet. The Man of the Houfe being an Attorney at Law, had got his Houfe licenfed, and tho' the Priefl and Lawyer threatned hard, they came not.
Aquila Pica, HighSheriff for the County, living at the Head of Bujh River, near the main Road, built a Meeting-houfe at his own Charge, and had it Wctn- {td, at which we had many good Meetings. About this Time alfo was built a Meeting-houfe at a Place called Nottingham^ which is a large Meeting, and greatly increafes. When
so The JOVRISI AL 0/
1706. When I was travelling in thofe Parts I had a Con- ^y^^SJ cernon my Mind to vifit the Jndiam living ne:ir Suf-
"'^ °^'^'' quehannabj at Conejiogoe, I lay it before the Elders of Nottingha7n Meeting, with which they exprefTed their Unity, and promoted my vifiting them. We got an Interpreter, and thirteen or fourteen of us tra- velled through the Woods about fifty Miles, carrying our Provifions with us, and on the Journey fat down by a River, and fpread our Food on the Grafs, and refrefhed ourfelves and Horfes, and then went on chearfully, and with good Will, and much Love to tht^ooY Indians; and when we came, they received us kindly, treating us civilly in their Way. We treated about having a Meeting with them in a religi- ous Way, upon which they called a Council, in which they were very grave, and fpoke one after another without any Heat or Jarring •, fand fome of the moft Efteemed of their Women /do fometimes fpeakin their Councils.) I afked our Interpreter, Why they fuf- fered or permitted the Women to fpeak in their Coun- cils ? His Anfwer was, "That fome Women were wifer ^ than fome Men. Our Interpreter told me. That they had not done any Thing for many Years without the Counfel of an ancient grave Woman ; who, 1 ob- ferved fpoke much in their Council ; for I was per- mitted to be prefent at it j and I afked, What it was the Woman faid ? He told me fhe was an Emprefs ; and they gave much heed to what flie faid amongft them ; and that fhe then faid to them. She looked upon cur Coming to be more than natural, hecaufe we did not £ome tobwj^ or fell., or get Gain^ hut came in Love and Refpe^ to them., and defired their IVell- doing both here and hereafter ; and further continued, That our Meetittgs among them might be very beneficial to their young People, and related a Dream which Ihe had three Days before^ and interpreted it, viz. " That flie was in London^ '' and that London was the fineft Place fhe ever faw (it '' was like to Philadelphia, but much bigger) and Ihe *' went acrofs fix Streets, and in the feventh fhe faw
William
THOMAS CHALKLET. 51
«* William Penn ^rt2ichmg to xht People, which was 1706. " a great Multitude, and both Ihe and William Penn 'v/"V*V, *' rejoiced to fee one another ; and after Meeting fhe *' went to him, and he told her. That in a little Time *' he would come over and preach to them alfo, of *^ which flie was very glad. And now fhe faid her " Dream was fulfilled, for one of his Friends was ** come to preach to them." And (headvifed them to hear us, and entertain us kindly ; and accordingly they did. Here were two Nations of them, the ^^^d*- ca^s and the Shawnefe. We had firft a Meeting with the Seneca* s, with which they were much afFedledj and they called the other Nation {viz, the Shawnefe) and interpreted to them what we had fpoke in their Meet- ing, and the poor Indians (particularly fome of the young Men and Women) were under a folid Exercife, and Concern. We had alfo a Meeting with the other Nation, and they were all very kind to us, and defired more fuch Opportunities* the which, I hope Divine Providence will order them, if they are worthy thereof. The Gofpel of Jefus Chrift was preached freely to them, and Faith in Chrifl, who was put to Death at Jerufalem^ by the unbelieving Jews ; and that this fame Jefus came to fave People from their Sins, and by his Grace and Light in the Soul, fhews to Man his Sins, and convinceth him thereof, delivering him out of them, and gives inward Peace and Comfort to the Soul for Well-doing, and Sorrow and Trouble for Evil-doing •, to all which, as their Manner is, they gave publick AfTents ; and to that of the Light in the Soul, they gave a double AlTent, and feem'd much affected with the Doctrine of Truth ; alfo the Benefit of the holy Scriptures was largely opened to them -f. After
t'ris worthy of Notice, that at the firft Settling o( Penfyl- vmix, William Penn took great Care to do juftice to Che h/diunst and bought his Land of them to their Satisfaftion, and fettled a Trade with them j fo that whereas the Indians were deftrudive to other Colonies, they were helpful to Pcnfiilvmi.i ; and to this Cay they love to hear the N^mc of WILLIAM PENN.
52 72;^ J O U R N A L 0/
1 706. After this we returned to our refpedtive Hibitatfons, ly^iTSJ thankful in our Hearts to the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift. Several of the Friends that went with me exprefs'd their Satisfaction in thisVifit, and offered themfelves freely to go again on the like Service. EggHar- 1 alfo was concerned foon after to vifit the People *'""'• about Egg-Harbour and Cape- May ^ and had divers
Meetings amongft them, and feveral Meetings were fettled in thofe Parts, and the People fomewhat re- formed from what they had been before they were vi-^ fited by Friends, as themfelves told me falter a Meet- ing we had with them) that they ufed to fpend the Sabbath Days in Sporting and Vanity until Friends came among them, and now they met together to worfhip God, and his Son Jefus Chrifl. At our coming amongfl; them feme Backfliders and Apoftates •were difpleafed. One (in a very bitter Spirit) called lis, Curfed and cruel Devils. Another v/rote againfl us. To him I lent an Anfwer, for which he fcanda- lized me in one of his Alm.anacks, and publickly be- lied me in Print-, which Lies I fwept away with a <Small BrQ07nj printed in this Year 1706, to which I never underitood that he return'd any Anfwer, nor that he wrote againfl: Friends afterwards, tho' he had made it his Practice before for feveral Years.
At Little Egg-Harbour liv'd a Friend whofe Name was Edward Andrews^ who, as himfelf told me, had been a Leader of the People into Vanity and Folly, as Miifick, Dancing, t^c. But the good Hand of the Lord being upon him, wrought a wonderful Refor- mation in him, and made him an Inft rument to lead People into Truth and Righteoufnefs, and gave him an excellent Gift of the Miniilry of the Gofpel of Chrifl y fo that he was made inflrumental in the ga- thering of a large and growing Meeting, molt of the People thereabouts being -convinced, and a great Reformation and Change wrought in their Converfa-
tions.
THOMAS CHALKLET, 53
tions. This Friend told me. That when he was very 1707. rude and wild, he was mightily reached unto at the '-/'VNJ Meeting we had under the Trees at Crofwicks^, lb that he could not go on with his Vanity as before, after which he had ilrong Conviftions on him, which wrought Converfion in the Lord's Time, after he had gone thro' many and deep inward Exercifes.
After thefe feveral Tourneys were over, and I had ^Madei- cleared myfelf, I was fome Time at Home, and fol- lowed my Bufinefs with Diligence and Induiiry, and throve in the Things of the World, the Lord adding a Bleffing to my Labour. Some People would tell me that I got Money for Preaching, and grew Rich by it-, which, being a common Calumny ca ft upon our publick Friends that are Travellers, I iliall take a little Notice of ic, and leave it to Pofterity. That it is againft our Principle, and contrary to our known Fradiice and Rule, to take Money for our Preaching the Gofpel ofChrifr, and the publifliingof Salvation through his Name unto the People -, for according to Chri{t*s Command, PFe^ Receiving it freely j are to give it forth freely : And I can fay without Vanity or Boafting, I have fpent many Pounds in that Service, befides my Time, which was, and is, as precious to me, as to other People: And rifing early,, and laying dovv'n late;- many Days riding 40, 50 and 60 Miles a Day, which was very laborious and hard for my Fiefh to endure (being corpulent and heavy from the 27th Year of my Age -,) and I can truly fay, that I never received any Money or Confideration on Account of thefe Services, either diredlly or indirectly; and yet if any of our Minifters are NecefTitousor Poor, v/e re- lieve them freely, not becaufe they are Preachers, but becaufethey are Needy ; and when we have done thofe Things, we have done but'our Du.ty: And well will
ic
* See Pa^e 17J
54 Tk ]OVRN AL of
1707. it be forthofethathavedifchargedthemfelves faithfully -/'"V"*^ therein! Such will (befides the Earned ot Peace in their own Souls in this World) have a blefled Reward in the glorious Kingdom of the Lord and his Chrifl in ;hat World which is to come. It is well known that I have fpent much of my Time (fmce I have been free from my Apprenticelliip) in Travelling and Preaching the Gofpel, being out often many Months, and fomedmes a whole Year, and more •, and at In- tervals I have been aptto thinkthe Time long, till I got to my Bufinefs 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 thofe who travel in the Work of the Miniftry hereafter, not to make too much Hafle from the Work of Chrift ; and yet there ought to be Difcretion ufed ; for a Minifter may flay too long, as well as return too foon, which may be perceived as we keep the Eye of our Mind to our Divine Guide.
fJv^fif' -^^^^^ I ^^^ ^'^^^ ^^- ^"^ ^^*^"^ Home for fome con- Friend* m, fiderable Time, a weighty Concern came upon me to Silt'" vifit Friends in the Weft-Indies, and feme Parts of "Off. Europe^ as it might pleafe the Almighty to open my Way j 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 Afi'airs by Will, and otherwife, that if I fhould not live to come Home again. Things relating to my out- * ward'Affairs might be done honourably and well: For
at this Time, as at many others, I can truly fay, 1 gave up my Life freely for my holy Matter's Sake, and in his Caufe, who faid. Go teach ail 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 Under- taking, and Defires for my Welfare ; and a tender Concern was on my Mind that I mighclive according
"THOMAS CBALKLET, ^^
to what my Brethren had certified concerning me. I ,^Qy Jikewifelaid my Exercife before the General Meeting f^yL/^ of Miniflers and Elders held for the Provinces of Pen- fylvania and Neiv-Jerfey, on the 2 2d of the Seventh Month, who alfo fignificd their Fellowrhip with my intended Travels and Journey, and recommended me to the Grace of God, and in much Love and Tender- nefsl parted with my dear and loving Wife, and my' near and affedlionate Friends and Brethren.
I had for my Companion and Fellow-labourer in the Work of the Gofpel, my dear Friend Richard Gove^ who alfo 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 metwith a Pri- ^^ ^^ vateer, which chafed, and had like to have taken us-, chafed* but the orood Providence of God preferved us out of ^^ ^ ^'^^' the Hands of thofe Enemies: For ever blelTed be his Great Name .' In this Chafe the Seamen were uneafy, and belched out wicked Oaths, and cuvkdthQ ^iakers^ wifhing all their VefTels might betaken by the Ene- '
my, becaufe they did not carry Guns in them : Ac wiiich [Evil] I was grieved, and began thus to ex- poflulate with them : Do you know the worth of a Man's Life ? (Guns being made on Purpofe to deftroy Mens Lives •, j were this Ship and Cargoe mine, fo ' far as I know mine Heart, I do ingenuoufly declare, I had rather lofe it all, than that one of you Pnould lofe his Life ("fori certainly knew they were unfit to die.) Lives ! fay they, we had rather loje our Lives than go to France. But, faid J, that is not the Matter % Had you rather go to Hell, than go to France? They being guilty of great Sins and Wickednefs, and con- victed in their own Confciences, held their Peace, and
E faid
^6 ?2r J O U R N A L c/
1707. faid no more the about poor fakers ; and when we
s-zSr**-^ got within Gun-Shot of a Fort on Barhadoes^ the Enemy left chafing us.
Next Morning early we fafely arrived at Bridge-
M'rlaioer. I'oivn^ in Barbadoes, where our Friends gladly received us ; amongft whom' we labour'd in the Work of the Gofpel for about two Months •, and from thence, af- ter having had divers good and edyfying Meetings for
/ttti^M, the Worfhip of God, we failed for Antigua^ and ftay'd fome Days there, having Meetings, and vifitingour Brethren. From Antigua we fail'd fer Nevis, but the
Aton:[er> Wind being contrary, we put in at Montferrat (an Ifle that hath a great Mountain in it, on the Top of which is a Hoc Spring of Water, which boils up, and the Mud of it is clear Brimftone ; fome of which we car- ried onboard ourVelTel \ the which is admirable, and lliews the wonderful Works of God. They fay that the Spring is hot enough to boil an Egg.) From this
AVwV. 3 Hand we failed to Nevis, and had Meetings with thofe fev/s Friends that were there, with whom we parted at the Sea-Oiore in great Love and Tendernels: After
'/f,i/;.//i/. which we fliiled co an Ifland called Anguillay and were civilly treated there by the Generallity of the People; as alfo by the Governor, George Leonard, at whofe Houfe we had Meetings. I remember that after one Meeting the Governor went into his Porch, and took ihe Bible, and opened it, and faid, By this Book, if people believe the holy Scriptures, I am able to convince the IForld, and prove thai the People called Quakers, are the People of God, and that they follow the Example and DoBrine of Chr'ijl, and the PraBices of the Apojiles and primitive Chriftians, nearer than any People in the World \ (f. c, generally fpsaking.^ At this Ifland leveral People were heartily convinced, and did con- Jefs to t\i>z Truth, among wnom a Meeting was fettled. Here was never any Friend before, as the Inha- bitants faid, / intreat ihe Lord Jehovah to preferve ihe fncere-hearted among them- in hii holy Fear ^hilji
they
"THOMAS CHALKLET, S7
they remain in this World -■, and not them only ^ hut all 3707. that love and fear him, in all Kindreds and Nations^ n^/'V^ and amongfi People of all Profeffions whatfoever. This, in the univerfal Spirit of God's Divine Love, is the De- fire of my Soul. Back from Anguilla we went to Nevis, Nevir; and from Nevis to Antigua -, and notwithftanding our Anti^ntt. Sloop was a dull Sailer, yet we were preferved from the Enemy, to the Admiration of ourfelves. Friends, and others, our Courfe being in the very Road of the Privateers. Jufl 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 Thankfulnefs 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 Ifland call*d Saint Chrifiophers. In our Way to Jamaica we faw st, Ciri. a fmall Privateer, that gave us Chafe, and it being -'^''^*"■^• calm, fhe rowed up towards us. The Mafter pre- pared the Veflel to fight, hoifting up his Mainfaii, and putting out our Colours. In the Interim fome were bold, and fome forrowtul. Oat came to me, f.|^^(.gj j, and afked. What Ithoughtof it ? i^nd what I thought a Friva- of the Quakers Principles now? I told him I thought ^^^' I was as v/illing to go to Heaven, as himfeif was ; to which he faid nothing, but turned away from me., Another ailced me, What I would do now? I told him, ■ I would pray that they might be m?ide better, and that they might be made fit to die. Then in the midfl: 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 plealed to caufe a freflj Gale of Wind to fpring up, that we might be deli- vered from the Egemy without fhedding Blood (well knowing that fev/ of them were fit to die) and even whilfl: I was thus concerned, the Lord anfwered my Define and Prayer, for in a few Minutes the Wind fprung up, and we foon left them out of Sight, our VeJTel failing extraordinary well, and the next Day
E 2- we
58 r^j£' J O U R N A L of
1707. we got to Jamaica^ and had divers Meetings, 'viz. at y^^'y^^ Port-Ro'jaly Kingjlon^ and SpaniJh-'To'wn, &c. At a Jamaica. y[(.^^^^a at Spanijh-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 Abra^ baniy Jfaac^ and Jacobs and they were fo affe^led with the Meeting, that they fent us fome unleavened Cakes, made with fine Flour and fweet Oil, it being a Feftival Time with them. We had a Meeting at fort- Ro^al^ in a Place where the Earthquake had deftroyed a large Building, in which Meeting I had occafion to remind them or the righteous Judgments of God, which had been juftly intiidted on them for their Sins and Wickednefs. Some wept, and fome were rude. The People here, as I was intormed, were generally very wicked. After having had divers Meetings, the Packet in which we had taken our Paflage, being oblig'd to flay but ten Days, we went off fooner than we otherwife fnould have done, and folemnly taking I^cave of thofe Friends that were there, we went on Sails for t)oard our Vefiel, in order for England^ by God's i«£Aj«/ ?ermiflion. We got readily through the PVindward Pajjage^ which is between the Iflands of Cuba and llifpan'ida ; and divers Times after we left Jamaica^ we were chafed by feveral Ships, but they could not come up with us. One Ship of twenty-eight Guns gave us Chace after a great Storm, and was almoft up with us before we could well make Sail ; they being eager of tlieir Prey, fent their Hands aloft to let their Reefs out of the Topfaiis, in order to make more Speed, and came running mightily towards us, arixl gained mucli upon usi we fearing to make Sail, by rcafon of the Storm, and the Sea running very high, and our Malts being therefore in Danger, we were ibme Time in Doubt, whether we fhould efcape or not: But whilft we were in this Conflernation, down came the Fre'/ich Ship's three Topmaftsatonce, fo we cfcapcd, and kfi her, and went rejoicing on our Way,
that
THOMAS CHALKLET. 59
that we were thus delivered. This was one of the ^7^7- great and remarkable Deliverances among the many ^y^"^ I met with, by the good Hand and Providence of the Lord, my great and good Mafter, whom I hopi to ferve all my Days.
After having been at Sea about fix Week?, we began to look out for Land, and in two or three Days we founded, and tound Ground, at about ninety Fathoms ; after v/hich we faw tv/o French Privateers, that gave us Chace about four a Clock in the Morning, andpur- fued us vigoronfly ; but failing better than they, we run them out of Sight by eight a Clock the fame Morning, and in about two Hours after we faw the Land of Ireland i it being mifhy Weather, with Rain 0«tJ^e and Wind, our Mafter thought it belt to lay by and Swiia forbear Sailing, that Coaft being Rocky and dan- eminent gerous, by which Means the two Ships ("that gave us ^"^^'^•' Chace) came up with us, and found us not in failing Order, and were in Gun-fhot of us before we were aware of it. What to do now we could not tell, until they began to fire at us ; but in this Emergency and Strait our Mafter refolved he would rather run the VefTel on Shore than they fliould have her, fhe being richly laden with Indigo, Silver, and Gold, reckoned to the Value of Fifty Thoufand Pounds. In this Strait, we muft either fall into the Hinds of the French^ who were our Enemies, or run againft the Rocks j and we thought it beft to fall into the Hands of the Almighty, and trufl to his Providence -, fo to- wards the Rocks we went, which looked with a ter- rible Afped. The native Irijh feeing us, they came down in great Numbers, and ran on the Rocks, and called to us, faying, 'That if we came any nearer we Jhould he dajhed to Pieces. Then our Mafter ordered Gotfafe the Anchor to be let go, which brought her up be- ^frr^^o't fore fhe ft ruck ; and, with much ado, he put his Boat out into the Sea, and put in all the Paffengers, in order to fct them on Shore, the Waves running
E 3 very
6o r^^ J O U R N A L ^/
1707. very high, fo that it looked as if every Wave would vO/*^ have fwallowed us up ; and it was a great Favour of Providence that we got to Land in Safety. The Pri- vateers not daring to come fo near the Shore as we did, after firing at us, v/ent away, and our Mafter carried the Ship into the Harbour of Kin/ale, m Ireland. Thu& thro' many Perils and Dangers we were preferved, and got fafe on the Irijh Shore, fof v>^hich, and all other the Mercies and Favours of the mod High, my Soul and Spirit did give Glory and Praife ! In this Voyage we were about feven Weeks at Sea.
When I came from my Home at Philadelphia^ I did intend fthe Lord permitting^ to vifit Friends in Ireland^ and being accidentally call on Shore there, I thought it my Place firft to go thro* that Nation. I had been in Ireland 2iho\xi nine Years before, and then being but young, and now being more grown in Body, my old Acquaintance and Friends did not at lirft know me ; but we were kindly and lovingly re- ceived by our Friends and Brethren in that Nation, where there is a great and numerous People, thatferve and worfhip the Father in Spirit and in Truth, and who have divers good and wholefome Orders efta- blifh'd amongft them, in the Unity and Fellowfhip of the Gofpel. In this Nation we had many and large Meetings after our Landing, vifiting Friends Meet- ~ ings along to the North, many, not of our Society, coming to them, among whom we often had good Service, to our and their Satisfa6tion, as they often declared, Richard Gove being dill with me. Friends from their National Meeting certified to our Brethren in America^ of our Service and Labour of Love among them, after we had travelled feveral Hundred Miles, and vifited Friends Meetings generally, and fome other Places where it was not ufual. While I was in Ireland^ under a Concern for the Profperity of Truth and Religion, I wrote an Exhortation to
the
UnOMAS CHALKLET. 6i
I 707»
the Youth, and others, which was afterwards printed v..^^^ there.
We took Ship in the North of Ireland^ at a Town scothnd. csiUedDonagbadee, being accompanied with divers Bre- thren, who brought us on our Way after a godly Sort. We got to Port-Patrick^ in Scotland, after about five Hours Sail, in order to vifit thofe few Friends that were fcattered about in that Part of the Nation. Peo- ple in thofe Parts looked very fhy on us, and did not care to difcourfe with us on Matters Civil or Religi- ous, which I thought unreafonable. The firftTown or City we came to in which we had a Meeting, was Glafgow (accounted the fecond City in North-Bri- ''j^""'"' tain) where, in our Meeting for the Worfliip ofthe Al- mighty, we were fhamefully treated by the People, throwing Dirt, Stones, Coals, &'c. amongft us, and by divers other A6tions unbecoming Men ftho* Hea- thens or Infidels) much more People profefTing Chrifti- anity ; fo that I was conflrained to tell them, that tho' 1 had preached the Gofpel to many Heathens^ and to divers Jews^ as alfo to Indians and Negroes^ and had travelled in many Countries and Nations in the World, in feveral Quarters thereof, and many Thou- fands of Miles, yet I mufb needs fay, that I never met with the like Incivilities, and fuch Icurrillous Treat- ment, no not in all my Travels. I alfo told them, that I had preached the Gofpel of Chrifl among their Brethren in New-England, and in Bojion, where they formerly hanged the fakers, and cruelly perfecuted them for their Religion, and yet they did not treat us fo brutilhly even there. And further I told them, that I lived in thofe Parts oi America, and what Ac- count I Ihould have to carry Home to their aforefaid Brethren, of our Treatment in Glafgow^ the fecond City in Scotland, I derir*d them to confider of it, and be afhamed, if they had any Shame. This a little abafhed them for the prefent, but afterwards they were as bad as ever. There were at this Meeting
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ilivcrs Col!c(n.;n"^, who were very rutlc. I afkcd if '-hat WIS thc;r Way ot ircatinp; Strangers? Antl tli.U I bclivcd their Ttachtrs in the L^nivcrfny tiiil not allow C)riuch ill Manners, by which th^y IcanJali/cd thcm- Iflvc^, tli ir City, jir\(\ Country. From this City v.c went to llamtltcn z\\<\ Ctrp.orfy wherclhcy wer^ more civil. At Cttrjborc \ Man t»f I/tttr*, and fobcr Con- vfilation bg; J ti-a! I wouM pny to the Almighty- that he would v^\\^ ilii him in the Do<ftnnc w!'.i*.i) W hi.l heard that Diy This being rare in thole Parts, thcretorc I thus minute it here. Wc went on towards the North o\ Scolijr.ii, to jiherj/fn^ and thereabouts, where there is a lenlcr hearted JVopIc, .imong'wiiom we had fcvcral larc;- Gatherings, and lome that were not ofu«, rxprelVd t Kir Satisfattion. In the North I mrt w i:h a Cj ntl^man, who coming from a Noblc- rr.an's Hojlr, joined mr, and aPKrd mc. If I knew l\ob<Tt Barclay? I laid not porlon.illy, but by his Writings I knew him wril. He told me» That be Birclay /.':.;' net I.'Jt bis /VZ/ou .vjSiorland. We after- ward* travelled Southwaril, where there were but few Friend*, and Imill Meetings •, yet we may lay, that the Cioodncfs, I .ovc and l*ri fence ot Him, who faid, H'cfie /::p cr tbrcf are gatberrd in mj i^jrr.e^ tbtrt am I :n them, I, I c/ :bem, was (»!tentimcs wiineflcd to be with u% blcflcd be 1 ?«; Holy Njme. Oh! that the Chil^'ren ol Men would pr iilc him in Thought, Word, •".d Peed, for he is worthy. So in great Reverence and holy Fear, wr travelled along towards Soutb- Britain^ had Icver.J Meetings at Luinbur^b^ and di- '• vers other Places i alio at i?^ra*/Vi: upon Tu:eed^ where there V - y Suld:ers who were very rude. The
Devil . . many Battles with us ever fincc wc
were a People, in order tO hinder us in our Worfhip, but we gtrKTally came ofT with Vi(ftory, as wc did here alfo, tiiro' Faith in his Name, U bo baib loved us^ and viani'cjhd bvn'clf :o us. Thole rude Soldiers ihrtiwed their M.us mio l!;c Congregation, in order
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62 r/je ] O VKN A L of '
1707. divers Collegians, who were very rude. I afked if ^-^'V*^ that was their Way of treating Strangers? And that I belived their Teachers in the Univerfity did not allow of fuch ill Manners, by which th§y fcandalized them- felves, th-ir City, and Country. From this City we went to Hamilton zv\d Gerjloore^ where they were; more Uamiitoc civil. At Gerjhore a Man of Letters, and fober Con- and G-f- verfation begged trar I would pray to the Almight^'^j that he would eflab ifli him in the Dodrine which he had heard that Day, This being rare in thofe Parts, 170a. therefore I thus minute it here. We went on towards ^Merd^. ^^^ North of Scotland, to Aberdeen^ and thereabouts, where there is a tenderhearted People, among'whom we had feveral large Gatherings, and fome that were not of us, exprefs'd their Satisfadion. In the North I met with a G^^ntleman, who coming from a .Noble- man's Houfe, joined me, and aflied me, // I knew Robert Barclay? I faid not perfonally, but by his Writings I knew him well. He told me, That he (Barclay) bad not left his Fellow inScothnd. We after- wards travelled Southward, where there were but few Friends, and linall Meetings •, yet we may lay, that the Goodnefs, Love and Prefence of Him, who faid, Where two cr three are gathered in ni'j Name^ there am I ut the mid/l of thern^ was oftentimes witnefTed to be with us, blefled be his Holy Name. Oh ! that the Children of Men would praife him in Thought, Word, and Deed, for he is worthy. So in great Reverence and holy Fear, we travelled along towards South- Britain^ had feveral Meetings at Edinburgh^ and di- Aiinhurgh. vers Other Placcs ; ■xl^od.i Berwick u^on Tweedy where there were many Soldiers who were very rude. The Devil hath had many Battles with us, ever fince we were a People, in order to hinder us in our Worfhip, but we generally came off with Victory, as we did here alfo, thro' Faith in his Name, Who hath loved us^ and manifefied himfelf to us. Thofe rude Soldiers throwed their Hats into the Congregation, in order
to
THOMAS C HAL KLET. 63
to difturb us, and hinder us in our Service, but were 170&* at lafl alham'd and difappointed. At this PJace my L/V>J dear Friend and Fellow-traveller, Richard Gove, and I parted : I was for going by the Eaft Sea-Coaft up for London^ and he inclin'd towards Cuviberland^ after we had travelled about a Year intheWorkoftheMiniftry, in great l.ove and true Friendihip, in which Work we were true Helpers one of another-, and as we had labour- ed together in the Work ot Chrifl, fo we parted in his Love. Now from Berwick I travelled along to New- cadle •, had one Meeting by the Way, and feveral good Meetings at Newcajlle^ Sunderland^ Shoten, and jv^tct.t/j Durham^ and feveral other Places in the Bifiioprick of Sunderiai 'Durham. The Winter coming on apace, it began to be bad travelling-, and I being already much fpenc by it, defign'd to go fpeedily up to London\ and taking fome Meetings in my Way, as at Stockton^ Whitby.^ Scarborough^ Burlington^ Hull^ and Brigg^ and fo on thro' Lincolnjhire^ where I went to vifit a Ucoufiihn Friend that was Prifoner in the Caftle of Lincoln^ becaufe for Confcience Sake he could not pay an ungodly Prieft the Tythes of his Labour. From Lincoln I proceeded to Huntington., about which Place we had feveral large Meetings, fo on to Baldock^ where T met with my Father and John Gopfil, who came from London to meet me, which was a joyful Meeting, for I had not feen my Father for about nine Years. The Love and Tendernefs between us, and the Gladnefs in feeing each other again, cannot well be exprefied (but Ibelieve it wasfomewhat Wk&Jacoh and Jofeph's Meeting in Egypt j) it was affefting and melting : Blefied be the Almighty that gave me once more to fee my tender and aged Parent! So from Baldock we went to Hitching, and had a Meeting ther^, as alfo at Hertford, from whence, with feveral Friends, I went to Enfield, v/here I met with my dear and only Brother George, and there were with us feveral of my Relations, and divers others oi our
Friends .-
64
t;^^ JOURNAL o/
Icndos,
Wtrtfori. foire.
3708. Friends: We were heartily glad to fee one another. '-''VN^ From Enfield we went forward for London^ and by the Way we met with feveral Friends (of the Meeting of Horfiydown, to which I did belong from my Child- hoodj who came to meet me, and accompanied us to London.
I {lay*d in and about the City moft of the Winter, vifiting iVIeetings when I was well and in Health •, for thro' often changing the Climates, I got a fevere Cold, and was ill for feveral Weeks, fo that I was not at any Meeting, which Time was very tedious to me ; not fo much becaufe of my Illnefs, as that I was de- prived of divers Opportunities and Meetings fwhich are in that City every Day of the Week except the laftj When I was a little got over this Illnefs, I went into Herlfordjhire, and fome Parts adjacent, and had Meetings at Staines, Langford^ Uxbridge^ Walford, Hempfiead., Bendijh, Albans^ Market-Street , Hitching^ Hertford^ Hoddefdon^ and then return'd again to London.
After I had been at Lo7idon a while, I vifited feveral other Country Meetings, as Winchmore-Hill^ Totten- haniy IVandfworth^ Plaijlow^ Deptford, and Eppingy and then (laid about London fome Weeks waiting for a PafTage for Holland^ which I intended to vifit before I left my own Habitation.
And on the 14th of the Firft Month, 1708-9, I, with my Companion, John Bell, after having ac- quainted our Friends and Relations (having their Con- fent) and taking our folemn Leave of them, we went down CO Grave/end) and (laid there two or three Days for a fair Wind. We went on board the Ship ^nne^ John Duck, Mafter, bound for Rotterdam, in Com- pany with a Fleet of Veffels waiting for Wind, i^c. When the Wind was fair we failed for the Coafl of Holland^ and when we arrived on that Coafl the Wind was contrary, and blew very hard, fo that fome of «be Ships in Company loll their Anchors ; but on
the
About Lond*H,
THOMAS CHALKLET, 65
the 27th of the fame Month we arrived fafe at Rotter- 17 eg. dam in Holland. On the Firft Day Morning we went v./'V^ to Meeting at Rotterdajn, where Friends have a Meet- ing-houfe ; and we ftaid ar this City feven or eight ^f"a®*^,. Days, and had fix or ieven Meetings, and were com- urdam. fortedwith our Brethren and Sifters, and greatly re- frefhed in the Lord Almighty. At this City we fpoke without an Interpreter, becaufe moft in the Meeting underftood Englijh. From Rotterdam we travelled by the Trackfcoot, ('or Boat, being drawn by Horfes, which is a pleafant eafy Way of travelling) to a large Town called Harleh, where we had a Meeting, HarUm. and fpoke by an Interpreter ; to which Meeting came divers of thofe People called Menomjh : They were very foberand attentive, and ftay'dall the Time of the Meeting, and fpoke well of it.. From Harlem we went to Amfierdam, the Metropolis o^ Holland, where j/imleriam. Friends have a Meeting-Houfe. Here we had feve- ral Meetings and ftay'd about a Week. On the firlt Day we had a large Meeting, to which came many Peopleof divers Perfuafions and Religions, as J^wj, Papifis, and others ; and we had a good Opportunity among them, and feveral were tender. A Jew came next Day to fpeak with us, and did acknowledge. That Chrift wasthe Minifter of that Sanctuary and Tabernacle that God had pitched, and not Man % and that he was fenfibie of the Miniftry of Chrift in his Soul ; and, faidbey my Heart was broken while thatSubjed: was fpoken of in the Meeting. ' I was glad to fee the Man tender and reached ; but too ge- nerally fpeaking, the poor Jews (the Seed of good Jacob) are very dark and unbelieving. I have met with but very few of them in my Travels that have been tender ; but I do love them for Abraba?n, I/aaCy and JacoVs Sake. At this Meeting William. Sewel (the Author of the Hiftory of the Rife and Progrefs of the People called fakers) a tender-fpirited upright Man interpreted for me. From Amfierdam we went to*
North'^.
66
r^^ J O U R N A L ^y
1709.
North
Holland.
Ktrlhigam.
Mmidffi,
Norlb'HollaNdf and John Claus and Peter R^yard went with us to interpret for us •, fo by Boat, or Scoor, we travelled to a Town called Tw'ifk^ where we had tv/o Meetings, Friends having a Meeting-houfe there ; from ^w'ljk we went back again to Amfterdain^ and had two large Meetings there on the Firft Day, and Second Day in the Evening we went on Ship-board, in order to crofs the South Sea to Herlingam^ at which Place we had two Meetings, and we and Friends were glad ro fee one another : And indeed, we being as one Family all the World over, are generally glad to fee each other. From this Place we travelled Eaftward through Eafl-Frie/Iand, and went through feverai great Towns and Cities until we came to Emhden, the chief City in Eafi-Friefland, where we had a comfor- table Meeting by the Bed-fide of one of our Friends that lay ri:.k. •, and feverai of her Neighbours came in and ftay'd till the Meeting ended •, fome of them were very tender and loving, and wifhed us well, and were well fatisfied. After Meeting we fet forward for Hamburgh, it being four Days Journey by Waggon, and pafied along through divers Towns and Cities : We alfo travelled through the City of Oldenburgh, and a Place of great Commerce aWed Bremen. A Magiftrate of this City took Notice of us, joined him- felf to us, ?nd went with us to the Inn, and then very lovingly took leave of us, and defired God to blefs us. The People at our Inns were generally very loving and kind ro us, and fome would admire at my coming fo far only to vifit my Friends, without any Views of Advantage or Profit outwardly. When we Mamhurgh got to Hamburgh we had a Meeting at Jacob Hageri's, and thole that were there, were well fatisfied with the Doctrine of Truth, blefTed be God, v/ho, I may fay, was with us at that Time and Place ! At Ham- burgh there was at Meeting one who had preached before the King o'i Denmark \ who, as I underftood by our Interpreter, was turned out of his Place, tor
preaching
OldfHiur^
-and Ere •
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 67
preaching the fame Truths that we had preached 1709. there that Day ; at which Meeting were Papijfs, Lu- v^St'^ therans^ Calvinijts, Menonifts^ Jews^ &c. All of them were fober, and generally expreired their Satis- fadion. I had fo much Comfort in that Meeting, thati thoughtitwas worth my Labourin coming from my Habitation, the Anfwer of Peace was fuch to my Soul, that I greatly rejoiced in my Labour in the Work of Chrift. From hence I travelled to Frede- rickjladt, it being two Days Journey (where Friends /ja^r. have a Meeting- houfe.j We ftay'd about ten Days, and had nine Meetings in this City, Some of the Meetings were very large, and the longer we ftay'd, the larger they were. This Frederkkjladl: is a City in " the Dominions of the Duke o^ Holjiein^ and was the fartheft Place we travelled toEaftward; and from hence I wrote a fmall Piece, called, A loving, invita- tion unto Toiing and Old in Holland and effewhere •, which was tranflated into the German and Low-Dutch Languages ; and divers ImprefTions of them werealfo printed in England,
We travelled in this Journey thro' fome Parts of the Emperor of Germanf% Dominions, as alfo of the Kings of Denmark and Sivedeland^ and of the Duke of Oldenburgh's and Prince of Eaft-Friejlandh Territories, ' befides fome Parts of the Seven Provinces ot the united States. We parted with our Friends of this City of Frederickjladt^ in much Love and Tendernefs, and with our Hearts full of good Will one towards ano- ther, and fo went back to the City of Emhden a nearer e^^j^^,,^ Way, by two Days Journey, than to go by Ham- lurgh. We crofs'd the Rivers Eyder^ Elfe, and Weijer •, over which lafc we were rowed by three Wo- men, The Women in thoje Farts of the World are jirong and rcbuft, and ufed to hard Labour. I have feen them do not only the Work of Men^ hut of Horfes 5 . it being common with them to do the mofi laborious^ anci ths Men ths lightejl and eafteft Work. I remember tloat
I
68 rZ^ J O U R N A L of
lyo-^' I once /aw near Hamburgh a fair well-drejjed Woman^ ^y^"^^ tvbcfy by her Drefs, or Appearance^ was a Woman of fome Notey and a Man {which 1 took to be her Hujband) walking by her^ and fhe was very great with Child, and the Way difficulty being up a very fteep Hill, and he did' not fo much as offer his Hand^ or AJfiflance to her \ which, however it might look to a Man of that Country ^ it feem^d very flrange tome, being a Briton. For viy Part, I thought it unmanly ^ as well as umnannerly : On which I obferve, that I never in any Part of the Worlds faw Women Jo tenderly dealt by as our Englifh, or Bri- tifli Women, which they ought to value and prize highly^ dnd therefore, to be the more loving and obedient to their Hi'.fbands, the indulgent Englifhmen •, which Indulgence I blame 7Wt, but commend, fo far as it is a Motive to flir them up to hove an A Faithfulnef,
In this Journey between Frederickjladt and Emhden^ we had tour Days hard travelling, and were twice overturned out of our Waggons, but we got no Harm, which was admirable to us •, for once we fell Waggon and all over a great Bank, juft by the fide of a large Ditch, and did but juft lave ourielves our of the Ditch. The next Time weoverfet upon Stones: We wondered that none ot us were hurt, particularly myfeh, I being mucli heavier than any of the reft ; but thro' the Mercy of God, we got well to Embden the fecond Time, and had a Meeting upon a Firft Day, and immediately after Meeting we took Ship for Z)f//2;(?^/('which was from Embden about nine or l^eifztsu j.^^ EngliJIo Miles by Water j and with a fair Gale of Wind, got there in lefs than two Hours Time. We- fpoke by Interpreters all along, and were divinely helped to preach the Gofpel to the Satisfadion of , others, and our own Comfort ; and the Friend who interpreted for us, was fenfible of the fame divine AfTiftance, to his Admiration, for which we were all truly thankful. But notwithftanding we were fo open- ed, to the Satisfadion of ourielves, our Friends, and
th.e
rnOMAS CHALKLET, 69
the People, yet we were fometimes emptied to ex- 1709; ceeding great fpiritual Poverty, and in the Senfe of v-<vn«/ our Want and Need, we did many Times pour out our Souls and Spirits in humble Prayer and Suppli- cation to the rnofl: High, for his Help and Strength, that it might be made manifefl: to us in our Weaknefs; and we found him a God near at Hand^ and often a pre- fent Help in the needful 7ime, and had a fweet Anfwef to our Prayers. O! that my Soul, with all the Faithful, may dwell near to him, in whom alone is the Help and Strength of ail his faithful Servants and Minifters ! Amen,
From Delfzeel we went to Groeningen, the chief ^'■'"»'«* City in Groeningland^ and fo on to a River called the*^'"' * Wouder^ and to a Town named Goradick^ where we had a Meeting with a few Friends there, and fome of their Neighbours came to the Meeting. It was to us a comfortable Meeting, and they were glad of it, they being butfeldom vifited by Friends. From this Place we travelled by Waggon co Hervine, where we Hervinc. lodged that Night, and next Day went by Waggon to Leuwar den. Ichappenedthat we had generally very Leuwtr- fine Weather while in thofe open Waggons, in which '^'^''* we travelled feveral Hundred Miles, fo that Jacob Claus^ our Companion and Interpreter, tho' he had travelled much, faid he never had obferved the like before -, which Obfervation I thought good to make, with Thanks to the Almighty.
From the City of Leuwarden^ we came by Water ^^.^j-^ ^^ to herlingen, where Friends were glad to fee us, and we them. We had a Meeting in Friends Meeting- houfe, and a good comfortable One it was, blelTed be the Lord for it ! From hence we crofTed the South- Sea, and had a contrary Wind, which made our Paf- fage long and tedious. We were two Days and two Nights on this Water before we got to Amfierdam, in all which, and the next Day, I talted no Food, being three Days fafting. I was willing to keep my Body
-- under
4>nfitrdam.
70 T;6(? J O U R N A L c/
1709. under, and found it for my Health ; neirher had I any v-'-OT"'"--' Dtjfire of Food in thofe three Days, in which Time Arnjferdam. ^^ ^^^ ^^° Meetings. We arrived at Arnfterdam about the fixth Hour, on the Firft Day Morning, an'd had two Meetings at Amjlerdam that Day, which were quiet, and many People came to one of them : But we could not be clear without going again to . ^ North-Holland •, fo from Amjlerdam we went to Horn^
where we had a Meeting in the Collegian's Meeting- houfe, and it was to Satisfacflion : The People were very loving, and divers very tender, even more than we have ufually feen. They defired another Meeting, but our Time would not admit of it, we having ap- pointed a Meeting at Twijk the next Day, which we Twijk- J^,^^^ -j^ the Meeting-Place, as alio another at a Friend^s Houfe. The next Day we returned to Am(lerda?nt, and had a Meeting, which began about the fifth Hour, which was the laft Meeting we had in this City, and I hope \t' v/ill not eafily be forgotten by fome. After it we folemnly took our Leave or' Friends, and departed for Harlem^ where we were well refrefh- ed in the Love and Life of Chrift Jefus, our dear Lord, and good Mailer. From Harlefn we went with feveral Friends to Rotterdam^ where we had two "" *"• Meetings, and in the Evening we went to vifit a Friend that was not well, with whom we had a Meet- ing, and affecting Time, and the fick Friend was comforted and refrellied, and faid, flie was much bet- ter than before ; and we were edified, and the Lord our God praifed and magnified over all, who is bleffed for ever.
In thofe Parts, viz. Holland., Frlefland, Germany, &c. we travelled 972 EtigliJJj Miles, all in Waggons and VefTels. We came not on a Horfe's Back all the Time. It was about nine Weeks that we ftay'd in thofe Countries, travelling therein, and getting Meet- ings
Harlem,
HHOMA^ CHALKLET. ji
ings where we could, which were to the Number of 1709. Forty-five, thus accounted ;
|
At Rotterdam |
10 |
. At Horn i |
|
Harlem |
3 |
Hamburgh 1 |
|
Amfierdam |
10 |
Embden 2 |
|
Twijk |
4 |
Frederickjladt 10 |
|
Herl'ingen |
3 |
Goradick i |
'All thefe are large Cities, except Iwijk and Gora" dick.
From Rotterdam we took Ship for London, and on the 30th of the Third Month 1709, we failed down the River Meufe to the Briel^ in the Ship Anney John Duck Matter, but he miffing the Convoy, we took our Paflage in the Packet ; and fo from Helvoetjluys we failed over to Harwich^ and thus fafeiy arrived in Harwichi our native Land, bleffing Almighty God for his many Prefervations and Deliverances by Sea and Land.
A bout this Time (after a long Continuance of War^ there was great talking of Peace •, but the old Enemy to Peace, Truth, and Righteoufnefs, broke it oiF by his evil Working in Man : Neither can there be any lafting Peace, until the Nations come to the Witnell- ing of the peaceable Government and Spirit of our Lord Jefus Chrifl:, to be fet up and eftabiifhed in themfelves. The Lord bring it to pals, if it be his blelTed Will, with Speed, for his holy Name's Sake! Amen.
As I have had great Peace and Satisfaction in my . Travels in Holland and Germany^ fo, for exciting others under the like Exercife, I may truly fay, that there is Encouragement for faithful Minifters to labour in the Work of the Gofpel : For I know not that I ever met with more Tendernefs and Opennefs in Peo- ple, than in thofe Parts of the World. There isa great People which they call Af^«o«z/?j, who are very near to Truth, and the Fields are white unto Harveft
F amone;
ipfwich.
Cekhefter,
London*
Yearly
|»{eenn£;
72 TZ^^ J O U R N A L c/
1709. among diver of that People, fpiritually fpeaking. Oh? that faithful Labourers, not a few, might be fent of God Almighty into the great Vineyard of the World, is what my Soul jind Spirit breathes to him for !
After lodging one Night at Harwich^ we came to Ipf-dvich, and from thence to Colchejler^ and ftay'd there the Firft Day, and had two Meetings; and had a Meeting at Birch and CoggeJJjalU and then back to Cokhejler^ where we took Coach for London^ to the Yearly Meeting ot Friends, which was very large. I gave fome fhort Account of my Travels to the faid Meeting, with which Friends were fatisfied, and made a Minute thereof. I had been about twenty Months from my tiabitation, and from my dear and affecftio- nateWife, and from any manner of Trade and Bufi- nefs, either direftly or indiredlly, being all that Time wholly given up in my Mind to preach the glorious Gofpel of God our Saviour, without any outward Confideration wh.uever, taking my great Mafler*s Counlel, As I had freely received from him, fo I freely gave *, and had that folid Peace in my Labours that is of more Value than Gold, yea, than all the World.
From the Yearly Meeting I travelled thro* fome Parts of moft of the Counties in England^ and alfo in Wales : In which Service, I laboured fervently, and often travelled hard, in Body and Mind, until the next Yearly Meeting 17 10, having travelled that Year about Two Thoufind Five Hundred Miles, and had near Three Hundred publick Meetings, in many of which there were much People, and oftentimes great Opennefs. I being at fo many Friends Houfes, and at fo many Meetings, if I was to be particular in the fame, it would be too voluminous, for which, and fome Reafons befides, I only give a general Ac- count thereof here. 1710. In this Year (viz. 17 10) my dear Friend and Fel-
^-Or^>-^ low-traveller, Richard Gove, departed this Life, at
Vi (Its the Meetings of Fiicnds in £n,^ltin4
Uxhridge^ about fifteen Miles from London,
^>>
at our Friend
THOMAS CHALKLET, y-^
Friend Richard Ruharcljon's Houfe. He died ofa 1710. Confumption. We travelled together in great Love and Unity, and the Lord blefied his Work in our Hands. We were in Company in the IVefi-India Iflands, Ireland, and North- Britain, till we came to Berwick on Tweed. We met together again at London, and he vifited fome other Parts of Britain, in the Time I was in Holland and Germany. He was an inofFenfive, loving Friend, and had a found Teftimony, which was ftrviceable and convincing, and was welJ-beloved in Philadelphia, where he Jived. He left a good Sa- vour and Report behind him (I think) where-ever he travelled in the World.
Now at this General Meeting in London, I had a ^«'«''^'' good Opportunity to take my Leave of my dear M?etm= Friends and Brethren in my native Land, not expell- ing to fee it, or them any more, in this World. Oh ! I may truly fay, it was a folemn PcU-cing ! It was a folemnTimeto me indeed. After the Yearly Meet- ing was over, I took my Paflage in the Maryhope, "John Annis Mafter, bound for Philadelphia -, and on the 29th of the Fourth Month 1 7 1 o, at Gravefend, after G^viwf having taken my folemn Leave of our Relations, and "''^' feveral of my dear Friends, we fet Sail, and overcook the Rujjia Fleet at Harwich, and fo joined cliem, and failed with them as tar as Shetland^ which is to the Northward of the Ifles of Orkney. We were with the Fleet about two Wrecks, and then left them, and fail'd A^ sea* to the Weflward for America. In this Time we had rough Seas, which made divers of us Sea-fick. Af- ter we left Shetland, we were feven Weeks and four Days at Sea before we faw the Land of America, and glad we were when we got Sight thereof. In this Time we had divers fvveet and folemn Meetings, viz. on Firft Days and Fifth Days, wherein we worfliipped and praifed the Great JEHOVAH, and many Things were opened in the Spirit of Love and Truth, to our Comfort and Edification. We had one Meet-
F 2 . ing
74 ne JOVKN AL of
1 7 1 o. ing with the Germans or Talalines, on the Ship's Deck, and one that underftood both Languages interpreted for me. The People were tender and wrought upon, behaved fober, and were well fatisfied : And I can truly fay, I was well fatisfied alfo.
In this Voyage we had our Health to Admiration; and I fhall obferve one Thing worthy of my Notice. Some of my loving and good Friends in London^ fear- ing a Sicknefs in the Ship, as fhe was but fmall, con- fidering there were fo many Souls on board her, being ninety-four in Number, they, for that and other Reafons, advife*d me not to go in her *, for they loved me v/e!l, and I took it kindly of them : But I could not be eafy to take their Advice, becaufe I had been long from my Habitation and Bufinefs, and which was yet more, from my dear and loving Wife; And notwithftanding the VefTel was fo full and crowed, and alfo feveral of ttie People taken into the Ship fick in the River ot Thames, yet they mended on board the VefTel apace, and were foon all brave and hearty, being perfedlly recovered at Sea, and the Ship, thro' the Providence of the Almighty, brought them all well to Philadelphia^ in the Seventh Month 1710: 'ph'iii!'" (I think I never was in a more healthy VefTel in allmy Time, and I thought this peculiar Favour worthy to be recorded by me.) We had a very pleafant PafTage up the River Delaware^ to our great Satisfadion, the Palatines being wonderfully pleafed with the Country, mightily admiring the Pleaiantnefs and the Fertility of it. Divers of our People went on Shore, and brought Fruit on board, which was the largell and finefl: they had ever lecn, as they faid, viz. Apples, Pcaches3 ij^c.
I was from my Family and Habitation in this Jour- ijey and Travel for the Space of three Years, within a few Weeks ; in which Time, and in my Return, I had fweet Peace to my Soul, Glory to God for ever- more ! I had Meetings every Day when on Land, ex- cept
fhiijdtl-
THOMAS CHALKLET, j^
cept Second and Seventh Days ('when in Health, and 1710, nothing extraordinary hindered j and travelled by Sea '-/^VNJ and Land Fourteen Thoufand Three Hundred Miles, according to our Englijh Account. I was kindly and tenderly received by my Friends, who longed to fee me, as I did them, and our Meeting was comfortable and pleafant.
After this long Travel and Voyage I ftay'd at Home, and looked after the little Family which God had given me, and kept duly to Meetings, except fomething extraordinary hindered. Divers People when I came Home raifed a falle Report of me, and faid, I had brought Home a great deal of Money and Goods, that I had got by Preaching ; which was ut- terly falfe and bafe ; for I brought neither Money or Goods, fo much as to the Value of Five Pounds, ex> cept my wearing Apparel ; fo much the Reverfe, that I borrowed Money at London to pay for my Accom- modations Home, the which I faithfully remitted back again to my Friend that lent it me, to whom I was much obliged for the fame : And if I might have gained a Hundred Pounds per Annumy it would not have tempted me to undertake that, or fuch another Journey. Soon after my Return Home again, 1 vifited a few neighbouring Meetings, which were large and edify- ing. Friends being glad to fee me again return'd Home from that long Journey. And I did ("as I had Reafon to do) blefs the holy Name of the Lord, for his many Prefervations and Deliverances by Sea and Land.
After fome Stay at Philadelphia, I went down with my Wife and Family into Maryland, to a Corn-Mill Maryland, and Saw-Mill, which I had there, in order to live fome Time, and fettle my Affairs : And after being there fome Time, my dear Wife was taken ill of a fore Difeafe, which fome thought to be an Ulcer in the Bladder, and I had her up to Philadelphia, fhe being carried as far as Chefter in a Horfe-litter, where fhe continued for fome Months, in much Mifery, and
F 3 extream
76 The JOVK'NAL of
• -•D." :r:n 1 71 1, extream Pain, at the Houfe of our very kind Friends, David and Grace Lloyd, whofe Kindnefs to us in that fore, trying, and exercifing Time, was great, and is not to be forgotten by me, while I live in this World. FromC/6^7?^r we removed her again in a Litter, being r-i'adfi accompanied by our Friends, to Philadelphia, where /^;j. Hie continued very ill all that Winter, often thinking that Death tarried long, and crying mightily to the Lord, Ob! Come azvay, come away I This was her Cry Day and Night, 'till at laft ftie could fpeak no more. As we lived together in great Love and Unity, being very affefbionate one to another •, fo being now left alone I was very folitary, and fometimesforrowful, and broken into many Tears, in the Senfe of my Lofs and Lonefomnefs. This my dear Wife, was a virtuous young Woman, and one that truly f'^ared God, and loved his dear Son •, from whom Ihe had received a good Gift of the Miniflry, and was ferviceable to ma- ny therein. I had five Children by her, four Sons and one Daughter, all which I buried before her, under three Years old. At the Yearly Meeting before Ihe died, fhe was fo wonderfully carried forth in her Mini- ftry, by the divine Grace, that divers of her Friends believed fhe was near her End, fhe fignifying fome- thing to that Effeft in her Teftimony, and that fhe fliould not live to fee another Yearly Meeting : And , fo it came to pafs ; for fhe died before another Yearly- Meeting, being aged about thirty-five Years, and a married Woman about thirteen Years. Her Body was carried to Friends Meeting-houfe in Ihiladelphia, ■and buried in Friends burying Ground, being accom- panied by many Hundreds ot our Friends, in afolemn Manner: And my Heart was greatly broken in Con fideration of my great Lofs ; and being left alone as to Wife and Children, I many Times deeply mourned, tho' I well knew my Lofs was her's and their Gain !
Here 1 fhall end the firfl Part of the Journal of fome Part of my Life and Travels, omitting many
Meetings,
TtHOMAS CBALKLET, yy
Meetings, and leffer Journeys, which I performed : 1711. And the Accounts here given, have been moftly gene- ^yv^ ral, not defcending into many Particulars ; tho' the adding fome Things might have been inftruftive and agreeable : The whole being intended as a Motive to ftir up others to ferve, love, and faithfully follow, and believe in Chrift. :
The End of the Firji PART.
78 ^-1*?
JOURNAL
OF THE
Life, Labours, Travels, 6^c,
OF . .1 ■.,.
TUO MAS CHJLKLET. PART 11,
NOW gave up my Time moftly to travelling, for about the Space of two Years, in which I vifitedthe Meetings of Friends in the Provinces
^j^fy^a- M^ of Penfyivania, Eafi and Wejl Jerfey^ Mary- Jerfey. land, Virginia^ and North-Carolina^ and back again v^r^lnft ^'^ Philadelphia^ and then to New Jerfey again : Alfo North Ca. to Long-IJlandj Rhode- I/land^ Conanicut-^Jland, Nan- Thiia'dd- tucket' IJland^ and New-England^ and thro' thofe Parts tkta. on my Return to Philadelphia. In thefe Provinces, hfi7nd, ^^' ^ travelled fome Thoufands of Miles, and had Rhode. many large Meetings (fome in Places where there had ' ^' not been any beforej and fome were convinced, and many would acknowledge totheTeitimony of Truth,
which
''THOMAS CHAL KLET. 79
which was declared by the Help and Grace of Chrift ; 1713. and many Times, my Heart was, by the Afliftance v>'"V**>' of that Grace, wonderfully opened to the People. It I fhould be particular in the Account of thefe Jour- nies, it would enlarge this Part of my Journal more than I am willing.
In Virginia I had a Meeting at Jamss''s River, where a Prieft of the Church of England^ with fome of his Hearers, made fome Oppofirion fafcer our Meeting was over j and were for difpu ting about Re- ligion -, and he openly declared, " The Spirit was '' not his Guide, nor Rule ; and he hoped, never " fhould be. Bur, he faid, the Scriptures were his *' Rule, and that there was no Need of any other -, '' and that they were as plain as Gunter*s Line, or as *• I, 2, 3." I told him. The Scriptures were a good fecondary Rule, and that it were well if Men would fq^uare their Lives according to their Dire5iions ; which we, as, a People, exhorted all to : But that the holy Spirit, front which the holy Scriptures came, muft needs he preferable to the Letter, that came from it ; and without which holy Spirit, The Letter kills, as faith the Apofile. I alfo afked hiqi, How he j or any el fe, without the Light, or Influence of the holy Spirit, could underjland the Scrip- tures, which were paraholically and allegorically expref- fed, in many Places? And further to ufe his own Ex - prefTion, How could any underftand Gunter's Line, without Gunter'j Knowledge ? Or without they were taught by Gunter, or fome other? Neither can we be the Sons of God, without the Spirit of God. V/hich he anfwered not, but went away.
In New-England, one Jofeph Metcalf a Prejhyterian Teacher at Falmouth, wrote a Book, intitled. Legal Forcing a Maintenance for a Minifier of the Gofpel^ warrantable from Scripture, &c. Which Book, a Friend o( Sandwich gave me, and defired I would an- fwer it ; which, after finding fome Exercifc on my Mind, for the C^ufe of Truth, I was willing to un- dertake ;
8o The JOVKN AL of
17 [3. dertake ; and accordingly wrote an Anfwer thereto, <y\^^ which I called, Forcing a Maintenance , not warranta- ble from the holy Scriptures^ for a Mini Her of the Gofpch In which I endeavoured to fet the Texts of Scripfure in a true Light, which he had darkened and mifrepre- lented by his chimerical Dodirines,
In this Year 171 3, I went from Philadelphia^ in the Hope Galley^ John Richmond Mailer, for South-Caro- • Una, We were about a Month at Sea •, and when it SouthCa- p'^^^^<^ G"^ '^^--^t we arrived at Charles -Town^ in Toiffia. South-Carolina, v;e had a Meeting there, and divers others afterwards. There are but few Friends in this Province -, yet I had feveral Meetings in the Country: The People were generally loving, and received me kindly. What I had to declare to them, I always defired to fpeak to the Witnefs of God in the Soul, and according to the pure Do6lrine of Truth in the holy Scriptures-, and there was Opennefs in the People in feveral Places. I was feveral Times to vifit the Go- vernor who was courteous and civil to me. He faid, J deferved Encouragement -, and fpoke to feveral to be generous, and contribute to my Affiftance. He meant an outward Maintenance *, for he would have me encouraged to flay among them. But I told him, ■ ~ that tho' it might be a Practice with them, to main- tain their Miniflers, and pay them Money for preach- ing, it was contrary to our Principle to be paid for preaching •, agreeable to the Command of our great Mafter, Chrifl Jefus, who faid to his Miniflers, Freely you have received^ freely give : So that we are limited by his Words, whatever others are ; And- thofe who take a Liberty, contrary to his Doclrine and Command, I think, mufl be Antichrijl^s^ accord- ing to holy Scripture. The longer I flaid there, the larger our Meetings were ; and when I found myfelf free and clear of thofe Parts, I took my PaiTage for rireinia, V'lrginia in a Sloop, Henry Tucker Mafter. I had a comfortable and quick PaiTage to Ja?nes*s River, it
being
rHOMAS CHALKLET, 81
being about two Hundred Leagues. The Mailer of the 17 13. VeffeJ told me. That he believed he was blejjed for my (.OTN* Sake. I wiflied him to hve fo as that he might be blefled for Chrifl*s Sake. And fome Reformation was begun on him in our Voyage ; which was the Good- nefs of God, thro' Chrift, to him, and not to be at- tributed to me, any farther than an Inftrument in the divine Hand ; tor of ourfelves we cannot do any Thing that is Good, it being by Grace, thro' Faith, that we are faved, which is God's Gift to the Souf.
After I had been fome Time in Virginia^ I got a PalTage up the Bay of Chefapeak^ and had feveral Meetings in Maryland, Friends being glad to fee me ; Maryland, and we were comforted in Chrift our Lord, t made fome little Stay at a Place I had in that Province, called Longhridge, and then returned to Philadelphia, nuaieu where I lodged at the Houfe of my very kind Friends /*'<'♦ Richard 2in^ Hannah Hill'-, and was oftentimes at di- vers neighbouring Meetings ; and fometimes had good Service therein.
About this Time I had an Inclination to alter my Condition of being a Widower, to a married State ; and the moft fuitable Perfon that I (with fome of my good Friends) could think upon, was Martha^ the Widow ot Jofeph Brown: And on the 15th of the Second Month 1714, we were joined together in 1714. Marriage, with the Unity of Friends in general. We U<»'V>J. had a large Meeting at our Marriage, the Solemniza- tion thereof being attended with the Grace and Good- nefs of God •, and, for Example-fake, we made but little Provifion for our Guefts : For great Entertain- ments at Marriages and Funerals, began to be a grow- ing Thing among us, which was attended with divers Inconveniencies.
My Wife wasafober and religious young Woman, and of a quiet natural Temper and Difpofition ; which is an excellent Ornament to the fair Sex : And indeed it is fo both to Male and Female •, for according to the
holy
S2 r^^ JOURNAL c/
1714. holy Scriptures, A meek and quiet Spirit is with the *^^.^^ Lord of great Price.
The i^rft Child we had I called Abigail (ov the Fa- ther's Joy, as the Word fignifiesj and while fhe lived, I had Joy and Comfort in her, even more than I could expeft, her Age confidered ; for flie lived but about eighteen Months, yet in that Time gave fre- quent Proofs of an uncommon Capacity, and dropt fuch extraordinary Expreffions, that I have faid to her Mother, This Child is too ripe for Heaven to live long on Earthy therefore let its not Jet our Hearts upon it. And I have thought, that in tins Child, the Saying of Chrifl was fulfilled, even in the Letter of it. Out of the Alouths of Babes and Sucklings, thou hafi perfected Praife^ Mat. xxi. 1 6.
I was at divers Yearly Meetings in 1715, viz. at
Choptank in Maryland -y at Shrewfbury and Salem in
.shri-wfb ^^"^-Jerfey \ all which Meetings were very large and
Salem comfortablc ; many Tilings being opened therein,
tending to the convincing and eftablifhing the People
in the Truth and Doftrine ofChrift. I was likewife
at divers other Meetings in thofe Provinces j which were
■large and fatisfaftory.
At Salem Yearly Meeting I was fent for to the Pri- fon, where [here was a young Woman that was to be tryM lor her Life. Shedefir'd that I would pray for her, and charged me to warn the young People to be careful not to keep bad Company : For^ faid fhe, it has been viy Ruin, and brought me to this Shame and Reproach. She had been tenderly brought up and educated, I knew her when flie wore a Necklace of Gold Chains, tho' now fhe wore Iron ones : Upon which Subjeft I had afterwards a large Opportunity to ipeak to the People in a very moving Manner ; which feem'd to very much afte6t the Youth, and others in the Meeting, which confifled of many Hundreds of People. I faw this young "Woman afterwards, the Jury acquitting her ; and
I
THOMAS CHALKLET. 83
I told her, that her Life was given her for a Prey -, 1715. and reminded her, how it was with her when Ihe was v./'V^^ in Prifon in Chains ; and I advifed her to walk more cir- cumfpeAly for the future j which (he faid, llie hoped fhc fhould do.
In the Year 1716, I had fome Concerns which ^ drew me to the Id^ind of Berjnudas (to which IQand I tJ^^ went twice that Summer.) My Family increafing, I traded a little to Sea for their Support and Mainte- nance : And I can truly fay, I carried on my Affairs and Bufinefs in the Fear of God, having an Eye, or Regard therein, more to his Glory, than to my own Intereft. We had a rough PafTage to this Ifland fin the firft Voyagej and were forced, by Diffcrefs of Weather, to cafl fome of our Goods into the Sea; and the Storm being very violent, fome of the Seamen thought we fhould be devoured by the Waves j and asfor me, they hadfhut meupin theCabin alone, all in ©arknefs, and the Water came in fo that they were Ats«a. forced to take it out in Buckets. When the Storm was a little over, the Mafler came to me, andafked. How I did all alone in the Dark ^^ I told him, Pretty well ; and faid to him, / was very willing to die if it fo pleafed God: And indeed I did expeft no otlier at that Time. After this great Storm was over we ar- rived at Bermudas in a few Days ; but going into the ^^^^^^^^ Harbour the Bottom of the VefTel ftruck the Rocks, but we got well in •, for which I was thankful to the Almighty. I (lay'd on the Ifland about a Month, and had feveral Meetings, to fome of which, many came who were not called Friends. They were all iober, and fome well fatisfied j and the People of the Ifland generally received me lovingly, and were very kind to me. (Our AncieniSy who bore the Burden and Heat of the Da)\ met tvith very different Treatment. 1 tenderly deftre that we who come up after them^ may he truly humble and thankful to the Almighty for all his Mercies I)
By
H
7'he ]OURN AL of
1716.
fhilaitl- fhia.
By Reafon of my outward Affairs, I had Oppor- tunities with fome Perfons of great Note and Bufmefs on this Ifland i and fometimes opened the Principles of Friends to their Satisfa(^ion ; fome of them told me. They never underjiood fo much concerning our Friends before ; and if what I faid was true, they had been mifinformed. Divers fuch Opportunities 1 had with feveral on this Idand, there being but very few of our Society.
Thefe are called the Summer IJlandSy or Bermudas, there beingmany little Iflands in themidll of theMain llland, in Form like a Horfe-lhoe, and are but two Hundred Leagues diftance from the Capes ofDelware, It is rare to fee Hail, Snow, or Ice there.
After I had done my Bufinefs, and had been for fome Time on the llland, I had a ready and comfortable Paflage Home, where I was joyfully received. Semudat, After fome little Stay at Home, I went the Second Time (that Summer) to Bermudas, and then alio I had fome Meetings, and did fome Bufinefs on the llland. It was my conltant Care, that my worldly Affairs fhould not hinder me in my religious Concern for the good ot Souls. It happened at this Time there was a mighty Hurricane of Wind, fo that it blew many Houfes to the Ground, and very many Trees up by the Roots, and rent divers Rocks afunder, which I was an Eye-Witnefs of: Tho'it is to be ob- ferved, that thofe Rocks in the Summer I/lands, are not fo hard as in fome other Parts of the World, par- ticularly to the Northward •, for here they faw them with Saws, and cut them with Axes like Wood. I was told there were fixty Sailof VefTels then at thefe Iflands, and all drove on Shore but three, and ours was one of the three that rode out the Storm ; for which I was truely thankful. In this great Storm, or Hurricane, feveral Sloops ("there being no Ships) were driven upon dry Land, fo that after the Storm was over, one might go round them at High Water,
and
THOMAS CHALKLET. ^^
and feveral blown off the dry Land into the Water. One that was ready to be launch'd, tho' faflened on the Stocks with two Cables and Anchors put deep in the Ground, yet the Violence of the Wind blew her into the Water, and daflied her all to Pieces.
About this Time the Bermudas People had got a vaft Treafure of Silver and Gold, out of the Spa?iijh Wrecks; and at a Meeting which I had with a pretty many People on the Firft Day of the Week before the Hurricane, or Storm of Wind, it came weightily on my Mind to exhort them, Not to he lifted up there^ with, nor exalted in Pride : For I declared to them^ that thejame Hand that took itfrotn the Spaniards, could take it from thofe who now had got it out of the Sea ; and if he pleafed^ by the fame JVay ; which was a Storm that cajl away the Ships going for Spain, And indeed fo it happened the fame Week ; for it was reckoned by Men of Experience and Judgment, that they had lofi more by the Storniy than theyhadgainedby the lVrecksoftheS)Tp2inhr6s» A foberold Man (not of our Profeflion) told me the next Day after the Hurricane was over, that what I fpokein the Meeting was foon come to pafs: And he added, I was a true Prophet to them. Many Houfes that were not blown down, v/ere uncovered. My Landlord's Houfe being old, feveral thought it would be down -, but by the good Providence of God, it was one of them which ftood. I was in my Store, which ftood alfo; tho' I expeded every Minute when it would have been blown down. It was by the Mercy of God we were preferv'd, and not for any Merit of ours. I intreated the Lord in the midft of this great Wind, that he would pleafe to fpare the Lives of the People ; for many of them being Sea- faring Men, were very unfit to die •, at which Time I thought I was fenfible of the Anfwer of my Prayer, and he was pleafed to be intreated for them ; For, notwithflanding the Violence ol the Storm, and the great Deflrudion it made, yet not one Man, Woman,
or
86 r^^^ J O U R N A L ^/
1716. or Child, nor Creature was loft, that I heard ofin all y\'^-^ the Ifland, which was to me very admirable. The Friend of the Houfe came to me after the Storm abated, and faid, Tbs Lord had heard my Prayers for them, Altho* they could not by any outward Know- ledge, know that I had prayed for them, yet they had a Senfe given them, that I was concern'd for them before the Almighty ; which indeed was true. Oh! That we may ne'Der forget the 7nerciful Vifttatiom of that High and Lofty One, who inhabits Eternity !
While I was on the Ifland I was invited to, and kindly entertained at the Houfes of fevera! of the Gen- try, and at the Governor's, who invited me feveral Times to his Houfe : And once I was with him, and fome ot his chief Officers at Dinner, with divers of the firft Rank, where I was treated very kindly ; and after Dinner the Governor*s Pradlice was to drink the King's Health, and he hoped I would drink it along with them- Tes^ faid the reft at the Table, Mr. Chalkley (as they called mt) will furely drink the King^s Health with us. So they palTed the Glafs, with the King's Health, till it came to me i and when it came to me, they all looked ftedfaftly at me, to fee what I would do Cand I looked as ftedfaftly to the Al- mighty j and I faid to them, I love King George, and wifh hmi as well as any Subjed; he hath *, and it is -known to Thoufands that we pray for him in our Meetings and Aflemblies for the Worfhipof Almighty GOD : But as to drinking Healths, either the King's, or any Man's elfe, it is againft my profefled Principle, I looking on it to be a vain, idle Cuftom. They replied, That they wiffjed the King had morefuch Sub- jeils as I was •, for I had profe£cd a hearty Refpe6i for him: And the Governor and they were all very kind and friendly to me all the Time I was on the Ifland.
Alter 1 had finifiied my Concerns I embarked in the Sloop Dove for Philadelphia Cfhe being confign'd to
me
"THOMAS CHALKLET. I2,y
me in the former and this Voyage. j It being often ly i6i calm andfmall Winds, our Provilion grew very Icanty. iyVK) "We were about twelve Pcrfons in the Veflcl, fmall and great, and but one Piece of Beef left in the BarreU and for feveral Days, the Wind being contrary, the People began to murmurj and told difmal Srories about People eating one another for Want of Provi- fions ; and the Wind being ftill againft us, and, for ought we could fee, like to continue, they murmured more and more, and at lall, againft me in particular (becaufe the VefTel and Cargo was confign'd to me, and was under my Care) fo that my inward Exercife was great about it •, for neither myfelf, norany inthe VefTel, did imagine that we fhould be hall fo long as we were on the Voyage: But fince it wasfo, I feriouily confidered the Matter ; and to flop their Murmuring, I told them they fhould not need to call Lots fwhicii was ufual in fuch Cafesj which ot us fhould die firil, for I would freely offer up my Life to do them Good. One faid, God blefs you^ I 'will not eat any of you. Another faid, He would die before he -would eat any of me j and fo faid feveral. I can truiy fay, on that Occafion, at that Time, my Life was not dear to me, and that I was ferious and ingenuous in my Propolici- on : And as I was leaning over the Si:l- oi iihe Veilel, thoughtfully confidering my Propofal to the Com- pany, and looking in miy Mind to him that made me, a very large Dolphin came up towards the Top or Sur- face of the V/ater, and looked m^e inthe Face , and I called the People to put a Hook into the S;fa, and take him, for here is one come to redeem me (laid I to them-,j and they pjt a Hook Into the Sea, and the Fifn readily took it, and they caught him. He was longer than myfelf: I think he was about fix Fee c long, and the largeft that ever I fav/. This plainly fhev/'d us that we ought not to diflruft the Provi- vidence of the Almighty. The People were quieted by this A(5t of Providence, and murmured no more.
G . We
8S ' 77j^ J O U R N A L 0/
1716. We caught enough to eat plentifully of till we got into v./'V^^ 'the Capts of Dela-zvare. 'Thusl faw it was good to depend tipn the Almighty\ and rely upon his eternal Arm ; which^ in a particular Manner, did preferve us fafe to our defired Port^ Uejjed he his great and glorious Name, through Chriji jor ever ! fhiiadei- I now ftay'd at, and about Home, for fome Time ; ^Mn imi ^^^^^ whlch I was coocemed to vifit Friends in feveral Newjcr'. Places, and in the adjacent Provinces, 21?^ Maryland, f'^' New-Jerfe^, &c. and was at many Marriages and Fu-
nerals, at which, many Times, we had good Oppor- tunities to open the Way, and alfo the NecefHty to be married to Chrift Jefus, the great Bridegroom of the Soul j and alfo to exhort the People to confider and prepare for their latter End and final Change ; which many Times v/as ianftified to divers Souls, and the Lord's Name was glorified, who is worthy thereof.
In the Year 1717 f went into Maryland^ to look after my Afi'airs in that Province, and as I travelle4 I Ntith-' had divers Meetings at Nottinghafn^ and at Bujh- River, vi?)!/^and '^bout which Time at BufJj-River, feveral were con- Sxupeiv- vinced. The Meeting I found in a ^growing Conditi- Mj^/imd^' ^" ^" ^'-'^^ which is good, feveral Perfons meeting toge- ther in Silence to worfiiip God, according to Chriil's Inllitution, which was, and is, and ever will be, in Spirit and in Truth: And for the Encouragement -of ail fuch, Chriil; hath faid. That fuch the Fa- ther feeketh to ivorp/ip him : and again. Where two or three are met together in my Name^ there am I in the midfi of them. And if Chriil: be in the midft, there is no abfolute Need of Vocal Teaching, except it be the Will of the Lord to call any to it. Let the fpiritual PhiiMdet' Chriftian read and judge.
fhia,t^c. After my Return I had feveral Meetings in the Country near Philadelphia ; and about the latter End of the Eighth Month I was at divers Marriages, one of which was on the Third Day of the Week, about fifteen Miles above Pbikdelphia, over Delaware River.
The
THOMAS CHALKLir, 89
The next was over the River again, about twenty- Miles below the City : The third was about twenty Miles further down the River, and on the oppofite Side at Salem (on the following Days ;) fo that I crof- fed Delaware River three Times in three Days, and rode about one Hundred Miles. The Meetings were all large, and Matter fuicable to the Occafion freely opened to the People. Thefe Remarks arc not intend- ed to fet up Man, or exalt Flelh, but to ftir up others to come up to the Work of Chrift in their Ge- neration : All the Glory and Godlinefs of Man is but as the Grafs, which foon withers, without we dwell in the Root of true Religion, and holy Life of Chrift ; and that God may have the Glory of all his Works, is the End of all the Labours and Travels of the Ser- vants and faithful Miniftersof Chrift.
In the Tenth Month 1717, divers Con fi derations -j-^j^g,^ moving me thereto, J took a Voyage to Barbadoes, Voyage ro in the Snow Hope, J. Curtis Matter, and from s^^^^"^^- thence to Great Britain and London •, partly on ac- count-of Bufinefs, and hoping once more, it it plea- fed God, to fee my aged Father, my Brother, Relati- ons, and Friends; which Voyage I undertook in tlie folid Fear of God. I defiredthe Concurrence of my Wife, and my Friends and Brethren of the Meeting to v^hich I did belong, in this Undertaking, the which I had in a general Way, and the good VVillies and Pray- ers of many Particulars, with a Certificate from our Monthly Meeting, fignifying their Unity with my Converfation and Miniftry, and prefent Undertaking: And I felt the Love and Goodnefs of God therein, but in many Refpefts it was a great Crofs to me, as the leaving my beloved Wife and Children, and many of ^
my dear Friends, whom I loved well in Chrift: And ''^'
the Crofting of the Seas always was troublefome to me, being fickly at Sea, efpecially in windy or ftormy Wea- ther-, and the Confinement was worfetomefor the Time than a Prifon •, for it would be much ea fie r to me to G 2 be
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90 r/^t? J O U. R N A L of
1717. be in Prifon on Land, upon a good Account, than in
l/VN^ Prifon at Sea, I always looking on aShip to be a peri- lous Prifon, tho* my Lot was to be much therein : And as for my natural Life, I always gave it up when ever I went to Sea ; and I thought that was the lead Part of the Hardfhip, never putting much Value thereon ; and I think I had rather die at sny Time, than go to Sea, it being fo contrary to my Nature and Difpofition, as well as Inclination: But to Sea I went, tor the Reafons mentioned, and got from Phi- ladelphia to Neivcajlle the firfb Night in the faid Vef- fel, and to Elfinburgh next Day, where we lay for a fair Wind about two Days ; and when the Wind was fair, we fail'd to Bombay-Hook, where we met with two other VeiTcls bound out to Sea, who waited alfo for the Wind. We lay there two Nights, and then on the Firft Day Morning fet Sail, the Weather being bitter cold, and the Ice very thick on the Sides of our Veffel, and on our Ropes. The fame Day that we left Bombay- Hock we got out to Sea, took in our Boar,
^^^^' and went on our Way -^ and in four or five Days we got into warmer W^eathcr.
In this Voyage I wrote fomething on the Common Prayer^ ufed by fome of the Church of England^ whofe Converfations were very loofe and corrupt, wbi-h I entitled. One truly tender Scruple of Confcience, about that For 7n of Prayer called the Common Prayer, as ufed by the Church of England and her Members^ &c. In this our Voyage we faw feveral Ships but fpoke with none ; and in twenty-feven Days, from our
jB(j>-i.7^cf/. Capes, wQ-^rnviA 2ilBarbadoe5, and came to an An- chor in Carlifte-Bay.
I had been twice in Barbadoes before, but this was the quickeft PafTage by one Day. Here I was loving- ly and tenderly received by my Friends. I took my good Friend, Jcfeph Gamblers Houfe, for my Quar- ters, moft of the Time whilfl I ftay'd on the Ifland -, ^ and 1 vifued Friends Meetings feveral Times over,
there
rnOMAS CHALKLET, 91
there being five of Friends Meeting-houfes in the ijij. Ifland, and our Meetings were Ibmetimes large and ^-''"V^ open.
Our Stay was longer here than we at firft expedled, by ReaTon of a great Drought, they having no Rain for moie than a Quarter of a Year, which was a great Hindrance to Tr;ide on the Ifland. While I was this Time in Barbadoes, our ancient Friend George Gray died. I was at his Funeral, at which there were many People *, and on this Occafion we had a large Meet- ing if our Meeting-houfe at Spr eights-Town^ where I had a feafonable Opportunity with the People, open- ing to them fhe NecelTity of preparing for, and think- ing of their latter End; and preffed them earneftly - thereto. They were generally attentive and fober, and lome were broken into Tendernefs. While we were burying tlie Friend, there appeared a difmal Cloud hanging over the Ifland, fuch an one as I never faw before : It was to my thinking, of the Colour of the Flame of Brimftone, and I expeded there would have been a great Storm, or fome mighty Guft, and much Rain, they having had very little for many Weeks, or fome Months j but it went over, and there was no Rain, nor Wind, as I remember. Soon after fome People came in from Sea, and they faid, that from that Cloud it rained Afhes -, and they brought fome of the fame to the Ifland, fome of which Aflies I have now before me : The Tafte of them feems to me to be a little fulphurous, and have fome glittering Particles in them, in Colour and Smell I think they differed little from common Aflies. Here- in the Almighty and Infinite Being fignaily fhewed his Mercy and Favour to poor Mortals ; for had not his Mercy prevented, he could as eafily have rained down the Fire as the Afhes, who rained down Fire and Brim- ftone on the Cities and Inhabitants of Sodoin and Go- morrah, for their Pride and Idlenefs, much of which abounds among the Inhabitants of Barbadoei^ the Peo-
G 3 pie
92 Tbe ]OURlS^AL of
1717. pie being very luxurious. Oh ! may the luxurious In- l"^^*^"^ habitants of that Ide^ as alfo all others, confider ihtif Ways and Doings, and not provoke the great Lord, the Sovereign of Heaven and Earth, as many of them do by their evil Lives, and voluptuous Converfations 5 and that they would kifs his Son, tho' not with a Ju- das's Kifs, of Profeflion, or fpeakiog well or fair of him only, but with divine Love manitefted through Obedience, while his Wrath is but a little kindled a- gainfl them before it break-out into a Flame.
After this Funeral I was fent for to Bridge-Town, to the Burial of a Mafter of a Ship, a young Man, who was very trefh and well a few Days before. There was a great Appearance of People, and I was pretty largely opened in the Meeting, on the Words of the Prophet, where he fays, yill Flefh is Grafs^ and all the Goodiinefs thereof j is as the Flo-wer of the Field, "^he Grafs wither ethf the Flower Jadeth, becaufe the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it : Surely the People is Grafs. I'he Grafs vjithereth^ the Flower fadeth ; but the IfVord of our God Jh all Ji and for ever, Ifaiah xl. 6, 7, 8. And I treated of this Word, its Wonderfulnefs, its Duration, and its Work in Man : As alfo of the fading Conftitution of mortal Man, tho' young and ilrong, as that young Man was a few Days before, whofeCorpfe was then before us.
I was at divers other Burials on this Ifland, which indeed doth prove a Grave to many New-comers, it being a hot Climate, makes thofe who are not accu- ftomed to it, very thirfhy, and by Reafon of the ex- iream Heat, it is not eafy to quench their Thirft ; fo that what is called moderate Drinking, throws many Strangers into a violent Fever, and oftentimes is the Caufe of their Death. I note this as a Caution to any who may tranfport themfelves there (that may fee ihisj that they may fhun that Danger, which might be avoided by drinking cool Drinks, of which they have many Sorts very pleafant, viz. Cane, Sugar-reed, and
White
'THOMAS CHALKLEir, 93
White Sorrel, Pine, Orange, and divers others: 17 17. And I ad vile fuch, as they love their Health, to re- s^V^ frain from drinking much hot Drinks or Spirits.
I faw feveral Curiofities in Nature in this Ifland, which among the great Numbers of the Works of God, do fhew forth his Praife and Glory. One to the Leeward Part of the Illand, which is called the Spout, fends up a vail Body of Water into the Air, occafioned by a great Cavity in the Rocks under the Water, which may be feen in calm Weather, when the Sea is low ; but when the Wind blows (a great Body of Water being pent in a large hollow Placej it forces it up into the Air, fometimes ten, fifteen, and twenty Yards high, according as the Strength of the Wind is more or lefs, and makes a Report like a Can- non, or Thunder a great way off. 1 believe I have feen it ten or twelve Miles out at Sea. I was alfo at a Place called Oiiver*s Cave, which we got to with fome Difficulty, in goingdown the fteep and craggy Rocks. There is on the outward Part next the Sea, a very large vaulted Place, in the Form of a Half-circle, about one hundred Fetrt high, as near as I could guefs. In this large Vault, behind a Rock, is the Mouth of the Cave, not the Height of a Man at the firfl En- trance ; after one is in, a few Yards, one may walk upright comfortably, the Bottom being pretty plain and fmooth for about a hundred Yards, and then we come into a large Cave which is form'd archwife, and about ten or fifteen Yards high, as we thought, being much higher in the Middle than the Sides, but almoft as regular as if it had been done by Art, which we be- held with Admiration, by the Help of Wax-Candles, and other Lights, that we made and carried for that Purpofe.
When I had done my Bufinefs in Barhadoes^ having been about thirteen Weeks there, our Veifel being loaded, we failed from thence the loth of the Second Month 17 1 8, for London,
G 4 We
7'he JOVRN AL of
"We had a good PaiTage, being five' Weeks and two Days from Barbadoes to Great-Britain^ in which we faw divers VefTels at Sea, but fpoke with none •, and after Sight of the Land, we got in two Days to Beachy- Head, which is about fifteen Leagues from the Downs or Deal. We failed along the Shore by Folkfione., where we took in a Pilot, and had a comfortable Paf-
Lmdon. fage through the Downs^ and up the River of 'Thames to London^ where I met with my dear and aged Fa- ther, and loving Brother, Sifter, and Couftns, and many other of my near anddear Relations and Friends. In this Voyage I wrote fome Things which opened in my Mind at Sea, upon that excellent Sermon of Chrift's upon the Mount., as it is recorded in tiie holy Scriptures of the New Teftament, in the vth, vith, and viith Chapters of the Evangelift Mattheiv^ but havefince heard that the fame is much better done by an abler Hand ; and therefore it may fuffice here to give the Advice, which in the Courfe of my Travels 1 have often had occafion to do, that the ProfefTors of Chriftianity fhould frequently readthisSermon, and be careful to practice the fame ; that they may not only be Chrifliansin Name buiin Deed, and in Truth. Alter vifiting my Relation,', and fome Meetings of our Friends in, and about London^ ^nd having finifh- ed my Bufinels, being ready to return homeward, divers Friends accompanied us from London to Grave- Jend ; and the Wind not being fair, we went to Ro- fi?^/i?r, .and hada Meeting there ; and then back to Gravefendt and there took a folemn Farewel of our Friends, recommending one another to the Grace of Chriil ; having this Time made but little Stay in Bri- tain.
In the Fifth Month 1718, we failed from the Dozvns in the aforefaid Snow Hope, divers Friends, "viz.
At Sea. John Danfon, Ijaac Hadwin., John O.xley^ Lydia Lan- cajlerj Elizabcib Raiviinjon and RebcccaTurner, being in Company with us : After about nine Weeks Paffag^
from
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 95
from Land to I'and, having had Meetings on Firft 1718. Days and Fifth Days on board all the Voyage, we ^^<'V^ came all fate and well to Philadelphia^ thro' the Bler-^/;/^^ "' fing of God, where I flay'd with my Family a few Months, and then took another Voyage for Barhadoes and Britain. I was under Ibme Concern more than ordinary, as to the Support and Well-being, or Ac- commodation of my Family, the Circumftances there- of being a little changed by the Increafe of Children, remembring the Words of the Apoftle, That thofe who had not that Care and Concern^ were worfe than Infidels ; my Lord Jefus (whofe Servant I profefs myfelf to be) alio faying, It is better to give than receive -, wherefore an Opportunity offering of the Confignment of a Vefiel and Cargo (the Snow Hope^ IVarner Holt Mailer) to Barbadoes, and from thence to London, and fo to make Returns Home again for Philadelphia, I embraced it ; tho' with Reluctance, to leave my very- loving Wife, Children and Friendy, all whom I tenderly loved and refpedled. I alfo had in my Eye an Hope, thro' the Bleffing of God, to obtain where- with to accommodate my Friends, who were Stran- gers and Pilgrims in this World for Jefus Sake, as I alfo had been myfelf-, and that they might find a Place or Home, and Refrefhment under my Roof ; not to Excefs, but to Comfort and Edification ; which in Sincerity, is all the Grandeur I covet or de- fire in this World : So after due Confideration, on the fecond Day of the Eleventh Month 17 18, we fee Sail from Philadelphia, many Friends taking their . Leaves and Farewel of us for that Voyage. Thus with Hearts full of Love and Good-will, we parted with our Friends, and went down the R iver about five Miles, where we run aground, but got off next Tide, and next Day came to an Anchor at Chejler, On the 4th Day of the Month we fet Sail, and got to New- cafile about the eleventh Hour ; it being Meeting- P-ty, we went to Meeting, where our great Lord
was
9^ ^r^^ J O U R N A L ^
17^8. was pleafed in fome good Meafure to own us with his living Prefence, and comfort us with his Love ; blef- fed be his holy Name ! In the Morning we failed to Reedy- IJIand, where we flay'd for the Tide, and in the Night our Cable parted, which we knew not of till the Morning, and then we had gone from the Place where we anchored, about a League : But tho' the VelTel drove about the River, yet llie did not go on Ground: We droppM our other Anchor, and fent the Boat to feek for that which was parted from us, but could not find it until the next Tide, and then could not get it up, and were unwilling to go to Sea without it ; which occafioned us to (lay feveral Tides before we could get it : At laft with much Difficulty we weigh'd it, our Men's Clothes being much frozen ; for it was very cold, and froze extreamly hard. After this we wentdownto BombayHook, where was alfo another VefTel going out to Sea. Next Day the Wind was againfl us, and it fnowed much, and froze hard ; and that Night the River and Bay was filled with Ice as far as we could fee, and it drove very hard againfl our VefTel, fo that -we wifhed for Day; for we thought fometimes it would have torn our Bows in Pieces ; but our Anchor and Cable held us, we thought, to a Miracle (for which we were thankful to the great Keeper of all thofe who put their Trufl in him.) When the Tide turned for us we got up the Anchor, andfo let her drive •with the Ice down the Bay; The other VefTel did the fame. It was now dangerous moving, go -which way we would. The VelTel in Company with us at- tempted to go back again, but feeing that we did not, as we fuppos*d, came to Anchor again, and we both went down the Bay together ; and the Wind fpringing up fair, we got clear of the Ice in a few Hours Time -, but by this Hindrance we could not get to Sea that Day, but were obliged to come to Anchor near the Middle of the great l^Tiyoi Delaware^ and the Night being fair and calm, we rode it out
lately.
"THOMAS CHALKLET. gj
fafely, which if it had been windy Weather, would 17 19. have been dangerous. Early in the Morning (of the <^/>^/'-o 9th Day of the IMonth) we got to Sea, and loon left ^*^'^*" Sightofthe Land. NextDay the Wind was high, and the Weather proved ftormy for feveral Days, info- much that our Main-deck was under Water mofl of the Time, fo that we were forced to go before it for feveral Days together. We alfo fhut up our Cabirt Windows, and weretofTed exceedingly, and I was very Sea-fick ; and we began in this Storm to fear falling on the Rocks of Bermudas^ which we were near, as we imagined, and the Windfet right on the Ifland. But when we had palTed the Latitude o^ Bermudas, we met with fair Weather and Winds (all the remaining Part of our PafTage being pleafant and comfortable^ by w which I was led to confider the Viciffitude which .«. Mortals may expert while on this unliable terraqueous" * Globe, which is full of Changes i and I ftrongly de- ^^^'-^ ■ -^ fired to be rightly prepared for that World which is eternal, and its Joy and Filicity permanent ; at which blefTed Port, I hope in God's Time, thro' his Grace, fafely to arrive. Thus thro' Storms, Tempefts, Ice, and Snow, we left thofe frozen Climes, and crolTed the Tropick of Cancer (between which, and that of Capricorn, there is neither Froll nor Snow at Sea, at any Time of the Year) and the Wind always within a fmall Matter one Way, viz. Eafterly (except in Hurricanes and violent Storms, which fometimes they have in thofe Parts of the World.^ We arriv'd at Bridge-Town, in Barhadoes, in one-and-twenty Days, Bihradtf^^ which was the quickelt PafTage that ever I had, this being the fourth Time of my coming hither, where I was always kindly received by my Friends.
About this Time War was declared againft Spain by the King of Great- Britain, by Proclamation, in Bridge-Tow/ij which put fuch a Damp on Trade, that; there was little Bufinefs, and the Marl<:ets low and dulja which made my Stay lonsjer than I would have
chofe >
9S 72^? J O U R N A L oj
1719. chofe ; hut my '^Viends, among whom I had many
\jr\-\J OpporiLinicies, feem'd rather pieas'd than otherwife ;
telling me, That they did not earn if I was to ft ay there
always^ if it "joere my Place: Ar...i when I left Barba-
does Friends gave m:" baiter Credentials than I
thought I d:fL'rvecl A Friend of mine giving
me Intelligence that the Market v/as better at Antigua than at Barbadoes^ I dilpatch'd my Affairs, and look Part of our Cargo there, and was kindly received by our Friends. We were about three Days in our Paf-
An>kita. ^^§^' ^'^'^ ^^^ ^""^ Weather therein. At Antigua I had divers Meetings, my Bufinefs at no lime hin- dered me in my more weighty Service; for I always, through divine Help, made that give Way to my religious Duty, in v/hich I ever found Peace and in- ward Satisfaftion. In about five V/eeke I finifhed my Bafinels in this Ifland, having no fmall Satisiadion in coming to it ; and our VelTel being now loaden, we took our folemn Leave, and with the good Wilhes oimany, departed for England.
Our Friends there fignified to their Brethren, that they were glad of my Company, and that I was fer- viceable to them, the' I came upon Bufinefs. My Hand, when need required, was to my Bufinefs, but my Heart was, and I hope is, and ever fliall be, freely given up to ferve the Lord, in that Work whereunto I believe he has called me. We have Liberty from God, and his dear Son, lawfully, and for Accommodation's Sake, to work or feek for Food or Raiment ; tho' that ought to be a Work of Indifferency, compar'd to the great Work of Salva- tion. Our Saviour faith. Labour not for the Meat which perijheth^ but for that which endureth for ever^ or to eternal Life: By which we do not underfland, that Chriftians muft negled their necefTary Occafions and their outward Trades and Callings ; but that theirchief Labour, and greatefl Concern ought to be for their future Well-being in his glorious Kin2;dom 5 ■ ■ ° ° elfe
rnOMJS CHALKLET. gg
elfe why did our Lord fay to his Difciples, Children^ ^7^9- have you any Meat ? They anfwered, A'i? ; and he bid ^./''V^ them ca/l their Nets into the Sea, and they drew to Land a Net fidl of great FiJIoes ; and Fifliing being their Trade, no doubt but they fold them, for it was not likely they could eat 'em all thcmfelves. Alfo the Apofrle ot Chirll fays. He that doth not take care of his Family^ is worfe than an Infidel: And the Apoftle PW (the great Apoftle of the 6V;//f/(?j) wrought with his Hands, even v/hile he was in his Travels, and in the Work of the Gofpel ; and others tailed of the Benefit of his Labour naturally, as well as fpiritually. It is alio written. That he that zvill not Work^ foall not eat. By this, and much more, which might be noted, it appears that v/e not only have liberty to la- bour in Moderation, but we are given to underftand, that it is our Duty fo to do. The Farmer, the Tradef- man, and the Merchant, do not underftand by our Lord's Doftrine, that they mull negled their Calling, or grow idle in their Bufinefs, but muft certainly work, and be induftrious in their Callin.g;s. We all ought to underftand, that our Hearts and Minds ought to be out of the World, or above the Nature and Spirit of it. 'Tis good and profitable for boih Soul and Body, rightly to diftinguifh between earthly and heavenly Things, and to be careful how they mix the one with the other i for it is an eternal Truth, that God and Mammon cannot dwell together, or join together in the Heart. If our Love is more to God than the Creature, or to Heaven than Earth, then will he dwell in us and with us: But if our Love is more to the Creature than to Chrift, or to Earth than Heaven, then will he not dwell with us, but will leave us to ourfelves -, for the Lord Omnipotent will not. admit of any Rival,
On the I ich of the Fourth Month 1719, we left Antigua, ftood clofe to the Wind till v;e again crolTed the fropick, and got into thofe Latiaid'rs where th?
V/inds
loo rie J OVRN AL of
1 7 19. Winds are variable. Sailing in the great Deeps wc iy^\'\J faw the Wonders of the Lord, particularly in divers Kinds of Filh, they living upon one another in the Sea, the great Fifhes on the fmall Ones •, and Mankind too much relembles them in that Refpefb. About the Latitude of 33 North, our Mafter, PFarjier Holi, fee- ing d.Scoo\ of Porpoifes about the Ship, tho' he was not very well, and had not been for moft of the Voyage^ he took his Harpin-Iron, and ftruck one of them, and we took him into the VefTel, out of v/hich we got ele- ven Quart Bottles of Oyl ; and we mofl of us eat heartily of this Fifh, which agreed with our People very well. They fry'd his Liver for our Mefs, of which I eat a large Meal, which was well-tafted, and eat more like frelh Beef than Fifh. I make this Me- morandum of ir, that if any fhould take them when their Provifions are fcarce, they may eat freely with- out Danger, according to our Experience. When we had been at Sea about three Weeks, being near the Latitude of 40 North, and about the Longitude of 42, tho' it was in the midil: of Summer, we faw an Ifland of Ice, at which we ail marvelled, and judged that there had been a fevere cold Winter in thofe La- titudes on the Land of America. When we faw this Ifland of Ice we judged ourfelves not far from the Banks of Ne-zz-foimdland. Hitherto v/e had eafy Gales of Wind, and many Calms, which made our Pafiage leem long to us. We faw two Sail of Ships about thofe Latitudes, but fpoke with neither, being willing to Ihun them as it was War-time.
We had in this Voyage Weekly Meetings for wor- (hipping the Almighty, in which the great Lord both of Sea and Land, was pleafed greatly to manifeft his Name and Truth amongfl us, tor which my Soul of- ten fecretly and openly blefTed and praifed his divine and glorious Name and Truth -, for he bore up my drooping Spirit, fo that I could truly fay with the Royal Plalmift (not becaufe he fpoke it only, but alfo
being
mOMAS CHALKLET. loi
being an experimental Witnefs thereof) The Floods have lyig. lifted up, O Lord, the Floods have lifted up their Voice : \^<'\^ The Floods lift up their Waves. The Lord on High is mightier than the Noife of many Waters^ yea, than the mightyWaves of the Sea, Pfalm xciii. 3, 4. This the King wrote of his own Experience in a fpiritual Senfe % but I may fay without boafting, I have witnelTed the Rage and Noife of mighty Waves and Waters, both natural and fpiritual ; the one, as tho' it would fwal- low up my Reputation among Men, and the other, as tho* it would fwallow up my Perfon, in this my watery Peregrination : But'blejfed he the Name of him that is holy and eternal^ who indeed is ftronger than the Noife of many Waters, or than the mighty Waves of the Sea, either inwardly or outwardly., I will through his Strength, magnify his Name^ becaufe he is worthy : And may I do it for ever !
About the nth Day of the Fifth Month, we faw great Flocks of Birds, which we judged came from the Azores, or Weflern IJlands, near which v/e rec- koned ourfelvesto be. The 21ft Day we faw, and came up with, a French Ship, which had been fifhing on the Banks of Newfoundland, and was bound for Havre de Grace, in France, the Mafler of which came on board us, and our Captain went on board them. We exchanged fome Rums and Sugars (of our Sea- StoresJ for their French Wine and Cyder, and fome of our Provifions for fome of their Fifh. The Captain was a Protejlant, and very courteous to us : The Re- gent oi France at this Time being kind to the Proie- jlants, fo that they increas'd much in that Kingdom. The Frenchman feeming dcfirous to know what Reli* gion I was of, I told him, by an Interpreter, that I was one called a ^laker, or Trembler^ and that our Principle was to do Good to all Men, and not to hurt any Man, according to Chrift*s Dodlrine, Not to ren- der Evil for Evil, but to overcome Evil with Good. When they went away and rook I^eave of us, they
defired
I02
r/je ] OVRl<i AL of
1719. defired me to pray for them, the which I remembred t/'VNi? with Tendernefs of Spirit, and having but little Wind, we kept Company for feveral Days ; but the Wind fpringing fair, we wifhed them well, and went on our Way, our VeOei outfailing moft we met with ; and a few Days after we met with a New-England Ship, who came out fix Days before us from Antigua. Wc were then in the Latitude of about 50 North, and 294- Degrees of Longitude from the Lands-End of Great-Britain. The 30th Day of the Fifth Month, we founded, and found Ground at 28 Fathom, and on the ift of the Sixth Month, we faw the Lands- End o^ Engl and J all our Company being in Health, and well ; for which my Heart was truly thankful, to that great and infinite Being, whofe Providence is over us poor Mortals in all Parts of the World , and who reigns over Sea and Land, and is worthy of Adoration, Worfhip, Service, and living Praife for ever I
In a few Days we came into the Englijh Channel, and going up the Channel there came one of the King's Yatch's, and they prelTed moft of our Men •, the beft Hands we had they took from us, and carried them on board a Man of War, after which we came to An- chor at Folkftone^ where I left the Vefiel, and got a Hor fe to Dover ^ and from Dover took Coach toLondon. In the Coach were divers Perfons who began to talk about the fakers, and fpoke againft their plain Way of Living and Cloathing, and faid. That they did not tinderjland their unfajhionable IP'ayofConverJation ; nei' ther was it the Way to gain Profelytes. Upon which I afked them, Whether they underfiood Paul, the great Apojlleof the Gentihs? who faid. Be ye not conforma- ble to the World (i. e. the FaJJjions of it) for this great Reafony The W^orld, and the Fafhions thereof, paf- feth away •, which is a great Truth, and it is -plainly feen how fickle and changeable the World is in its vain Faflnons and Cufloms, wlmh^ tofolloWy in all itsfoolifh
Cuts
Channel,
Dover-
^rHOMAS CHALKLET. 103
Citts and I'urns^ or Changes^ mufl^ ofConfequence^ make 1 7 1 9. a Man or Woman very foppiJJj andapi[h. 1 told them, s/V^^ That our Religion was agreeable to the holy Scriptures, whichy. , if they did not under fl and, neither could they un^ derjland us ; for theBo5lrine of Chrijl anS his Apoflles, was generally therein very plain , and the Do^rinein
i.ChriJl^s excellent Sermon on the Mounts is clear and plain to very low or mean Capacities : So they difcourfed no more ot Religion till we came to London, where once london, more I met with my loving and aged Father, a Man fearing God, and having a Gift of the Miniftry of the Gofpel of Chrift, and well-beloved of his Friends and Neighbours, who, with others of my near and dear Relations and Friends, received me gladly.
After fome Months Stay among my Relations and Friends in London, we fold our Ytiffcl the Snow Hope, and bought another Ship which we called the Trine- Hope {JVarner Holt Mailer) and when I had done my Bufmefs I failed in the fame Ship for Penfdvania. We had Meetings on board the Veflel twice a Week, in ^' ^^*
^which.the Almighty was pleafed to favour us with his good Prefence. Sobriety, and the Fear of God, and Faith in his beloved Son Chrift, ;was often recom- mended to the Youth then on board the Veflel with us, of whom there were divers, who tranfported them- felves to y/wm^'^, in order to fettle there. Atone Meeting on board I was tenderly concerned to remind them of Jacob, who in his Youth, left his Country and Relations, to fojourn in a ftrange Land, and how in that Undertaking, he fought the Lord, and his BlefTmg, more than any outward Thing; and that he was greatly blefTed with many Favours from Hea- ven above, arid alfo from the Earth beneath, and they were advifed to take him for their Example % And many other Things were tenderly opened to them in the Love of God, and in his Fear and Coun- fel they were exhorted from time to time.
H Ic
104 77j^ J O U R N A L of
1719. It being Winter-Time we failed to the Southward, v^V*^ and got into warm Weather, and were on our Paffage {tvtn Weeks and Ibme odd Days from Land to Land, m which Time we faw feveral Veffels, and fpoke with one, whofe People faid, they were chafed by a ^urk^ but got from him, at which they greatly rejoiced. We apprehended it was our Ship that they faw over Nigiit, tor we faw a Sail that crowded from us as fafl ,',v ... as fhe could, and it being near Night, we fhorten*d Sail, and fo fhe left us •, but in the Morning came up with her, and being pretty near, both they and we put out our Colours, and being both Englijhmen, we fpoke to each other, and were glad to meet with fome of our own Nation upon the great Ocean ; but our VefTel failing beft, we took our Leave of them, wilh- ing them a good Voyage. We met with rough Seas ■^n^\ high Winds in the latter Part of our Paffage, till we came to the Capes of Delaware., which we all re- . , joiced to fee, and we had a pleafant Paffage up the Bd.Y and River to Philadelphia, where I had once inore a comfortable Meeting with my dear Wife and Family, which I gratefully acknowledged as a high Favour from the Hand of the Almighty.
We arrived at Philadelphia the ifl of the Second ^2# Month 1720; after which, I flay'd at, and about .^^y^-,/-*!^ Home, for fome Time (and I was not idle, but kept f/.77«./f/- to my Bufinefs, and to Meetings j and having a Defire fit*. ^Q fgg j^y jpriends in the Province of Maryland, at (heir General Meeting at fFeJl River, I was accom- panied by Jfaac Norris and Ihomas Majlers (^both fo- ber young Men.^ It had been a Time of pretty much Rain, and the Waters thereby being out and high, going over a Ford of Brandy-wine, my Mare got among the Rocks (it being a very rocky Creek) ihe fell down, and the Stream being very flrong, Ihe fowled upon me, and being intangled with the Stir- Tup, I could not eafily clear myfelf, but I gave a fpring from her, and fwam to clear myfelf from her 5
and
THOMAS CHALKLET. 105
and when I was clear, I got to her again, and lay'd 1720. hold of her Mane, and through the good Providence t^V^J of God, got well out with the Mare on dry Land, which was a remarkable Deliverance. In three Days we got to IVefi River, to the Yearly Meeting, which Maryiani. was large, and Friends were glad to fee me, I having not been there for feverai Years. I was out on this Journey about two Weeks, and rode about 300 Miles ; and after my coming Home, I travelled pretty much in and about the Provinces of Penfylvania and New-Jerjey.
In the Year 1721, Thomas Lightfoot and I, with fVilliam Mrowne, went to a Meeting at BuJJj-River, .J^L^Ji and going over Sufquehannah- Ferry ^ the People were fiddling and dancing. When their Dance was over, I afked them Cbelieving them to be Protejlants) Jf they thought Luther to be a good Man? They replied, 2?j, there was no doubt of it. Well, fa id I, and fo do /; and I will tell you what he fays concerning Dancing, ** That as many Paces as the Man takes in his Dance, «* fo many Steps he takes towards Hell ;" which fpoil'd their Sport, and they went away, and we went on ours towards the Meeting ; and a good Meeting in was ! and we after it returned by Way di Nottingham, and had a Meeting there, and one at New-Garden, and fo on to Philadelphia. I was from Home about a Week, and travelled in this Journey about 150 Miles, and was well fatisfied therein.
In the Years 1721 and 1722, I went feverai Jour- neys, and had many large Meetings, travelling many Hundreds of Miles, of which Inegleded to keepa par- ticular Account, hardly thinking what I did worth recording; but divers of my friends in many Parts of the World, put me upon fomething of this Nature, to which, at length, I gave up, and tound fome Bene- fit and Satisfadion therein, in looking back and con- fidering the Dealings of God with me in my Youths and upwards.
H 2 From %
ftr.yyvH
io6 ^y^^ J O U R N A L ^y
1722."^ ¥vom Philadelphia I went to the General Meeting at Shrew/bury, in Eafi-Jerfeyy where I heard of J, G*s being wounded by a young Man, with a Sword, ot which he died, lamenting that he did not take the Counfel of his Friends -, as young Men, who flight the Coun(el of thofe that wifh them well, commonly do, either fooner or later, if the Day of their Vifita- tion be not over. Some few Days after this' Meeting atShnw/hury, I vifited Friends on Long-If.and, and returned Home again, having travelled about 300 Miles. In my Stay at, and about Home, I wrote lomething concerning Perfections in Anfwer to a jiamelefs Author 5 as alfo fomething concerning Pre- dejlinatwn^ or EUulion and Reprobation.
\\\ the Year 1722, 1 went back in the Woods to Buckingham^ the Great Swamps Perkiomy^ Manaha- tavuny^ and Oley^ where I had Meetings, travelling over great Mountains, from which we could fee many Miles. I travelled in this Journey about 150 Miles, and returned Home in about two Weeks ; and after ibying Ibme Time at Home, and vifiting neighbour- ing Meetings I went to the Yearly Meeting of Friends on I.ong'ljlafkfy which Meeting was very large, many People mot of our PerfuailonJ being there, and were very lober. Many Things were opened in the Love of Chrilf, and his great Love was declared to that great Congregation. The Parable concerning the prodigal Sort, came before me to fpeak of to the Peo- ple in a very moving Manner, and ftrongly to invite the Youth to lay hold of the Love of the Father in his Son, CO poor Souls: And indeed it is a wonderful Parable, fetcing forth the infinite Love of the great J^ord of all to his poor Creatures. Many were afFed- ed and reached to at this Meeting, and the Almighty waspraifed and glorified, who alone is worthy.
From thence I went and had a Meeting at New- 2'orky and then fet forward to Woodhridge, where we had a comfortable Meeting 5 Naaman^ the AJfyriariy
. . being
THOMAS CHALKLEK loj
being much the Subjefb of that Day's Work : And 1722, that one Thing loved and efteemed more than Chrill, wv>^ what ever it be, is to be avoided, and the People warned to be careful to cleave clofe to the God of Ifrael Cfpiritual Ifrael) and to give up all which is contrary to his Nature, and to take up Ch rift's Crofs, and follow him : For it is thofe who follow him in the Regeneration, that are to be Heirs of his Kingdom. In this Year alfo I was at the Burial of our Friend ^Jonathan Dickinfon, at which we had a very large Meeting, he was a Man generally well-beloved by his Friends and Neighbours. In this Meeting a PalTage (he had often told me in his Health) was brought to my Remembrance, I think, worthy to be recorded to the End of Time, which is as follows : " It hap- '' pened at Pori-Royal, in Jamaica, that two young *' Men were at Dinner with Jonathan^ and divers *' other People of Account in the World, and they " were fpeaking about Earthquakes (there having " been one in that Place formerly, which was very . " dreadful, having deftroyed many Houfes and Fa- " milies;) Thefe two young Men argued that ** Earthquakes, and all other Things came by Na- *' ture, and denied a fupernatural Power, or Deity; '' infomuch that divers, furprized at fuch wicked ^' Difcourfe, and being afhamed of their Company, " left it; and at the fame Time the Earth fhook, and " trembled exceedingly, as tho' aftoniflied at fuch "" Treafon againfl its Sovereign and Creator, whole '' Footftool it is : And when the Earth thus moved, *' the Company which remained were fo aftonifhed, " that fome run one Way, and fome another, but *' thefe twoatheiftical young Men ftay'd in the Room, '^ and Jonathan with them, he believing that the *' Providence of Almighty God could preferve him " there, if he pleafed, and if not, that it was in vain ** to fly *, but the Hand of God fmote thefe two «« young Men, fo that they fell down ; and, as
H 3 *' Jonathan '
loS rZ;^ JOURNAL 0/
1723- " Jonathan told me, he Jay'd one on a Bed, and the
v-^'V"*^ " other on a Couch, and they never fpoke more,
*' but died roon after.'* This was the amazing End
of thefe young Men: A dreadful Example to all A-
/ theifts, and difTolate and wicked Livers. Oh! That
' young People might he roamed^ that the Hand of God
might he upn them for Goodj and that they would ten-
derly he concerned for their Salvation.
On the 30th of the Fourth Month 1723, my tenth Child, x\2imtdil'homas^ died about Midnight (having before buried nine.) It was fome Exercife to me thus to bury my Children one after another; but this did a little mitigate my Sorrow, that I knew, that could I have all Things relating to them according to my Defire ; could I fee them grow up to be fober Men and Women, well married, have a Competency in the World, ^c. yet it was fafer and better for them, and they more out of D:nger, bf.ing taken away in their Infancy and Innocency ; and I fervently begged of the Almighty, that he would be pleafed to take them away while innocent, rather than that they fliould live to be vicious or unrighteous Men and Women, and to bring Scandal on the holy Name of Chrift, and upon our Chrittian Profeflion ; which Confideration did mightily tend to fettle and quiet my Mind in my (orrowf ul Exercife. The Great Lord of allfan£fify the Sorrows and Affii^ions of his People and Children-) and grant them the Fulfilling of that hlejfed Portion of holy Scripture^ that all Things fhall work together for the Good of them that love and fear God : Evenfo^ he it ^ fait b my Soul! Removes In the Sixth Month of this Year I removed from fj,^^^^' t'^^ ^'^y ^"^o the Country, to a fmall Plantation I had at Frankfort, in order to be more retired, and for Health's Sake, &c. finding fome declining in my bo* dily Strength, which I take to be very much owing to the fevere Colds and Hardfhips I have fuftained in my long and hare! Travels, more efpecially in the Wilder-
ncfs
tHOMAS CHALKLET. 109
nefs of America ; for without Vanity I may fay, that 172'^. Falwayslov'd Temperance, and have been fomecimes s-/^-^ isealoufly concerned to preach againft Intemperance i and tho' I cannot now take fo long Journeys as I have formerly, my Spirit earneftly travels for the Welfare ofSion, and the Peace and Profperity of all thofewho love, fear, and ferve God, and believe in his Son.
On the Sixth Day of the Eighth Month, icpleafed God to give me another Son, whom I named George, after my Father, Brother, Nephew, and King ; and tho* this Name is now a great Name among Men, I confider'd that no Name can preferve Life, fo I gave him up to the Will of him who gave him to me, and defire, if I have no Name thro' Children to Pofterity, I may have a Name in the Lamb's Book of Life, which I have ever efteem'd far above a Name amongft Men.
After my Removal to this Place I was not idle, but vifited neighbouring Meetings, and in the Eighth Month I went to Shrewjhury General Meeting, where shreuuf' there were many Hundreds of People, and the Truth *'"'-^' declared had good Impreffion upon the Minds of many ; fome after Meeting, who were not of our So- ciety, acknowledged to the Truth, and tl*ac they were glad they were there. In this Meeting I was concerned for the Welfare of Mankind, and the Ex- altation of the holy Name of the Almighty, to declare the univerfal Love of God to Man, from feveral Texts of holy Scripture, as that Paffage concerning Jacob and Efaji^ and Peter and Cornelius^ and iomething concerning the Objeflion made againfl us, the People called ^akerSy that we do not acknowledge the holy Scriptures to be ihe Word of God\ for tho' we believe that the Scriptures came by divine Infpiration, yet we are clearly convinc'd by their Teftimony, and by the Spirit of Truth in our Hearts, thatChriftis the eternal JVord of Gody by whom all Things were made and created, and do ftill exift.
H 4 From
1 10 \nje JOVRU'A L 6/
\\
1723. From Shrew/bury^ with divers other Friends, I w^y-^ rode to Crofwicks, where on the Fifth Day, we had a CrcfMickj, ^gj,y comfortable Meeting, in which the ancient Love and Goodnefsofour heavenly Father was with us, to the tendering our Hearts into Tears of Joy, fome of us being likewife affe6ted, in Remembrance of the Goodnefsof the Almighty to us, in the Meeting we had in this Place under the Trees about twenty- five Years fince. The great Subjeft of Faith and Works was fpoken to ; as, that the Romans feem'd to lay too much Strefson Works, and the Lutherans^ Calvihijls, and others, too little : But our Principle led us to join both together; the Almighty havingjoined them together, none ought to feparate them. ThisSubje6b of Faith and Works having been much in Debate a- mongfl profefTed Chriflians, it is on my Mind hereto mention a few Things deduced from the befl Autho- rity :
The Firjl IS, Without Faith^ it is impojjiihle to pleaje Cody Heb. xi. 6.
Second, Faith is the Gift of God. • •'
Third, Faith zvorks by Love. : ; ■■
Fourth, Faith is the Evidence of Things not feen^ and the Suhflance of 'Things hoped for. , ,- •
Fifth, Faith without Works is dead. . ' '^'-"■"''"
' Sixth, The Jufi live by Faith.
Seventh, 7m believe (or have Faith) in God, believe dlf) in jne, Johnxiv. i.
And the Author to the Hebrews fpeaks excellently concerning the Power of Faith, and the mighty Won- ders wrought by it. Note, this living, faving, true, and divine Faith, muft be in the Heart, thro*, and in Chrift Jefus the Son of the living God, wHio is, and always will be, the Author and Finifher of it in every true Believer.
Atcer I came from Shrewfbury, I vifited divers CV^/r neighbouring Meetings^ and lome in Ci^-f/^ifr County, t*^^xi\ where I had Meetings for nine Days fucceffively, fome
Oi
mo MAS C HALKLET. iii
of which were very large (particularly at Providence 1723, and Gojhen) in which I was opened to exhort them to «v^r> keep to that plain, honeft Way of Life and Converfa- tion, which our Fathers and Elders were found in, and to remind them of the Sufferings they endur*d for their Teftimony to the blefled Truth, in the firft breaking forth thereof in the lafl Age ; and I was concern*d to Ihow them, that the Almighty, who had bieffed us with plenty of temporal BlefTings, would continue the fame to us, if we were careful to live in his Fear ; but that otherwife, we might exped his Judgments for Dilbbedience,
And after my Return 1 continued about Home for fomeTime, it being Winter Sealbn, and bad Travel- ling, and I not fo capable of travelling as formerly': But I had great Peace and Tranquility of Mind, in that I had freely given up my youthful Days to ferve my Creator, and the fame Love and Zeal was yet frefli and warm in my Heart, for the Glory of hi? great Name ; and I ftill have a full Refolution, through his Strength and Grace, to ferve him, the great Lord of all, all my Days, according to the Light and Strength given to me.
Our Yearly Meeting at Philadetphiaxhh Year was large, in which our Friend Benjamin Kid^ from Eng- land, being with us, had good Service. 1 cannot for- get a Concern which was upon me at this Meeting, that the univerfal Love of God, through Chrilt, might prevail amongft Mankind, and to prefs Friends to manifefl to all People the Influence thereof, by their exemplary Lives and Converfations.
In the Second Month 1724, Iwentinto New-Jer- 1724, fey as far as Sbrewjhur-j^ where, on a Firfl Day, we had a large Meeting, to general Satisfa(5lion i and the next Day we had another, wherein the Love and Goodwill of God, thro' Chrifl^, was opened freely to the People, and our Duty to forgive one another was largely treated oi ; and it was plainly fhewn, that with- out
ai2 r^^ JOURNAL 5^
1724. out forgiving others, we could not be forgiven of
^-^•V*^ God, as Chrift faith, If -je forgive Men their Irefpajfes^
your heavenl'j Father will alfo forgive you : But if ys
forgive not Men their 'Trefpaffest neither will your
heavenly Father forgive your 'trefpaffest Matth. \w. 14,
1 5, ^c, and much more to the fame Effecl on that
Subject i as alfo Chriil's Anfwer to Peter^ who afked.
How oft a Man fhould forgive his Brother if he trefpajfed
againjihimf Feter fays ^ till f even Times? Our Lord
Jefus anfwers, I fay not unto thee^ until feven Times^
but until feventy Times feven. Match, xviii. 22. And
again Chrift fays. If thy Brother trefpafs againfl thee
feven Times in a Day, and feven Times in a Day turn
again unto thee, faying, I repent, thou fhali forgive him,
Luke xvii. 4. Wnich hard-hearted People think
a great Hardfhip, but Chrift*s Crofs muft be taken
up, and born daily, if we will be his Difciplcs and
Followers in Deed, and in Truth, as well as in Pro-
feffion.
Afterwe had reconciled fome Differences at Shrewf-
Wlenef. hury^ we went to a Place called Menefquan, and had a
9tm. good, open Meeting, and moft of the People of that Place were there. It was a good Time, and I hope the Opportunity will not foon be forgotten by divers that were there. From this Place we travelled to
€r0fwickr. Crofwicks^ and had a good Meeting. After Meeting, a Friend told me that fome would fay, I fpoke by In- formation, hecaufe I had opened fome Matters which were exa^ly to the State and Condition of fome there : But I knew nothing of their State and Condition, otherwife than as it was then immediately opened in my Mind; neither had I been told any Thing concerning them diredly or indireftly : And from thence we travelled
MurnnittK, to Burlington, where the Monthly- meeting of our Friends had defired, that I would be alfiftant to help to end a Difference which had happened through Mis- take, and continued for feven Years (fince the firft O:cafion was given^ and thro* divine Afiiltance, our
Hearts
rnOMAS CHALKLET. 113
Hearts beihg filled with the Love of Chrifl, we fo 1724. prevailed upon the differing Perfons, that they gave v^or^ each other Satisfaction, with Hopes that they fhould live in Love for the future ; and Friends of the Place greatly rejoiced at the End of that Difference. As I went along this Town, fome Friends told me of a religious People fome few Miles diftant, whom they defired I would have a Meeting with. I defired them to fee if it would granted, and let me know ; which was done, and we had a Meeting, and were kindly received, and the divine Nature of the Gofpelof Chrift was freely opened to them, and in great Love we parted from one another. I travelled in this Jour- ney about two Hundred Miles *, and when I came Home, my dear Wife and Family gladly received me with Hearts full of Love : And this Teflimony I think proper, for feveral folid Reafons, to leave be- hind me of my virtuous and loving Wife, That fince we were married, fhe never hindred me in that Service my great Mafter called me unto, in all the Time of our living together : We always parted, for the Sake of the Gofpcl of Chrift, in pure Love, and in the fame Love we always met again.
Soon after this Time I met with feveral great LofTts by Sea and Land, and myfelf and my little Daughter were dangeroufly fick, fo that our Recovery feem'd doubtful-, yet fhrq' the Mercy of God, we both re- covered, for which I praife his Name.
After fome Stay at Home, I was again moved in the Love of Chrift, to vifit the General Meetings of Duck-Creek and Salem, i\.t P-uck-Creek we had a large. „ and fatisfadory Meeting. From Duck-Creek I ap- Oeck. pointed a Meeting at George' s-Creek, which was a good Gg»r-t's Meeting. The next Morning we went over to Eljln- <^'''''*- hurgby and fo on to Cohanfie, where I met with two o{ Cohanfte, my Fellow-labourers in the Work of Chrift, Thomas Lightfoot and Benjamin Kid. We had a Meeting to- gether at Cobanfse, in whicl^ the People were exhorted "'.?" to
114
r^^ J O U R N A L 0/
1724.
jUkwayt Creek.
Salem-
rraHhfort,
Aifi't^iyt.
to Sobriety and juft Dealing. The contrary of both is too obvious at fuch Times as Fairs ; there being di- vers of the Fair People there as well as others, the Nature of Chrift's Work in the Heart, was fomewhat fpoke to, but not fo open a Meeting as fome others, the People thereaway being too flack and dull as to Religion. Next Day we had a Meeting at Ailoways- Creek, where we all three had fome pretty clofe Work; and from thence we went to the General Meeting at Salem^ which was larger than common, on account of the faid Friend (5(?;//a/;?i;; XzW's) being there ; who, in the Love of Chrift came from England^ to vifit the Churches in this Part of the World. There were fo many Friends and others here at thisTime, that fome Houfes were fo filled, that there was not Room for all that came to lodge there. After this Meeting I re- turn'd Home, and in a few Days went into Chefler- County^ and travelled above 100 Miles ; and when I came Home I underftood, that fome for Want of a true Senfeotthe Work of Chrifl, had been cenfuring me for my Travelling and hard Labour in the Work of the Miniftry of the Gofpel of Chrift; tho*, by the lame Rule of judging, the Apoflles of Chrift, and our ancient Friends, who travelled much, cannot efcape their Cenfure ; for in all my Travels, I have had an elpecial Regard to the Unity of the Brethren, and never knowingly went abroad without it: But let this Caution be recorded for the Inftru^ion of all fuch forward Judges •, Let them he careful of judging Chriji's Servants, lejt their IVords become their Burden : Judge nor, that ye be not judged {faith our great Lord)ior with what Judgment ye judge, ye fhall be judged.
Soon after my Return from Chejier-County, I was at a Marriage at Abington, which was one of the mofl folemn I have been at •, and on the 15th of the Third Month, at the Youth's Meeting at German-town^ to my g'-eat Satisfaiftion ; and on the 23d of the Came Month, I went to the General-meeting of Minifters
and
"T HO MAS CHALKLET. 11$
and Elders at Burlington; at which Meeting, feveral 1724. ThingsrelatingtotheGofpel-miniflry were declared ; v^/'V"^ as its being a free, a clear, and a powerful Miniftry, ^'"^^"'^""*' reaching to the Confcience, and convincing of the Danger of continuing in Sin : x\nd divine Charity was much recommended, without which. All Minijlry is but oi founding Br afs, &c. From this Meeting I went with Walter Herbert^ into Bucks-County^ and at Ne- Jhaminy we had an open, tender Meeting. From thence I went to Buckingham, and was at a jjarriage of a Son Buckini' and Daughter in-law of Thomas Canbfs. The Meet- f'^^- ing was large, and Friends well fatisfied j and it was obfervable, tho' I was very hoarfe, thro* a Cold I had taken, and could hardly fpeak in common Converfa- tion, yet it was much taken away in my Miniftry, fo that I was carried thro' the Service to our Admira- tion, ^for which I was truly thankful. After this Meeting I returned Home with true Satisfaction, fach as is much more valuable than Silver and Gold, two mighty Idols in the World.
After a little Stay at Home I went on a Firft Day jfy^„,,fgy,^ to Notth-lVales or Gzvinneed^ where was a pretty large North ^ Meeting, many young People being there, to whom '*^'''^'; I was concern'd to fliew, that Chrilt is the Way by which we muft come into the true Church, thro' Re- generation, and that ail who invent other Ways are Thieves and Robbers. I rode twenty- five Miles that Day, and the next Day came to Frankfb^'t, and was at the Burial of an ancient Friend, Joan Orpwood^ at which our Friend John Salkeld was, with whom I was the next Day at Philadelphia^ at our Third- Day Meet- ing, which was a good Meeting. • On the 4th Day of the Fourth Month, intending foon to take a Journey to Long-IJland^ I thought it a proper Time to alter my Will, as I had kept one by me for divers Years before, confidering the Uncer- tainty of Life. On the 5th of the Fourth Month I went XoMerionio vifitan ancient Friend, John Roberts^ Mir:m:
who
ii6 t:^^ JOURNAL (2f
1724. who was fick near unto Death, where I again met with
y\r^John Salkeld The Friend exprefled his Satisfaftion
in this Vifit, and we had a Reward of Peace in the
Exercife of that Chriftian Duty of Vifiting the Sick,
which is recommended by the Apoftle to the primitive
Churches of Chrift. After we had been fome Time
with our faid fick Friend, we went to the Meeting
which had been appointed for us feveral Days before,
»nd was large and fatisfa<5lory ; for which favourable
Vifitation we blefled the great Name of the Almighty,
and parted tenderly in Chriftian Love and Good-will.
The Friend we went to vifit died the next Day. He
was a Helper of the Poor, and a Maker of Peace in
the Neighbourhood: Of fuch, Chrift faid, Blejfedare
the Peace-makers i for they Jhall he called the Children of
God,
On the 10th of the Fourth Month 1724, I had a Concern to write the lollowing Epiftle to Friends i(i the Ifiand of Barhadoes.
Frankfort^ the lOth of the 4th Month 1724.
A« 'Epiftle fo Friends In Baibtt-
Dear Friends y
IN the tender Love of God, our heavenly Fathers and of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, do I, your Bro- ther, at this Time greet you, and wilh you Health and Salvation. Underftanding by a concerned Friend, that of late feveral of our Friends are taken away from you by Death, a Concern came on my Mind to put you in Remembrance of your latter End, and of the Caufe of Chrift ; and alfo, of the Profperity of his blefled Light and Truth in your (in that Refpedl, poor, tho* in fome others, rich and luxurious^ Ifland : The Pofterity of many that have been taken away there, as well as in divers other Places, having gone aftray ; and that it may not be fo with thofe who are left beliind, let a weighty Con- cern come upon you. O dear Friends ! let your
' Prafticcs
^HOMASCHALKLET. 117
Praftices and Expreflions, manifeft to the rifing Ge- 1 724. neration, that the Welfare of their Souls, more than^^'SrV of their Bodies, is at Heart with you ; and do not indulge them in that which you in yourfelves were convinc'd to be of an evil Tendency, when your Hearts were firft reached by the Power of Truth. How many Youths have been loft, thro* the Loofe- nefs of the Example of their Elders, and thro* aa undue Indulgence of them in Vanity, Folly, Pride, and Idlenefs ! Woful Experience doth but too much deciare that they are many: O they are many in- deed, who have been loft by fo doing ! Wherefore dear Friends, clear yourfelves of your Children ; and, if they will obftinately go aft ray, faithfully bear your Teftimony againft them, in Life, Doc- trine, or Expreflions and Converfation, which will witnefs for you when you are dead and gone, and your Heads laid in the filent Grave. Thus will your Youth, thro* the BlelTing of God, and your Endeavours, come up in your Places, or at leaft you will be clear, and their Blood will be upon their own Heads. A pure ftrift Watch is required of you in Converfation, in all thofe Relations : Firjl, That God may be glorify'd. Secondly^ That your Childrer may be exampled. Thirdly, That your Neighbours may be edity'd, or built up in pure Re- ligion: And Fo/^r/^/)', That you may die in Peace with him that created you, and died for you-, re- membring the blefTed Dodrine of Chrift Jefus, Lei your Light fojhine before Men^ that others, feeing your good Works, may glorify your Father which is in Hea- ven, And again ; Tou are as a City Jet on a Hill, which cannot be hid. And as you thus train up your Children in the Way which they fhould go, when they are young, you may have Reafon to hope they will not depart from it when they are old ; for ma- ny have been convinced of the Truth, as it is in Jefus Chrift, thro' the good Converfation of his
Followers.
nS ^he JOURNAL.^/
1724, * Followers. And how can we expect to die well, ifwe
^•V\) * do not live welJ ? Or can we exped the Anfwer of
' IVelldoney ifwearenotin the Pradtice of doing well?
» And 1 do define and earneftly exhort Friends to
< read the holy Scriptures, and wait to feel the Pow-
* er from which they fprung, thro' the holy Writers, ' and alfo to teach them to their Children. And, ' dear Friends, let me prevail with you in the Love
* of God and his dear Son, to keep clofe to your
* Meetings for the Worfhip of Almighty God, and
* for the well-ordering of your Society ; and do it in
* the meek Spirit, for that is of great Price with the *- Lord ; and when in your Meetings, get into a reli-
* gious Exercife, and lively Concern for God's Glory,
* and your Souls Peace and Profperity. I pray the
* holy Lord of Sabbaoth, to open your Hearts to ' him in the Reading of this Epiftle, as mine is open
• * to you, my beloved Friends, that you and I may be
' edified (tho* outwardly feparated) as we were ' when together i and if we fhould never meet more
* in this World, that we may meet in the Kingdom
* of God, where we may never part more. Amen, ' Hallelujah, faith my Soul!
'I defire this may be copied and read at the Clofe « of one of each of your particular Meetings, and, if
* it could be readily, in every Family of Friends ; to
* all whom is my very dear Love in Jefus Chrift, ' whofe Servant I am, and hope to be to the End,
* and I am an entire Lover ot Souls, and a Well- wifher of 6V6//i's Profperity.'
<
r. CII ALKLET,
On the 1 1 th of the Fourth Month I left Home on a
Journey loLong-JJiancU in order to viiit Friends Meet°
ings, and alfo to negotiatefome Bufinefs I had there;
Suriin^m.^)^^ firft Meeting 1 had was at Burlington^ where
I had occafion toadvife them to keep in Remembrance
of
THOMAS CHALK LET, 119
of that ancient Love which firft united our Society 1724. together, and in which, in Times of cruel Perfecu- Ky^^TSi tion, fome freely offer'd to fufFer the Imprifonment of their Bodies to obtain the Liberty of their Friends in Confinement. From thence we travelled to Amho'j^ Amjo^, and fo over to Staten-Ijland. The Day being very hot, and the Evening cold, I got a fevere Cold, which I did not get clear of for about two Weeks, notwithftanding which, I went to Meetings, tho* ill in Body. The firft Meeting I had on Long-IJland, was at Fliijhing^ on a firft Day : A comfortable Fh^ingi Meeting it was! in which was clofely preffed, the Taking up the Crofs of Chrift, by all who defire to be his Difciples, and that without it we could not be true Chriftians. From Flujhlng we went to Mujketto- MuAat*^, Cove, and had a Meeting there on Third Day, ^''''■* ■which was large, and to general Satisfaction, and fome were. there that were newly convinced. I feeing the Opennefs of the Meeting, advifed Friends to build a Meeting-houfe there, which they approved of. On fourth Day we had a Meeting at IVdftbury^ and on rj^^^^^ fifth Day at Cowneck. From Coiuneck I went to the Cowneci South-fide of the Ifland, and had a Meeting at Cap- tain Hicksh. The Neighbours, who were not of our Society, came generally to this Meeting, and they were prefTingly exhorted to come to Chrilt, and the "Way opened unto them. It was a good Time, and I thought a Time of Love to us all ; tho' before the Meeting I was exceedingly fbut up in myfelf, fo that the Meeting was very beneficial to me, among the reft, to fee how the Lord could work by his Power, and unlock the Soul, as in a Moment, as he did for my poor Soul at Times. O may 1, with Chrift*s Followers and Minifters, ever depend upon him, is my Petition ! From Rockway ('for fo is the Place cal- ledj.we went to Wejlbury^ and had a very large Meet- ing on a firft Day ; and, as 1 was informed, fome were convinced there that Day. From hence I went
I to
Rockvuay,
120 r^^ J O U R N A L Df\ ;
1724. to a Place called Fo/?^r's Meadows, where we had a large Jr-^^V*^ Meeting in one Duejhurf^ Barn. After this I went Meadows, over to the Main Land, and had a Meeting at a Place -Wefichcf- called fVeJicheJler. From thence we went to FlufJoing, and had a large Meeting on a fifth Day^f the Week^ in which the right Training up of Children, and care- rtuOjing. ^"^ Education of Youth, waszealoufly recommended. Hmington. From Flu/hing 1 went to Huntington^ where fome were lately convinced of the Principle of Truth as it is in Chriil Jefus, fome of whom were excommuni- cated by the Prejbyterians^ with whom they had for- merly join'd. We had a pretty large Meeting in a Friend's Barn, where one Prieft Prime oppofed me, as he alfo had my Friend Benjamin Kid fome Time before, of which, by Letter, I gave an Account to my dear F'fiends nomas lAghtfoot and Benjamin Kid, defiring them (in their Return from New-England) to have an Evening Meeting there. The Grounds of this Prieft's Cavilling, or Difpute, was that I had declared. That it is the Light of Chrifl, or his Spirit, which convinceth the World of Sin, and not a natural Light, or the Light of a natural Confcience ; from whence he took Occafion to charge me with denying a natu- ral Confcience, the Fallhood of which I charg*d upon him before the Auditory, and defired him, if he had any Thing on his Mind, to write it tome, to which I promi-s'd to return him an Anfwer.
From Huntington I went to the General, Meeting of /&wi«H;j; Friends iield at Neii'lown, which was fo large that the Meeting-houfe could not contain the People, and the Weather being extreme hot, the People without Doors were fome of them uneafy, and went to and fro; but thofe that were in theHoufe, and fo near as they could hear, were very attentive, and as far as I could learnj generally fatisfied. Our next Meeting was at NeW' ^(VfTtlrk. Torky which was the quieteft Meeting 1 ever had there; and tiiofe few Friends at New~Tork, and fome that were there from Long-Jjland^ parted with us in the
Love
tHOMAS CHALKLET, izi
I-ove of Chrift, and in the Fellowfhip of his blefled 1724. Gofpel ; and fo I travelled homewards, having good v-'''"v-^ Satisfadion in vifiting my Friends -, and when I came Home, I found my dear Wife and Cliildrcn in f'^^^^ort; Health, fou- which I blefs God.
After this Journey I kept to Meetings at and about Home as ufual, and was at the Fifth-Day- Meeting in Philadelphia, when Samuel }'reJion was married to f^ijadeu Margaret Langdale (the Widow of my dear Friend ^ "** and Fellow-traveller Jofi ah Langdale -.) The Meet- ing was large, and the Parable of the Virgins, and the Bridegroom's Coming at Midnight, was opened, with an Exhortation to the People to be ready againft that Hour, and that they fhould take Care to have the holy Oil of divine Grace in their Hearts.
After this Meeting I hadfome Affairs which called me into Chefier -County^ and on the Road my Horfe ciefur* gave a fudden and violent Start out of the Path, and ^*''"'^* threw me down, and before I could get up again, he flruck my Face, and on my right Eye with his Foot, being newly Ihod, which flunn'd me for the prefent ; but as foon as I opened that Eye which was unhurt, I perceiv'd that I lay on my Back, under my Horfe's Belly, with my Head between his fore Feet. He flood ftill, andlgotonmy Hands and Knees, the Blood flreaming out of my Nofe and right Eye, and while I was bleeding, a Mnn and Woman came by, and flay'd till I had done Bleeding, and faw me mount- ed on my Horfe again. I went forward, being about two Miles from the Houfe I intended to go to, and after riding about a Mile, I met with a Friend that knew me, and was furprifed to fee me (o bloody, and went with me to Randal Mayling\ (a faithful, hcneft Friend, who was upwards of eighty Yea-s of Age, and had fufFered much for his Protefllon of the Truth in his younger Yearsj where feveral tender-hearted, motherly Women dreffed my wounded Eye. I was truly thankful to the Lord for his Providence towards mein this Deliverance, among many others, which he K 2 m
122 T'/je JOUR Isi AL of
1724. in his Goodnefs hath vouchfafed to me. I ftay'd a£ <y\'-*^ this Friend's Houfe three Nights, and mended apace, and the Friend accompanied me to my Houfe at Frank- fort^ where my loving Wife, with fome Surprize, re- ceived me very affeftionately ; and thro* her Care and continual Application, I recovered, that I could fee pretty well with Speftacles, which I was obliged to ufe for fome Months. Such Accidents plainly Jhew us the Necejfity of preparing for fudden Deaths as we know not when^ or how, we may go off the Stage of this Life. On the 25th of the Fifth Month, I received a Let- ter from a Perfon in the County q{ Burlington, relat- ing to Water- Baptifmy to which I made Anfwer as follows :
« ^TpHY Lines I received laft Night, in the Per- ^ 1. ufing of which, there was a Chriftian Love in
* my Heart towards thee, tho' unknown by Face, and c I have much Freedom of Mind to anfwer thine, ac- ' cording to thy Rcquefl, and my fmall Ability. Firfl
* then, We are near in Sentiments to each other in ' the grand Chriftian Principle of faving Religion, ' which is the Work of the holy Spirit of Chrift upon
* the Soul, fof that is the Baptifm which is Chrill's, ► and is truly laving, and abfolutely necefTary toSal-
* vation ; Chrift's Bjptifm being but one, which is "• with the holy Ghoft, and with fpiritual Fire or Wa- ^ ter ; Johji'^ being the Element, or Figure ; and ^ CHRisT'sbeing the Spirit, Power, and Divine Sub-
* llance, and is to be with the Church of Chrifl, and
* with his true Minifters to the End of the World. ^ Secondly, In Anfwer to thy ^ery. Was Water-
* Baptifm (that is, the Element) not commanded by
* Chirji himfelf, in Matth. xxviii. 19? I anfwer, I < believe not. My Reafon is this, becaufe the holy « Ghoft, or Spirit, is mentioned in the Text, or that
* Command, in exprefs Words, and Water is not^
* and therefore we omit going into outward Water, « ' and
THOMAS CHALKLET. 125
and for other Reafons as followeth. 'Thirdly^ That 1724. ' Water-Baptifm, which was Jo/j^'s, was pradlifed by \.y\~^ '• the Apoftles, is true; but it was not praftifed by ' Chriflr, who, no doubt, would have done it if ic had been abfoluteJy neceffary •, for he difdained not to wafh his Difciples Feet, a much more de- fpicable Office than that of the Baptifmal Cere- mony i So becaufe Chrifl did not himfelf pradice it, nor, as we conceive, commanded us to go into material Water, we therefore forbear it. Fourthly^ That the Apoflles did baptize with Water, we deny not -, and that they were circumcifed, and did cir- cumcife, isalfo undeniable. Now, muft we circum- cife becaufe the Apoftles did, and were themfelves circumcifed ? Confider that carefully, and I hope that wil' give thee fome Sight or Light into, or concerning the Difpenfation of Water-Baptifm, which was JohrCs, Baptifm, and was glorious in its Day and Difpenfation, in pointing at Chrift's Bap- tifm, until it came, which was the Subftance, and was with fpiritual Fire, and fpiritual Water, and will continue for ever. To Chriil, and his Bap- tifm, I heartily dired thee for further Inftruftion, in whom is Light, and that Light is the Life of Men, or Life, and that Life the Light of Men. * And further, I would write a little of my own Thoughts concerning Water-Baptifm, and on fome Texts of Scripture, being Chrift's own Words, viz. He that helieveth^ and is baptized, fjjall be faved, and he that believeth not, fhail be damned, or condemned, M^ry^ xvi. 16. N-ow this muft needs be underftood of the Spirit's Baptifm i for it would be abfurd to fay, or believe, that all who are bap- tized with the Element of Water, are faved, or all who are not baptized with Water, are damn'd ; therefore it is the Spirit's Baptifm, that all profeffing ' Chriflianity ought to come unto to witnefs Salva. tiori. Again, Chrift fays, Except a Man be bom cf I 3 ' fVaier
124 r^^ JOURNAL^
1724. ' Water, and of the Spirit^ he cannot enter into the v^^V*^ ' Kingdom of God, or of Heaven, Matt. iii. 5. This ' divers will have to be a Mixture of the Element ' Water, and of the Spirit ; but Chrift fays. It is the ' Spirit that quickenethy the Flejh profiteth nothing: The ' Words that I /peak unto you, tbey are Spirit, and they
* are Life^ John vi. 63. And that which is born of ^ the Flefh^ is Flejhj and that which is horn of the Spirit, ' is Spirit^ John ii'. 6. According to which Doc- ' trine, 1 iiave F.ath to believe, that outward, < flclhly, or elementary Water-B:ipcifm, profics little ' or nothing to tne Soul. Again, Why fh^uld the
* Water in that Place be underftood of the Element,
* any more than the Fire in rhe other, viz. To behap- ' iized with the hcly Ghoji, and with Fire? Since Chrift ^ faid, My Words lioey are Spirit and Life. Remem-
* ber the Well of Water that fprings up to eternal ' Life in the Believers : Remember the Water
* that Chrifl: gave, whofoever drank of it was never ' to thirft more. This is all fpiritual, which the ' carnal Mind cannot comprehend or enjoy, but is "■ witnefTed by the fpiritual Mai". And further, if we ' confider what Confufion there is in the World about « this Water Baptifm, it may well put a tender-feek- ' ing Soul upon further Search into the Nature of « holy, faving Baptifm. The Papijls have one Way;
* the Lutherans and Calvinijls anoiher ; the Baptijis, ' they have another -, and all differ fo widely, that,
* generally fpeaking, they will not worfhip together; « neither are they ever like to be reconciled, except ' they come to the holy Spirit and divine Power of ' Jefus, the good Saviour and precious Guide of
* Souls. That Saying of his hath ofren been a Com- ' fort to me in deep Exercifes and DiflrefTes of Mind,
* when he faid to his Difciples, It is expedient for you
* that I go away ; for if I go not away, the Cornforter
* will mi come ; hut if I go away^ I will pray to the ' Father, and he willjend the Comforter, the Spirit of ' Truth, in my Name, and when he his come^ he jhall
' lead
THOMAS CHALKLET. 125
lead you y and guide you into all Truth \ he fhall take of 1724. mine^ and give it unto you ^ andjhall bring all Things u^'^WI to your Remembrance^ that I have fpoken unto you. And that he was to convince the World of Sin ; and that he fhall abide with you for ever. May the precious Gift of the Spirit be given to thee, and to all true Seekers of God, h\s Chriftand Kingdom, is my real Defire, and humble Peayer to the moft High. [See the four Evangelijts for the Promife^ they not wording it alike.']
' Having anfwered the moft of thy Letter, I would add a few Lines more, viz. I have known fome who could not be fatisfied with Words about this Point of Baptifm with Water, until Chrift had by his Spirit given them Satisfadion in themfelves; and as thou comes more and more into clofe Com- munion with his Grace and Spirit in thy own Soul, I hope thou alfowilt have better Satisfaction tlian that of Words only. I have known fome of the People called Baptijis, who have been convinced of the Truth, according to our Way and Principle, to whom all the Writing, and Difputing, and Reading, and Preaching, about this Point, could never give ample Satisfaction, until they had it in- wardly and immediately from Chrift, manifeftcd to them by his holy Spirit in their Hearts, as aforefaid. Tho* I would not be underftood to be againft fatis- fying one another as much as lieth in our Pov/er, and as we find Opennefs in the Love of God and Chrift. And further, I never underftood that any * of our Society were abfolutely againft fuch prac- ^ tifing of it, who could fee no further, or did really think in their Confcience it was their Duty fo to do: But we believe, that we fee beyond the Figure or Shadow, and are come to the Subftance, tor the Reafons mentioned, and many more wkich might be given. Several Treatifes have been written upon this Subjed, one of which is very full (before we I 4 * were
126 r/je JOVR'N AL cf
1724. * were a People) by WilUatn Deli^ a wife and learned
ty'\'\lf ' Man, and one who had a krge Senfe of the Power
' of God: And among us Barclafa Apology, and a
' Treatife by John Gralton, who was a Baptiji
* Preacher, and one by Jofeph Pike : And alfo here is
* a little Book of Tho??ias lJpfher\ fa Baptijl Peacher
* before he came ro join with us) which I fend thee, ' with whom I v.ms well acquainted, as alfo with
* thofe Men who fubfcribed it. If thou applies thy-
* felf to Richard Smith, of Burlington^ he is as likely
* as any I know to help, th^e to thofe Books, all ' which are larger on the Subjc6t, and have given Sa- ' tisfadlionto Thoufands about it i tho' fome, aslhave ' faid, could never be fatisfied with Words. In rt-ad- « ing the latter Part of thy Letter, I WdS tenderly af-
* fe(5ted, and my Prayers to the Almighty were, that
* he would plcafe to direct thee by his Power and ' Spirit, and the Grace of his dear Son, who hath
* faid, He that cometh unto ;«<?, 1 will in no wife caji
* cff. Now, tender Frirnds Chrift is the true Light,
* that lighteth every Man that cometh into the « World, by which Light thou mufl; walk to the
* Kingdom and City of God. He is the Door into
* the true Sheepfold : He is the Truth, in whorn
* thou muft believe : He is the divine Life and Light
* oftheSoul: He is the true Chriflian's All in all: *■ And, as the Kingdom is within Cas faid Chrift) fo the
* Kingis alfo within, and without alfo. He is God *• Omnipotent, Omnifcient, Qmniprefenr, theimmor-
* tal Jehovah, and is God over all, bleffed for ever.
* And as a Servant of his, I recommend thee, with my •■ own Soul, unto him for Prefervation and divine ' Direction 5 for it is the great Work of Chrifl's true ^ Minifters and Servants, todireftthefeeking, travel- ^ ling Souls to him ; to whom, with the Father, and
* the eternal Spirit, be Glory, now, and evermorQ.
* Amen. ■ From thy allured Frier.d in Chrifl.
"THOMAS CHALKLET. iij
ThcPerfon to whom I wrote this Letter, fome Time 1724, after informed me, it gave him great Satisfa6l:ion. s^"Vn^
After I had (tay'd at Home fome Time, and pretty well recovered of the Hurt I had by my Fall, I vi- fited fome Meetings about Home, as Philadelphia, ThUadti- jibington, and German-town. In feveral ot thofe Meet- /"*"» Scc, ings I was concerned to exhort Friends, as our Meet- ings and Worfhip was, in this Province of PenfyU vania, a kind of national Worfhip, to beware that they did not indulge themfelves in the Sins of the Na- . tions, but to be careful to keep to the holy, felf-denying Life of Jefus.
On the 5th of theSixth Month, between the Hours of nine and ten in the Night, there was an Earthquake, which divers People were very fenfible ot ; and about this Time divers People were taken off with a violent Fever -, and I was concerned in feveral Meetings to put the People in Mind of their Mortality, and Short- nefs of Time here ; and alfo of the Uncertainty of ir, and the Neceffity of fpeedy Preparation for their final Change and future Well-being. In the aforefaid Month I was at our Youths Meeting in Philadelphia^ where I was concerned to advife Parents to do juflly to their Children, in the divers Relations of a Child^s State ; to be jult in Correction, and to be fure to give them Learning, and train them up in Reading of the holy Scriptures, they being ahle^ thro' Faith in "Chrift, to make us wife to Salvation. I alfo was earneft in Exhortation to the Youth^ to qbey and honour their Parents, and to have a Care not to be difobedienc to their Fathers and Mothers. I had a Concern alfo to remind that large Congregation, that the Almighty had ftretched out his Arm of Power, with his Rod, and had given the People of this Land three Strokes therewith, as a gentle Admonition towards Heart- preparation, to meet him, and to prepare for their latter End, or final Diffolution : Which was Firji, A Sicknefs, or peftilential Fever, which carried ofi'
many '
128 ne JOURNAL of
1724; many of the People. Secondly, An Earthquake, of \*Or^-^ which divers in Town and Country were very fenfible, Thirdly^ A terrible Whirlwind, fuch as we never be- fore heard of in this Land, that I remember. They were admonilhed to take particular and fpecial Notice of thofe gentle Strokes of the divine Hand, for if he pleafed he could as foon take away many by Sicknefs, as a few, and if he pleafed he could have made us a Defolation, as well as the Country about Mount ^tna^ ox Port-Royal in Jamaica^ not very far from us; and he could alfo blow us away with a Wirlwind of his Wrath, and could as eafily have blown down all our City, as tbcfe few Houfes in the Country.
Next Day after this Meeting I went with John Rod- man to the Quarterly General-meeting of Worfhip in Chefier the County oiChefier, which was large and fatisfadlory* County. ^j^g ^^^^ ^^^^^ gj^^j^ Month I was at the Burial of
the Wife of Richard Tf^aln^ a virtuous and good Wo- man. Some of her laft Words were, ** Some Mens
9»irSfii ii Sins go before-handto Judgment, and fome follow *' after them ; and that her Sins were gone before, •' which was a great Comfort to her, now fhe was *^ going to leave the World." It was a large Meet- ing, and a feafonable Opportunity that we had at the
^ruHkfffft, Funeral. The People were called upon to work, while it was called To-day, Becaufe, as our Saviour faid, the Night eometh^ wherein no Man can work.
In this and the foregoing Year I met with various Trials and Exercifes : As Firji^ Great inward Poverty and Want. Secondly^ Great LofTes in outward Affairs. And Thirdly, The evil Spirits of divers ftirred up sgainft me, to report Falllioods concerning me, with many other fore Exercifes both inward and outward. As to the Firfi, I had often been try*d that Way, and found by Experience, that 1 muft wait upon God my Saviour, for frefh and renewed Vifitations from above •, in which Exercife, I had always in the Lord's Time, Comfort from him, as by the fame
Exercife
r HO MAS CUALKLET. 129
ExerciTe I had now the fame Comfort alfo; but I 1724: thought it very long, and the Enemy did greatly en- O-^VXI deavour to break in upon my Patience now more than ufual: But my Heart ftill depended in Faith and Hope upon the Lord my Redeemer and Saviour, and in his Time he was pleafed to help me, blefled be his holy Arm and Power tor ever ! Many blefied Saints and Servants of Jefus were brought to my Mind, who were in the like Condition, fo that I had a fecret Jv^y in their Company (who met with the like in their Travels to the holy City. j Secondly^ as to my outward Lofles, I thought with myfelf, peradventure it might be beft for me : And I remembred that many, through the Increafe of outward Riches, were exceedingly hurt as to their inward State ; and tho' I (or any good Man) might be concerned for our Chil- dren, to get and leave fomething for them ; yet I plainly faw, that generally fpeaking, much Riches doth much Hurt to Youth. This was a melancholly Obfervation that I had made in my Life and Travels, and I fee at this Day that it is an univerfal Diftemper (a very few excepted^ wherefore I cry'd mightily to God, that he would give to me and mine the Gift of his Grace and holy Spirit, whatever our Circum- ftances might be in the World. In this alfo I faw that Patience was an excellent Virtue, and that the Meek had the beft Inheritance of the Earth, if they had ever fo little of it ; and that- true Happinefs did not confift in earthly Things, which my Experience had largely taught me. And Thirdly, As to the bafe and evil Treatment I met with (which was more than I had ever met with in all my Life before) great Endea- vours were ufed to leflen my Reputation, as a Man and a Chriftian -, all which proved falfe and fruitlefs, and in due Time my Innocence was made maniieft j and I confidered that they could not ufe me worfe than they had done my Lord and Mafter, and that the De- yil was angry with any who endeavoured to dethrone
him,
130 "Tk J OUR'N AL of
1717. him, and pull down his Kingdom, at the Foundation v/S*"*^ of which, thro' the Help of my Mafter, I had many a Stroke or Blow, with fuch Weapons as he was plea- fed to furnifh me withal.
The lalt of the Sixth Month, and the ift of the Se- venth Month, was the Quarterlyand Youths Meeting at Burlington, at both v/hich i was. At the Quarterly Meeting I was concerned to open to that Meeting, how all along the Church of God was governed by his Spi- rit, in the Tim?; of the Law, and Mofes was an Inftru- ment dierein ; and thatv/hen it was too hard, and too much Work for Mofes^ he was advifed to get the Help and Afliftance of the Elders •, and that the fame Power and Spirit ot God that was with and upon Mofe^^ was upon the Elders who affifted him in the Affairs of the Church, and Congregation oftk Lord's People ; fo that it was governed by God's Spirit, and is to be governed by the fame ftill, and not by the Will of Man, nor according to the Will of Man in his corrupt Nature. And when Jfrael went from God's Power and Spirit, the Lord left them, but atlafl fent to them his only begotten Son, our dear Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift •, and he was, and ever is, to be Governor of his Church, thro* his holy Spirit, •which, he told his Dicifples, he would pray the Father, end he (hould fend unto them the Comforter^ the holy Ghofi, or Spirit, the Spirit of fruth, and he fhould abide ■ with them for ever, and fhould lead and guide them into all Truth ', which fweet and precious Promifes that he made to them, the true Believers do witnefs to be ful- filled at this Day. Glory to his Name for ever, he is the wonderful Councellor, mighty Saviour, and Prince of Peace ! of whofe Peace and Government there fh all never he an End, and upon whofe Shoulder the Government is to he for ever, for whofe Power, and holy Spirit, Friends were exhorted to pray and wait, and to be fenfible of it in the Difcipline and Government of the Cl^urch now in this Gofpel Day, in which is a brighter
Manifeftatiorj
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 131
Maniftetion of God's Love, thro' his Son, than in 1724, the Time of the Law. The Youths Meeting was al- v*/Sr^ fo large, and divers Teftimonies were born, by Way of Exhortation and Counfel to the Youth. They were with much Tendernefs advifed to take Counfel of their Eiders, and were fhev/n how it faired with fome young Men, who flighted the Advice and Counfel of the El- ders; and that one, when on a Dying-bed, cried ouc in the Bitternefs and Agonies of his Spirit, Oh! that I had taken the Counfel and Advice cf my friends, for then I had not been here, nor in this Condition. The Youth were advifed to beware of keeping bad Com- pany, and fpending their precious Time in Taverns, which hath undone many fair and promifing Youths : And it was fhewn, how 2, young Man might cleanfe his Wa'^s, by taking heed thereto, according to the Word of God, which liveth and ahidethfor ever, and v/hich the holy Scriptures proceeded from -, and they were ear- neflly exhorted to read and praftice what was writtea therein : And a very tender Time we had in Prayer to God, thro* his dear Son, to preferve us all in his Fear, both Youth and Aged -, and fo our Meeting broke up, and we parted in the fweet Love of God, and his Chrifl, our holy Saviour.
My Troubles in the World, and in the Things o^ Frankforx^ it, being many, and my outward LofTes being great •, as alfo was my inward Poverty of Mind and Spirit, I took my Pen, and wrote one Day as followeth : Oh! if it he right in the Sight of God, how do I long to he un- clothed of this frail and mortal Body, that my Soul and Spirit jnight mount up into the (ztherial Plains^ and re pofe itfelf in the vaft expandi?7g Arins of its Maker ^ and mofl fweet Saviour for ever !
Being at and near Home fome Time after I came miaM- from Burlington^ I vifited the Mttixn^^ ui German-toivn ^^'°* ^'^' and Philadelphia, which v/ere large, and fome good Senfe of Truth was in the Hearts of divers. I »vas concerned at that Meeting at Philadelpkia to let ihe
People
132 7^^ JOURNAL c/
1 724. People know. That as God had bleffed the People of ^xS"^^ that City, and the Province, with fpiritual and tempo- ral Bleffings, and made the Land naturally fruitful, to thelnriching many of the Inhabitants, he nowexpedied Fruits from them of Piety and Virtue •, and that if there was not a ftridler walking with God in Chrift Jefus, they might expefl his divine Hand, which had vifited them with Favours from Heaven above, and from the Earth beneath, would vifit them with a Rod in it, and that he had already given them fome gentle Strokes therewith. Yearly OuT Yearly-meeting was this Year 2.x. Burlington^
M€ati«g fo{. j-j-^e Provinces of New-Jerfey and Penfjlvania, the Service of which our Quarterly-meeting appointed me, with divers others, to attend. It was a large and com- fortable Meeting, and many went Home thankful to the holy Name of God and Chrifl, that they were there.
I fhall end the fecond Part of the Journal of my
Life and Travels, when I have tranfcribed Part of a
Letter which my dear Father wrote me, when eighty
odd Years of Age, he having been a Minifter of Chrift
y above forty Years, which followeth :
LovitJg Son^ Thomas Chalkley, Alerter * T^ H I NE dated the 11th oF the Tenth t'^hir^ * JL Month 1723, I received, and was very glad to hear of your Welfare, and that the Lord hath given you Children : And I pray the Almighty God that he may preferve th?m with you, that they may be a Comfort to you in your latter Days ; and that if the Lord may be pleafed to continue them with you, that they may, as they grow in Days,
■ grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift ; and that the Lord may
' be pleafed to preferve us all to the End of thofe few Days we may have in this World, that then we may lay down our Heads in Peace and in full AfTurance
'of
father.
THOMAS CHALKLE T. 133
« of everlaftingBIelTednefsfor ever and evermore.— 1724.
* Iblefs the Lord chat he has preferved me fenfible t^^VNJ
* othis blefled and holy Spirit, whereby my Under-
* (landing is indifferent clear and v/ell , confidering my
* Age ; and the Lord in his great Loving-kindnefs 1. 1 do feel to help me to my great Satisfaflion, in ^; my little Service for him.
> * Having this Opportunity by a Friend of your fi Town, was willing to let you hear of our Welfare « and Health. I am in as good Health at prefent as
* I have been for many Years, and can make a Shifc
* to go over London- Bridge^ and to the Meeting at
* Alder/gate^ and to the Peel-Meetings from my Houfe « in Shad-Thames. And the Lord hath been
* pleafed to be with me now in my poor aged Con-
* dition. >
* So, dear Son, my dear Love is to thee and thine^
* and to Friends that may enquire, afccr us. Divers ' Friends give their Love to thee, wliofe Names I 5 can't remember.
* With repeated Love to you all, I refl thy aged^ fi.and Cthereby thro' Pain; afflicted Father.
GEORGE CHALKLET, Southwark, Londo'i^r^thof the 6th Month lyi.^.
P. S. « Thy Brother George^ his Love is to you all;
* and I defire ther: to lei; us hear of you as Op-
* portunity may ferve.*
To fee my dear Father's Hand- writing, now he was above four-fcore Years oi Age, was very afreding to me J and the more, b .caure I expeded it might
be his laft ; [which it m:s.) The Anfwcr I lent
to my dear Father's Letter is as followcth:
frankfort^^
134
ne JOVRN AL of
1724,
Ab An-
fwer to my
Father's
ZtStter.
Frankfori, zid of the Sib Month 1724.
My dear Father^
THINE, per James PFilkins^ I received with Joy, and was greatly comforted to hear that thou waft yet alive ; and efpecially that thou art fa- voured, now in thy old Age, with a Senfe of the Gift of God, thro' the holy Spirit of his dear Son, our bleffed Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. The Reading of thine did mightily refrefh and tender my Heart and Spirit, not expecting many more fuch Epiftles from thee, by Reafon of thy great Age. But my very dear and truly honoured Father, if we fhou Id never hear from, nor fee one another more in Mutability, yet arc we, while here on Earth, as living Epiftles in one anothers Hearts, wrote by the Finger, or Hand of God. I have Hope alfo, that we fhall meet where we fhall never part more, in the glorious Kingdom of God and his Chrifl.
* We are all in good Health, I humbly thank the Lord, and if it be his Will, fhould rejoice to hear that thefe find thee (my tender and loving Father, with my dear Brother and Sifter, and all my loving Coufms, and our Friends in general) in hke Health. —I defireto know exadly, thy Age in thy next, if thou art able to write to me, and if thou lives where thou did formerly, or with Brother orCoufin, which will be very acceptable to me. ' Thus, withunfpeakabieLove from Self, and Wife, to thee my dear and aged Father, and all Relations, and Friends, I remain thy loving and dutiful Son,
THOMAS CHALKLET. i
"The End of the Second PART.
'3
r"
JOURNAL
OF THE
Life, Labours, Travels, &c.
o F THOMAS CHJLKLET.
" PART III
IN this Year 1724 I met with various Trials, Afflidtions, and Tribulations •, and had not the ^^J^ fecret Hand of the Lord, which 1 felt under- neath, bore up my Spirit from finking fl think) I could never have waded thro* them.
I was now removed (as already relatedj into the Country for Retirement, which I greatly loved and delighted in ; but as foon as I was a little fettled there, the Enemy of all Good endeavoured to difquiec my Repofe, by ftirring up fome bad People againft me, who lived near, and in Time paft had fawn'd upon me : And, to add to my Afflidtions, I loft a Veflel, in which, I fuppofe, I had upwards of Five Hundred Pounds i and another Veflel came in almoft a Wreck,
K in
136 t;^^ JOURNAL of
1724. in which I fuffered in my Intereft feveral Hundreds t./Sf'^S^ more, and a third I heard of, in which I had the hke Lofs •, and about the fame Time I had alfo a good new Barn burnt to the Ground in a few Minutes, fo that I was exceedingly ftripp'd that Way : And to add yet more to my Exercife, I was forely afflifted with Sick- nefs, having a Swelling in my Jaws, Mouth, and Throat, to that Degree that I could neither fpeak nor fwallow for Tome Time, nor eat nor deep for about leven Days (as I remember) without great Difficulty. What the Diftemper was, we could not be certain. Some fuppos'c] it to be the Quinfey, others an Impoft- hume i alfo my little and only Daughter at the fame Time was likely to die ; and as for my own Part, I was very willing to go, if it fo pleafed God •, for I faw thro' the Deceit of the World, and that the Friend- fliip of it was not permanent; and in my fore Afflic- tions in Body, Mind, and Intereft, it fared with me as with "Joh^ for divers of my pretended Friends added to my Afflidions by undue Refledions ; whom I pray the Lord to forgive for his Son's Sake ! At thefe Times the Remembrance of that Saying of Chrift, 'That the very Hairs of 'jour Head are numbred, Matth. X. 30. at Times fupported me in Hopes, that all would work together for Good.
When I got a little well, fo that I could go to VhtLiid Meetings, I went to Gertnan-town, Abingtoriy Pbila- '■'"'' [tclpf::a^ and Darby. My firft going abroad was to Philadelphia^ where, on a firft Day, we had a large Meeting, an.d divers Things were opened in my Mind. 1 told them they had Mojes and the Prophets^ and Jesus Christ, who was arilen from the Dead; for neither Death, Hell, nor the Grave, could detain the Lord of Life and Glory. And I was opened to de- clare to them, that they had a great Advantage of the Coming of Chrift, not only in his Appearance at Jerufalem^ but as he came to, and fpoke to the Heart, by his inward and Ipiricual Appearance j and that this
Gofpel-
THOMAS CHALKLET. i.y
Gofpel-Difpenfation was by his Coming, made more 1724. conrpicuous, bright, and glorious, than that which ^••y^ went before. Friends were very glad to fee me abroad again Cthcy having expeded daily to hear I was dead) and there was Tendernefs over the Meeting, and God overall, thro' his dear Son our Lord Jefus Chrift, was praifed and glorified, who is worthy for ever.
In this Year two fober young Women, Elizabeth Levis and Jane Fenn^ were concerned to vifit Friends in the Ifland oi Barhadoes^ and they meeting with fome Difcouragement, in Chriflian Love I wrote them the following Letter, to encourage them in the Work of Chrift.
Frankfort, iJiofiheiithMonthi'ji/^,
My dear Friends^ Elizabeth Levis and Tane Fenn, « 1 "l-NDfiRSTANDING by our Friend Grace
* Ij. L/o)»<^, that you have propofcd your Intentiori
* o\ vifiting thofe few Friends in the Illand of Barba-
* does^ and that you meet with fome Difcouragemenc
* inwardly and outwardly, therefore it is in my Mifid
* to comfort and flrengthen you in fo great and good ' an Undertaking ana honourable Work, as is that
* of the Caufe of Chrifl, who, for our Sakes crofTed ' himfelf abundantly beyond ExprefFion, more than
* ispolTiWefor us to do for his Sake, or the Sake of ' his People, whom we may fo entirely love, as to
* lay down our Lives for his and their Sakes. But ' what is our. Lives, to the Life of the only-begotten
* Son of God ? And truly, we mufl give them up ' often, if we have the Caufe of Souls at Heart ; and
* then he often gives them to us again, Glory to his ' holy Name for ever ! As Chrift laid. He that will ' jave his Life, (hall lofe it^ and he that will lay down ' his Life for my Sake and the Gofpel, Jhall find it -»
* which reacheth your Cafe in this Undertaking.
K 2 And
138 'Tbe ]OURl^ AL of
1724. ' And indeed, fomeof our Lives, in our own Senfe, ^^/•-V^v^ * is hardly worth mentioning, confidering the Caufe < of Chriit.
' And, dear Children of our heavenly Father, I nmy, ^ thro' fomegood Experience, truly inform you, that
* there is much Opennefs in many People on that
* IQand, and good Encouragement I have had, from «■ above, in my Vifiring the People there ; tho% ' true it is, the Inhabitants, too generally, are Lux- *- urious, and much given to Vanity : Yet I have this ' Seal in my Heart, that the Lord hath a Seed in
* that Place who defires to ferve him, and that Seed ' will furely join with you in your Exercife, and you «" will be comforted one in another, and in the Lord. ' And that there are Differences among them, isalfo "■ true -, but they have the more Need of being vifit- •^ ed by fuch, who are, thro' their wife Condu6t and « healing Difpofition, likely to heal thofe Breaches '^ which are, or may be among them. Some, indeed, ^ have gone among them and have done Hurt, by a ' rafh and turbulent V/ay of Management, and by fo ^ doing, have rather made the Breaches wider, than
* by a meek and loving, as well as lowly Difpofition,
* lelTened their Differences, and healed them.
' i\nd, tender Friends, tho' it may feemhard for ^ you in fcveral Confiderations, to give up to go to ' Sea, and alfo to divers who love you, and are nearly ' related to you -, know ye, and fuch fo concerned, <-' « I'hat the Lord is ftronger than ths Noifeofmaifj Wo-
^ tersy and than the mighty Waves of the Sea, And I « really believe that you, as well as my Soul ('with ' the Servants of Chriftj have, and will experience it * to be fo, as David did, whofe Words they are.
« I remember the Words of our great Lord and « Mafter Jefus, when he fent forth his Servants to ' preach his Word and Gofpel ; I fend you forth as ' Lambs among J'Volves. No queftion but you, like ' innocent Lambb, before your Return Cif it pleafe
God
THOMAS CHALKLEr, 139
^ God to give you to us again) may meet with the 1724.
* Wolves Spirit, or the Spirit of the Beafl, in feme
* or others among whom you may travel ; then will
* the Counfel of Chrift, added to his Commifllon, be
* good for you to keep clofe to ; Beye wife as Serpents^
* but innocent or harmhfs as Doves. * And, dear Maidens, I Jook upon it as your Crofs
^ is great, you being two innocent, chafte young
* Women, to give up your Names to crofs the Sea, ' which I know is a great Crofs to a chafte Woman, ' or Man either, the Seamen, too generally, being ' rude, difiblute People ; fo your Crown will be ' great alfo. I have known that by keeping near to f Chrift, and his Truth and Power, there hath been ' a wonderful Reformation divers Times in feveral ' of thofe rude Seamen ; and fome have been fo far ' convinced, as to be exceedingly kind, andtofpeak " well of Friends and their Converfition, when it has ' been coupled with the Fear and Wifdom of God.
When I have gone to Sea, I always found a religi- ous and chriftian Concern upon me, for the poor Sailors, the good Effe6ts of which, have been much more than I may fpeak of; but give this little Hint for your Encouragement and Information. 'Well, dear Souls, if you go, I believe the Lord will go with you ; and fure I am, that my, Spirit will go along with you, which will not hurt you, if it do you no good. And altho' my Exerciles and Tribulations of late have been very great, both fpi- ritual and natural, yet my very Heart within me affefts the Caufe of Chrift, according to the beft of my Underftanding ; and I heartily wifli well to all my Fellow- Labourers, whoarefaithful, painful Ser- vants of Chrift, and difinterefted, except as to the Intereft which they defire in Chrift and his Kingdom, for the Sake of which, they love not their Lives unto Death. ^ Z
* I
HO r^^ J O U R N A L 0/
1 724. * I mud now take Leave, after putting you in nrind t,.yy\) ' of remembring me, your poor Friend and Brother, ' when before the Til rone you arefupplicatingtheFa- ' ther of Mercies in fecret, even as my Heart is ten- « derly bowed and broken into Tears on your Behalf ^ at this Time. The Lord be with you, and fan<5lify
* the prefent Exercife and Concern that is upon you,
* and you to himfelf, with all the faithful Lovers and
* Followers of the Lamb, ibro* bis Word^ whofe Word < u Truth. I am your Friend and Brother, in the « Fellowfhip of the Gofpel of Chrift Jefus our great
* Lord and good Matter •, and blefled are all thofe,
* who by their fearing to offend him, manifefl him ro ' be their Mafter, and by their honouring him, ma- « nifeft him to be their Lord.'
T. C.
Cheffer I" ^^ Twelfth Month I wenttotheQuarterly-meet-
county. ing of Friends, held at Providence^ for Chefier County, for Difcipline and Worjhip; which Meeting was large, and a Concern came upon Friends at that Meeting to fupprefs Excefs in Eating and Drinking, and great Entertainments at Marriages and Funerals, and fpending Time idly in tippling Houfes ; as alfo in feveral other Things for the well-ordering our So- ciety, in which appeared great Love and Unanimity. > The People were reminded of God's Love to them in this Land, and many Favours were recounted to them, which he had favoured the Inhabitants of the Land v^rith, which v/ere very fingular, and that iie expefted they fhould bring forth Fruits chat might be anfwera- ble to the Labours of Love, which the Lord Jhad be- ftowed upon them.
About this Time I had it in my Mind to write to one who was confcientioufly concerned to preach the Gofpel of Chrift, but was under great Exercife on that Occafion.
Frankfort,
^HOMAB CHALKLET, 141
1724; Franhforty 2^th of the iitb Month 1724, •v^'V^-'
My Friend^
SINCE I lad Tiw thee and converfcd with thee, thou haft often been in my Mind, and thy Ex- ercile has come before me; and not having an Op- portunity to converfe with thee perfonally, I take this Way of communicating my Mind, hoping in Chrifl thou wilt reap fome Satisfailion and Advan- - tage thereby. I think I know thou art concerned for Chrifl's Caufe, asalfo was that eminent Minifter Apollos, Yet was inftru^ed more perfe^ly by good Aquila and PrifciJh. The Subjed on which I have it in my Mind to write to thee, is the Miniftry of theGofpel of Chrift Jefus, which 1 believe to be very different from that which it is generally taken for, in moft Parts of the World, by many profefTmg Chriftianity. Firfi, Thegreatefb Part of Chriften- dom, fo called, calls and eledls their Minifters themfelves, and will not call them unlefs they have School-learning, altho' Chrifl called and chofe un- learned Men, as to that Sort of Learning, and the Apoftles were called, K!ot according to the Will of Man^ hut hy the Revelation of Chrift Jefus. And Chrift thanked his Father that He had revealed the Myft£ries of his Kingdom to Babes and Sucklings. And the wife Jews (the Scribes and Pharijees) admired at the Apoftles, who fo wonderfully preached Chrift, and were fo v/onderfully carried forth in their Mi- niftry, and yet few of them were Men of Learning; fo that the Call, Eledion, and Wages ot Chrifts Minifters, isfpiritual, and not carnal, and therefore their Miniftry is with divine Life and Power, by which they are qualify'd for this Service without either Study or Premeditation: Tho' it is not deni- ed, that Chrift may fhew a Minifter before- hand, what he ftiall, or is to fpeak, at fuch a Time or K 4 ' Place,
142 ne JOVR-^ AL of
1724. * Place, as he may fee meet; but that fludying or writing Sermons, and afterwards preaching, or ra- ther reading them to the People, was, or is, the Practice of the true Miniilers ot Jefus, our great Lord and Mailer, is deny'd ; of which, I do be- lieve, thou haft a real Senfe. ^ I fhall impart to thee fomething of my own Ex- perience for thy Edification in this great Work, viz. As in the Work of Converfion, or Regeneration, there is a Growth and Increafe from the State of a Child to that ot a Man in Chrilt, fo in the Work of the Miniftry, or preaching the Gofpel, there is alfo a Growth from a Babe to an able Minifler, in all which the Power and Grace of the holy Spirit muft be our Guide, our Help, and Support, keeping clofe to which, we Ihall encreafe in divine Wifdom and found Judgment, and our Hearts and Under- flandingswillbe more and more opened and -nlarged. The Apoftle Paul hid, When I was a Child^ I /pake as a Ch'ild^ underjiood as a Child, and thought as a Child', and yet he was an excellent Child of God, and Minifter of Chrift, and as he grew in his Gift, and Chrift*s Grace, he became a v/onderful, fervice-
• able Inftrumentin the Hand of God. Now a Child's State in the Miniftry is too much overlooked by
'• many, feme thinking to be Men, as foon as they
• are brought forth into the Miniftry ; and, according
• tomy Obfervation, divers have been at a Lofs, and
■ fome quite loft, for Want of a patient Continuing
• in Well-doing, and not waiting to feel a Growth '- and Increafe from above, have gone on in their
• own Strength and Will, perhaps againft the Advice
■ and InftruClion of a found and honeft Aquila and
• Prifcilla^ and have been hurt ; and fome, who had
• received a Gift, have had that fame Gift taken from ' them, even by the Lord, who gave it them.
' As I take it, a true Minifter of Chrift, is to take no ThoiJght what to fay, but it will be given him in
'the
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 14:
€ the fame Hour that which he fhould fpeak to the 172
T*
People (that is, in a general WayJ and if it is not given from above, I believe he or Ihe ought to be filent ; for they receive freely, if they do receive any Thing from Chrift, and fo they ought freely to ad- miniffer ; and where little is given, little is required, all which is plain from Ch rift's own Words in the New Teflament ; and Chrid's Crofs is to be taken up by his Minifters in their Preaching, as well as in their Converfation.
' It is a Practice which the holy Scriptures have not acquainted us with, that the Minifters of Chrift fhould take a Verfe, or a Line, out of the holy Scriptures, and write, or ftudy before-hand, , a Dif- courfe on it, and preach it, or rather read it, to the People. The holy Men of Old (as we read both in the Old and New Teftament) fpoke as they were moved by the holy Ghoft, and by it they were gifted for the convincing, converting, and reform- ing the World, and for comforting and edifying of the Saints, quite contrary to the latter Praftice of modern-reading Divines, who difpute, write, and preach, againfl the immediate and divine Revelation of the Spirit of Chrift, and therefore cannot be of his Minifters, but mufl be the Minifters of y^nti- chrifij and Minifters of the Letter, and not of the Spirit of Chrift, or of his Gofpel. And where the Apoltiefays, When I was a Child^ Ifpoks as a Childy I take him to point at the being brought forth newly into the Work of the Miniftry, as well as the Work of Converfion, and that he ufeth thofe ExprefTions by Way of Comparifon, and therefore I compare it thus: A Child when it firft begins or ventures to fpeak, he fpeaks but a few Words, and thofe ftammering fometimes, and its Judgment is weak, and muft be put upon fpeaking by his Fa- ther over and over, if he be a backward Child, otherwife if he be forward, and fpeaks too much,
W^^'s'^^rf
144 r^ J O U R N A L 0/
1724. ' he iscurbM by a wife Father: And thus, according w^'^"^ * to my Obfervation, it hath pleafed our heavenly
* Father to Inftrud his Children in the Miniftry, and ' as a Child in Chrilt, I would fpeak a little of my ' Experience unto the Child, or Children of God. ' When I firft felt a Necefiity on me to preach the
< Gofpel, I had but a few Sentences to deliver, in
* great Fear and Tendernefs, with fome Trembling,
* with which my Brethren were generally fatisfied
* and edified; and after fome Time I felt a Concern to
* preach the Gofpel in other Countries, and to other ' Nations fthan that in which I was born) which to me ' was a very great Crofs -, but feeling the Woe of the ' Lord to follow me in not giving up to it, I in fome *• Time took that Crofs up, for Chrift's Sake and the
* Gofpel's : And in taking it up, I experienc'd the ' Truth of the Apoflle*s Dodtrine, Thai the Gofpel of *• Chr'ifl is thi Power of God unto Salvation^ to ever-^
* one that helieveth^ Rom. i. 16. Thus thro' a con- ' tinual Labour and fpiritual Travel, I witnefTed a « Growth in Experience, and an Enlargement in
* ExprefTions and heavenly Dodlrine ; and my Heart ' was mightily enlarged to run the Ways of God's ' Commandments, and divers were convinced, and ' fome, I hope, thoroughly converted, and many ' comforted, and God, thro' the Miniftry of his dear
< Son, glorified, who is thereof only worthy for ever.
' In all which I t^ve nothing to boaft of nor glory ' in, faving in the Crofs of Chrift ; for what is Pauh ' or Apollos, or Cephas^ but Inftruments? (\ would ' not be underftood to compare with thofe Apoflles, ^ but to endeavour to follow them as they followed
* Chrifl.) Chrid is All in all: He is the great Teach- *■ erot Teachers, and the highell Schoolmafter of all: ' And he fliys. He that will be my Difciple^ mujl firji ' deny himfelf^ and take up his Crofs, and follow me.
' We do not find any where in the New-Teftament, ^ that Chrifl's Minifters or MelTengers were only to
« fpeak
rnOMAS CHALKLET, 145
* fpeak or preach to one Meeting of People, or that 1724-
* they were called or hir. d by Men ; for then it would WNJ
* have heen necelTary Man fhould pay them ; but
* Chiift fays. Freely you have received^ freely give -, ' and go forth^ &c. Matth. xxviii, 19, 20.
* And, my Friend, I find to this Day, that it is fafe
* for me when T am miniftring to the People ; when .^ the Spring ot divine Life and Power (from which
* found Truths and edifying Matter fprings and flows ' into th^ Heart or Underftanding) abates or flops, ^ to ftop with it, and fit down, and not to arife, or
* fpeak publickly to the People, without fomefpiri-
* tuai Impulfe or Moving, and Openings.
' I would h?ive this taken no otherwife, but as one
* Friend and Brother opening their States and Con-
* dition to another for Edification, and theftrength-
* ning each other in Chrill. And as I fear left I
* fhould exct-ed the Bonds of a Letter, therefore ^ Ihall conclude thy real Friend in Jefus Chrift,
r. C. '
The 25th of the Twelfth Month I was at the Buri- al of the Wife of Randal Spikeman. It being our Fifth-day-meeeting, divers fober People were there not of our Perfuafion, and I was drawn forth to fpeak ,^0 the People of the Death of Chrift and his Merits, and to fhew them that there is no Merit in the Works of Man, as he is Man, or in a formal Righteoufnefs or Holinefs;
In our Yearly Meeting at Burlington it was agreed, that the Families of Friends ftiould be vifitcd, and foon after our Monthly-meeting appointed me, with other Friends, to vifit the Families ot Friends of our Meeting ; in which Vifitation, many were comforted and ediiy'd, both Youth and Aged ; and wc could truly fay, that the Power and Grace of God, and the Iweet Love of Chrift accompanied us from Houfe to
Houfe,
146 t:^^ J O U R N A L ^y
1724; Houfe, to our mutual Comfort *, and we were fo ex- tyysj traordinarily opened and guided to fpeak to the States of the People in their Families (that were unknown and Strangers to usj that fometimesfomeof them were rea- dy to think that we fpoke by Information, when in Truth we were clear of any fuch Thing, and only fpoke from what was immediately given to us, with- out any Information from Man or Woman ; which to us was fometimes very wonderful, aud caus'd us to praife the great Name of the Lord.
In the Firft Month, the General-meeting at Phila- delphia was a folid, good Meeting, and ended in a Senfe of Grace and Truth, which comes by Jefus Chrill. Next Day, being our Week-day-meecing, our dear Friends, Elizabeth Levis^ and Jane Fenny took Leave of us, they intending for the Ifland of Barbadoes ; and it was fuch a Parting Meeting that will not foon be forgotten by fome of us then prefent. Suriinpon, After this Meeting I went to Burlington, to vifit one that was fick, and under fome Trouble of Mind for going aftray, and greatly delired to come into the right Way, with whom I had a good, feafonable Meeting, to her Comfort, and my own Satisfadion. Upon this Vifit I would remark, that it is a great Pity, that Youth, when in Health and Strength, fhould put off the Work of their Salvation, and forget the inofl High, till either Sicknefs or Death overtake them. And then. Oh ! The bitter piercing Cries and Groans, and terrible Agonies the Soul is in, which, timely by Repentance, and Amendment of Life, , might be avoided.
I was afterwards at Meetings at Philadelphia, Miri- ^^7^5* o», German-town, &c. and had fome Service and Sa- '^'''''^^^'*^ tisfadion therein. And on the 2d of the Second
Month, the Friend whom I vifited as above, was bu- ried, and the Relations of the Deceafed fent for me to the Burial. The Perfon being well-beloved, there v^asa large Appearance of People of divers Perfbafion?,
and
"THOMAS CHJLKLBT. 14.7
and we had an Opportunity at this Funeral to exhort 1725. the People to live fo as that they might die well ; and \>S'**«'. that the Way to die in the Favour of God, was to live in his Fear -, and Charity to thofe who diflenc ' 1 from one another, waspreflingly recommended from the Apoftle's Words, that If we had Faith to remove Mountains^ and to give all our Goods to the Poor^ and our Bodies to be burned, yet if we wanted Charity, we were, hut like founding Brafs, and a tinkling Cymbal, i Cor. xiii. I, 2, 3. And alfo our Belief of the Do6trine ot the Refurredion of the Dead was aflerted, in ContradiAion to that grofs Calumny caft on our So- ciety of denying it.
The latter End of the Second Month, I was at a Marriage at Horfham (at which was prefent William Keith, our Governor) and I was concerned to fpeak ^^ ^"^'* of the End of that great Ordinance, and of the Hap- pinefs of thofe married Perfons who fulfil the Cove- nants they make in Marriage, and what Strength and Comfort the Man is to the Woman, and the Woman to the Man, when they keep their Covenants, and that they are the contrary when they break them: And I alfo opened the Methods prefcribed by our Difcipline, to be obferved in Marriages, and bur Care to prevent any clandefline Marriages amongft us. After this Meeting I return'd Home withoui going to the Marriage Dinner, as I generally avoided fuch Entertainments as much as I could, having no Life in, or Liking to them, being fenfible that great Companies and Preparations at Weddings, were growing Inconveniencies among us, the which I was confcientioufly concerned to difcourage. And a few Days after my Return Home, at our Meeting at Frankfort^ I was concerned particularly to exhorc Friends to keep to Plainnefs in Language, Drefs, &c. according to the Examples given us in the holy Scriptures, particularly that of Daniel and his Com- panions •, and to caution againll vain and indecent
FaOiioRs,
hs
1725.
SaUiv,
Cohattjlf,
€esr^e*s Creek.
Nottin^-
Nifucafile,
Center', Kennetf
rk ]OVRN Ah of
Fa fhions,which,with Concern, I ha veobferv'd to prevail too much among fome who make ProfefTion with us.
In this Second Month I went to the Yearly-meeting of Friends at Salem, and by the Way had two Meet- ings at Woodberry-Creek. At Salem we had a large Meeting, and our gracious Lord was with us, to the bowing many Hearts before him, and many Teftimo- nies were given of the Goodnefs, Love, Mercy, and Grace of God, and his dear Son, our Lord JefusChrift. From Salem we travelled to Alloways-Creek and Cohan- fie^ and from thence to Elfinburgh^ and ferried over the River Delaware, with our Horfes, to George^s- Creek, and had Meetings at all thofe Places. At George\-Creek^ one, not a Friead, came to me after Meeting, and faid, He thanked me for my Advice and Counfel ; and feeni'd heartily affefted with the Doflrine of ChrilV. From George' ^-Creek we travelled to iVb;- tingham, and had a large Meeting on a Firft-Day, and another (very largej on the Second-Day, where were many People of divers Perfuafions. The Houfe could not contain us, fo that we met in an Orchard. A folid Meeting it was ! wherein the mighty Power of the Creator was declar'd of, as alfo the Divinity of Chrift, and his Manhood, and People were exhorted to be careful ot forming any perfonal Ideas of the Al- iTiighty ; for the holy Scriptures do plainly manifeft, that God is a wonderful, infinite, eternal Spirit, and therefore is to be worfhipped in Spirit and in Truth, and outward Reprefentations of the Lord Jehovah, borders too much on Idolatry. Pretty much was de- livered on that Head; and I was told after Meeting that divers Papijis were there, tho' I knew nothing ot , it. From Nottingham I went to Newcajlle, and had a Meeting there, and then vificed a fick Friend, with which he exprelTed niuch Satisfaction ; and then went on to the Center^ K.en7iet^ and Marlborough, and fo to the Monthly-meeting at New-Garden, where we had a large, open Meeting, wherein were Ihewn, that
thofe
^ THOMAS CHALKLET, 149
ihofe who meddled with our Difcipline, in the WiJ), 1725. Nature, Spirit, and Wifdom of Man only, could do SiOO^ but little Service, and that our Difcipline, asalfoour Worfliip and Miniftry, ought to be performed in the Wifdom and Power of God, thro* the Grace and, Spirit of Chrift.— — -From New-Garden we went to Birmingham, had a large Metting, and I was much drawn forth to the Youth, of whom many were there. From Birmingham we went to the Quarterly-meeting for Difcipline and Worfliip at Concord^ in Chejler- conari. County, which was larger than I had ever ken there before. In the Quarterly-meeting of Difcipline, Friends were exhorted to keep to the Crofs of Chrill, and to fpeak to Matters in the Fear of God, and to avoid and fhun as much as in them lay, Self-Will, Humour, Pride, and Paflion ; fhewing that the rough, crooked, unhewn, unpolifh'd Nature of Man, could never work the Righteoufnefs of God, and is contrary to the meek, Self-denying Life of Jefus. John Sal- keld, and Jacob Howell^ then fignified that they were going to vifit Friends in Long-Jjland and Rhode-ljland^ the Senfe of the Call, Labour, and Work of the Mi- niftry of the Gofpel, and of the Love of Chrift (in the Freenefs of \i) to Mankind, took fome good Hold on divers in that Meeting, and the great Name of God, and his dear Son, thro' the holy Spirit, was , f ' glorified. % ' : ;
From this Meeting I came Home (having been out: '- , on this Journey near three Weeks, at twenty Meet- ings, and travelled more than 200 MiKs^ and found my Wife and Children in Health, and we rejoiced to fee each other ; but my Rejoicing was in Fear, even almoft to Trembling, left I fhould be too much lifted up when Things were agreeable to me.
After my Return Home T went to feveral neigh- bouring Meetings, and on a Fifth-Day was at Pi?i/^- delphia ^t thQ Marriage of Richard Smiih and Eliza- ^htb Powell, The Meeting was large, i,r|d the Marriage
folemnly
150 r/je JO VRN AL of
1724. foiemnly celebrated, and the People were eaneftly
v-^Sr^*^ increaced to love Chrift above all, and to manifeft
that Love by keeping his Comman-dments, and that
not in Shew or Words only, but in the Heart and
Affedions.
About the latter End of the Third Month, I went to the Quarterly-meeting of Miniflers and Elders for Suriin.noH. ^h^ County of Burlington ; and from thence to Stony- Stony'' Brook ', whcre on the Firft-day, we had a large Meet- '^"'^ ' ing (in Jofeph Worthy's, Barn) which was crowded with ■'• People, and was a folid, good Meeting. From Stony Crof-juicks. Brook I went to Crofwicks, and v/as at their Youths Meeting, which was the largelL I had ever feen in that Place •, I told them they might fay as the Sons of the Prophets did, l^jat tbd Place was too Jlre^ght for them^ and advifed iliem to enlarge it. I was glad to fee fuch a large Appearance offober People, and fo great an Increafe of Youth (yci this Wildernefs of yy7;/mt\';J and exhorted them to live in the Fear of God, that his BlefTings might Itill be continued to them ; and an Exercife was on my Mind for the Welfare of the young People, to fhew them the Danger of Sin and Vanity, and of keeping ill Company, and fol- - lowing bad Counfel ; and that the young King Reho- loan {Solomo'ii!^ Son) loft the greateft Part of his Fa- ther's Kingdom, by following the Company and Counfel of vain, young Men ; and that many young Men in this Age had loil and fpent the Eftates their Feathers had left them by the like Condudl, and brought themfelves to Ruin, and their Families to Poverty and Want. Divers lively Teftimonies were delivered in this Meeting, and it ended with Adoration and Praife of Almighty God ; and tho* the Meeting held more than four Flours, the People did not feem willing to go away when it wasover j for indeedit was a folid, good Meeting. The Bufinefs of the Quarterly- meeting was carried on in Peace and Love ('that being the Mark the Dlfciples gf Jefus were to be
knowa
"THOMAS C HALM LET, 151
known by) and Friends were exhorted with a great 1725. deal of Tendernefs to keep^that Mark. v/>/-s
In this Journey I travelled about ninety Miles, and was at four Meetings, being from Home four Days, and was much fatisfied in my Journey •, but met with fome Exercifewhen I came Home, hearing of fome LofiTes and Damage to my Efface •, fo that I found after 1 had (diCC0v6^\n<y to my beft Endeavours^ done the Will of God, I had need of Patience, that I might receive the Promife. I was fenfibie of the MelTenger of Satan, the Thorn in the Flelh, which the Apoille fpeaks of.
About this Time a loving Friend of mine informed me, that one whom I very well knew in Barhadoes^ a Minifter of our Society, had gone into an open Sepa- ration, fo as to keep Meetings feparate from his Bre- thren, and contrary to their Advice : I was concerned in Love to write ^ few Lines to him, to remind him of the unhappy State and End of fuch, who, notwith- flanding the brotherly Love and kind Treatment of Friends, had feparated from us, and lofing the Senfe of Truth, which had made them ferviceabie in the Church, were a6ted by a rending, dividing Spirit, by which the Enemy of our Happinefs had lo far ob- tain'd his End, as to make fome Diiturbance for a Time •, but few, if any, of thefe Separaciils, have had further Power than to promote and miinrain their feparate Meetings during their own Lives ; fuch Meetings having, in every Inftance 1 have known (ex- cept one, and that lafted not long)dropc on the Deach of the Founders. And tho* we think it our Duty to teflify againft, and diiown all fuch i yet this Difown- ing is only until the Perfons oifending, from a real Senfe of, and Sorrow for their Faults, acknowledge and condemn the fame ; then the Arms of Chrift, and of his Church, are open to receive and embrace them - I therefore earneflfy befought him to confider the Danger of offending any who love and believe in
L Chrift
152 T/j^JQURNAL of
1725. Chrift (tho' never fo little in their own or other Mens v^V"-'-' Efteem) for we cannot have true Peace in departing from the pure Love of God, his Truth, and Peo- ple \ to which I added the following Sentences cue of the New-Teftamens»
1. By this fijall all Men kno-zu that ye arc m'j Difdples^ if ye have Love one to another, John xiii. 35. Don't lofe rhis Mark.
2. JFe kno-iv that ive have fajfed from Death unto Life, becaufe ive love the Brethren. He that loveth not his Brother., abideth in Death, 1 John iii. 14.
3. He thai loveth not, k?!Ozveth net God ; for God is Lcve, iv. 8.
4. He that d'xelleth in Love^ dwelleth in God, and Cod in him,' \6.
Aiir^^tH- About the latter End of the Fourth Month I was at
^h!a^^''^ a Meeting at Ahington, occafioned by a Burial ; and
Gfrman. in the Beginning of the Fifth Month, I was at a Mar-
ti/u;), riage in Philadelfijia -, and was foon after on the Firft
Day at two Meetings at German-to-ivHy where I went
to vifit a Friend who had not tor lome Months been at
Meeting, being in a difconfolate Condition •, I invited
her to Meeting, where the Love and Goodnefs of
Chrift to the poor in Spirit was largely manifefted,
and the Friend alter Meeting faid, fhewas better, and
aiterwards recovered, and kept to Meeting?^. I was
frequently at the Week-day Meetings at Philadelphia ;
tor I thought that Week not well fpent, in which I
could not get to Week-day Meetings, if I was in
Health.
In this Month I was at the Burial o'i George Calvert^ who was one of fober Life, and juft Converfation, and being well-beloved by hi? Neighbours, he left a good Report behind him. Soon after which I was mcrieu. at Merion Meeting, which was large and folid : The People were tenderly exhorted. That neither outward Favours, nor fpiritual BleiTings, might make them giow forgetful of God ; but that in the Stnfeof the
Increafe
Ni(hamz*
rnOMAS CHALKLET,
Increafe and Enjoyment thereof, they might be the mdre humble ; and forafmuch as the Chriftian Church in former Ages was corrupted by temporal Riches -^.rd Power, it was intimated, that as we had Favour fhewn us from the Government, ind Increafe of out- ward Things, v/e fiiould be very arcful nor. to abufe thofe Priviledges, by growing proud and wanton, or envious, and quarreifome ; bu.i To do jujlly^ love Mer- cy ^ and walk humhlj "doith God.
In this Month I was at Middlelown in Bucks County, at the Burial of my dear and intimate Friend John Rutlidge (who died very fuddenly) at wbicln Burial there were above rooo People : He was weli-beloved among his Neighbour?, and was a ferviceable Man where he lived : I admired to fee fuch a Number of People upon fo fhort Notice, he dying one Day in t!i( ny. Afternoon, and being buried the Day following : Di- vers Teftimonies were born concerning the wonderful Works and Ways of God. It was a folid bowing Time, wherein many Hearts were broken, and melted into Tendernefs. After Meeting a young Man came to me trembling, and begg'd that I would pray for him, for he had fpent too much of his Time in Vanity, and had ftrong Convidions on him lor it, and had been greatly aiie£ted and wrought upon that Day: I exhorted him to deny himfelf, and to take up his Crofs, and to follow Chrill, who hath laid, He -would in no wife cajl off thofe who catne to hi?n [in true P'aith.] He went from me very tender and loving, being bro- ken in his Spirit.
From thence I went to Gwynnedd (or North ^^^^/i?i) iVi?r/»- where on the firfl Day of :he \Nt':k wc had ,. very iraUf, large Meeting •, in the Morning of the Day, a Voice awoke me, wliich cry'd aloud, faying. Rewards AND Punishments for well and evil Doings
ARE sealed as AN ETERNAL DeCREE IN HeAVEN,
which confirmed me that Mankind were happy 0:*un- Jiappy in that World which is to ^ome, according to
L 2 their
J54 TX-f JOURNAL c/
1725. their Deeds in this Life; if their Deeds be good fas L/VX> Chrift faid) their Sentence will be. Come ye Blejfed ', if their Deeds be evil, Depart from me all ye that vjork Iniquity^ and go ye Curfed^ &c. And^ if thou do* fl welly fJjaU thou not he accepted ? And if thou do'fl not well, ' Sin lieth at the Door. And again, / have no Pleajure
in the Death of the Wicked^ hut that the Wicked turn from his Way^ and live. Thefe, with many more Texts ot the fame Nature, contained in the holy Scrip- tures, are contrary to the Doctrine of perfonal Elec-^ tion and Reprobation, as fome hold it. We had a Meeting alio in the Afternoon of the fame Day, which was fatisfa6lory to many ; our Hearts being filled with the Love of God, for which we thankfully praifed him. The next Day we had a Meeting of Minifters, in v;hich they were exhorted to wait for the Gift of the holy Ghoft, without which there can be no true Miniiter nor Minidry. I was concerned to put them in Mind to keep clofe to Chrift, their holy, fare Guide, and Bifhop, to be cautious of go- ing before, leaft they fhould mifs their Way, and of flaying too far behind, for fear we fhould lofe our Guide ; and to he careful to keep a Cofifcience void of Offence towards God^ and alfo towards Man \ that we might fay to the Pc^ople truly, Folloiv us^ as we fol- low Chrift ; that our Converfation might confirm and not contradict our Docftrine, for our Saviour fays, ^•y their Fruits ye fhall know them ; Men do not gather Crapes of Thorns, &c. and of fuch as fay and do not, he charged his followers not to be like them, Matth. xxiii. 3. The next Day v/e had another very large Meeting there, in which many Tilings were opened and declared, tending to eftablifli and build us up in our Faith in Chritl. After this Meeting, parting with my Friend John Cadwalladcr, who had accom- panied me, 1 cimt homeward, lodging that Nigbc at Alorrls Morris's (whofe Wife was very weakly) vvidi whom we had a tender Time.
The
THOMAS CHALKLET. 155
The 29th of the Fifth Month I was at the General 1725. Meeting at German town ^ which was a large and good v-x v-s^ Meeting -, going Home I went to fee Richard Buzb}\ ioZnr' who was not well ; he fliid the Company of his Friends revived him. Next D.iy I went to vilit Jane Breint- nall, who was feized with the Dead-Palfy on one Side, and the Lord was pleafed to comfort us to- gether, as (he exprefled, to our mutual Satisfaction.
O.T the 30th of the faid Month was our Quarterly- meeting of Minillers at Philadelphia^ where humble fhUaiei- Walking with God was recommended and pray'd for, Z'^"'*' and it was defired that Minifters might be exemplary therein, having Chrift for their Pattern.
On the ifb of the Sixth Month, I was at our Meet- ing at Frankfort^ which was a dull Meeting to me and divers others, a lively Exercife of Spirit being too much wanting among many, and clofe walking with God in Converfation : If we would really enjoy the Love and Prefence of Chrift in our religious Meetings, we ought to keep near to him in our daily Converfa- tion, which that v/e might d^o^ was humbly defired in Supplication and Prayer to God.
The young Man who came to me under great Con- cern of Mind after the Funeral ot John Riitlidge^ wrote to me, that he was followed with the judgments of God for his manifold TranfgreiBons, defirihgthat I would pray for him. In Anfwer to his Letter, I wrote him to the following EfYed: :
Frankfort, jth of the 6th Month 1725.
' npHINE from Burlington of the 26th of the c,tb
' Jl Month I received, by which I perceive the
* Hand of the Almighty hath been upon thee for thy
« Vanity and Folly ; and I defire that thou may be
' very careful to keep clofe to that Hand, and do noc
' go from under it, but mind the Light of Chrift'
' that hath difcovered God to be great and good, L 3 and
156 The JOVRlSiAL of
1725. * and his dear Son to betny S^iviour, and Sin and
WN.> * Satan to be evil, which Evil fif thou follows it)
' will certainly bring thee to Deftruflion and eternal
« Woe-, but if thou follows Chrill, and walks accord-
* ing to that Light by which he hath manifefled Sin
* to be exceeding finful, in his Time, as thou waits in « Pidence, he will hrin^ thee tljrough iiis righteous
* Judgments unto Victory.
Wait, O wait in Patience upon God, if it be all ' thy Days ! / will hear the Indignation of the Lord,
* becaufe I have finned againd him, faid the p-ophet ' Micah, Ag:''.in3 All the Days of my appointed Time ^ will I wait till Ply Change comesy Uy^ Job.
' Thou art voung in YearSj and young in Experi- « ence in the V/ork of Grace, wherefore advife with '■ folid, good Men, if thou nneets with inv/ard or out- ^ wardStraits and DifHculiies, for the Enemy will not « eafily let go his Hold which he hath had of thee ; « therefore v/alk circumfpeftly, and fhun evil Com-
* pany. As to praying in a Form of Words (^with- ' our the Spirit helps, in order to open them accord- '^ ing to thy State and Condition) that will not avail :
* A Sigh or a Groan, thro' the Help of the Spirit, is ' much more acceptable to God, than any Forms ' without it,
•• That in rhe Lord's Time thou may'fl: enjoy the ' Reward of Peace, is the Defire of thy Friend
r. c.
The young flan took this Counfel well, and kept to Meetings, a'~d ! chaved foberly for a Time, but afterwards ran ou:, kept bad Company, took to Drinking to Excefs, ran himfejfin Debt, and at length into -^ Goal, which hath been the unhappy Cafe of many unftable Youth*?, wro, PFhen they knew God, they glorified him not as God^ neither were tkmkful, but
becavis
THOMAS CHALKLEr 157
became vain in their Imaginations ^ and tkdr fcolijh 1725. Hearts became darkned.
In this Month I was at Bybury and Ahington Meet- ^.r^^^^■y. ings, in which we were favour d with the immediate Power and Prefence of Chrift, to our great Comtorc and Edification, the Vifitation of divine Love to the Youth having a good EtFe6t on fome of them, and the latter Meeting ended with Praife to the Al- mighty, after Supplications for all Men, from our King rn the Throne, to the meaneft of his Subje6ls.
In my Travels I met with aPerfon who queryM of me. How he fhould know which Society had moft of the holy Spirit, fince moft of the Profeffors of Chrift do believe in the holy Ghoft (or Spirit.)
To whom I made the following Aniwcr, viz. Let the Rule of Chrift determine this Queftion ; he fays. By their Fruits ye Jhall know them i Do Men gather Grapes of 'Thorns^ or JFiggs ofThiJiles ? Matt. vii. 16. The Fruits then of the Spirit of Chrift are Love, Faith, Hope, Patience, Humility, Temperance, Godlinefs, brotherly Kindnefs and Charity, with all Manner of Virtues. Therefore the Society of Chrif- tians, who brings forth moft of the Fruits of the holy Spirit, confequently have moft of Chrift*s Grace and Spirit. But fome objed and fay, We will not believe that any Society have the holy Ghoft now, or the im- mediate Revelation or Infpiration of the Spirit, unlefs they work Miracles. To which it is anfvvered, That right Reformation from Sin, and true Faich in Chrift, cannot be wrought without a Miracle, neither can we bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit without the mira- culous Power of Chrift.— ——Men by Nature bring forth the Works of Nature, and that which is con- trary to Nature is miraculous. Sin is natural, but divine Holinefs, or the Rightcoufnefs of Chrift, wrought in Man, is fpiritual, fupcrnaturai, and mira- culous. And as to natural Men (that are in a Seals of Nature) feeing outward Miracles, if they will not,
j-j 4 nop
A
158 . 7'he JOVR'N AL of
1725. nor do not believe what is written in the holy Scrip- tures of the Old and New Teftament, neither will they believe, altho* one were to rife from the Dead, Notwichtlanding Chriil wrought outward Miracles, and did the Works which none other could do ; the' he cured all Manner of Difeafes, and fed many Thou- fands with a few Loaves, and a few fmall Fillies (and what remained, when all had eaten, was more than there was at firft) tho' he raifcd the Dead, and him- felf arofe from the Dead, yet few, but very few, be- lieved in him, fo ps truly to follow him. His Birth, his Life, his Do6lrin?s, his Death, his RefurreCLion, are all miraculous; and fince all this was done in the Ferfon of Chrift, and at the firft Publication of his Religion to. Men, there is now no abfolute Ntcefiity of outv/ard Miracles, tho' his Power is the fame now as ever ; but he faid to his Difciples, He that believetb on mc^ the Work that I do^Jhall he do aljo^ and greater JVorh than tbrje Jhall he do, John xiv. 12. Upon which W. Dell fays, Ihis miifl be underflood in Relation to Sw •■, for Chriji bad no Sin in himfelj to overcome, but iJDe all have Jinned, and to overcome Sin is the greateft ofMiracles.— This will try the notional or nomi- nal Chriflian, who fays, IVe can never overcome Sin in
ibis World. — Where then is our Faith in the Son
of God, who for this Purpofe was manifcfted,' that he might deftroy the Works of the Devil, John iii. 8. Ilcb. ii. 14.
Therefore let not Chrifliiansbe flow of Heart to be- lieve in the glorious Goi'pei of Chriil -, and if we truly believe therein, and live 'n the Praftice of his Doc- trine, wefhall fee Miracles enough to facisfy us for ever.
The i6ih of the Sixth Month I was at the Vv^eekly- meecing at Frankfort, which, tho' a fmall Mte:ing» wasfweet, reviving, and comfortable, tofomeofus; fo that we had a lufficient Reward for leaving our Bu-
fmcfs (it biing the Time of our Hay Harveil) — -
Week-
v.kfiirt.
THOMAS CHALKLET. 159
Week-day- meetings are much negleded by many, 1725.
more is the Pity. The Apoftle's Advice is necef- w^"v^
fary for many in our Age, even of proteiled Chrif- tians, viz. Let us confider one another to provoke unto Love and Good-works, not for/akin^ the affemhling your- felves together, as the Manner of fome is, ■ Heb. x. 24, 25.
The 23d of the Sixth Montn, my Cart-wheel, being Iron bound, ran over me, and my Horle kick'd me on my Head ; the Wheel put my Shoulder out, and the HorCe wounded my Head, fo that the Scul! was bare, and my Leg was forely bruifed -, the fame Day Dr. Owen, and Dr. Graham, with the Help of two of our Neighbours, fet my Shoulder, and dreffed my Wounds ; and the Lord was fo merciful to me, that the next Day I was enabled to wriic^ this Memorandum of this wonderful Dehverance and fpeedy Cure, tor which, added to the many I ha%-c received from his gracious Hand, I have Occu- fion to be truly thankful: I was obliged to keep at home fome Time, and chought it long, becaufe I could not go to Meetings as ufual ; but many Friends came to fee me, which was a Comfort to me. One Day upvv'ards of thirty Psrfons came from fevera! Parts of the Country to fee how I did, and were glad I was like to recover. The Day before I was fo hurt (being the firfl of the WeekJ Iwasnt Meeting at Philadelphia^ and was concern'd to fpeakof the Uncer- tainty of Life, and the many Accidents v/e are inci- dent to in" thofe frail Bodies, and exhorted Friends to live fo, that they might have a Confcience ferene, and clear of Offence towards God and Man, and then they might expedl the Comforts of the holy Ghoft, which in fuch Seafons of Difficulty would be a great Help and Benefit to them, of which I had the fweet Expe- rience the next Day, under great Extremiuy of Pain ; and tho* the Pain of my Body was fuch that I could not for feveral Nishts take my natural Rell, yet T
hid
i6o Th JO V^^^l AL of
1725. had Comfort thro' the fweet Influence of the holy Sp'rh <^'\'^ which Chrill promi''id his Follow-rs, John xiv. 26. On the J 8 th o: the Seventh Month began ourYckrly- fhiiadei- "^^.^'^^"g at Philadsl^hia, which was large, andour jhia. Friends, John Wanlon and V/illiam Anthony^ from Rhode- Ijland^ and Abigail Bowles^ from Ireland^ had good Ser- vice therein. From this Meering an Addrefswas lent to King George ^or his royal Favour to us asa Society of People, in giving his Affent to a Lawmadein this Pro- vince tor prefcribing the Forms of Declaration, Af- firmation, &c. infttad of the Forms heretofore us'd; The Beginning ot the Eighth Month, being a lit- tle recovert^d from my Hurt, I had a Defire once more to lee my Friends on the Eaftern Shore of Maryland, -xt thsrirGene'al meeting at Choptank. The firH; Day I fet out, I travelled about thir-ty Miles, and at Night was very weary, being but weak in Body, and L was almoft re.uly to faint in my Mind about proceeding any further ; but next Day George Robinfon (at whofe Houfe I lodged) offering to accom- pany me, we travelled about forty Miles to SaJJafras River, and both of us, tho' much tired. Were com- forted in each others Company and Converfation. On the next Day we travelled near twenty Miles to puy^Mi. the General meeting in Cd:cil County in Maryland, v/here wc met with two Friends from Rhode-IJlandy and two from Penfyhania, wno were there on the like Occafion. The Meeting wa& large and quiet, many People being there not of our Society, and were very fober : The Meeting held feveral Days, ' wherein the Gofpel-Difpenfition was fet forth, and
The Love of God in Chrifl was exalted. From Cffcil we went to Chejler River, and had a Meeting there, at which the People were exhorted to come CO Chrift, the eternal Rock, and true Founda- tion, and to build their Religion on him, againft whom the Gates of Hell can never prevail i and they were fo much affeded, that they did not
feem
THOMAS CHALKLET, i6t
feem forward to leave the Hoiife after the Meeting 1725. was over. From Chefter River we went to 'I red-Haven, v^V^ to the General- meeting of Friends for Maryland, ■which was very large-, fome Friends from P^nfjlvania and Virginia being aifo there, and many People of other Societies: Mnny Teftimonies were born to |he Oper-.tion of Chrift by his Spirit in the Soul, and Friends wereearneftly defired to be diligent in reading the holy Scriptures, and to keep up the Prai5l:ice of oui* wholfome Difcipline; by the Neg!e<5l of which, .a Door would be opened to loofe living, and undue Liberties. From Tred-Haven we travelled into the Greal Forejl^ between the Bays of Chefapeak and Dela- ^^^'^^ ^^^ ware, and had a fuisladory Meeting ; as yet there rtit, * was no publick Meeting-houfe in this Place, where- fore I told the People of the Houfe, I was obliged to them tor the Ufe of it ; but they tenderly anfwer- ed, they were more obliged to me for my kind vifu- ijQg of them ; and truly we had a folid, good Meet- ing there : The People being generally Poor, they had but little Notice taken of them by the Money - loving Teachers, who preach for Hire. From the Forejl I went to Little-Creek^ in the Territories of i^.*«^f- "Penfylvania \ where was a General-meeting for the ^'^^ ' Counties of Newcajtle^ Kent, and Sujfex. The Meet- ing was large, and Friends parted in great Love and Tendernefs. And I went forward to Duck Creek, cnck, he where we had a Meeting ; divers Perfons of Note being there, and all were quiet, and, heard with At- tention. From Duck-Creek I went to George^s-Creck^ and had a Meeting j where a Man of a fober Converfa- lion, faid, That he never heard Things fo fpoken to be- fore ; but that he could witnejs to the Truth of all thai was faid. It was a good Meeting before the Conclu- fion j but I was very low and poor in my Spirit in the Beginning of it. From this Place we fct forward to Newcajlle^ where we had a Meeting ; it was the Time ^iwtafik. of the Sitting of the General AfTembly, and feveral
Members
i62 7Z^ J O U R N A L oj
1725. Members of the Houfe were at Meeting: The Go- v/^-^w' vernor ,^vvho has from our firft Acquaintance been very refpe^nfui co m;^ hearing that I was in Town, fent to defire me to tarry all Night in Newcafile ; but being engag'd to a Meeting over the Rivers Chrijline and Brajidywim, and it being near Night, I could not ftay, but went away that Evening, and fent my I^ove to him, ciefiring to be excufed. That (Night I lodged at John Rkhardfofi's^ and next Day went to George Rolinfon'^^ at Newark^ where we had a Meeting on the Firft-day, and on Second-day ano- ^arby.^""' ^^^^^ ^^ Providence •■> anc] vent from thence to Barb'j to vific our worthy a:;,': ! Friend 'Jhomas Lightfoot, who Jay very weak in Body, none cxpecling his Re- covery ; I called as I went from Home, and tnen he was very ill, and told me. He thought that Illnefs would conclude his Time in this PForld, but faid, that all was welU and likewife, that he had a great Concern upon his Mind for the Growth and Profperity of Truth in the Earthy and defired with Tendt^rnefs of Spirit, that I would give his dear Love to all Friends ; and he now faid, / never thought to fee thee more., hut am glad to fee thee. I ftay'd there all Night, and in the Morning we had a comfortable Heart-melting Time together, in which was revived the Remembrance of the many favourable Seafons of God's Love v^e had enjoy'd in our Travels in the Work of theMiniftry of the Gofpel of Chril!:, and we tenderly prayed, if v/e never met more in this World, we might meet in that which is to come, where we might never part more, but might for ever live to fing with all the Saints and holy Angels, Hallelujah to God and the Lamb. From Darby I went to Philadelphia Third- day Meeting, and from thence to my Houfe, where my dear Wife and Children with open Hearts and Arms received me, and I them with Joy i at which Time I had a gracious Reward of Peace for my La- bour of Love, which far exceeded Silver or Gold.
In
THOMAS CHALKLET, 163
In this Journey I travelled above three hundred 1725. Miles, had nineteen Meetings, and was from Home ^^/V^ above three Weeks, in which Time I recovered of my Lamenefs to Admiration i \o that I had with Sa- tisfaction to remember the Apoftle's Saying, that All Things work together for Good to them that love Cod, Rom. viii. 28.
After my Return Home, I was at iheGeneral-meet- ingat Frankfort ; and in tiie Beginning of the Ninth Month, I was at Meetings at Ahington^ German-town^ and divers Times at Philadelphia, particularly at the nuaid. Youths-meeting, wherein feveral Teftimonies were/"^'*'' born, and the Youth exhorted to Piety and Humility.
On the Fifth Day ofth's Month in the Morning, beingundera Confideration of the many fore Exerci- fes and Trials I had met with from my Childhood, I was much affe6ted ; but the following Portions of Scripture being brought to my Remembrance, afford- ed me fome Relief, viz. Whom the Lord loveth he cha-
fieneth And if ye he without Chafiifement^ y are
Bafiards.y and not Sons -—And in this World yejhall
have Trouble, hut in me Peace^— So that I patiently
bore my Afliiftion, and prais'd God under it.
In this Month I was at the Funeral of our worthy, Thomat antient Friend Thomas Lightfoot. He was buried at Burkdat'^ Darby, the Meeting was the largeft that I had ever Darby. feen at that Place. Our dear Friend was greatly be- loved for his Piety and Virtue, his (v/eet Difpofition, and lively Miniftry : The Lord was with him in his Lite and Death, and vvith us at his Burial.
After this Burial I was at one at ^Z'i;?^/^?^; the Meet- ing was large, and, on that Occafion, feveral Things fuicable to the States of the People were treated on,
I was alfo about this Time at German-town, and at cermm' a General-meeting at Plytnouth, to my great Satisfac- '<'*""■ tion, being accompanied by my ancient Friend Row- land Ellis J and at the Third-day Meeting in Phila- May at the Time of our Fall-Fair •, there where
fervenc
164
I7je ]0 URN AL of
lyiS.
IVooi- tridgc-
TluP)in£,
Ccvu-neck, WfJihuTy,
TBethpage.
Srtavjkit-
fervent Defires, and Prayers, in feveral of us, That tly^ Youth might be prtferved from the Evils too prevalent at fuch Time': of Liberty and Prophnnenefs.
A'bout: the 20th of the Month I went for Long- IJIandy being drawn in true Love to make a general Vifit to Friends there ; and liktwife having lome Bu- finefs to tranfacl there. On the fifth Day of the Week, ^hot7ias Majlers and I fet out from Frankfort^ and in the Evening we got to a Friend's Houfe near the Falls o( Delaware ; where we were kindly entertained, and our Horfes taken good Care of: To take due Care ofTravellers Horfes, is a commendable Thing; and more grateful to fome Travellers, than to take Care of themfelves. From the Falls of Delaware, we travelled next Day to Pifcaitaway, and lodged at an Inn •, and on the next Day we went to Woodbridge to John Kinfey's, and on Firft-day we had a fatisfaaory Meeting there with Friends and others ; and the next Day John Kinfey went with us to Long-IJland^ and that Night got to John Rodman^s^ and next Day we refted, being v/eary with travelling fo far in the Cold. Our dear Friends in that Ifland very lovingly, and kindly, received my Vifu to them; io that I had Occalion to remember that Saying of the holy Scrip- ture, As Iron Jharpeneth Iron^ fo doth the Countenance of a Man his Friend!
The fifth Day of the Week we had a large Meet- ing at Fltfjhing.^ and another in the Evening at Obadi- ah Lazvrence*s, which was an open, tender Time. From Flufhing we went to Cow-Neck, to Jofeph La- thamh, who went with me to IVeJlhury Meeting, which (confidering the Cold) was much larger than I expecfled. From Weflbury^ Nathaniel Si?nmons, Samuel Underhill^ and Phebe Willet^ went with us to Beth' -page \ where we had a comfortable Evening-meeting at the WqvXqo^ Thomas Powell, who went with us next Morning tp a Town called Setawket ; it was as cold a Day's Travel as ever I went thro' in all my Life ; the
W^ind
>
"THOMAS CHALKLET. j6s
Wind was in our Faces, and Northerly 5 I do not 1725. remember {though T had been a Traveller above tv^/^Nt* thirty Years) that ever I endured fo much Hardnefs by Cold in one Day ; my Chin and Jaws were much af- fected with the Froft for feveral Days j but we had a good Meeting that made up for all. After which we went ten Miles to u^mos JVillet\ Houfe, where we hadt a ferviceable Meeting : He invited his Neighbours^ who came and received us with Hearts full of Good- will ; and thofe not of our Society, were well fatisfied with the Meeting ; fo that we v/ent on our Way re- joicing, that we were favoured with the good Prefenre of God in our Journey. Amos Wiilet and his Wife went with us to Huntington^ where we had a qui^r, ff»nm^t9»i peaceable Meeting, and the Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift was with and among us, as many can wi.nrfs that were there. From hence we went to Samuel Un- derhiWs^ and vifited his weak Brother -, in which Vific the Lord mightily refrefhed us together, and we blef- fed his holy Name, for he is good to all than who puj their Trujl in him. Next Day we had a larger Meet- ing at Matinicock. Afcer this Meetinp: we went to ^^''f'"^*'
_-a t_? COCK.-
Thomas PearfaWs, and had an Evening-meeting at his Houfe. The next Day, being a fnowy, fcormy Day, and one of the Ihortcft in the Year, we wenc^ being 1 8 in Company, to Cow-Neck^ wliere we had a good Covj-v.rck. Meeting, and much larger than could be expided. After Meeting we went to Jofeph halham^^ and had a tender, open Evening- meeting there, in vrhich v/c were edified, and refrelhed, in Chrift jefus. From Cow-Neck I went to Flu/hing^ had a 1 rge Meeting piufiin^. there on the Firft Day of the Week, and on Second- day we went over the Sound fwhich divides Lor:g- IJland from the main Continent) to Horfe-Necky and jj,„^,^ ■ had a Meeting, where I underftood there never had i^n^k-^ been one before ; the People were fober and attentive, and fome exprelfed their Satisfaft ion. That Evening we had a Meeting at an Inn near Byrain River, where coxaeftii
divers '"'*^
i66 TZ'^ JOURNAL c/
1725. divers People came, and were attentive; the Inn- "-/V^^ keeper, his Father, Brother, "Wife, and feveral others, took our Vifit very kindly -, tho* there was one reftlels Man, who feem'd to be out of Order with Drink before he came into the Houfe, and when we were fitting in Silence, waiting for the Gift of Chrifl:, and worfhipping in Spirit, as Chrift inftituted, he fittingby me, jogged me, and faid, ItwasTifne to hegin^ for there is as man'j corns as would come to Night -, tho' he was miftaken in that; but he not having Patience to watch and pray, went away ; after which we had
a good Meeting Thefe two Meetings were in
the Government of Conncuficutt^ where they formerly m7.de a L-aw impofing a Fine of five Pounds on thofe who fhould entertain any of our Society, which Law, I was informed, was repealed in Great-Britain, From thence v^e travelled into New-Tork Government, and ^y'- . , had a Meeting at Rxe^ and another at Marrineck ; from whence we travelled to JVejl-Chefter^ and had a Meeuing there on a Sixth-day of the Week, intending to go over the Ferry next Day to Long-IJland ; but the Wind being high and boifterous, that we could not get over, v.e tarried three Nights at the Houfe of John ^tcverifon^ where we were lovingly and gene- roullv entertained : And on Firft-day we were asain Chefter. ^^ W cfi^-Chfjler Meeting, which ended comfortably, tho' I v/as in a low State, both of Body and Mind, in the Beginning of ir. On Second -day we all got well over the Fe-.rry ro Lo7ig-]JIand, parting with our Friends at the Ferry in much Love and Good-will. Jofeph Latham having been my Feilow-Traveller ors „r n, the Main. I v/ont to his Houfe, and from thence to kc. JV.''Jlbur\\ to a large Meeting, and next to Bethpage,
and had a Meeting there, and in the Evening, accom- panied by Samuel Bozvne and Jcfeph Latham,, I went to Jtriifalem,y and had a large and fatisfad:ory Meet- ing: Many oi the People of the Town, who were Smffleai. thcfej Came the next Day to our Meeting at Hempjlead,,
which
THOMAS CHALKLET. 167
v/hich was large -, the great Lord of all was good to 1725. us that Day, which, I hope, many that were there, o/'^'-n- will not forget ; and fome Convincement was wrought on fome that were of Account in the World at thefe Jaft-mentioned Meetings, particularly one who lived at Jerufalem, with Tendernefs of Spirit defired m^ Remembrance^ whom I pray God to preferve fwich all thole who love and fear him, and believe in his Son) to the End.
From Hempftead I went to Matinkock^ where, on ^^,/«; a Firfl: Day of the Week, we had a large Meeting, <•«*,' '' and a folid, good Opportunity it was ; and from thence to Thomas 'Townfend's on the Plains, at whofe Houfe we had an Evening-meeting ; next Morning a pretty many Friends from the Plains, went with us to the South Side of the IQand, to a Place called Rockwa'j, where we had a Meeting at Hicks's^ the p ^^ Neighbours coming to it pretty generally ; there was '"'^ *"^^* great Opennefs to recieve the Doftrine of Truth in thofe not of our Society, and they were very kind to us in thofe Parts : This was the fecond Meeting I had been at in this Place, Benjamin Holmes having the firfl: there, fince which they had not been vificed bv any Friend of the Miniftry except myfelf. Frorn Rockway we went to FoJIer^s Meadow, where was a j.^ large Gathering of People, and Chriil: filkd our Meldow. Hearts with divine Love. From thence I went to Peter 7itus\, and had a Meeting at his Houfe, to which cameche Neighbours, and were well afFe(5led ; and next Day we had a Meeting in the Meeting-houfe at Wejlbury^ which was very large, and to our Satis- ifv^j^^ . fadiion. From l\ ejlbury^ in the Evening, we v;ent to vifit a young Woman who had been in a defpairino- Condition for feveral Years. The Family came to- gether, and we put up our Prayers to the Almighty, in the Name of his dear Son ; it was a good Time to us all i and the young Woman, and fome others, ex- prelVd their Satisfa«5tion.
M This.
i68 ^2;^ J O U R N A L of
•i'jiS- This Evening we went to fee another young Wo- ?/V">J man who was in a deep Confumption, but in a very comfortable State of Mind ; having a great Defire to fee me before fhe died, (he fent for me to come to her, and her Defire was anfwered, her Spirit being revived with a frefh Vification of the Love of Jefus Chrift, the holy Phyfician ot Value, and our Supplications were, that the Lord would be pleafed to be with her, and fupport her to the End, and grant her an eafy Paflagc from this Life to his glorious Kingdom, when it fliould pleafe him to remove her, which Prayer we have Caufc to hope was anfwered.
Tho' the Days were fhort, we rode about fifteen Miles, and made thofe two Vifits, after that great Meeting at IVeftbury, and theSeafon was exceeding cold ', but our great and good Mailer fupported us, and was with us in our Exercifes and Service tor his Name and Truth's Sake. 1 lodged this Night at Jo- Fiu(bif^S' PP^ Rodman^s^ and was next Day at Flu/hing Week- day Meeting, which was very large and fatisfaftory, and had a Meeting the fame Evening at Samuel Bowne's, Ni-wYork, and the next Day, went to New-Tork^ and had a quiet, good Meeting in the Evening at Samuel Harrifon\ and on the Morrow had an Evening-meeting at a i^iiis. Place call'd the Killsy at the Houfe of Richard Hallet, and the next Day being Firft-day, had a large Meet- Ncwie-wn, jj^g 2^1 j^eivtown^ to the Edification of Friends and other fober People,
It being now generally known that I was on the Ifland, tlie People flock'd to Meetings, tho' the Wea- ther was extream cold, for the Lord manifefted him- felf in the Riches of his Love unto us in our Meetings, for the Worfhipof his holy Name. The next Meet- titcky mil. ing was at James Jackfoit's^ at Rocky-Hill, where was Ju ige Hicksy the High Sheriff, and a Juffice of Peace, with feveral other Perfons of Note, with whom and our Friends, we had a good Time to fet forth the V/orkofG race and Rtformation fas I think J to general
Satisfaction,
"Thomas chalklet. i6g
Satisfadtion, for which we bleffed the holy Name of 1725. God, and humble Prayer was put up co him for all s^\'**^ Men, and particularly for our King George^ as alfo for all in Authority under hira, and that they might be a Terror to Evil-doers, and the Praife of them that do well. The next Meeting we had was at Jamaica^ jmaicn, which was alfo large, and feveral in Authority were there, and were very loving and refpeflful after Meet- ing. The next Firil-day we had a large Meeting at the Meeting-houfe at Cow-Neck^ which was fomewhat cowNeck. crowded. I was right glad (tho* my Exercifes were very great j that there was fuch Opennefs and Room in Peoples Hearts to receive the Dodtrine which I had to declare unto them, in the Name and Power of Chrift; afterwards we had an Evening-meeting with the Wi- dow Titus^ to which divers Dutch People came, and were very attentive and fober. On the third of the Week we had a Meeting near the Place called Hell- Heiisatt, Gate (a narrow Paflage in the great Sound or Bay, between Long-ljland and the Main Land) feveral Juftices and their Wives were at this Meeting, one of which had difowned his Son, and turned him out of Doors for coming among us ; but beholding his Son's fober Converfation, grew more moderate, and after Meeting he and his Wife invited us to dine with them, but we were engaged to vifit the Widow Stevens that Evening, at whofe Houfe we had a Meeting. Going thither, it being very cold and ftormy, my Hands where touched with the Froft, and perceiving it when I came to the Fire, I called for a Bafon of cold Water, which foon cured them : I note this that others may reap Benefit thereby. Nex t Day we went to the Week- day-meeting at Newtown^ and on the Fifth day at Flujhing Meeting, which was large, and to Edification, Newto-vjm and in the Evening had a Meeting at our ancient '^'''^^"^' Friend Hugh Co^pperthwaif^s^ which was acceptable to him (as himfelf exprelTed when it was ended) and to us alfo. Next Day we had a very large Evening- meeting ' M 2 at
no ne } OVRN AL of
-i^. ztThrjnas Pearfall^Sy and 1 ike wife a large, good Meet- /"^^ mg the Day after fbeing Firll-day) at Malimcock, wherein the Kingdom ot Chrifl was exalted, and the deformed State of Sin and Iniquity reprefented, and the Example and Dodrine of Chrift clofely recom- mended, in order to the overcoming Sin, this being not only pofTible, but the Duty of Chriftians thro' the Power ot Chrift, and true Faith in his holy Name ; and the Danger of believing, that it is impofTible to overcome Sin, was opened to them, and tTiat fuch a Belief is contrary to, and againft Chrift and his Doc- trine, and darkens and blinds the Hearts of Men ; but the Love "of Chrift enlightens the Soul, and ftrengthens it to believe that all Things are pofllble with God, for this great Work cannot be done in the Will, Wit, and Power of Man, but thro' the Power -and Grace of Chrift, which he promifed to true 6e- jievers in him. I was faint after this Meeting, but refting a little I loon grew better, fo that we had an Evening-meeting at James Cock's, where one came and Told us, ive 7nvjl hot eat an'j Flejh^ and produced •Thomas Tryon's Wo. ks for his Proof i but 1 took the Bible, and fticwed hima Proof to the contrary, and told iiim, we were refolved to believe our Book before his, and fhewed him from the Apoltle, that the Kingdom ot God is not Meat and Drink, nor divers Walhings, hut Righteoufnels, Peace and Joy, in the holy Ghoft, R'jmarisKiv, ly. Tho' at the fame Time, according to ihe Do(ftrine of Chrift and his Apoftles, I was for Temperance in Meats and Drinks, as well as Mode- ration in Apparel. The next Day we had very a large
/*</r,.r;.(jr. ^vjeeting at Oyfter-Bay, many being there, who were not of our Sodiety, who ftcadily gave Attention to . V what was declared: Here being many young People, they were periuadedto give up their blooming Years to do the Will of God, and to remember him their Crea- tor, in their youthful Days: Friends faid there had not been fuch jl Meeting there a great while, for
which
mo MAS CIIALKLE K i;
which Opportunity I was humbly thankful to the Lordj i ; : After Meeting we went to Samuel UnderhiW*^, and had *s.^\ •an Evening-meeting with his Brother, who, through Sicknefs and Lamenefs, could not get out for a long Time. Next Day, Samuel Bowne being with me, we went to vifit a young Woman that was weak in Body, but lay in a comfortable Frame of Mind ; fhe was thankful for our Vifit, and faid the Vifics of her Friends were comfortable to her. Next Day, being the Fourth-day of the Week, we had a Meeting at the Widow 'Taylor*^^ who defired it on Account of her Father, who was in the 88th Year of his Age, and fo infirm, that he could not get to Meetings ; he was very clear in his Underftanding and Memory, and was much refrefhed with this Meeting, as were divers of us alfo. Next Day we had a Meeting at Flujlnng^ Fhp,:h which was large and open, and the Grace and Power of Chrift was with us in the Miniftration of the Gof- pel. After this Meeting, we had an Evening-meeting with our antient Friend Jofeph Tborney who by Rea- fon of his Age and Infirmity could not go abroad as far as to the Meeting : The Houfe was crowded with his Neighbours and Friends, and we had a folid, good Time together. While at Flujhing I went to vifit a young Woman who was a moft difmal Speclacie to behold, an Objed: of great Pity : Rer Face, Hand and Foot being much taten away by the King's Evil -, our Prayers were, that now in her great Mii'ery, ths Almighty would be pleated to fupport her Soul by his Grace and Spirit, and fandify her Afflivflions to her, that it might work for her a more exceeding Weight of Glory in that World which is to come. The next Firft-day we had a large Meeting at Flufo- ingy where many weighty Truths were opened to the Satisfaftion and Edification of tiie Auditory, and in the Evening we had a Meeting with the Wife of Mat- thew Farringtou, who was too weakly to go abroad i the Neighbours came in, and v/e had a feafonable
M 3 Opportunity
'D'
172 t;^^ JOURNAL 0/
1725. Opportunity. The next Third-day was the Youths- iyV\) mzttmg at Fiujhing^ in which we were concerned to ex- hort themtoObediencetoGod and their Parents, and to follow their Parents as they follow Chrift ; for where any leave Chrift, there we are to leave their Example, though they were our Fathers or Mothers ; and the right Honouring of our Parents was fet forth, and they exhorted not to defpife the Day of fmall Things ; and the happy State of the Obedient, and the unhappy State of the Difobedient, and many weighty Truths were delivered to them in that Meeting by feveral ex- perienced Friends. From Flujhing I went to the New Week-day Meeting at Newtown^ and in the Evening '*'*"'• we had a Meeting at the Widow Wafs -, the Neigh- bours coming in, we had a good Time with them : The Parable of the ten Virgins v/as tretted of, and the great Difadvantage of wanting the divine Oil of Grace in our VefTels, was (hewn to them.
The next Day, being the 5th of the Week, we had a very large, fatisfaclory Meeting at the Widow Alfup^s at the Kilhy and from thence with feveral Friends Nnv- went to New-Torki where we had three Meetings to '^"^' our Edification, the Weather ftill remaining extreamly cold, but we felt the Love of Chrift to warm our Hearts, and tho' i think I never felt it colder, 1 never had my Health better. Several Friends accompanied us to the Boat at New-Tork, the Water being open on thatSide,we took our Leave of each other, and put out for the other Shore i but before we got there we were blocked up in the Ice, and it was a confiderable Time before we could work our Way through, but at laft got well on Long-ljland^ where I waited fome Hours for Company, who through fome DifRculty got on Shore ; after which we went to the Narrows through a Storm of Wind and Snow, but the Wind being high we could not get over that Night, nor the next Day, the Ice having come down and filled the Bay : When the Tide had drove away the Ice, we put out and got
well
I'HOMAS CHALKLET, 173
well over, and lodged at the Ferry-Houfe on Staten- 1725: Ifland. Next Morning we went to the Ferry at thev-zS^"^. Blazing- Star, over againft Woodhridge^ but it was all fattened with Ice, and we not daring to venture over it, went to thePerry ^xAmhoy, and got comfortably over, Amioy. llay'd there that Night, and next Day went to Tren- Trmtoa. ton, and lodged at Capt. Gould^s, who treated me very kindly, I being much tired with Travelling. Next Morning I went over Delaware River on the Ice fas we had alfo the Day before at Rariton) and that Day, being the 5th of the Twelfth Month, I got fafe Home to my loving Spoufe and tender Children, where I Frankfort. found all well, and a hearty Reception, having tra- velled 600 Miles, and attended above 60 Meetings.
After having been at Home, and at our own Meet- ing at Frankfort, I went to the Quarterly-meeting at Philadelphia^ where Friends were glad to fee me.
On the next Fifth Day I was at the Marriage of Thomas Majiers and Hannah Dickinfon, where were many fobcr People, not of our Society.
Having been lately among Friends at Long-JJland^ and been comforted in the many Opportunities we had together,'it came into my Mind to vifit them with an Epiftle at their Quarterly- meeting at Flujhing, which was as followech.
Frankfort ^ \iih Month, 1725;
M^i dear and well beloved Friends^
ELIEVING it might be acceptable to you to An Epiflis
B
hear that I was got well to my Habitation in to Friend*
luch a difficult Time of the Year as I Tet out from j^J^ti!'' you in ; and alfo feeling the fweet Influence of the divine Love of the heavenly Father, and his dear Son our Lord Jefus Chrift, to arife and fpring in my Heart and flowing towards you : ' It came into my Mind to write a few Lines to the Quarterly-meeting of Friends at Flu/hing^ by way of M 4 ' Epiill^
le
5
174 rhe J OV Rl^ AL of
1725. ' Epiftle, well knowing alfo that many of us are lyVNJ « as Epiftles writ in one anothers Hearts by the hea-
* venly Finger of the moff High ; and thofe Charac- ' ters of divine Love fo written will noteafily be erafcd:
* I could willingly have been at your Quarterly-
* meeting, but that I had been fo long from my Fa- ' mily, that I was much wanted therein, and my
* coming Home was feafonable and acceptable, both ' to them and my Fr'.ends ; and I humbly thank the « Lord, I found all well. Now that which is on my ' Mind to your Quarterly- meeting, is after this Man-
* ner, concerning the Government of the Church of
* Chrift, of which Church He is the holy Head and
* Lawgiver: Wherefore we are to fcek and wait for ' Counfel and Wifdom from him, in al! our Monthly ' and Quarterly-meetings, for the well-ordering of
* our little Society, which is growing and increafing i ' in the Earth, and alfo in your Ifland fnotwithfland-
*• ing the invidious Attempts of fome Men of corrupt *• Mindsj and it will grow and increafe more and more,
* as we keep our Places, our heavenly Places in Chrift
* Jefus.
* Dear Friends, the good Order of Truth and Go-
* vernment of Chrift in his Church, is a great Help
* to us and our Children, when carried on in Chrift*s
* Spirit [pray obferve or mind that] for if our Order,
* and Church-Government, be carried on in the Spirit ' of Man (as he is meer Man) tho' he is never fo
* crafty, or cunning, it will do more Hurt than Good ^ in the Church of Chrift. Chrift's Spirit mufl go- ' vern Chrifl's Church ; and when, and where that ' is over all, then, and there, Chri{l*s Church and *■ Kingdom is exalted, ot whofe Kingdom and Peace ' there will be no End ; and happy will all thofe be,
* whofe End is in it. Mofes^ that Man of God, go- ' verned in the Jewijh Church in the Spirit of God, and ' when he found the Work too heavy for him, the ' Lord put his Spirit on Seventy more, who were
Help-
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 175
Help-meets in the Government i To that it was 1725. God's Spirit that governed ; and while that ruled o-^'*^^ them, all was well ; but when they went from that, they fell into Error and Dilbbedience ; and at length the Mejfiah came, and he governed his own little Flock himfelf ; and when he afcended up on high, he promifed his Spirit fliould be with, and in his Church for ever, and be their holy Guide into all Truth, in which he would alfo comfort them : And Chrift fulfilled this his Promife ; for when his Dif- ciples waited at Jerufakm to be endued v.'ith Power from on high, according to the Advice of their Lorrlj they were filled with the Gift and Grace of the holy Spirit : And when the Brethren and Elders rret together about the, Affairs and Government of the Church, they gave forth Rules and Orders from that General-meeting to the particular Ones •, and the holy Ghofl prefided amongfl them, which they fignified to the other Meetings, faying* // Jeemed good to the holy Ghofi^ and to iis^ to put you in Mind of fuch and fuch Things. And while this holy Ghoff, or Spirit, governed in the primitive Chriffian Church, all was well ; God and Chrifl was glorified* and his Church and People edified ; but by going from that, the Apoftacy came in. ' Wherefore, dear Friends^ keep clofe to the Spirit, Power, Light, and divine Life, of Chrift Jefus, in your Monthly and Quarterly-meetings for the Go- vernment of the Church, as well as in your Meetings for the Worfhip of the Almighty i for if we go from that, he will go from us. * And, dear Friends.^ the Teftimony of Jefus, m the Spirit of Prophecy, opens in me after this Man- ner, That if our Society keep and live up to the Spirit and Truth of Chriff, which hath been mani- fefted to our Fore-fathers, and to us alfo in this Age, the great Lord of all will profper his Work in our
' Hands,
176 r/je JO VRN AL oj
Hands, and blefs both us and our Children, as we and they keep therein.
' And as we have kept clofe to this our heavenly Guide, how hath the Lord fweetly manifefted his Love and Power to us in our Meetings for the well- ordering of our Society? Which many Times hath iilled our Hearts with pure Praifes, and holy Thankfgiving, to the high and lofty One, who in- habits Eternity, and dwells in the higheft Heavens, and is Light tor ever : To whom, with the Lamb of God, who takes away the Sins of the World, I re- commended you, my dear and well beloved Friends, Brethren, and Sifters in Chrift, with my own Soul.
r. c.
' P.'S. Since my Return, I have been thankful to God for the many favourable Vifitations and good Opportunities he was pleafed to grant me with you, and divers' lober People on your Ifland, in which there is an open Door among many to receive the Teftimony of Truth. I commend your Nobility in building good Houfes, and making Room for your fober Neighbours to fit with you in your Meetings; this is of good Report concerning you, both far and near, and, if I apprehend right, there is more Work of that Kind for you to do. I thought often, when among you, and now alfo. That there would . be a large Gathering, if there were a Houfe built at the Upper-end of the great Plains, not far from FoJier\ Meadow ; but every one may not think or fee alike ; tho* I know fome folid Friends among you, thought the fame with me, about the Profpeft of a large Gathering there-away, if a Houfe were built ; to which Friends, and well-inclined People, might come from Hempftead, Rocky billy Rockway, Fojler'i MeadiWy &cc,
7. C.
After
"THOMAS CHALKLET, 177
After my Service on Long IJland^ I had great 172-. Sweetnefs upon my Spirit for fome Time, which O^.'x; ibmetimes caufed my Heart to fing for Joy -, and yet I rejoiced in a trembling Frame of Spirit, and had the true Senfe of what is written in the holy Scriptures, ^where it is faid, Serve the Lord with Fear (I tul^e it. Filial Fear) and rejoice with Tremblings for fear of hfing that precious Senfe of the Love of God, which is in Chrijl.
On the 20th of the Twelfth Month (i\\t Firfl Day of the Week) I was at Abington Meeting, in which -^*'V^»' the Love of Chrifl was manifefted to us, in the Open- ing of his Saying, Jf I be lijted up, I will drazo all Men unto me^ John xii 32. The next Day I was at German-town, at the Burial of a Son o^ Dennis Cunrad, German at which alfo was our Friend Abigail Bowles. On the ^°'^"' Sixth-day following, I went to the General- meeting of Minifters and Elders at Burlington^ where I again met Burikiton. with our faid Friend and divers others : The Firfl-day Meeting was large ; and on Second-day v/as the Quarterly-meeting for the County i and on" Third- day was their Youths-meeting, which was large, and many weighty Truths were delivered in that Meeting. On Fourth- day we were at a Meeting at Springfield ; Sfrwif.tis., the Houfe was pretty much thronged, and Friends were exhorted, thankfully to commemorate the Mer- cies and Favours of the Almighty to them, and di^'i'u red to enlarge their Meeting-houfes as their Number increafed ; for in thofe Parts there was fuch an Open- nefs in the Hearts of the People, and Increafe of their Number, that Friends had already agreed on building two Meeting-houfes between Crofzvicks and Burlington ; their Zeal and Unanimity therein, was worthy of Commendation. Fifth-day being the Week-day Meeting at Burlington, Friends of the Town defired 1 would flay at it •, I thought we had juft before had divers good Opportunities, and my own Inclinations feemed to lead to my Family •, bur
Friends
178 r^(? J O U R N A L ^
1725. Friends being defirous of my flaying, I did fo, and vy^'V-v-^ we had a good, folid Meeting. After Meeting a folid good Friend faid. He thought we had the heft Wine at laft ; and indeed the Love of God, through Chrift, is fo.fweet to his People, that the laft often feems the beft, when it is only a renewed Vifitation of the fame Love to his Children. So I went home re- joicing that I was in fome good Meafure accounted worthy to ferve fo good, and fo gracious a Mafter.
On the 6th Day of the Firft Month (being theFirfl of the Week (I was at the Morning and Afternoon Meetings in Philadelphia^ wherein thofe who call them- felves Free-thinkers^ were exhorted to be careful of drinking too freely, left they might juftly be called Free-drinkers ; for many times fuch, when they drink too freely of ftrong Liquor, think and fpeak too freely their own corrupt Notions, to the Difhonour of God, and to the Scandal of Religion in general. Soon after I was at the Firft-day Meetings at Fh'i- Jerfi^f!. ladelphia j and in this Month I went into the Jerfeys^ and was at three large Meetings in Company with Abi- gail Bowles, m which our faid Friend had good Ser- vice, to the Comfort of Friends, convincing of Gain- fayers, and confirming the Weak, and the People were glad of our Vifit.
The 15th Day of this Month I was at Burlington at the Burial of my good Friend and old Acquaintance jihraham Bickley^ at whofe Funeral were great Num- bers of People, he being well-beloved of his Nigh- bours : Chrift's raifing Lazarus out of the Grave, and his Tendernefs and W^eeping there, was fpoken of, in order to ftir People up to a tender, religious Exercife of Mind, which is too much wanting among many of the ProfefTors of his holy Name, who have too little Senfe of that which fhould bring true Tendernefs ■ over their Minds, being more in Earth than Heaven ;
fo that they are dry and barren, as to the Things of
God,
"THOMAS CBALKLET. lyg
God. The Meeting ended (to Saf^'sfadionj with Sup- 1725. plications to the Almighty.
A few Days after, I was at our General Spring- meeting in Philadelphia, which was large ; where our Friends Robert Jordan and Jbigail Bowles had good Service.
This Week I was at four very large Meetings at Philadelphia^ Frankfort, and Ahington, much to my Satisfadiion, tho* I had no vocal Service therein •, yet my Heart was broken into Tendernefs and Tears, un- der the Miniflry of feveral weighty, folid Teftimonies, that were born by good and living Miniflers, quali- fied to preach the Gofpel in the Demonftration of the Spirit, and with Power.
The 26th of the Firft Month 1726, I went to Ger- man-town Meeting, which was large, and I was opened therein to fpeak of the Vifion of the Prophet £2^^/^/, of the holy Waters which proceeded from under the Threfliold of the Sanduary, which the Angel mea- furing, they grew deeper and deeper, until they be- came a River to fwim in, Ezek. xlvii. 5. Which myfti- cally Iheweth the Work of Grace, Converfion, and Re- generation ; and that thefe holy Waters the Soul mull drink of, and be wafhed, and baptized in, are fpiritual and fupernatural, and therefore not. to be meafurtd by the Spirit and Will of Man, in his natural iitate, ac- cording to the Prophet Ifaiah, Chap, xxxiii. 21. Man, before he can fwim therein, muft be itript of all his Self-righteoufnefs, and artificial Religion, though as fplendid and beautiful as a gallant Ship, or Galley with Oars, which, in this Refped:, is agreeable to the State of Men fwimming in elementary Water, where the molt fkilful have fometimes loft their I^ives, for want of being naked or unclothed ; and thofe who had not yet attain'd much Experience, were advis'd not to go out of their Depth, but to wait in Patience and Humility, to enjoy the medicinal Virtue of the Trees growing by the Side of this River, whofe Fruit
is
iSo r/;.' JOURNAL tf/
1726. is for Meat, and Leaves for Medicine, Ez^k. xlvii. 12, s-^"*V"*^ The People of this Meeting v/ere generally Germans^ feveral of whom ftay'd in the Houfe after the Meeting was over, and were broken into Tendernefs, in a Senfe of the Prefence and Love of God unto us, for which I was alfo humbly thankful and bowed in Spirit. I was at the Third-day Weekly-meeting in Philadel- phia, which was but fmall, confidering the large Num- ber of thofe profefling to be of our Society in this City -, thofe prefent were clofely and tenderly exhorted to be zealous for good Works, and againft bad Works ; not refpeding the Perfon of any Man ; the Abominations committed by fome under our Profef- fion, in this City and Province, calling for Humiliati- on ; and as the Promife of God's Favour was to thofe who mourn'd with Sighs and Cries for the Abomina- tions among his People formerly, Ezek. ix. 4, 6. fo now, as many as are under the fame Concern, may hope for Prefervation and Salvation, if he fhould in like Manner vifit us, as at this Time he doth fome of our Neighbours •, there being a great Sickncfs and Mortality in fome of the adjacent Places.
In the Second Month I vifited the Meetings of jhverford, Ffiends at Haverford. Newtown. Radnor* and Meri- o}i ', which Meetings confift chiefly of ancient jBnVw;j, who are a religious, induilrious, and increafing Peo- ple ; among whom my Service was (as they exprefTed^ to our mutual Satisfaction. After my Return Home, I went to vifit Friends at the Falls of Delaware, and was at a large Meeting in their new Meeting- houfe. After a fatisfadory Meeting at Frankfort, on the Fifth- day of the fame Week, I went with Ennon Williams to his Son's Marriage ; and the next Day he, and fe- Woodhnry- veral other Friends, accompanied me to Woodberry- L,.ek. Creek, and had a good, open Meeting, and that Night went to James Lord's, and next Morning went ro- ^aUm. wards Sale?ny and lodged at Ifaac Sharp's, ; where I was informed of a great Mortality at Cohanjy, The
24th
■-ju tovin.
(.uHHty*
THOMAS CHALKLET. i8i
£4th of the Second Month was the General-meeting at 1726. Salem^ which was a large Gathering of People of dif- v-'-Vv- ferent Perfwafions, from many Parts of the Country, ^'^^'*'* where the Do<5brine of the Gofpel was preached in great Love to the People, which they heard with folid At- tention. From Salem 1 went to ^lioway''s Creek and Cohanfj^ and had Meetings there : I was informed Ohanjii. that more than Seventy Perfons had lately died here of a malignant Diftemper, tho' it feem*d to abate, none dying while we were there. At Cohanfy the Meeting was large and folid, tho' but few of our Society there ; and they v/ere carneftly admonifhed to a proper Difpo- fition of Mind, to fit them either for Life or Death, and reminded of the Regard of the Almighty to fuch as live in his Fear, who will have Peace in their Death, and their Exchange will be glorious, when they are taken out of this Life ; but with the Wicked it is not fo.
From Cohanfy I went through the Wildernefs over Maurice's River, accompanied by James Daniel^ thro* Mawisit a miry, boggy Way, in which we faw no Houfe for *"""''• about forty Miles, except at a Ferry, and that Night we got to Richard Town/end* s, of Cape- May ^ where we- were kindly received ; next Day we had a Meeting at Kebecca Garrifon's^ and the Day after a pretty large one at Richard Townfend^s^ and then went down to the Cape, and had a Meeting at John Pagers, and next Day another at Aaron Leamin^s ; feveral exprefTed their Satisfadion with thofe Meetings. I lodged two Nights at Jacob Spicerh (my Wife's Brother.)
From Cape-May we travelled along the Sea-Coafl to Great-Egg-Harbour, had another Meeting, much larger than the firft, at Rebecca Garrifon'%^ and here I was much concerned to promote the fettling a Month- ly-meeting, for the wellrordering the Affairs of our Society.
We fwam our Creatures over Egg-Harbour River, and went, over ourfelves in Cannoes, and afterwards
v/e
i82 The ]OVRN AL of
1726. we had a Meeting at Richard Smnmen^s, whith was
v^^'N* as large as could be expeded, confidering the Peoples jiving at a Diftance trom each other.
The next Meeting we had at John Scull's ; and on Firft-day we had a large one at Pekr White's^ and on Second-day at Japbet Leeds*s, and then we went five Miles through a Marfh to Little- Egg- Harbour River, and had a Meeting in their Meeting-houfe on the Fourth Day of the Week, and nth Day of the Month, which was the larger by the Addition of the Owners, Mafters, and Mariners, of two Sloops from New-Torky who, hearing of the Meeting, came to it. And the next Day we had another Meeting at the fame Place, and lodged at Jervis Faro*s. After thefe two Meetings, I left Egg-Harbour^ accompanied by feveral Friends from thence, and travelled about forty Miles, before we came to any Houfe. In the Evening we reached a Friend's Houfe, where we were kindly
EuriingtoH, entertained, and next Morning we got to Burlington, and fo Home, where I found all well, and was there- fore thankful to the Almighty. In this Journey I travelled about three hundred Miles, had 21 Meet- ings, and was from Home about three Weeks.
In the Third Month I ftay'd at and about Home, vificing the Meetings at I'hiladslphiay German-town,
(Phiiadti* Ahington., and Frankfort.
gkiA, «cc. 1^ ^1^^ Fourth Month I left my Family, and went back in the Wo^ds as far as Oley, I was from Home nine Days, travelled about one hundred and fifty Miles, and had fix Meetings at Oley^ Perkiomen, and divers other Places, chii-fly in Barns and open Places, there being large Companies of People, and few Meet- ing-houfcs yet built in thofe Parts of the Country. In this Journey I fuifercd pretty much thro' the Heat. — The firit Meeting was at the Iron-works fettled a little beyond a Place called Mount Mifery \ I was concerned for thofe People, having heard of their rude Doings before I left my Habitation j and alcho* fome were
rude.
THOMAS CHALKLET, 183
rude, ochers behaved themfelves foberly, and expref- 1726. fed their Thankfulnefs for that Vificaiiion, as I do for s-OT^ the Opportunity I had of clearing myfelf to them. On my Return homewards I crofs'd Schuylkill, and went to Samuel Nutt^s Iron-works, where I had a large, quiet, folid Meeting: And the next Day I called to fee my old Friend David Meredith^ who being about 2>(^ Years of Age, I thought it probable I might not have another Opportunity of feeing him. He met me with Gladnefs, and told me, // was their Meeting-day^ fo that I ftay*d, and was much comforted and ten- dered by the Power of Chrift j after which I came Home that Night.
On the next Firfl-day, after my Return, I went to VhiiadeU Philadelphia^ and, after the Afternoon Meeting, to fc*^^^ 'J)arby, and from thence to a Yearly-meeting in C/6f/. ter County, held at Gojhen \ tho* the Seafon was wet, this was a large, good Meeting-, at which there were three young Men, who were lately called to the Work of the Miniftry, whom I v/'as glad to hear declare the Truth in the Power and Simplicity of the Gofpel of Chrift, being of the Mind of Mofes, when he faid, in Anfwer to Jojhua^ Would God that all the Lord's Peo- ple were Prophets, and that the Lord would put of his Spirit upon them. Numb. xi. 29. After this Meeting I went to Springfield^ and the next Day returned Home.
On the 2 2d of the Fourth Month 1 went to the Marriage of John Lee\ Daughter at Springfield, in Chejler County : The Meeting was large, and I was con- cerned to fpeak moftly to the young People, advifing them to feek the Lord in that great Affair of Marri- age, that they be careful how and on whom they fet their Affeftions, and not to draw out one another's Minds if they did not intend an honourable Marriage-, and reminding them of the ill Tendency of courting feveral at a Time, or fuffering feveral to court at once, and that they be chafte and true in their Proceedings, duly regarding the Advice of the Apoftle, Be not
N 'unequally
Peath,
1S4 77^^ JOURNAL 0/
1726. unequally yoked; for to be fure all fuch Marriages are v./^^-N-/' unequal, when thofe who marry are of different Prin- ciples in Religion. The Meeting ended with tender Supplication for Prefervation through whatever Exer- cifes, further Troubles or Trials, Temptations or Affliftions, we might meet with in the World, that we might end wellatlaft, and live for ever to praife and glorify God and the Lamb, who, through the holy, eternal Spirit, is worthy for ever.
On the Receipt of the laft Letter from my dear Fa- ther, which I fomeTime fince mentioned, I was appre- henfive it might be his laft, which it proved to be ; for the next Letter from my dear Brother gave me Intel- An Ac- ligence of his Death, which I received the 25th of the ^y^Fa?^ Fourth Month this Year. The News of my dear ther's Father's Deceafe took fuch hold of my Mind (tho* I daily expedted it) that for fome Time I was hardly fo- ciable — Oh how have 1 been fometimes comforted in his loving and tender Epiftles ! At the Receipt of which I have cryed to the Lord, that if it pleafed him, I might have a double Portion of the Spirit which he gave to my Father : But Oh ! Now I muft never hear more from him in this World ; yet in this I have fome inward Comfort, that I hope we fhall meet where we fhall never part more. — Here follows a Part of my afTcdionate Brother's Account of my Father's Deall> and Burial.
EdmontQjii z$tJ^oftbe ift Months 172^,,
Dear Brother, s nriHIS comes with the forrowful Account of
* JL our dear Father's Deceafe, who departed thii
* Life the 7th Inft. after having been indifpofed about ^ a Fortnight.— I have herewith fent a particular Ac- < count of fome remarkable Paffages, and his laft Ex-
* prellions in his Sicknefs 5 that Part relating to his
* Convincement,
■«5.
^THOMAS CHALKLET,. 185
* Convincement, he dcfired fhould be committed to 1726.
^ Writing, which I have done, and fent it to thee. l^VSJ < I was with him feveral Times in his lafl IlJnefs, and
* moft of the two laft Days of his Life, as thou mayil ' perceive by the Contents. — Our worthy Father v/as
* honourably buried on the nth Inft. being carried ' from his own Houfe to the Meeting- houfe at Horjley-
* down, accompanied with his Relations, where was a
* large Meeting of many People, as many as the Meet-
* ing-houfe could well contain, and many Teflimo-
* nies were there born to the innocent, exemplary
* Lift, Integrity and honeft Zeal of our dear Father,
* fo concurrent and unanimous, that I have hardly •known any fuch Occafioa more remarkable: He
* was accompanied from thence to the Grave very
* folemnly, and there in like Manner interred, where
* a further Teflimony was given to his honeft Life and ' Converfation, and lively Zeal for the holy Truth,
* whereof he made ProfefTion.
' Dear Brother, tho* it be a forrovvful Occafion
* of Writing, yet herein we may be comforted, "in
* Confideration that our Father went to his Grave in
* Peace in a good old Age : He had his Underftanding
* ^nd Memory to thelalt in a wonderful Manner. I be-
* lieve ^(as, I have fometimes faid) that he embraced ' Death as joyfully as ever he did any happy Accident
* of his Life : I remember one Paillige of his chearful
* Refignat^on, finding him fine and cheary when I
* came to fee him, a Week before hisDeceafe, and he ^ fhewing me how. well he could walk about the Room,
* and would have went out of it, tho' he was very
* bad the day before, fo that I faid, Father, I hope 'i thou wilt get over this lUnefs •, but he anfwered mc
* pretty quick and loud, No^ butldontthd*: *Tis ' not long fince he was at my Houfe, and was chearful,
* and well, but fpoke as if he thought it would be the 'i laft.'Tjme.— My Wife faid. Father, thou mayft
* live fome Years •, but he replied, /; it not better for
N 2 ^ ms
i86
T/je JO VKl^ AL of
An Ac- eotlnt of
my Fa- iher's Con- vinceraent,
1726. « me to die, and go to Chrijl ? So, dear Brother, with ly^^'S^ * dear Love to thee, my Sifter, and thy dear Children, * and our Relations, I conclude with earneft Defires ' for thy Health and Welfare.*
77jy affectionate Brother^
GEO. CHALKLET.
My Brother'*s Account of my Father^s Convin cement ^ and of his laft Sicknefs and dying fVords.
* My Father was born of religious Parents at Kemp- ' ton, near Hitching, in Hertfordjhire, the ift of the Ninth Month 1642 ; his Father's Name was Thomas Chalkley, by Trade a Dealer in Meal, by Profeflion ot the Church of England, and zealous in his Way, as was alfo his Wife.
' They had four Sons and three Daughters, 'Thomas,
Jobn^Geor^e and Robert -, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary.
My Father (being the third Son) was convinced very
young at a Meeting by EnfieldChace-fide, near Winch-
more-Hill, through the powerful Miniftry of Fl^^'/Z/^w
Brendi\yhov/2iS an eminent Minifter in theLord'sHand
in that Day, and had been a greatSuIferer for his-Tefti-
mony in New- England. He was preaching, as I
heard my Father feveral times fay, upon the Words
of the Preacher, Ecclef. xi. 9. Rejoice, 0 young Man,
in thy Tontb, and let thy Heart chear thee in the Days of
thy Touthi and walk in the IVays of thy Heart, and in
the Sight of thine Eyes ; but know thou, that for all
theje 'Things God will bring thee into Judgment. Upon
which Subje(ft he fpoke fo home to my Father's State
and Condition, that he was convinced, and two
others of his Companions were reached and affed-
ed widi the Teftimony of Chrift's Truth and Gol^
pel ; my Father and two young Men had been
walking in the Fields, having religious Converfation
* together,
THOMAS CHALKLET. 187
« together, and were providentially direded to the
< Meeting, by obferving feme Friends going to it, ' whom they followed thither : One of his Companions « was Samuel Hodges^ who lived and died a faithful « Friend, at whofe Houfe in fucceeding Times a Meet- * ing was fettled, and is there continued, and a Meet- ' ing-houfe built at this Day at Mims in Hertfordjhire.
< ^y Father was the firft of the Family who re-
< ceived the Teflimony of Truth as it is in Jefus, af- « ter which his Father and Mother were convinced, and ' all his Brothers and Siflers, who lived and died ho- « neft Friends, except one who died young, continuing « in the Church o( England Perfwafion. Soon after the ' Convincement of my Father and his two Companions « aforefaid, they met with a Trial of their Faith and « Patience ; for being taken at a religious Meeting of « Friends, they were all three committed to the New- « Prifon in White-Chappel^ where having continued « Prifoners for fome Time, the Migiftrates obferving « their Chriflian Courage, Boldnefs and Innocency, and ' being touched with Tendernefs towards them, con- « fidering their Youth, they difcharged them.
' My Father, about the 25th Year of his Age, mar- ,.'« ried my Mother fa virtuous young Woman) who was L< the Widow of Nathaniel Harding^ a Friend, who died 4jF under the Sentence ofBanilhment for his ProfefTion fV ot Chrift; the above Account I had from my F^a- ^M ther*s own Mouth ; what follows fell within my own
< Obfervation.
< My dear Father met with grea4: Exercifes and
* Difappointments in his early Days i he, dealing in ^^ his Father's Bufinefs, fold Meal to fome who broke
* in his Debt, which brought him low in the World, « in which low Eftate he was an eminent Example of
.^.« Patience, Refignation and Induftry, labouring with
< his Hands for the Support of his Family, and con- » fcientiouQy anfwered all his Engagements ; fo that it « may be iuflly faid of him, he was careful that he
\ N 3 ' miglit
i§8 "The JOURNAL©/
1726. * might ewe nothing to any Man hut Love; and far- iyy^\J ' ther, he was very conftaiu in keeping to Meetings, ' being a good Example therein, tho* in very hot 'Times of Perfecution •, for when Friends were forely '.and feverely perfecuted on account of keeping their ' religious Meetings, and the Prifons filled with them ' through the Nation, and their Goods taken away, ' and much Spoil and Havock made about the Years
* 1680 to 1684, my Father conftantly attended Meet- ' ings, and never mifild, as I remember, when well ', ' and tho' he was fometimes concerned to fpeak by ' way of Exhortation to Friends in their publick ' Meetings, when they were kept out of their Meet- ' ing-houfes fby the then Powersj to ftand faithful to
* the Truth, and teftifying of the folid Comfort and ' Satisfaflion thofe had who truly waited on the Lord,
* which the Faithful enjoy'd, notwithflandingrheir deep ' and many SufTerings for Chrift's fake, and his Gofpel, ' it pleafed theLord toprefe^vehimbyhisdivineProvi- ' dence, that he did not fuffer Impriionment, tho' the ' wicked Informers were very bufy in that Time of fe- *" vere Perfecution. I may farther add, that when my
* Father was about 60 Years of Age, he had a Concern
* to vifit Friends Meetings in the North of England,
* and fome other Parts of the Nation ; and in the 75tfi ' Year of his Age, he travelled to Chejier, and from ■ thence fin Company with James Bates^ a publick
* Friend, of Virginia) went over ^or Ireland ; in all
* which Services he had good Satisfaction, and was
* well received of Friends : Divers other Journeys and ' Tr<ivels he performed not here noted i but this Jour-
* ncy into another Nation at yc, Years of Age, fhews
* his Age had not quenched his Love and Zeal for his •" Lord's Work and Service.
' In our Father's Old Age he was attended with
* very great Exercifes: About the 77th Year of his " Age, as he was afTifting his Men in the Dufk of the
* Evening, he mifTed his Footing, and fell down and
* broke
fHOMAS CHALKLET, itq
broke his Leg ; and foon after his Leg was well, 1726. he met with another Accident by a Fall, which dif- abled him, and made him lame to his Death, never recovering the Hurt he had by that Fall, which was after this IVlanner ; he was fitting in a Chair by his Door on a Plank, which not being fet faft, it fell, and he, to fave himfelf from the Stroke of the Plank, fell with his Hip on the Stones, and got hurt ex- ceedingly, notwithllanding he was remarkable for his Adivity ; he would walk (tho* fo aged, and alfo lame) as far as the Work-houfe^ Bevonjhire-houfe^ and Bull and Afdw/Z> Meetings [two or three Miles from Home.] The laft bad Accident that befel him was about three Weeks before his Death, when, being walking in the Timber-yard, a fingle Plank, which flood againfl a Pile, fell down, and finking him on the Side, threw him down •, he complained not much of the Blow till about a Week after, when he was taken with a violent Pain in his Side, on the very Place where he received the Stroke, and, when his Cough took him (with which he was often troubled) the Pain was very great ; howbeit, thro' Means of a Sear-cloth he received fome Eafe, and the Pain of his Side abated, and the Cough went ofFj but a violent Flux followed, and it brought him very low, and extream weak ; fo that it was thought he could not continue long •, upon which Notice was fent to me, and I went to fee him, and found him very low % but he revived, and changed often in this laft Illnefs ; I having been to fee him five or fix Days before having an Account he was ill, I then found him chearful, and thought he might recover. He con- tinued all the Time of his Illnefs in a patient and re- figned Frame of Mind •, on a firft Day, in the Af- ternoon, he took his Bed, being the 6th of the Firfl Month, and in the Evening, after the Afternoon-meet- ing ('which was the Day before his Death) feveral Friends came to vifit him, who, finding him very N 4 ' weajt
190 "the JOURNAL of
1726. ' weak, after a little Stay, went to take their Leave of him, whom he defi.-ed to fit down, and after fome Time of Silence, he broke forth in Declaration in an intelligible and lively Manner, to this EfTed, laying; IFe have no continuing City here^ hut feek one to come^ which hath Foundations^ whoje Builder and Maker n God : Friends^ thai we may all labour to be prepared for our lafi and great Change^ that when this earthly 'Tabernacle Jhall he dijfolved, we may have an Habitation with the Lordy a Building not made with Hand^ eter- nal in the Heavens^ and that ii fright he thus, the Lord hath Jhewed the-e^ O Man. "d ''>at is good. Viz- To do juftly.) love Mercy ^ and -n-alk hu:.: "'ly (.uith thy God. I do not eicpe^ hut this will he the lajl Pit Jot I /kail have in this Worlds and I deftre it may be remembered, as the IVords of a dying Man 'which came to pafs, for he died the next Day) O that we may labour to he clothed upon with our Houfe that is from Heaven, fo that when the finifhing Hour comes, we may have nothing to do, hut to die. About one or two a Clock, the next Morning, he began to change, and denred ' to fee me ; I came to him, and found him very
* fenfible, but expected his End quickly to approacTi ;
* he faying, he was waiting for his Change. My Son- ' in-law, Samuel Thornton^ being with me, and we
* fitting by the Bed-fide, with his Nurfe, his Houfe-
* keeper, and his Man, about the fourth Hour in the
* Morning he priiyed fervently after this Manner :
* Lordj nozv lettefi thou thy Servant depart in Peace,
* for mine Eyes have feen thy Salvation^ which thou hafi
* prepared before the Face of all People {thou hafi given ' thy Son) a Light to enlighten the Gentiles, and to he
* the Glory of thy People Ifrael ; andnow^ Lord he with '■' thy People and Servants^ and preferve my near and
* dear Relations^ and keep them from the Snares and ' Temptations of the Enemy, that in thy Truth they may '■ fear thy great Name,
* After
I'HOMAS CHALKLET. 191
* After a little Time of Silence, he defired me to 1726. remember his dear Love, in the Life of Chrift Jsfus, ^w-v"^ to my dear Brother, Thomas Chalkley^ in Pevf\ha- vMy and to all my old Friends and Acquaintance. » About the eleventh Hour in the Morning he en- quired how the Tide was, which no Body prefenc could exa<5lly tell ; fome Time after he afked again ; his Man then went out to fee, returning, he told him, it would be High-water about three a Clock in the Afternoon •, he then lay ftillawhile, and after fome Paufe fpokc chearfully out aloud, fo that all in the Room might hear him, I Jhall go off about Five \ his Man faid, Mafler how do'ft know ? To which he anfwered, Know, I do not knoiv^ but I believe it. After this the Apothecary, one of his Neighbours (among whom he was well beiovedj about Noon came to fee him, and aflfed him how he was ? Father anfwered, that for three or four Hours in the Night he thought he fliould have gone. Why, faid he, Sir, it will be no Surprife to you, I hope. No, no, faid my Father very chearfully. He taking Leave of Father, faid, The Lord be with you. To whom Father an- fwered. And with thee alfo : The Doftor having or- dered him a comfortable Cordial to drink, he drank it willingly, and then faid, I don^t think to drink any more in this World ; but I hope I (hall drink ple?iti- fully of th€ River of Life : Then drawing near his End, finding his Strength fail, there being a Cord by his Order at the Bed's Feet, he raifed himfelf up thereby as long as he had any Strength left in his Hands, and when his Hands and Shoulders fail'd, and his Head, when laft lifted up, he fpoke very low and faultering, yet fo as I could underftand, and faid. Now I am a goings and about an Hour after, laying all the while without Sigh or Groan, de- . parted this Life as in a Slumber in fweet Peace, ac- cording as he had foretold, jufl as the Clock flruck Five, in a perfedl Enjoyment of that Legacy our
' Saviour
192
"Tbe JOURNAL of
My Peace I leave with
1726. < Saviour left his Followers ^^'^"^ ^ you^ &c. leaving us of the fucceeding Genera- * tipn, a good Example to follow ; who, as he ' lived, fo he died, like a Lamb, in the eighty-fourth < Year of his Age, the feventh Day ot the Firft ' Month, 1725/
GEO. CHALKLET.
To which Account I fiiall add the following fhort Teftimony concerning my dear and greatly beloved Father, George CbalkUy, viz.
« I have a great deal in my Heart, more than I can write concerning my dear Father*s Life, it hav- ing been a wonderful Life to me from my Youth up j his early Care of me, and'Counfel to me, when I was too thoughtlefs and wild, melts me in- to Tears now in the Remembrance of it ; and my tender Mother was a Partner with him in the fame Exercife, and fhe died in like Peace : The laft Words I heard her fpeak, were, / long to he dijfolved. And as to my tender Father, I would record a littk briefly in Memory of him, that he was,
* ill, A true and faithful Servant of Chrift.
* 2d, A tender and affedtionate Hufband : I lived at Home with my Parents about twenty Years, and I never heard (that I remember) an angry Expref- fion between them, only once fomething had trou- bled them, and they both wept, my Father faying, I have been an indulgent Hufband unto thee, and my Mother anfwered, I have not been one of the worfh of Wives to thee ; which were the harfhefl Words, and the greateft Difference that I obferved between them ; for their Life was a Life of Peace and Love, and they were an excellent Example to us their Children. Oh ! May we follow them therein to the End !
' 3d, He had a fatherly Care for his Children, in tender Prayers for us, and in good Advice to us,
' and
'THOMAS CHALRLET, 19^
* and in giving us Learning according to his Ability, 1726.
' and teaching us (by his Example, as well as Precept) o'V^
* Induftry, Humility, and the true Religion of our
* bleffed Saviour, endeavouring to plant it in us be- ' times, and to deftroy the evil Root of Sin in us, ' while young.
' 4th, I was his Servant, as well as his Son, and I ' can truly fay, his Service was delightful, and his ' Company pleafing and profitable to me ; and he was ' alfo beloved much by his other Servants.
' 5th, He was univerfally beloved by his Nelgh-
* bours, and I do not remember any Difference be- ' tween him and them, in the many Years I lived with ^ him ; but all was Peace and Love.
* 6th, He was very loving to his Relations, and « true to his Friends, and a hearty Well-wiflier and ^ Lover of his King and Country.*
T. C.
- Our General-meeting at ir^«;^/^r/, the 30th of the Fourth Month, was large, our Friend fp-'illiam Piggot, from London^ being there (in the Courfe of his Vifit to Friends in America) and had clofe Work and good Service in this Meeting.
In the Fifth Month 1726, I vifited the Meetings of Friends at Philadelphia^ German-town^ and Bybury^ FHUieii in fome of which Meetings, as alfo ar our own at ^qI^^^^ Frankforty I had very comfortable Satisfadion : My town, &c; Teftimony was pretty iharp fometimes to Tranfgrel- fors, and therefore fome of them hate me, as the Jews did my great Mailer : Becaufe I was concerned to teftify, that their Deeds were evil, and to excite my Friends to manifeft a Chriftian Zeal, by openly deny- ing ungodly Men, while they continue in their ungodly i^Works ; but when they become truly penitent, and reform their Lives, the Arms of Chrifl, and his Church, will be open to receive them.
Beinji
194 T;^^ J O U R N A L 0/
1726. Being under fome melancholy Thoughts, bscaufe o^-^ fome Peifons, for whom I wifhed well, and to whom I had been of Service^ were fo envious and malicious as to tell falfe Stories of me, tending to defame me ; as I was riding to oar Meeting, it opened with Satisfadioti to my Mind, The more my Enemies hate tne^ The more Til love^ if that can be ', and I had hearty Defires to come up in the Pradice of this Refolution : And \ then thought I Ihould come up with them all, for if a Man loves and prays for his Enemies, if they are gain- ed, he is inftrumental to their Good, and fo. hath Caufe of Rejoicing ; and if they are not gained, he heaps Coals of Fire on their Heads ; fo that every true Chriftian, by keeping under the Crofs of Chrifl, and in the Pradice of his Dodrine, gets the better of his Enemies.
In the Beginning of the Sixth Month, I was at the Burial of Robert Fletcher^ a worthy Man, and one uni- verfally beloved by all Sorts of People (as far as ever I heard) There was a large Meeting at his Funeral, wherein feveral Teftimonies, fuitable to the Occafion, were born : Some of his lafl Words were mentioned, which were. That he had lived according to the Meafure of Grace given him. And the Dodtrine of the Refur- re<5lion was maintained according to the Scripture, and the People were exhorted to prepare for their final Change. The Death of this Friend was a Lofs to the Country, to our Society, and to his Neighbours, as wen as to his Family and Friends. v-mihiani. After Meeting I travelled towards f7w<:^/^«(5?, had a Meeting there on Firfl-day, and on Second-day ano- ther Meeting at Lewis U^alker's^ and on Third-day Kivivfayd, was at the General-meeting at Haverford : Friends were exhorted to dwell in the Love of God, one to- wards another ; for if they lofl their Love, they would lofe their Religion, their Peace, and their God ; for God is Love^ and tbofe that dwell in Gody dwell in ; ..Love.
My
"THOMAS CHJLKLET. 195
My Neighbour Daniel Worthrington^ accompanied 1726. me in this rough Travel, feme Part ot the Way being w^VN^ hilly, and very ftony and bufhy, and the Weather wet. We had four Meetings, and rode about four- fcore Miles •, and tho* I had travelled much in thi3 Province, I had never been at fome of thofe Places before : But a few Nights before I fet out, I had a plain Profpeft of them in a Dream, or Night Vifion, as I faw them afterwards, which I thought fome-what remarkable.
The People inhabiting this Province, are now be- come numerous, and make many Settlements in the Woods, more than I have obferved in my Travels in any of the BritiJJo Plantations ; and there hath long been a Defire in my Mind that they might profper in the Work ot true and thorough Reformation ; and a godly Fear and Concern being upon me, I have fome- times put them in Mind of the State of this Land, ■when their Fathers firfl came and fettled in it ; and to caution them of growing carelefs, and forgetting the Lord, left he Ihould forlake them, and turn their now fruitful Fields into a barren Wildernefs, as this was fo lately ; which it is eafy with him to do, if he pleafes, for the Sins of the People.
After my Return Home, I vifited many Meetings, MhigtoH- as Ahington, fYouths-meeting) Philadelphia, and Che- ^^'/j''''^'' Jier. At Chefter I was concerned to dired; the People ChejirCf to that Power in themfelves, v/hich is the Life ot Re- ligion, and to be careful not to reft in the beft Forms without it ; for if v/e had only the Form ot Godlinefs, and had not the Lite and Power of it, it might be a* reafonable for People to turn away from us, as it was for our Fore-fathers to turn away from other Socie- ties.
In the Seventh Month I was at our Yearly-meet- ing held at 5«r/i«^;o«, for the Provinces of 7Vi?£^7tfr7^Y Sind Penfylvania, which was a very large Meeting,
there
196 r/je J OVRNAL of
1726. there being Friends from New-Etigland^ Rhode-JJland,
S-^S/"^^ and Europe.
^fjham. Firft-day Morning I went to Evejham to the Burial of our ferviceable Friend Jervis Stockdale ; he being in good Efteem, there was much People: The Meet- ing was in a good tender Frame, and continued fever^l Hours fo, in which divers Teftimonies were delivered, in order to ftir up People to Truth and Righreoufaefs, and godly living, that they might die well. I lodged the Night before at Peter FearotiS, and in the Morn-
- ing I was awaked out of my Sleep, as it were by a • Voice, exprefling thefe Words ; He that liveth
AND BELIEVETH lH ME SHALL NEVEPv DIE. This I
cook to be the Voice of Chriit, I do not know that ic
rr/as vocal, but it was as plain as one. From thefe
Exprefiions I had to obierve to the People, the happy
State and Privilcdge of thofe who live and believe in
- Chrift, and that fuch muft not live in Sin.
During the Time of our Yearly-meeting, fome rude People came up the River in a fmall Sloop, provided by them for that Purpofe, and fpent their Time ,in .drinking, carowfing, and firing of Guns, to the Grief and Concern of Friends, who were religioufly dilcharg- ing their Duty, in ferving and worfhipping the ^\- mighty , and it is obfcrvable, that one of thefe difor- derly Perfons had his Hand jfhot off at that Time, and that the chief Promoters and A6tors in this riotous Company, vv^ere loon after cue off" by Death, in ;hc Prime of their Days.
After the General -meeting was over, which ended V;ell, Friends in the Love of God departed in Peace . for their feveral Habitations, praifing and glorifying God.
In the Beginning of the Eighth Month, having
fome Bufinefs at Ca;pe-Ma'j^ I icrried over to Gloucef-
^r, and went the firll Night to James Lord^s^ lodged
there, got up before Day, it being Firft-day Morn-
^aUm ing, and rode near thirty Miles to Salem, where wc
had
"THOMAS CHALKLBT. 197
had a good Meeting, and fo went to Allowafs Creek, 1726. Cohanfyy and through a barren Wildern^efs to Cape- ^-^^vn-' Ma'jt where we had one Meeting, and returned by " '^'^^^' Way of Egg-Harbour home ; in which Journey I tra- • veiled upwards of two hundred Miles. At Cape-May I was concerned to write a few Lines concerning Swearing, as follows, viz.
« Chriftians ought not to fwear in any Cafe, for Againft thefeReafons— ift, Becaufe Chrift, their Lord, for- ^'''^""-l^* bad it -, unto whom the Angels in Heaven mull be fubjed, and doubtlefs, fo mud mortal Man, to whom he gave the Precept. We muft and ought to be fubje(5l to Chrift, who is Lord of Lords y and King of Kings, and the Judge of the ^ick and the Dead : To him all Mortals muft be accountable for their Difobedience. He fays, in his Sermon on the Mount, thus, I fa)\ Swear not at all: Wherefore, ^''•'^' tS^ how can Chriftians (or fuch who are his Friends) fwear, fincehe fays alfo, Te are my Friends, if -^e do^^f^"^' zvhaifoever I coinmtind you. So confequently thofe who difobey his Commands, muft be his Enemies. To this Command it is objefted, that Chrift only fpoke againft common or prophane Swearing : But this muft needs be a great Miftake, becaufc Chrift fays, // was faid in old Time, Thou /halt perform unto ^^' ^^-^J* the Lord thine Oaths (alluding to the Lav/ of Mo- fes) which Oaths were folemn and religious •, there- fore Chrift did not only prohibit vain and prophane Swearing, but all Swearing: If we underftand the Word, All, and what all fignifies, then all and any Swearing whatfoever, is not lawful for a Chriftian, according to Ch rift's Law and Command, which i.s pofitive to his Follov/ers.
' 2dly, Jajjies (the holy Apoftle of Chrift, our Lawgiver, and our King) fays, Above all Things, James vaz. my Brethren^ fwear not, neither by Heaven^ neither by the Earth, neither by any other Oath. Chrift fays, Swearnot at all ; and James, his Difciple and Apo-
' ftle.
%9^
1726.
Fhilaitl. phia.
!Z^^ JOURNAL c/ •
ftle, fays. Swear not by any Oath \ wherefore, if- fwearing on the Bible be any Oath, or is (wearing at all, it is contrary to the exprefs Doftrine ot Chrift, and his Apoftle James^ as is plain from the above cited Texts.
' 3dly, The primitive Chriflians did not fwear at all, in the firft Ages of Chriftianicy. ^eryy Whe- ther our modern Iwearing Chriftians are better than the primitive Ones, V/ho for Chrift, and Confcience fake, could not fwear at all, even before a Magi- ilrate, though legally called ? 4thly, Many Chriftians have fuffered Death, be- caufe they for Confcience fake could not f.vear, and fo break the Command of Chrift their Lord ; and do not our modern Chriftians trample upon their Tefti- mony and Sufferings? Some of whom fuffered Death for not fwearing before tht Heathen Magiftrates, and fome were martyred by the Papifts -■> judge then whe- ther the Perfecutcd or Perfecutors were in the right. * 5thly, Many of our worthy Friends and Fore-fa- thers (fince the former) have fuffered to Death in Goals for not fwearing, when required by perfecuting ProteJlantSi becaufe for Chrift's fake and Sayings, as above, they could not fwear at all : And this hath been a Teflimony which our Society hath conftantly born ever fince we have been a People, for the Rea- fons above, and more alfo, if there were Occafion, which might be given.*
The 23d of the Eighth Month, I was at the Morning McQi'mg 2.1 Philadelphia^ on a Firft-day of the Week, which was large, and I was concerned therein to exhort Friends to labour to purge and cleanfe our Society of fuch under our ProfelTion who live in open Prophane- nefs, and are riotous in their Converfations. I was at the Bank-meeting in the Afternoon, where we had a comfortable Time : And the next Sixth-day of the Week 1 was at our Monthly-meeting, where it was unanimoufty agreed, in Confideration oi fome late in- decent
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 199
decent' Condud of fome Perfons pretending to be of 1726. our Profeflion, that a Teflimony from that Meeting v.^S"'^ Ihould go forth againft iuch diforderly Doings, and unchriftian Pradlices ; and that all fuch Perfons, who were irregular in their Converfations, be difown'd to be of our Community, until they by Repentance ma- nifeft their Reformation *, which was accordingly foon after publifiied, and read in our Firft-day Morning- meeting, and in our Youths-meeting. And about this Time our Governor ifTued a feafonable Procla- mation againfl Drinking to Excefs, Gaming, Swear- ing prophanely, Revelling, Night-walking, and Dif- turbing the Peace, and other Immoralities ; which afforded fome Satisfaction to fober and well-inclined Friends, and others : Yet there remained a great £x- ercife and Concern upon my Mind, that fome young People, whofe Parents had been careful in training them up, were grown fo wicked, that by their ex- travagant Conduct, they not only difturbd our reli- gious Meetings, but likewife became obnoxious to the peaceable Government we live under.
In the Ninth Month I v/as at divers Meetings, at Merion^ German towiit Fair hill ^ Abington, and Phila- MnhH. delphia ; in which were feveral Marriages folemnized ^^™^'c. ill a religious Manner. And in the Tenth Month, I went into the County of Salem, about my Aii'airs : It happened to be at the Time of the Quarterly-meeting for Salem and Cloucejler Counties ; but I did not know of it, until I came to Salem^ where Friends were glad «y^'V«, to fee me, as alfo I was to fee them •, there were fome of us whofe Hearts were knit and united together as Jonathan*^ and David's^ the divine Love of God be- ing much fhed abroad in our Hearts at that Meeting ; When it was over, and I had finifhed my Bufinefs, I could not be clear in my Mind, without having fome Meetings in the fiid Countits of Salem and Gloucejier j and tho' it was a fickly Time, and People died pretty much in thofe Parts where we were going, James Lord
O and
200 t;^^ J O U R N A L ^
1726. and I, in the Love of Chrifl, vifited the Meetings at iy>,r\^ Allowafs Creek, Cohanfy^ Pile*s- Grove, fFoodberryj Co/;fl«/y, ]}fewton, and Haddonfield, having Meetings every Day in the Week, except the laft, and fometimes riding near twenty Miles after Meeting, the Days being at the (horteft, and the Weather very cold ; but the Lord was with us, which made fufficient Amends for all the bodily Hardfhipswemet with.
I got home well, but weary ; and was well and joy- fully received by my loving Spoufe, Children, and Servants j and I was truly thankful to the Moll High for his Prefenceand Goodnefs continued to me *, fo that, tho' I perceived my bodily Strength to decline a- pace, my Sight, Hearing, and Voice, failing much, I have Occafion to believe, at times I was helped even beyond Nature in the Work of Chriil, my dear Lord and Mafter.
The 27th of the Tenth Month, I heard the News of the Death of my dear Friend John Lee (hy one knttodefire my Company at his Burial.) It afFeded me with Sorrow, he being an old Acquaintance, and inward Friend of mine, with whom I had travelled many Miles : He was a living, ferviceable Miniller of the Gofpel of Chrilt, and inftrumental to convince divers of that Principle of divine Light and Truth, which we profefs. I could not be at his Burial, be- caufe of my Indifpofition, and the Unfeafonablenefs of the Weather j yet I think it my Duty, to fay this con- cerning him j 'That Qur Love and Friend/hip was conjiant and intire unto the Endy having been acquainted about iJArty-five I'ears^ as near as 1 can remember.
In the Eleventh Month, as I was meditating in my Clofet, on the Duty and Beauty of that great Virtue of 'Temperance, it appeared very bright to ttie View of my Mind, and the great Benefit of it to thofe who loved and lived in it: ift, As to Religion, it tends to keep the Mind in an even Temper, which is a Help to Devotion, and the Pradice of religious Duties.
2dly
T^HOMAS CHALKLET. 201
2dly, It is a great Prefervative to Health and a good 1726. Conftitution. ^dly. It is a Blefling to Pofterity, in s-Opx-', many Confiderations. Whereas Inteiwperance deftroys the Health, ftains the Reputation, hurts Pofterity, (in relped to a healthy Conftitution of Body, and Eftate) ruins many Families, brings to Poverty and Difgrace, and what is yet worfe of all, is a great '
Lett to Religion and the true Fear of God, and is a great Scandal to any who make Profefllon of the Chriftiian Religion.
In this Month I accompanied William Piggot (who lately arrived from London^ on a religious Vifit to the Meetings of Friends in America.) From Philadelphia we went to my Houfe at Frankfort, and from thence to North-Wales, and had two large fatisfadory Meet- i^onh. ings on the Firft-day -, next Day we were at the Month- ^"Z". ^^ ly-meeting at Ahington^ the Third-day at Frankfort, Frankfort, and Fourth- day at German-town, Fifth-day I went to (^frman- Philidelphia Week-day Meeting, and the faid Friend to Abingdon General-meeting, and a few Days after we met again at the C^arterly-meeting of Minifters and Elders at Philadelphia.
The 8th of the Twelfth Month was our Youths- meeting at Frankfort ; many dying about this Tim.e, I was concerntd in the Meeting to put Friends in mind of their Mortality -, and thit I had told Friends lately, at their Meetings at Ahington and Philadelphia, That as I was riding from my Houfe to Philadelphia^ about a Mile from the City, I faw (in the Vifion of Life) the Hand of the Lord ft:retched over the City and Province, with a Rod in it, in order to correal the Inhabitants for their Sins and Iniquities -, v/hich Sight affeded my Mind greatly, and altho I did not hear any vocal Voice, nor fee any vifible Hand, yet it was as plainly revealed to me as tho' I had: And that notwithftanding I underftood fome flighted that Tefti- mony, yet I obferved to them, that lince that Time, more 'People were taken away than common, as they-
O 2 now
202 ^k ]0 XJK'N AL of
1726. now might fee; and indeed that inward Sight and v^V^ Senfe I had of the Difpleafure of God for the Sins of
the Times, made great Impreflion on my Mind ; and that no Flefli might glory, the Lord took, from. the Evil to come, feveral fober, well-inclined young People, as well as divers whofe Lives and Converfa- tions were evil and vicious ; fo that all had need to be warned to be watchful, and turn to the Lord, left he come at unawares, and call us fuddenly out of the World unprepared. In the Twelfth and Firft Months many died, of all Ages and Profeffions ; and now fome, who would hardly give Credit to what I had delivered in feveral Meetings, began to fee the Ful- filling of it, and great Talk there was about it: And many folid and large Meetings we had with the Peb- ple at divers Funerals about this Time, exhorting the People not to flight the prefent Vifiration of the^ Al- mighty, and to prepare for Eternity, to meet the Judge of the Qiiick and the Dead, who ftands at the Door. And among many that were t^ken away by Death, were fome few of my particular Friends ; and firft, dear Hannah Hill^ who was a bright Example of Piety and Charity, fhe was like a nurfing Mother to me in my Afflictions, as was her Hufband more like a Brother than one not related, whole generous Entertainment I may never forget at Times. Thomas Griffith^ and Elizabeth his Wife, died alfo about this Time: Thomas was a ferviceable Man, and well e- fteemed in our Society ; and his Wife a noted Wo- man for being helpful to, and vifiting the Sick; She chofe the Houfe of Mourning, rather tHan the Houfe of Mirth. Thefe were worthy Antients, who made peaceable and good Ends, and to whom may be pro- perly applied that remarkable Text of Scripture -,
1727. Mark the Upright, and heboid the Juft, for the End of y^^^*^ that Man is Peace.
toBartg^ In the Second Month 1727, I proceeded on a iZnTof'^ Voyage to Barbados on Account of Bufinefs, for the
Trade. SuppOtC
THOMAS CHALKLET, 203
Support of my Family, and in order to difcharge my 1727. juft Debts, which were occafioned by great LoiTes by v*/Sr>s Sea and Land. Many of my Friends were kind to me, and fent a Cargo of Goods, in the Sloop John^ Anthony Peel Matter, configned to me for Sales and Returns. When the Veffei was loaded, fhe proceeded down the River, and I went by Land to Salem, and was at Meeting there on Firft-day, and on Third-day went aboard the Sloop at Elfenhorough : On the 8ch of the Second Month, we took in our Boat and Anchors, and proceeded to Sea. From Elfenhorough and the Capes I wrote to my Wife, giving her an Account how it was with me, and encouraged her to bear my > Abfence wich Patience : It was indeed very hard for us to part,
I may not omit taking Notice of an Exercife which I felt one Night as I lay on my Bed in Philadelphia (on the 2ift of the Firft Month, my Sleep being taken from me) which I recollefted and wrote down on board the aforefaid VelTel, and was in this Manner, mz.
* That the Lord was angry with the People of ' Philadelphia and PenfyhaniUy becaufe of the great
* Sins and Wickednefs which were committed by the ' Inhabitants, in Publick Houfes, and elfewhere : ' and that the Lord was angry with the Magiftrates ' alfo, becaufe they ufe not their Power as they might
* do, in order to fupprefs Wickednefs ; and do nor, ' fo much as they ought, put the Laws already made ' in Execution againft Prophanenefs and Immorality : ' And the Lord is angry with the Reprefentatives of « the People of the Land, becaufe they take not fo
* much Care to fupprefs Vice and Wickednefs, and
* wicked Houfes, in which our Youth are grofsly cor- ' rupted, as they ought to do : And alfo the Lord is
* angry with many of the better Sort of the People,
* becaufe they feek after and love the Things of this
* World, more than the Things of his Kingdom :
And
204 lie JOURNAL of
1727. ' And It was fliewed me, that the Anger of the Moft <y\^ ' High would ftill be againft us, until there was a ' greater Reformation in thefe Things.' [// is worthy of Commendation, that our Governor, Thomas Lloyd, Jome times in the Evenings before he went to Reft, us^d to go in Perfon to Puhlick Houfes^ and order the People, he found there, to their own Houfes, till, at lengthy he was indrumental to promote better Order, and did, in a great Meafure, fupprefs Vice and Immorality in the City.'\
For fome Days after we were at Sea, the Weather was pleafant, and we had our Health, for which my Heart was truly thankful. I exhorted the Sailors a- ^ gainft Swearing ; and tho' they had been much us*d to it, they left it off", fo that it was rare to hear any of them fwear *, for which Reformation, fo far, I was glad. I lent and gave them feveral good Books, which they read, and fhewed much Refpedl: to me : But foon after the Wind was contrary ffor fome Days) and fome in the Veffel were quarreliome. I afk*d them what they thought of the Saying of Chrift, viz. If a liian Jmite thee on the Cheek, turn to him the other alfo ? At which they were filent, and better conditioned to one another afterwards, and we had fome Reformation both from Fighting and Swearing. This Voyage I was not fo Sea-fick as I formerly had been (though I had, before I left Home, fome uneafy Thoughts about my ufualjy being Sea-fick) which I took as a peculiar Favour from Heaven. A- bout the Latitude of 20 Degrees Norths we met with Calms and contrary Winds, which was very hard for fome in the Vefiel to bear, they putting themfelves much out of Temper about it ; as for my own Part, I had been us'd to Difappointments, and therefore did not fomuch mind it. I fpent pretty much of my Time in reading and writing, and God being gracious, it v/as, in the main, a comfortable Hme to me -, and I enjoyed my Health as well as ever I did at Sea in my Life, for w^hich I often breathed
forth
THOMAS CHALKLET, 205
forth inward Thanks to the Almighty. On the 5th 1727. of the Third Month we arrived at Barbadoes, and I n-''"v^^ was lovingly received by our Friends, but came to a ^^''^'^^o*'' very low Market for my Goods.
I vificed Friends Meetings on the Illand, and had feveral open Meetings at Bridge-Town, and Spight's Bridge^ Town, and likewife at Pumpkin-Hilly and the Spring. Jj*'"/. On the Day of Pentecoft (lb called) we had a Meet r/w», &c. ing at Bridge-Town^ in which was fhewn, the Work and Operation of God's Spirit on the Old World, and under the Law ; and the everlafling Duration and Operation of the fame holy Spirit under the Gofpel Difpenfation, which^ Chrift faid, Jhould abide for ever. At the Quarterly- meeting at Spighfs Town^ was Judge Allen, and the Captain of the Man of War ftationed there, with feveral others, not of our Society. I was much drawn forth in this Meeting to fpeak of the Power of the Father, Son, and the Spirit, opening to the People how we had been mifreprefented, in refpedt to our Belief in the Trinity, or the holy Three which bear Record in Heaven, the Fat her ^ Word, and Spirit^ which Three are One ; for that it was clear and plain, that we are more orthodox in the Belief in the Deity, than thofe who do not believe in the Operation of the holy Ghoft ; as alfo that none could be true Chriftians without it. It was queried. How could they be clear in their Belief in the holy Trinity, or the Three that bear Record in Heaven^ who believe the ho- ly Spirit is ceafed in his Operations, Gifts, or imme- diate Revelations, and, if ceafed, when, and where, to whom, and how ? The People were very fober and attentive, and flaid all the Time, and after the Meet- ing was done fome Time, divers exprelTed their Satis- fa(5lion Vv^ith what' was faid. My good Friend Peter Sharp, of Maryland, was with me at this Meeting, on whofe Account fome of the People came. He had good Service in the Meeting, and I was giad of his Company in this Ifland, where we joyfully met and
O 4 parted
2o6 ^eJOVRNAL of
1727. parted in the Love of Chrift. At this Meeting we had each of us a Certificate from Friends, fignifying tlieir Unity with our Coiive rations and Services. The laft Meeting I had r ; Barbadoes^ was at Spight^^-Town, on a Firft-day ; i- vvas a folid, good Meeting, in which I took my leave of Friends there, and exhorted them to believe in and hear Chiifl, he being a Teacher that could not be removed from them, as Mm often were *, and, though they were but ftw, they were defired to meet in Chrift's Name ; and I had to fht w them the Difference between us and other Chriftian Profelfors, ■who hold no publick Worfhip, if there be no outward Teacher : Whereas, if but Two or Three meet in the Name of Chrift, he has promifed to be in the midft of them •, and he is the beft Teacher we can hive.
On the 14th of the Fourth Month we fet Sail from this IQand, and, for the moft Part, had fair Weather and fair Winds, and faw feveral Ships, but fpoke with none,
I was one Evening leaning over the Side of the Vef- fel, as being very lonefome (having little Converfation with any in the Veffel, for divers Reafons) I turned from all outward Things to the Lord, and was glad to feel his Prefence and Goodnefs, which was a Com- fort to me in my lonefome State ; and as my Travels and Concerns had called and caufed me to be much on the Seas, it alfo pleafed my good and gracious God, to fupport me thereon many Times, in divers Trials, Temptations, and Exercifes ; for all which, I bow in awful Reverence before him, and return Thankfgiving and Praife to his great Name.
The I ft of the Fifth Month, about Noon, we came to the Ca^es of Delaware, and failed up the Bay ; but, in a little Time, we touch'd the Ground with our VelTel feveral Times •, there being little Wind, we got no Harm ; but two Hours after, or thereabouts, a Guft, or Storm of Wind, took us, which, if it had met with us on the Shoals where we ftruck, in all
Likelihood
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 207
Likelihood we muft have periflied ; which I took to 1727. be a remarkable Deliverance. Next Tide we got to C/VX> Newcajlle^ and, it being Firft-day, I had a Meeting with Friends there, with which we were greatly re- frefhed in the Lord, and in one another. After Meeting I went on board the Sloop, and, having a fair Wind, we failed for Philadelphia, where we arriv- ed about the eleventh Hour, lodged that Night at Paul Prejlon^s, and next Day went home to my Fa- mily at Frankfort^ where my Wife, Children, and Servants, received me with much Rejoicing.
When I was in Barbadoes, P. M. who accompanied me from Bridge-Town to Windward to Counfellor PFeek^s^ told me. That when I was in the IJland lefore, he and I had fome Difcourfe concerning the life of the Sword, he then {not being of our Society) wore a Szvord^ but now had left it off, and bis Buji- tiefs alfo, which was worth fome Hundreds a Tear. I had reminded him of Chrift's Words, that, Thofe who take the Sword, fhould perifh with the Sword, Mat. xxvi. 52. and, Reftfl not Evil, and if a Man finite thee on one Cheeky turn the other alfo : Love EnemieSy do Good to them that hate you, fray for them who defpite- f idly life you, and perfecute you. After I had us'd thefe Arguments, he afk'd me. If one came to kill me, would I not kill rather than he killed ? I told him. No » Jo far ^ as I know my own Heart, I had rather be killed than kill. He faid. That was firange, and defired to know what Reafon I could give for it. I told him. That I being innocent^ if 1 were killed in my Body, my Soul Plight be happy ; but if I killed him, he dying in his IVickednefs, would, confequently, he unhoppy ; and if I were killed ^ he might live to repent ; but if 1 killed him-^ he would have no Time to repent ; fo that, if he killed me, I fhould have much the better, both in refpeol to tnyfelf and to hitn. This Difcourfe had made fo much Imprefiion, and fo afFedled him, that he faid, lie could not but often remember it. And when we parted
at
2oS ne JOVRN AL Of
1727. at Bridge-Toum^ we embraced each other, in open sy^'Y^^ Arms of Chriftian Love, far from that which would hurt or deftroy.
After I had been at home fome Time, I vifited the Meetings at Philadelphia^ Burlington^ and German-town, in which Places I had Service of divers Kinds, and was lovingly received by Friends and others.
In the Fifth Month, Jojhua Fielding and John OxJey had a large and fatisfaiflory Meeting at Frankfort. Jojhua came from London on a religious Vifit to Ame- ricaj and having been on divers Iflands, he landed on the Main at South-Carolina^ and from thence travelled thro' the Wildernefs 400 Miles, or more, where nd Fublick Friend had ever travelled before : The Jour- ney was perilou?, but the Lord vvas with him •, who may, in his own Time, make Way for his Servants in thofe defart Places. John Oxley came on the fame Account from Barhadoeu ^J^d had good Service among Friends in his publick Miniftry.
In this Month we thinking it convenient to fend our little Children to School, and not having a School- mafter of our Society near us, concluded to put our Son and Daughter under the Care of Nathaniel PP^alton, to whom I thought it my Duty to v/rite a few Lines about the Salutation and Language I would have them irain'd up in, which were on this wife, viz.
Frankfort, ^oth of the ^th Month, 1727.
Loving Friend Nathaniel Walton, ' T HOPE thou wilt excufe this Freedom which I « 1 take with thee, in writing this on Account of my < Children, in thefe Particulars, viz. Refpe6ting the ' Complement of" the Hat, and Courtefying, the Prac- * tice thereof being againft my profefTed Principle^ ' ift, Becaufe I find nothing like it in the Bible -, but, ' as 1 think, the contrary. Thou knows the PafTage ' of the Three Children of God, who ftood covered be-
' fore
THOMAS CHALKLET, 209
« fore a mighty Monarch ; znd Mordecai, who could 1727.
« not bow to great Raman : And, sdly, I believe Kj'^'^O
^ thofe Pradlices derived from vain, proud Man,
« And as to Language, I defire my Children may not
« be permitted to ule the plural Language to a fingle
« Perfon ; but I pray thee to learn them to fay, Thee^
« and 'ihou^ and 27?)?, and to fpeak it properly (divers
« ufing it improperly) and the rather I defire it, be-
« caufe *tis all along ufed in the divine infpired ho-
* ly Writings. I fuppofe thou art not a Stranger of its
< Rife being from the Grandeur and Apoftacy of the
< Romijh Church ♦, and, alfo, that Tou to a fingle ' Perlon, is not confonant to the Book of God, nor « the true Rules of Grammar.— I know it is generally *i objefted, ^hat the End of Speech is to be under - « flood — But it is underftood better in and according ' to the Language of God, Chrifl, and the holy Ghoft,
< in the Bible, and the Language of Kings, and all ' People, as we read it in the holy Scriptures, why
< then fhould we be afhamed of it, or Ihun it, and « bring in and uphold a Cuftom contrary to it ? The
* fame Care I would have thee take, about the Names
* of the Days and Months, which are derived from the « Names of the Gods of the Heathen^ and are not « found in the Bible. I fuppofe I have the Mind of all
* thofe of our Society in the above, it being confonant
* to our Principle and Profefllon, and I write in a Mo- « tionof divine Love to all.
' As to the School-learning of my Children, I leave
* to thy Management, not queftioning thy Ability ' therein ; and if they want Corredlion, fpare not the,
* Rod.
' I hope thou wilt obferve this Direction in Teach-
* in my Children, in which thou wilt oblige thy al-
* fured Friend,'
r. C.
The
it
210 r^^ JOURNAL 0/
3727. The latter End of the Fifth, and the Beginning of n^/'St"^ the Sixth Months, the Weather was exceeding hot, fo that divers People died fuddenly of the Heat (as it was fuppofed.)
The Beginning of the Sixth Month I was at the jttH^toH. Youths-meeting at Ahington^ which was large, and open to many ; and I not having been there fince I came from Sea, divers exprefTed their Gladnefs to fee me •, and we were that Day favoured with fome Show- ers, both celeftial and elementary, to our Comfort. In the fame Month I was alfo at the Youths-meet- fhiiadeU ing in Philadelphia : It had been a fickly Time, but ^ '"' many had recovered. That Paflage opened on my Mind, to fpeak of in the Meeting, concerning the Lepers^ which Chrift cleanfed and healed, being ten in Number, and that but one came to return Thanks to God, for being healed, and reftored to Health, Luke xvii. 12. Friends were exhorted to prize their Health, and to fhew their Thankfulnefs to God, the Giver of it, by fearing and ferving him, and taking heed to Chrift, the Word in their Hearts. The Meeting was in a good, folid Frame, and we praifed the Lord to- gether, and gave him Thanks for his merciful Vilita- tion.
About this Time I heard of the Death of our King (G EORG E the Firjl) a Prince whom I loved and honoured ; which News was very forrowful to me on divers Accounts : His Love and Kindnefs to our So- ciety, was well worthy our grateful Remembrance.
On a Third-day, being our Week-day-meeting at Frankfort^ Elizabeth tVhartnaby and Mary Smith were there : It was a comfortable Opportunity. They were two Nights at my Honfe. Elizabeth was pre- paring to leave this Lapd for Barbadoes, and Europe^ intending a religious Vifit to Friends.
"I The 20th of the Sixth Month, going into my Clo-
. j^ fet, I there met with a Paper of my Son-in-Law IJaac
->■" s Brown'Sy
"THOMAS CHALKLET, %n
BrCiVn^s, and finding the Contents were religious, as I 1727. had done of feveral of his late Writings, I found it on v^Sr^ my Mind co write to him after this Manner :
Dear Son Ifaac, ' XJY feveral Writings of thine (of late) I perceive a Letter ' X3 t^^^ ^ goo<^ Thing is at work in thy Mind, the srlt^^
* which I pray the All-wife and Infinite Being to pro-
* mote in thy Heart, to thy eternal Salvation, and ' his Glory. I now begin to be in fome Hopes that
* my Prayers and Tears for thee, in the Lord*s Time, ' may be anfwered ; And I do believe, if thou keeps
* low in thy Mind, that God will more and more vifit ' thee. The Advice of David to his Son Solomon,
* when he alfo gave him the Kingdom, comes before
* my Mind to give thee.— ikfy Son, know thou the God
* of thy Father, and ferve him with aperfe5l Hearty and
* with a willing Mind •, for the Lord fearcheth all
* Hearts, and underfiandeth all the hnaginations of ths ' 'Thoughts ', if thou feek him, he will be found of thee j ' hut if thou forfake him^ he will caft thee off for ever^
* I Chron. xxviii. 9. Dear Ifaac, this was Counfel ' from one of the greateil and befl of Kings, to a wife
* young Prince, who petirioned the Almighty for di-
* vine Wifdom, before Riches, or Honour, or long
* Life ; which Peiirion fo pleafed God, that he an-
* fwered his Requeft, and, over and above, blefied ' him in an extraordinary Manner.
' I perceive thou art inclined to read pretty much : ' I pray thee, that thy chief Study in Books may be < the holy Scriptures. Let all other Books (tho* of « Ufe, and good, in their Places) be fubfervient to ' them ; for their Authority, of all other Writings
* (to the true Believers in Chrift) are moft divine -,
* they having a fupernatural Spring and divine Evi- ' dence in them to the virtuous and pious Readers.
* Thou, my Son, wilt much comfort the Heart of thy
* tender Mother, and of me thy loving and careful
' Father,
212 7'k ]0 VrLNAL of
1725. ' Father, if thou follows and perfeveres in the Ways U'^'Sj ' of Virtue and Truth; which, that thou mayeft, ' is the Prayer of thy afFedionate Father-in- Law.
r. c.
The latter End of the Sixth Month, I went to the
General-meeting of Minifters and Elders for the £aji
Part of New-Jerfey, and to the Quarterly and Youths-
Biiriington. meeting at Burtington, and to a General-meeting at
^tony- Slony-Brooky and to the Quarterly-meeting of the Coun-
£u7kl' ty of Bucks John Oxleyy of Barhadoes, and Jojhua
County. Fielding, of London, were at divers of thofe Meetings, wherein we had open, feafoniible Opportunities ; and I had a large, affecfling Account from ye?/?'^*^, of his long and difBcult Travels in the Service of Truth to the Wefi- India Ifles, and thence to South-Carolina, from whence he came thro' the Wildernefs by Land, thro* North-Carolina, Virginia, &c. to this Province. Teeaiy- The i6thof the Seventh Month began our Yearly-
S5/S^* meeting at Philadelphia, which was attended with the fhia. gracious Prefence of God, to the Comfort and great Satisfaction of many Souls. In this Meeting divers young Men and young Women appeared, who were lately come forth in the Minifiiry, and, as I believe, had received a Meafure of the Gift of Chrift's GofpeU which Wds Caufe of Rejoicing to the Faithful among us, and excited our Thankfgiving and Praifes to the Al- mighty Lord of Heaven and Earth
At this Meeting we had the Company of four Mi- nifters from Great-Britain^ and one from Barbadoes, and many from divers other Parts, it being a very large Gathering of fome Thoufands of People (as was believedj in which many were ftrengchened in their Faith in Chrifl, and comforted thro* the Power of the holy Ghoft, that blefTed Comforter, v/hich Chrifl promi- fedto his Church, who Jhould be with them for ever^ and guide the?n into all Truth,
■ Next
rnOMAS CHALKLET. 213
P<rnfa-wken,
Next Firft-day after the Yearly-meeting, I, with i^.^ feveral of my Neighbours, went over Delaware to a ' Meeting up Penfawken Creek j in which the wonder- ful Love of God was declared, in fending his Son upon Earth, who, as he was Man, died for Man, and is now by his Spirit prefent with all thofe that truly be- Jieve in him; he being the Meffenger of the Cove, nant of God to Mankind.— And on Second-day, being the 25th of the Seventh Month, I had the for- rowful Tidings ot the Death of my beloved Friend James Lord-, who, on his Death-bed, defired that I might be fent for to his Burial. In the Confideration of that Chriftian Love that was between us, I think I may truly note. That we were always glad to meet each other,; therefore the Thoughts of this fo fudden Change, and final Parting, brought, for the prefent, a Sadnefs and Heavinefs over my Mind; confidering his Station in that Neighbourhood, and Service in that Congregation to which he did belong ; for therein he was well-beloved, and very ferviceable.
And Oh 1 The Lofs that his dear Wife and tender Children will have of him, really affedls me with Sor- row in penning thefe Notes; but the Sorrow, in thefe Things, is all on our Side; for he, without doubt, is at Reft with his great Mailer in Keaven. We had a larger Meeting at his Funeral, than ever was known to be there before (as an anricnt Friend told mej which was folemn and ferviceable to many.
Some Time after, having been at divers Meetings about home, John Oxley and I, in Company, vifited Friends on Long-Ifland. At Flufmng we were at the ^^^ _, Burial of Jonathan Dickenfon: Many People, of divers ifland". Perfwafions, were at the Meeting on that Occafion,
and were very fober and attentive.-; 1 was at the
Yearly-meeting for the South-fide of the Ifland, at a V\2iCtQ2,\\tdSeccataug^ which Meeting was large, ma-- ny Friends and others coming to it over the Plains. I was afterwards at the Yearly -meeting at Shrewjhury^ Shrewr-
214 !77j^ JOURNAL 0/
,^2 7. '" ^^fi-J^^fi'^f which held three Days, and was very l^.*-V>0 ^^'■§^5 and the laft Day the People were very ftill— Jo/hua Fielding was at this Meeting, and was therein concerned to preach the Gofpel of Chrift with good Authority, and Matter fuitable to a true Gofpel-mini- fter •, John Oxley was ill of a Fever, fo that he could not be there j but there were Brethren from divers Parts, and the Power and Prefence of the Moft High was with and among us -, blefifcd be his Name. RahMwaj' I was alfo at Rohaway River, where was a folid, good Meeting. From thence I returned Home, hav- ing been abroad about a Month, and at above twenty Meetings, and travelled about 350 Miles.
In the Eighth Month, at Frankfort^ we had three frimkfort- Burials outofone Houfe, at one Time ; the Mother, Daughter, and Grand-daughter ('of which 1 had never known the like Inftances before) on this Occafion we had the Company of many Neighbours, and a very folemn Meeting at our Meeting-houfe at Frankfort. 9hUadei* About this Time I was at divers Meetingsac Phila- fhia. delphia^ Abington^ and Burlington: We had an Even- urtngton, j^g. meeting at Burlington with Richard Sfnith, junior; who had been fo ill that he could not get out to Meet- ings for fome Months: It was fuch a fatisfadlory Meet- ing, that he, and I, and others that were there, will not eafily forget, our Hearts being broken together. The World ftill continued to frown upon me ; but, tho' my Cafe was fuch in this World, yet, at Times, I had great Confolacion in Chriflj and, in the Midft of my Troubles, when I looked back, I could truly fay, That I had not been extravagant, but frugal ; uox. covetous, hut charitable \ not idle, but indujlrious ', not willing to be fuch an Infidel as not to take Care for my Family ; it was fome folid Comfort to my Mind ; and I blefs the Almighty, that I always preferr'd his Work and Service to my own, and therein had great Peace. This I can alfo fay, if it were the lafl 1 fhould fay, That I never wilfully, or knowingly, wrong*d
any
THOMAS CHALKLET: 215
any Man, Woman, or Child, fince I came to Years 1727. of Difcrerion ; and yet I have nothing to boafl: of ; it is the Lord's Grace and Mercy which faveth us.
Having Occafion to make another Voyage to Bar- hadoest I wrote to the Teacher of my Children as fol- loweth :
Frankforty 10th of the loth Month, 1727.
Loving Friend^
* T BEING going to Barhadoes^ leave the Charge ' JL of my little Children to thy Care, not doubting
* tliy Management of them, by their growing in their ' Learning, pleafe to inftrudl them to Sobriety, and
* the Fear of God, and Faith in Chrifl i and, if I ' never Ihould fee them or thee any more four Lives
* being uncertain in this World) pray let them know,
* that it was their Father's Will and Defire, That they
* fhould mind their Learning, and, above all Things, ' mind the Fear of the molt Hi^h. When my little ' Daughter hath read her Teilament thro*, I would
* have her go to Writing j and George the fame, on ' the fame Terms, Pleafe to learn them the \J\q of ' Chapter and Verfe, that if any afk them where they ' are learning, they may tell. And, kind Friend, in-
* afmuch as I perceive thou haft followed my former
* Diredtions, 1 look on myfelf obliged to thee ;
* therefore am fo much the more iree: to impart my ' Mind to thee, now on my Departure i which, with
* real Love, is from thy loving Friend,
r. c.
' p. S. Although my Care is great for my Children^
* learning their Books, yet it is much more fo as to ' their learning true Piety and Virtue.*
On the 25th of the Tenth Month we fct fail from Philadelphia, in the Sloop Dove, Ofwald Peel Mafter ; having taken a folemn Farewel of my dear Wife, Chil- dren, and Friends, in order for the Support of my
P Family^
ii6 r/;^ JOUR N AL ^
1727. Family, and anfwering my juft Debts, which I had sX"V*^*^ contradled. On the 27th Day of the Month, in the At Sea, Evening, we took in our Boat, and put to Sea; had fome rough Weather in our Paffage, but lived com- fortably i we being all loving and obliging one to another. On the 1 5th of the Eleventh Month we fafely Bariaiaes. arrived at Spight's 'Town in Barhadoes ; and the 18th, between the Hours of five and fix in the Morning, we An Earth, felt the greateft Earthquake that I had ever felt ; hav- ^"* ^' ing been lenfible of Three, one at London, one at Ja' maica, and one at Frankfort in Penfyhania. I was thankful in my Heart to the Lord for my fafe Arri- val, and that we were all preferved fafe in our flormy Paflage, and deep loaded Veffel -, one VefTel being loft that came out a little Time before us, and ano- ther, which came from our Port to this Ifland a few Days fooner than we, loft three Men by the Violence of the Storm, and received much Damage otherwife ; one of them being a Neighbour of mine, with whom I was well acquainted, it afFedled my Mind very much. I vifitcd Friends Meetings in Barhadoes, and fome di- vers Times over ; and had Occafion in fome Meetings to mention the Earthquake, which I told them I did be- lieve was aVifitation from the Almighty, in order to put People in mind of Mortality, and to reform them from the Evil of their Ways, and call them to Repentance. While I was in Barhadoes, Francis Gamble died, whomlwenttovifit feveral Times in his Sicknefs: At his Funeral was a large Gathering of his Neighbours, and others j and divers not of our Society, exprefTed their Satisfaction with the Meeting. The People in and about Spighl^S'Town in Barhadoes, were very loving and kind to me, more than I ever had obferved be- tore i even fome vile, prophane Men, whom I could not forbear to reprove for their Swearing, and taking the lacred Name in vain, yet they Ihew'd Refped, - notwithftanding I reproved them fharply. Who can take the facrcd Name of God into their Mouths in vain,
and
"THOMAS CH^ALKLET. 217
and be guiltlefs ? Or who can hear it, and forbear 1727. reproving it, without being remifs in their Duty ? \y^'^ This great Evil is too frequently pradifed in this rich . (poorj Ifland of Barhadoes (rich in Earthly, but poor in Heavenly Treafure) which caufed me many Times to mourn in fecret before the Almighty, praying him for the Reformation of the People, for Chrift's fake, and for the Glory of his own eternal Name.
The 27th of the Firft Month 1728, having done 172R. my ^^^^ntkin Barhadoes, and feen Friends generally, v-/^v*^ an Opportunity offered for my Return home, in the Brigantine Sarah and Mar'j^ Samuel Gallop Mafter, AtSex; bound for Burlington^ in Company with William Bury and William Callender^ both of Barhadoes. Our Mafter was exceeding kind to us in the Voyage. The Wind hanging Northerly, we could not go to Windward of Martinico, but drove to Leeward, and failed by the Ides of Luciaj Alartinico^ Dominica, Guardakupe^ Antigua, Montjerrat^ Rodondo, Nevis, CbriJlopher^Si Sta- tia, Saba, Martins, Anguilla, Bartholomew's,, SGinhr;- ro, and four other fmall Iflands, which are culled ^e Saints. It was very pleafant failing by tiicfe Iflands, only fome of them were fo exceeding high, that in fome Places we were becaim'd, and che Clouds appear'd below the Tops of divers of the Mountains-. At ChriJtopher*s> f which is counted the higheil of them) there being a fmall River of good frefh Water, we fent our Boat on fliore for fome, having none very good on board : We lay off and on about two Hours, but did not come to. I was thankful for this Water, is being my conftant Drink ; it was alfo very fervice- able to the People on board. After we left the Ifleof Sombrero, we faw a Sail, which we thought ftood after us, and hearing at Chrijlopher^s that leveral Spani/h Privateers were on that Coaft, our Mafter, and fome others on board, were a little furprized ; but we foon left her out of Sight, and we afterwards went pleafant- Jy on our Way till we came to the Latitude oi Ber-
P 2 mudas.
2i8 ^/^^ JOURNAL 0/
1728. mudas, where the Winds blew frelli, and much againft V'^S'"^-' us ; and this Winter having been very hard, we felt the fharp Blafts of the latter End of it. We had a Paflage of about thirty Days, and came very pleafant- ly up the Bay and River •, and it pleafed God that I got home once more to my beloved Wife and Chil- dren, and was joyfully received by all my Family, whom I found in a good Degree of Health *, for which frtjikforr. I did (as I had Occafion to do) blefs and praife the great Name of the moll High, who is worthy for ever. After I came home, I was at many Meetings in Ftr.ryivtnia "Penfylvama and Jerfey^ viz. at Philadelphia y Burling' •n Jtritj. ^^^^^ Brifiol, Biberry, Frankfort^ German-town^ New- Hanover^ Crofwicks^ &c. in all which Meetings I had fome Service to Friends Satisfaction, and was comfort- ed with the Goodnefs of God in the Midft of my Af- Muriin^toH, fliftions. — My Bufinefs lying much at Burlington, I fpent pretty much of my Time there for feveral Weeks ; where my Friends manifefted a tender and hearty Refped towards me, and fympathized with me in my Troubles and Travels -, and there I prepared for another Voyage ; for I was fully refolved, thro' divine Afliflance, to pay all my juft Debts fwhich I contrafted, and lay on me, through many LolTes) or elfe to die in the Purfuit of it ; in which Refolve I had inward Peace and Satisfadion •, though fuch La- bour, Travel, and Separation from my Family, was a great Crofs to Nature.
On the 14th of the Fifth Month we went on board the Brigantine Sarah and Mary^ Samuel Gallop Mailer, ioT Barb ado es ', and on the 16th we failed down the At Sea: Bay, and put to Sea, and I wrote a loving, tender Letter, to my Wife and Family, and another to my »iends at Burlington. We had fair Winds for about two Weeks, after which they were contrary for feve- ral Days, during which two of our Men had a Fever, and our VefTel proved leaky (though tight in fmooth W^ater) which was fome Concern to us, and obliged
us
THOMAS CHALKLET. 219
us to pump every half Hour i but the Leak being 1728. much the fame, while at Sea, we were the more eafy tyVNJ about it : I took care of thofe two People that were fick, who foon recovered. The 3d and 4th Days of the Sixth Month, it was very windy, with Light- ning, Thunder, and Rain ; in which rough Weather one of our beft Sailors put his Shoulder out of Joint, and they brought him to me to fee if 1 could do him any Service ; I was not forward to meddle ; but the Man and the People believing, if I would undertake for him, I might help him ; I told them, that tho* I did not underftand Bone-fetting, I would inftrud them the bcft I could ; then I ordered him to fet down up- on the Deck, and to be ftript to the Waift, and got a round Piece of Wood as thick as his Arm, and wrapt a Piece of Cloth about it, that it might not bruife his Flelh, and put it under his Arm, and ordered two Men, one at each End of it, to lift up ftrongly, and a third Man to ftretch his Arm out, and keep it down withal ; which being done, the Bone went into its Place ; for which I was thankful in my Heart to the Almighty. — About the loth of the Sixth Month we fafely arrived at Sptghi*s Town in Barbadoes, being the Berbaieei. Firft-day of the Week. From whence I had an Opportu- nity, hy Alexander Seaton^ Mafter of a Veffel bound to Penfjlvania^ to fend an Account of our fate Arrival. I had many Meetings in thellland, and made fevera! Vifits to divers fick Perfons, one of which was particu- larly to the Satisfadion of the Perfon vifited and his Relations : He died, and was buried at HeathcoU*s Bayy where we had a large Meeting at our Meeting- houfe, where was many People, and it was a good, feafonable Opportunity ; in which I had Occafion to remind them of their Mortality, and prefs them to a holy Life, the Way to a happy Immortality. I had divers Meetings at Bridge-Town, Spighi^s-Town, and the Spring ; where the Teftimony of Chfifl's Gofpel was well received. And after a Stay of three Weeks,
P ^ i kfc
±20 rhe ]OUK'N Ah of
I left Barhadoes on the ift of the Seventh Month, and
took my Paflage in the Amity^ Charles Hargrave
A' Sea. Mafter, who was very friendly to me in my Paflage, as
were all on board. We arrived at our Port without
cafting Anchor in all our Voyage, and laid the Vef-
Phiiadei- fel to the Wharfe at Philadelphia ; and on my land-
fhia. mgl immediately went into the Meeting of Minifters
and Elders (it being juft Meeting Time) where we
were much comforted together in Chrift •, after which
I went home, being lovingly received by my Wife and
Family, having been from home about ten Weeks.
After I came home from this Voyage, I vifited the Meetings of Friends at Philadelphia^ Frankfort^ Ger- man-town, ihe Falls of Delaware^ Burlington, New- Ha- nover^ Mount-Holly^ Fair-Hill. &c.
The 2d of the Ninth Month I was at the Quarterly- miadei- meeting of Minifters and Elders at Philadelphia^ where ''*"'• I met with Jofeph "Taylor^ a Friend, who had vifited our
Meetings pretty generally on the Continent o^ America, m the Miniftry of the Gofpel, and was now on his Re- turn homewards, with whofe Vifit Friends had good Unity, and certified the fame to cur Brethren of the Meeting where he lived in Great- Britain,
After this I was at divers Meetings in Penfylvania and Jerfey *, and the latter End of the Ninth Month, Sarahy the Wife of Jeremiah Elfreth^ died very fud- denly, having been the Day before walking in her Garden ; flie was a fober, young Woman, and her Death much lamented ; her Burial occafioned my Stay at Philadelphia, v/hich I had divers Times Ihun- «ed, becaufe a Concern had been on me for fome I'ime, t<.) declare to the People of that City, That the Lord was angry with the Legiflators of Penfjlva- nia^ b^caule they were not fo much concern'd to pro- mote Religion and Piety as they ought, and to make fuch Laws as might prevent the exceflive Increafe of Publick Houfes, which often prove Seminaries of Satan , but urove to promote Parties more than Reli-
THOMAS CHALKLET, 221
gion : And that the Lord was angry with the Magi- 1728; ftrates, becaufe they did not lb much as they might, \y^y^ and ought to do, put thofe good and wholefome Laws in Execution, which were already made, againfl Vice and Immorality : And that the Lord was angry with fome of the better Sort of People, becaufe they feek and mind the Things of this World, more than the Things of God and his Kingdom. But I was helped to clear myfelf in the Morning-meeting, to the Satisfaction of many of the Honefl-hearted, and un- burden my Mind of a great Exercife that I had long lain under.
In the Afternoon We had a large Meeting at the Bank-meeting-houfe, occafioned by the aforeliiid Bu- rial ; the Refurreflion of the Dead was declared in that Meeting, according to the Doflrine of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, the great Author of the Chriftian Reli- gion, and alfo of that eminent Apottle fW; and that old and falfe Calumny, that our Society denied the Refurredion of the Dead, was publickly denied and refuted. The People were exhorted to live well, that they might die well ; and then they need noc doubt but that they would rife well at the Refurre<5tion in the laft Day : The Meeting concluded with Praife to the Almighty for all his Mercies, and Prayer to him, that he would fandify that Day's Service to the People.
In the Tenth Month I prepared for another Voyage to the Ifland of Barhadoes^ and had the Ship Brijlol Uope^ confign'd to me, but the Winter letting in fooner than common, caufed our Stay much longer than we expefted, whereby I had the Opportunity to vilit divers Meetings, 2ls Burlington, the Falls of Del a- eunh^roK ware, Nejhaminy, tVrighth Town, and Philadelphia, In count this City a Concern was on my Mind to declare toFhUaMi the People, that the Almighty had fliewed me, that*^''"^'* he had often vilited them in Philadelphia and Penjyl- vania^ with his own Hand, and with his own Rod ;
P 4 but
222 Tie J OVR'N AL of
1728. but if that did not work the defigned End, for which s^V^-* he vifited them (of which they v/ere told alfo before it came to pafs) he then would chaftife them with the Rod of Man, and this was plainly fpoken to me in my own Habitation, as tho' it had been the Voice of a Man, though it was not vocal.
The 12th of the Eleventh Month, being Firfl-day, I was at Horjham Meeting, and had a tender bowing Time therein ; and in my Way home vifited fome Friends who were fick, it being a Time of general Vifitation in thofe Parts, and the next Seventh Day I was at the Meeting of Minifters and Elders at 'Phila- delphia^ where we had a good Meeting *, here I was earneftiy defired to be at the Funeral of Edmund Orp- frMkfert. woody the eldeft Friend belonging to Frankfort Meet- ing i but was in a Strait, this Friend, being my Neigh- bour, and I had before engaged to be at the Burial of one with whom I had been acquainted near 40 Years, therefore I did my Endeavour to be at both, being each of them buried in the Afternoon, and fives Miles dif- tant ; the Days being fhort alfo, divers told me it was imprafticable ; I told them they might be miftaken, as they were, for though we had a large Meeting, and the Company of Rowland li ilfon^ from Britain, who had large and good Service therein, yet after Meeting we mounted and got to Pbiladelphiay about a Quarter of an Flour after the Corps was brought into the Meet- ing-houfe, as I was informed ; we had a large, and as I thought, a good Meeting, after which I went home, being weary in my Body, but thankful in my Heart, that the Almighty had been with us, and helped us to perform that Day's Service.
On the 20th of the Eleventh Month, and Second- day of the Week, I went into a Piece of Ground (which I was clearing for Meadowj in order to give Diredions to the Workmen, and one of the Trees fell contrary to the Kerf, and alfo to the Wind, which was then at North Weft, and when I faw it falling tO"
wards
THOMAS CHALKLE2Z 223
v/afds me, I ran from it, but before I could get out of 1728, the Way, it fell upon me, acrofs my Back, from my <n^"V"n- Shoulder to my Hip?, and ftruck me down to the Earth, where for fom^ Time I lay fpeechlefs, and in all Likelihood I fhould have been immediately killed, if! had not been providentially prcferved by the Body of the falling Tree lying on a Stump, which prevented irs crufhing me, as I lay on the Ground. A Friend that was hear me with a Horfe, defired the Wood-cutters (when they were recovered from the Surprize, and I to the Ufe of my Speech) t© help me on his Horfe, and I rod'^ home, but in extreme Mifery, and I was un- der great Concern, left I fhould furprize my Wife and Children fuddenly. We fent to Philadelphia for Dr. Griffith Owen^ who came in about two Hours, and let me Blood, and ordered feveral Things to be apply 'd and taken, which thro' divine Favour proved very fervice- able to me ; notwithftanding which I was in great Pain many Days, and long and tedious Nights, not being able either to feed myfelf, nor turn in my Bed, for a great while.— In this Confinement I was at Times fa- voured with a very comfortable Senfe o\ the Prefence of God, whofe Providence is over all his Works ; and as his Love to me was great, fo the Love of his People wasalfo, many of whom, and of my Neighbours, came to fee me, fympathifing with me in my Diflrefs ; but among them I had one oijob\ Comforters, who wick- edly abufed me in this low State. I can fcarce forbear mentioning his Name, having Example for it in holy Writ, but through the Lord's Help PI I put on Charity. The 9th of the Twelfth Montli, I got abroad the firft Time to our Meeting at Frankfort, with which di- vers exprefTed their Gladnefs to fee me there again. In this Meeting I exhorted them to think on Eternity, and to prepare for it, by living Today as tho* they were to die To-morrow ; for I found it by Experience to be needful, and then if fudden Death comes, it will not furprize us.
As
224 Tie JOVKN AL of
1728. As I now found it continue my Bufinefs to go to Sea ^-•''V^ for a Livelihood, I undertook the Charge of the Ship TJeia Brijiol Hope^ as Mafter, tho' it was a Way of Living to which I did not incline ; I took Care in our Veilfel that there fliould be no Swearing in my Hearing, nor Drunkennefs to my Knowledge, without Reproof, and if I could not be inftrumental that Way to break them from Swearing and drinking to Excefs, my Manner was, to put them away, fo that we gene- rally had a pretty quiet Ship. We left Philadelphia the 13th of the Twelfth Month, but Storms and con- trary Winds detained us in the River and Bay, fo that we did not get out to Sea till the 21(1 of the faid
At Sea. Month, when the Pilot left us, by whom I wrote to my Wife and Family ; and now I thought I felt the Benefit of the good Wiflies of my beloved and dear Friends I left behind, which did me a great deal of Good, as it often hath done on the like Occafion ; for faithful Friends, and good Chriftians, are as Epiftles written in one anothers Hearts. — In our PafTage we took feveral Dolphins, which were very welcome to us, we having a long PafTage, and our frefli Provifions near fpent. The 19th ot the Firft Month we faw the
Bcriadoer, jQand of BarhddoeSy having had feveral Meetings on board the Ship in this Voyage, the good Effeds I could fee but little of, only for that Day they would be a little more fober, and fome of them addifted to Swearing, did not fwear fo often as they did before.
.^ff'r-brs I'j^g Day following we fafely arrived nt Spight^s-Towtiy ^^"' where we had the next Day a very comfortable Meet- ing for the divine Worfhip of God. The Fifth Day
■py^' following I was at Bridge-town^ at their Week-day- meeting •, and next Firfl-day fbeing the 30th of the MonthJ I was at a Meeting at Pumpkin-hill^ where I was enlarged in the Doftrine of Faith.
After this I went to the Bridge with a Friend from New-England ; we had two good Meetings, it being the General-meeting for the Friends of the Ifland, and
afterwards
THOMAS CHALKLEi: 225
afterwards I with feveral Friends went again to Speight's 1729. Town, and on the 12th of the Second Month, I was at v-^^'V^ the Tbickefs-meetingy at which was Counfellor IVeeks^ Thicket't- Colonel Cbarnocky and Juftice Sims ; I dined with them *"" '"^' at Judge fFeek's, and they difcourfed of what was faid in the Meeting about Dancings I quoting Luther's Words, ' That as many Paces as the Perfon takes in • ' the Dance, fo many Paces or Steps they take to- ' wards Hell :* And I told them, that I had heard feveral had ufed that vain Exercife in our Meeting- houfe, which was appointed for the Worfliip of God, and i faid, I hoped for the future it would be fo no more ; two of thofe Perfons who danced in our Meet- ing-houfe, were then in the Meeting, tho' I did not know it. This Teftimony fo wrought on the Colonel, that he faid, be could fcarcely feel his Legf Jince I fpoke it ', and the Juftice faid, if thefe iVords be true^ he had taken many Seps towards Hell^ and the Counfellor and Judge faid, It was home Do^rine to fome that wtre there : Divers of them feemed to be touched with the Teftimony of Truth, though not fo folidly as I defired. Soon after I went with JofJnia Byrch to vifit the Governor of the Ifland, Colonel N^orfley^ who treated us with much Freedom and Civility ; he de- fired me to fit down by him, and then called for a Decanter of Wine, of which he kindly offered me a Glafs, bur I told him I chiefly drank Water -, he faid Water is certainly the beft Drink in the World, and told me I was a Credit to my Drink, as I looked as well or better than moft who drank Wine.
In the Second Month I was at a Meeting on a Firft- day at Bridge-town, which was fomewhat larger than Byidge. ufual j it was a good open Time in the Morning, but ''^"' more fo in the Afternoon. At this Meeting there was a Merchant of the Town, whofent to know if our Friends (he not being of our ProfefTion) would make a Con- tribution for me, in confideration of my Loffes. He faid he would contribute as much as any, altho* he
had
226 7:2;^ JOURNAL 0/
1729. had heard me only that one Time ; but he was in- <y\''^^ formed that we received no Money nor Pay for our Preaching ; yet his Good-will I acknowledged.
The 4ch of the Third Month I was at a Meeting at ^^"'"^ the Spring, where I met with Jofipb Gamble, and John Osley and his Wife, and feveral others, not belonging to this particular Meeting, and we were edi- fied together in the Love and Life of Chrift. I was concerned to fpeak of the divers Vifirations and Speak- ings of God to the People fince the World began ; quoting the Words of holy Writ, That, God who [pake to the Fathers by the Prophets^ /peaks now in thoff lajl Days by bis Son, whom he hath appointed Heir of all Things : And that this Difpenfation is the laft and brightefl Difpenfation of all, and is the greateft and moft glorious Manifeftation of God's Love to Mankind ; and that befides this vocal Speaking of Chrift, when in the Body on Earth, he now fpeaks fpiritually ; which fpiritual Speaking of Chrift, in and to the true Church, and true Believers, will out-laft Time, and endure to all Eternity ; the great Lord of all, for his unfpeakable Benefit therein, was praifed and glorified, as being alone worthy.
I had divers other Meetings on the Ifland, which I pafs by, not being willing to be prolix. After a Stay of about nine Weeks we propofed failing. Judge Gray, a very noted Man, and much efteemed among the People, took PalTage with us; ^X'iQjoJhuaByrchy of Bridge-Town, for his Health, and William Callender^ and feveral others, as Merchants. — Though I came on t7w<"''' Account of Trade, our Friends gave me a Certificate that I had good Service among them, and in my out- ward Affairs had gained Efteem among the People, as well as in my Service in preaching Chrift ; all which I acknowledge to be the EfFeds of divine Grace : Di- vers Friends and Acquaintance came to the Sea-lhore at SpeighCs Town, and in a great deal of tender Chriftian Love, and good Defires, we took leave, and
committed
^THOMAS CHALKLET. 227
committed one another to the Protedion of the Al- 1729. mighty. We had a comfortable Paffage, and arrived \/V^ at Philadelphia^ where I was lovingly received by my fhUadii. Wife and Friends. ' '"*
In this Voyage a great and weighty Concern came on my Mind, on Account of the young and rifing Generation, defiring they might be happy in this World, and in that which is to come. And firft, as to this World, < I have taken Notice, that divers of ' the Youth are too apt to wafte their outward Sub-
* ftance, which often is given to them (for when they
* get it themfelves, they are for the mod part more ^ faving of it) and this wafling and fpending, thofe ' Sparks call Generofit'^^ Liheralifj^ Good-nature^ Gen-
* tility^ fine Breeding, and abundance of other line
* Names, not confidering the Labour and Induftry, ' Frugality, Care and Watchings, of their Parents ^ or Anceftors, to get what they have.' May Pa- rents note this well, and not be anxiouily concerned to get much Wealth, which may be a Means to ruin their Pofterity I And truly moft of thefe fpending, * drinking, Company-keeping, gaming, chatting, tippling Youngfters, take a great deal more Care, how they may get Money from others, that they may fpend it, than how to earn ir, or faithfully labour for it them- felves ; they will beg or borrow, and run in Debt,
but take little or no folid Thoughts to pay ; by which Means divers of thofe topping, beggarly Beaus^ and Spenders, have brought both themfelves and Relations, Parents and Friends, to Shame and Difgracc, and fometimes to Poverty, where their Relations and Pa- rents have been too liberal. Let all indulgent Parents note this alfo.
And it any concerned Perfon Ihould advife thofe :n- confiderate Youths of their Evils, *tis much if they gain not their lading Ill-will, and the Epithets of Nig- gards and Covetous, ill-natured, cenforious, four, morofe, ^c. However I fh^ll venture to ftand the
Shock
228 r/je JO VR'SSi AL of
1729. Shock of their Difpleafure, and in as moving Terms L/^VNJ as I can, con fiftent with the Matter on my Mind, en- treat them to confider the End of their fpending, floth- ful, idle Lite (which if continued in) mull needs end in their Ruin, and they may repent when it is too late, crying out. Oh ! thai I had hearkened to the Ad- vice of m'j Father^ and my indulgent Mother ! Oh ! that I had taken the Coimfel of my good Friends in Time, then I had not been in this Condition^ nor in thofe Straits I am now in. This, or worfe, muft at lad inevitably be the Condition of thofe unthinking Time- wafting and Money-fpending, evil Company-keeping young People, of both Sexes. Some of whom, if they can get it, will fpend more in a few Hours, than their Parents can get in fo many Days, which is very unreafonable, as well as unthinking-, for it the indul- gent Parents do not hold their Hands, truly they muft: all fmk together •, and where the Parents have been, what thefe forts of Ypuths call liberal^ whole Families have by fuch Liberality been undone, which is a Cafe CO be lamented by all fober People.
I pray our fpending Ycuths ro confider, how many brave, fine young Men and Women, whole Parents have left them Eltates and handfome Incomes, have by fuch Extravagancies foon fpent all, and fometimes more than all, and Difgrace and a Goal have been their Portion ; and how many, by living too fall, have died too foon, much fooner than might be expedled, ac- cording to the Courfe of Nature.
Wherefore I would advife them to regard what the wife King Solomon faid. Go to the Ant^ thou Sluggard^ confider her PFays^ and be wife •, floe gathereth her Food in the Summer (i. e. fhe prepares againfb the Winter) Though this may be defpicable in the Eyes of our fine Gentlemen, and learned fpending Wits, yet there ap- pears more Wifdom in thefe little induilrious Animals, than in thofe great Spenders, who, in the Spring and Summer of their Years, take fo Jitdc Thought of
faving
THOMAS CHALKLET. 229
faving what hath been v/ith fo much Care gotten for 1729. them, or of getting more againft the Winter or Old- V/^V^ Age, which, if they live, will certainly overtake them, when their Youth or Summer is gone.
But many Youths obje<5l againft this Advice, crying out, as I have often heard, ^he Aged give this Advice when ihey are old, hut did a^ we do when they were young as we are; although this may be true in fome, yet it will not hold good in the general, and if it do in fome, is not that Maxim good ? Let others Harms learn us to beware^ before it be too late, that we fall not into the fame Snare, which hath en- tangled or caught Thoufands, to their great Shame and Reproach. Again, Thofe who have been fo over- taken in their Youth, and are efcaped out of the Snare, are more fit to caution or advife how to efcape it, or to Hiew thofe Paths which led them into that Labyrinth of Woe and Mifery.
The Author of all Evil ufeth his utmoft Skill and Power to promote the Praftices of exceffive Drinking, ^c. among Mankind, it being a mighty Support to his Kingdom ; for when the Nobility of the Underftand- ing is clouded thereby, then Oh ! how many wicked Oaths, Oh ! v/hat corrupt Language, what unhand- fome, unbecoming Words and A6lions, are brought forth I How is good Manners cor ru peed i Flow is the fober, chafte Soul ofiended, and above all other Con- iiderations, how is God difhonoured, and the End of our Creation fruftrated, and Man condemned !
When People are in thofe Exceffes, how do they take the facred Nam.e in vain, and fo bring themfelves in guilty before God, and Man ; for he has poluively faid. He will not hold them guiltkfs, who take his Name in vain ; fo that let him plead never fo many Excufes, he is pronounced guilty by the Judge of Heaven and Earth: Therefore let me perfwade the Youth to re- member what the Lord by his Servants faid concerning drinking to Excefs, Woe to the Drunkards 3 and that^o
Drunkard
230 r/^^ JOURNAL 0/
1726* Drunkard pall inherit the Kingdom. Again, IVoe io s./^Vn-^ them that are mighty to drink Wine^ and Men of Strength io mingle Jiro fig Drink, &c. If it be objeftedj as it often is, when fuch poor Souls are reproved, and their Sins let in order before them ; fVe trufi in the Mercy of God and the Merits of Chrijl: I fay this is a good Truft and Hope, if upon a good Foundation ; but the Wick- ed muft forfake their Ways, and the Unrighteous their evil Thoughts ; but what Forfaking is that, when ilrong Conviftion is upon the Soul, to make Covenants, Vows and Prom lies, and break them from Time to Time ? And tho' Cheift hath fatisfied the Juftice of the Almighty for Sinners, it is tor thofe who forfake their Sins, not thofe who plead for the Pradtice of them, and endeavour, by many vain Excufes tojufti- fy themfeives in them.
Since then the Salvation of the Soul is precious, and hath coft the precious Blood of the Lamb of God, and is much more precious than Health or Wealth, why fhould any be fo cruel and hard-hearted to themfeives, as, for a little Vanity, Froth and Mirth, Toys and Trifles, vain Sports, and evil Paftime, to plunge and fink themfeives into the eternal Gulph of Woe and Mi- fery j pray, O pray confider it, dear Youths!
After my Return from Barbadoes, in the Fouth Burii>^ton. Month, I vifited Friends Meetings at Burlington^ at fkia, Sec. the Falls of Delaware^ Ahington^ German-town, and was divers Times at Philadelphia and Frankfort Meet- ings j which Meetings were much to my Satisfaction ; the Lord being pleafed to manifeft his Goodnefs to ma- ny, as alfo to my poor exercifed Soul j for which I was truly thankful unto him.
In the Sixth Month I was at the General-meeting of D^ty. Friends at Darby ^ in Chejier County, which was a Jarge, good Meeting, divers Friends appearing there in a lively Miniflry. About this Time, fome Thou- fands of People came from Ireland, and alfo many Pa- latinos from Holland, among whom, it is reported,
were
'THOMAS CHALKLET. 231
werQ Romans, or Papijis, kvQT3.l of whom, k wasTaid, 1729, gave ouc threatning Speeches, which caufed fome Con- v-v->. fternation among the People.
»r».At this large General- meeting, I exhorted them. To truft in the Lord, and not to diflmn: that Hand which had hitherto preferved us by his Providence without outward Force ; and that tho* the People who came among us were many in Number, yet we, having the Lord on our Side, were more than they, in a myltical Senfe ; putting them in Remembrance of the Prophet, who, when his Servant was afraid, prayed to the Al- mighty, To open the Eyes of his Servant^ and when they were myftically opened, he Jaw the Mountains full of Chariots of Fire, and Horfes of Fire, and that they were more than their Enemies : I was alio concerned to exhort Friends to be good Examples to thofe Strangers, who came among us in fuch great Numbers ; and that oar Lights, in our Converfations, might fo JJoine, that thofe People, feeing our good Works, might glorify our Father which is in Heaven, according to the Dotlrine of Chrifl:; and then we Ihould do them Good, and they would do us no Hurt, but Good alfo : But on the other Hand, if we keep not our Places, and do not live in the Fear of God, nor according to our holy Principles and Pro- fefljon, that then it might be jufl with the Lord God, to make them a Scourge to us. — Many vvcre comforted in this Meeting, and God was praifed, who is worthy.
On the 15th of the Sixth Month, having loaded the . ^^^_ Ship New Brijiol Hope, a fecond Time, I fail'd in her j^^'/^ '' from Philadelphia, and having a Concern to vifit "y^'^K- the Meeting of Friends at Salem, I left the Ship at Gloucefter, under the Care of the Pilot, and went by Land to the Firft-d,iy Meeting at Salem, and from thence to Elfenborough, and ilaid tili the Ship came down •, and on the 20ch of the Month v/e got to Sea, and had a fair Wind for feveral Days, and lived very AtSsa. lovingly on board, being refpedfully treated, by .my Sailor*. .■^nrnti'-^ Jit-S-
a In
232 ^^ J O U R N A L 0/
1729. In this Voyage we had feveral Meetings on board, Vi/V^the firft of which was at the Requeft of my fecond Mate, to call the Sailors together in the Cabbin ; I not being forward to propofe it to them, left thc;y fhouldfuf- peel meof fome Vanity, in defiring to preach to them ; they not knowing the Crofs ofChriftin that Exercife.
On the 24th Day of the Seventh Month, at Noon, our Ship, by Oblervation, being exadly in the Lati- tude of Barhadoes, we fteer'd away Weft for the Ifland and on the 26th we faw it, after five Weeks and one Tid-y \Q^vmgS\g\\toiCapeHenlopen', we having, after the firft fewDays, light Winds, Calms, and Head Winds, which made our PalTage long, and our Sea Stores al- moft fpent ; but now the Sight of Land made the Peo- ple forget all Uneafinefs, and, for this Favour, my Heart was thankful to the great Prefer ver of Men.
This Time we came to a tolerable Market with our Provifions, which made our Stay but lliort, yet I was ^.rnms. divers times at the Bridge Meeting of Friends, as al- io at Spighn-lown fwhere my Concerns chiefly lay) and once at Pumkin-Hill Meeting, in which Meeting it was obferved to the People, That the Salvation of the Soul IS precious, and that true Religion is a folid Thing a Thing of the greateft Moment to both Bo- dy and Soul, and that People ought to be very ferious and foiidly concern'd about it, taking fpecial Care to lay, or builti their Religion on a fure Foundation ; It v/as Ihewed them, that Chrift Jefus was the fure Kock and Foundation of all the Righteous, in all Ages ; he was the Rock that followed Ifrael, which they drank of i any other Foundation than him, no Man can lay; who IS, in the truly Religious, and the true Believers, tbe Hope ^/ their (?%,— Many other precious Truths were manifefted to us, in that Meeting, for which we praifed the Lord.
Soon after, I went to Bridge Town to clear out the
^"^^- Subiek r?r ^'l'i '^''' Week-day Meeting: The 2.wl ^UDjea-matter I had to treat of in that Meeting, was.
That
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 233
That the Lord bringeth low, and he raifeth up again ; 1729. and that, in divers Refpe(5ls, as to Kingdoms, Fami- v^Sr*^ lies, and particular Perfons j and as to Health, Wealth, Honour, ^c. divers in that Meeting were appealed to asWitnefTes of it. — After this Meeting I went to vific the Governor, who was courteous to me, and took my Vifit kindly, and defined to be remembred to our Go- vernor, and feveral others, and wilhed me a profperous Voyage, and well back again, which he hoped would be in about three Months. — He fa id, Whoever lived to fee it, Penfylvania would be the Metropolis 0/ America, in fome Hundreds of Tears. — He faid. He loved down-right^ hnneji Men ; but he hated Deceit and Hypocrify. A great Man, and a great Expreflion !
The 2ift of the Eighth Month 1729, we, having done our Bufinefs, weigh'd Anchor, and went to Sea: And on the 26th we had a good Meeting with At sea. the Ship's Company, for the Service and Woriliip of God -, in which the Gofpel of Chrift was declared without Partiality, and the reigning Sins of Sailors openly expofed, according to the Dodrine of the Gof- pel, and the moft high Lord entreated to carry on in the Earth the great Work of Retormation.-— Hi- therto we had fine, pleafant Weather.
The Beginning of the Ninth Month we had a very biuftering, ftormy Time, for many Days, (o that we could not carry Sail, but fometimcs lay by, and fome- times went with a reeff'd Main-fail and Fore-fail ; the Ship had fuch a violent Motion, that it broke our Glafles, and about a Dozen Bottles of Wine, and our Earthen-ware, and llrained our Hogflieads and Cafks, fo that we pump'd out Molafles into the Sea, and beat us back many Leagues, and blew our Sails out of the Bolt-ropes.
After thofe Storms we had a Calm, and the Wind fprung up wefterly •, our Courfc being North-weft, or thereabouts, we could barely lay our Courfe j yet, ic being moderate, we had Caufe to be thankful.
Q. 2 The
/
234 ^/je JO VR'N AL of
1729. The 1 2th of the Ninth Month we found ourfelves ^-''V*^ in the Latitude of 36 Deg. 17 Min. North ; but the Wind was a-head, and our frefh Stock of Provifions almoft expended, and Winter coming on a-pace, the Nights dark and long, made it feem tedious to our People ', the which I was helped to bear with Patience. The 14th Day, about eight o' Clock at Night, Jchn Plafketj one of the beft of our Sailors, thro* the violent Pitching of the Ship, fell into the Sea from off the Bowfprit ; one of the Sailors, feeing him fall, nim- bly threw a Rope to him, which he caught hold of, and the People helped him into the Ship ; though in all Probability, he had perifhed in the Sea, if he had mifs'd taking hold of the Rope. I was thankful to the Almighty for this young iV[an*s Life, and took it as a great Favour from Heaven. The next Day it was dreadful fhormy, the Wind blew violently at South-wefl, with Lightning, Thunder, and much Rain ; the Seas ran fo high, and the Ship had fuch a great Motion, that the Goods, or Cafks, fhifted ia the Hold, and v/e lay by till next Day ; our Sails al- fo were much torn, and, in many Places, blown out • of the Bolt-ropes, fo that we were half a Day mending them, and then proceeded on our Voyage home, where we arrived the latter End of the Month. After I came home from this Voyage, in the fmall Stay I was on Shore, I was divers Times at Meetings 'S^'^' ^^ Philadelphia and Fra7ikfort^ and was alfo at Ger- Frankfort. mcn-tQi^M^ at the Butial of our antient Friend Dennis foZ'^r' Giairaci, who was one of the firft Settlers of this Town (as I underilood the firft Meeting of Friends, for Worfnip, in it, was kept at his Houfe) He was a Man of an inoffenfive Life, much given to Hofpita- lity, and left a good Report behind him : The Meet- ing was large, and many of the firft Settlers of the Country were there. I was alio at the Burial of Ca- therine^ the Daughter of Thomas Lightfooty the Wife of Jaines Miller, a worthy Woman, who died foon
^ ■.., after
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 235
after their Arrival from Ireland^ and was buried from 1729. our Great- mceting-houfe in Philadelphia^ in a decent ^>>''V~"^ and exemplary Manner.
The latter End of the Tenth Month, Samuel Bar- ^^^^Mort. rifon of New-Tork^ and Obadiah Lawrence of Long- IJland^ favour'd me with their Company all Night at our Houfe, where we called the Family together, and had a feafonable Time to take Leave they of me, and I of them, and my Family alfo •, and the next Day divers very dear Friends came with me to the Boar, to the River Side, to take Leave, and we parted with Hearts lull of Love and Good-will to each other.
So I went on board at Wiccacoe and had a cold Palliige down the River and Bay, and left the Capes the lil of the nth Month (being he third Voyage as Mafter) and the 17th wepaffcd the Tropick of Cancer. At Sea: Hitherto we had a comfortable Pafiage, and though we had a crowded Ship, yet we had Peace and Quiet- nefs to a greater Degree than I expefted ; for Men thatufe the Seas, are, too generally, inconflant as the Wind and V/aters they wade through. We had fe- veral Meetings on board the Veffel in this Voyage, and were at Sea about four Weeks, before we arrived at BarbadoeSy and when we arrived, the Markets were Bariaiocs. dull, which occafioned our Stay fo long as about twelve Weeks. During which Time, I had divers re- ligious and good Opportunities with thofe of our own, and other Socities, I believe to general Satisfadion ; having the good Wilhes of People of ail Ranks, from the Governor to the poor Negroes ; all of whom I profefs Love to for Chrift's fake.
This Voyage, in our Return home, 'we had a full i'^'i''^^^J' Ship, and upwards of thirty Paflengers, and was on'''** our PafTage home about a Month, ana had good com- fortable Weather therein.
Soon after I came home from Barbadoes, m the I73°* Third Month 1730, I went to a Meeting at Burling- ^O'''^ ion, at which was married 'Thomas Evans ; Margaret "' ""'-^^ Q^ 3 Prejton
'
236
ne J OVKN Ah of
Fallt. NefhamJHy,
Philadel- fhia.
Fourth Voyage
1730. Prejlon was dlfo there: It was a good Meeting, i i-'^V'NJ crofied the River Delaware twice, vifited a fick Perfon, and rode thirty Miles that Day. I alfo went to the Falls Meeting, and, after faid Meeting, appointed another at Nejhaminy the fame Day ; after which, I went with Jofeph Kirkbride to William Paxlon*Sy and lodged : Next Morning Jofeph Kirkbride rode with me home, and thence to Philadelphia. I was divers Times at Philadelphia^ Frankfort^ and German-towfj, and at the General -meeting at Frankfort, where our Friend John Cadwallader was married ; Ifaac Norrisy Samuel Prejlon^ and Margaret his Wife, and John Ox- ley, were at this Meeting, with many otiier F; lends, a good Share of whofe Company I got home with me, of which I was glad, ever loving and coveting the Company of good Men and Women.
I was now preparing for the fourth Voyage, as Mafter of the I^ew Brijiol Hope, for Barbadoes ; but it grew harder and harder for me to leave my F?>mijy, which, for many Confederations, was very exercifing ; yet I was obliged to continue going to Sea, upon an honourable Account; i.e. That no Perfon might fuf- fer by me, if I could help it ; and having got our Veffel loaded, we failed from Philadelphia the 9th of the Fifth Month. Next Day came to an Anchor at Chefier^ and vifited my old Friend David Lloyd, who, with his good Spoufe Grace, treated me with tender, Chriftian Love ; the Judge and I, being old Acquain- tance, and both of us in Years, and he not well, we ' took Leave, as if we were not to fee one another any more (which happened accordingly, for he died be- fore I returned.)
We weighed Anchor at Chefler^ and got down to
ibcroughj and v/ent to Sale?}i Meeting (it being
Firft-day of the Week, and 12th of the Month) with
fome of our PalTengers and Sailors. The Meeting
was pretty large, and I was earneflJy concerned for
their
€hif:cr.
Sdem.
Elfa
THOMAS CHALKLET. 237
their Welfare (as I had often been when I was abfentj 1730. and was glad I was with them that Day. tyw/%^
After this Meeting we proceeded on our Voyage, and left l\it Capes the K^th of the aforefaid Month; had fmall and contrary Winds, and fometimes Calms, until the 2d of the Sixth Month, and Firft-day of the Week, when the Wind was at South, and a hard Gale, the Sea high, and the Ship having a, great Mo- tion, therefore we had not a Meeting as ufual : Many of the PafTengers were very Sea-fick ; as for my Part, I thought, if the Almighty was but with me, that would make up for all DifHcuJties -, for in him was, and is my Life and chiefeft Joy : And, as an An- fwer of Peace in my tolTed Condition, I fometimes had comfortable Times -, being inwardly refrefhed with the Love and Prefence of God ; not only in the Day, but alfo in the Night, in my Sleep *, out of which I was awakened one Morning (in the Morning Watch) with thefe comfortable Words, He took me to his banqueting Houfe^ and his Banner over me was Love. Thele Ex- preilions were fo frefh in my Mind, for fome Days, that I could not forbear but blefs the holy Name of the living Lord fecretly in my Soul.
The 1 6th of the Sixth Month we arrived at Bar- badoes. The 17th there arofe, about Midnight, a hard Gale of Wind, which the Barbadians call a Hur- ricane^ or 'Tornado., and blew more than ten VelTels afhore, great and fmall, which were wholly loft ; and our Ship was very near the Rocks, People lookino- every Minute when (he would come on Shore ; but, through divine Favour, we efcaped, with only the Boat ftove againft the Rocks : I would have got on board, but that was impradicable -, but I got on the higheft Place I could, from which I could fee them in the Ship, and they me on fhore ; for we could not; for the Violence of the Wind, hear one another ; yet they were fo near the Fort, where I ftood, that I could difcern them one from another, and they nie
Q^-^ from
23S T:?'^ JOURNAL 0/
1730. from the Multitude of People (many being in the Fort ^•V^*^ with me) I keing the chief Mate look towards me, I waved my Hat to him, and he, in anfwer, his to me ; then I made a Signal to him to go to Sea, which they immediately did, letting flip their Cables, and went to Sea without either Boat, Anchor, or Cables, and came in the next Day, and got their Cables and Anchors again, to the great Joy of many of the Inhabitants^ whofe hearty Prayers were for our Safety, as many of them told me. This, among many others, I put in my Calender of Deliverances, and Prefervations from imminent Dangers, by the Hand of divine Providence. We flaid this Time in Barbadoes about five Weeks, leaving the Ifland vhe 27ch of the Seventh ivOonch -, and there I met with Rckn Jordan^ my Friend and Bro- ther in the Work and Fel'owfliip of the Gofpel of Chriil, who took his PaiT ge with Uj for Pbiladelfkia whofe Company was pleafant and comfortable. One Evening he was repeating fome Vcrfes of the txcellent AddiJo}fs, which I willingly tranfcribed, as weli in Me- mory of that great Author, asalfo that rhey anfv\cred my State and Condition in my watery Travels, and in the Extreams of Heat and Cold, and fome poifonous Airs I have otten breathed m. They are as follow :
I.
How are thy Servants bleft, O Lord !
How fure is their Deft:nce ! Eternal Wifdom is their Guide,
Their Help Omnipotence.
ir.
In foreign Realms, and Lands remote,
Su'Dorted by thy Care ; Through burning Climes I pafs'd unhurt, And breath'd in tainted Air. III. Thy Mercy fweet'ned every Soil, Made every Region pleafe,
The
I'HOMAS CHALKLET. 239
The hoary Alpine Hills it warm'd, '73<^«
And fmooth'd the Tyrrhene Seas. O^'NJ
- IV. Think, O my Soul ! devoutly think.
How, with affrighted Eyes, Thou faw'ft the wide, extended Deep, In all its Horrors, rife. V. Confufion dwelt in ev*ry Face,
And Fear in every Heart, "When Waves on Waves, and Gulphson Gulphs, O'ercame the Pilot's Art. VI. Yet, then, from all my Griefs, OLord!
Thy Mercy fet me free, Whilft, in the Confidence of Prayer, My Soul took hold on thee. VII. For though in dreadful Whirls we hung.
High on the broken Wave, I knew thou wert not flow to hear. Nor impotent to fave. VIII. The Storm was laid, the Wind retir*d.
Obedient to thy Will ; The Sea, that roar'd at thy Command, At thy Command was ftill. IX. In Midfl of Dangers, Fears and Death,
Thy Goodnefs I'll adore; And praife thee for thy Mercies pafl. And humbly hope for more. X. My Life, if thou preferv'fl my Life,
Thy Sacrifice fhall be ; And Death, if Death mufl be my Doom Shall join my Soul to thee.
The
240 T:^^ JOURNAL ^
1730. The 4th of the Eighth Month we met with a hard ^"-^'V^ Gale of Wind, which broke the Tiller of our Rudder, and fpiitour Bowfprit and Main-fail, and overfet many of our Chefts; Robert Jordan narrowly miffed his Cheft falling en him (rom one Side of the Ship to the other, which we looked on as a merciful Providi^nce and fpoke of it to one another, remembring Addifon'l Verfes, which the Night before were repeated.
In this Paflage we faw three Veffels only ; it was a
bluftering Time, but the ihorteft from Land to Land
that ever I had, being but 14 Days and 14 Hours from
the Sight of Barbadoes to the Sight of the Main-land :
JirrivesM"^^ arrived at Philadelphia the i6th of the Eighth
Philadel- Month.
tf^^^- In the Ninth Month I proceeded on a fifth Voyage
A fifth (as Mafterj to Barbadoes^ and went down the River
mSI ^' DelaiL-are on a Seventh-day, and on Firft~day, was at
Cherter. Chefter Meeting, at which Time there was a Burial of
a Child, and a large Meeting : Our Friends at Chefter
were glad to fee me, and I them, and after Meeting we
ftt fail, and went down the River to Elfenlorough^ where
came to and landed Robert Worthington^ whofe Son
E%ra was on board, and went to Barbadoes for his
Health, being in a deep Confumption.
This Voyage we v/ere on our Paflage about 33 Days before we arrived at Barbadoes, when after doing my Bufinefs, and vifiting our Friends Meetings in about five Weeks, we put to Sea the loth of the Twelfth Month, and failed along to Leeward of divers Iflands, till we came to Anguilla, where we landed in Expec- 'JiHguUhx. tation to get Salt, but at this Time was not any to be had there. We came to an Anchor here in the Night, hoping to get to an Harbour before it was dark ; but it foon being very dark, and coming into Ihoal Water, we faw a large Rock, and came to by the Side of it, in about five or fix Fathom Water, taking it to be a Ship, and when it was Day we faw our Miftake, and
that
Sariiidoes,
wrtck.
mo MAS CHALKLET. 244
that inflead of a VefTel, we were too nigh a Rock, 17 io, and the Wind coming about, tailed our Ship towards -v^yv it fo near, that we were fenfible of touching twice ; I or- ^JJI^s ' der*d tiie Men to heave a JittJe farther a-head, and fo ship^ we lay clear til! Morning. When Morning came, of which we were glad, feveral Boats, with a Cable, came to us, and the People advifed us to put a Spring on our Cable, and cut it, that flie might cad the right Way, which accordingly we did, and it had the de- fired Effed; fo that we foon got into a very fine Har- bour, it being about a Mile off. Many Thanks were given by many ot the People for this Deliverance to the Almighty. George Leonard^ the Governor of this Ifland, heard in the Morning, that a Veficl was on the Rocks, and the People were running with Saws and Axes, in order to break her up, if fhe fhould not be got off^: The Governor feeing them, fent a Lieutenant with Orders, that let her belong to what Nation fo~ ever, they fhould help to get her off, if it could be, and if fhe was likely to be made a Wreck, he charged them attheir Peril not to meddle with her, nor any Thing belonging to her, until they had firft come to Terms with the Mafter, which is worthy to be recorded.
We fiay'd feveral Days before we could get our Anchor i for after we were in the Harbour, it blev/ very hard for four or five Days •, fo that with our four Oars we could not row our Boat a-head, but watching for a Calm one Night, our People went and got it, and then we went into the principal Road and Harbour in the Ifland called Croaker^s-Bay ; the Name of that we came from was Rendezvous- Bay, where lived a very kind Friend of ours, named J{ibn Rumney^ who, with his Wife and Family, treated us with great I-ove, and courteoufly received us into their Houfe, and he went with me to the Governor's, who was my old Acquain- tance and Friend, who, with much Love and Tender- nefs (when he knew me) took me in his Arms, and embraced me, and lovingly faluted me with a Kifs of
Charity,
242 . ':t/je J OVRN A L of
1731. Charity, and thanked God for our Deliverance, and iy^Y"\J that he had iivtrd to fee me once more (I having been there fome Years before) he was feventy odd Years of Age, as I remember, and had eighty odd who called him Father: Tiiey living much on Roots and Pulfe, are very healthy in this Ifland. I was here nine Days, and had feven Meetings with the People ; the longer I fhaid the larger the Meeuings were; fo that I had fome Difficulty to leave them. Through the Grace and Gift of God I was helped to preach the Gofpel of Chrift freely, and they received it both freely and thankfully, diver?, if not all -, for theirs and my Heart was very open one to another, the holy Lord's Name be praifed for ever.
The 3d of the Firft Month Ezra Worih'mgton died, and the 4th in the Afternoon, he was buried on the V\^r\l2iUon o^ Jchn Rumne'j^ near his Houfe •, the Go- vernor and his Son in Law were at the Burial, where I told them, that he was an inoffenfive, innocent, fober young Man, and that Death was to be the End of us here, putting them in mind to remember their latter End. After I had done fpeaking, the Governor faid, That Death was a Debt due to Nature^ and that we fnujl all pay it, and hleffed is the Man that in "time i*-uly prepares for it. This was a good ExprefTion for a Man in his Poft, and worthy of my Notice, as I thought.
I was atone Meeting, v/here was the Governor and his Daughter, v/ith divers of the befl and fobereft Peo- ple of this Ifland ; it was a fatisfaftory Meeting, which ended in Prayer ; and when I arofe from my Knees I found the Governor on one Side, and his Daughter on the other Side of me, both on their Knees ; a Pofture in which People are too feldom found in this degenerate Age of the World. Sails frcnti On the loth of the Firfl Month, we departed from ^t^^uiii. ^|,g j(]^n j Qf Anguilla, with a pleafant Gale ; and had fair Weather and Winds for feveral Days ; I fpenc
fome
1' HO MAS CHJLKLEr 243
fome Time of this Voyage in Reading^ and met with i73i.* a Paffage of, or concerning Friendfhip ; the Comfort L<VX) and Beauty of it therein was notably fet forth, yet moft who treat upon that noble Subjeft, place (too ge- nerallyj the Felicity thereof in Humanity : Whereas true and lafting Friendfliip is of a divine Nature, and can never be firmly fettled without divine Grace : Chrifl Jefus is the prime Friend of Mankind, and fromi whom all true and lafting Friendfiiip fprings and flows, as from a living Fountain, himfelf being the head Spring thereof ; out of which holy Fountain hath fprung as followeth, Henceforth I call you Not Servants^ and y are my Friends^ if ye do wb at fo ever I command you. And again. By this fljall all Men know that ye are my DiJcipleSy if ye leve one another. O holy Expreffions ! much to be admired, and worthy every true and good Man's and Woman's Imitation and Pra<5[ice. Obferve, that when they had done whatfoever Chrilt had commanded them, then they were to be his Friends, and they were not only to be his Friends, but one anothers Friends, as he was theirs, and if Occa- fion were, as he died, fo they would die for one ano- ther : By this Mark and trueft Seal of the truefl Friendlhip, all the World Hiould know they beJong'd toChrift, that they were united to him, and in him united to one another : Nothing but Difobedience and jSin can ever feparate this Friendfhip.
Againfl this Friendfhip, v/hich is in ChriH:, and grounded and founded upon him, the Gates of Hell can never prevail ; all Friendfhip, upon any Confi- deration, meerly human, is brittle and uncertain, and fubjedl to Change, or Mutability, as Experience hath taught in all Ag^s,
If any Perfon hath a Defire to have a particular Friend, let that Perfon be fure to make Choice of Chrift, and fuch as choofe him, have a Friend in whom all lafting Peace, Comfort and Delight, Joy and Plea- fwre, is, and in him alone is to be enjoyed for ever.
" ■ ' The
Ar ficn.
44. The JOVRN AL of
?T. The 20th of the Firft Month, being the firft of the x^rNj Week, we had a comfortable Meeting for divine Worfhip, in which the Goodnefs of God was extend- ed to us as we were rowlingon the mighty Waters of the great Deep, after which we had pleafant Weather, and a fair Wind for feveral Days.
On the 26th the Wind fprung up at Eaft North-Eaft, a hard Gale, which lafted feveral Days ; and having but little Sea-room for about thirty Hours, it blewfo hard, that we could drefs no Viftuals •, I then thought on the Words of Job^ when he fpoke to his impatient Wife, faying, Shall '■Joe receive Good at the Hand of Gody and fc' all isoe not receive Evil alfo f (or that which is accounted or looks like Evil in the Eye of Man) In this Time of Exercife the Love and heavenly Life of God, in^his beloved Son, filled my Heart, and caufed an Overflowing of Praifes to his holy, glorious, and bleiTed Name. Oh ! it was exceeding precious to my Soul at that Time !
The I ft of the Second Month we faw Land, being driven to the Southward near 250 Miles in this laft hard Weather ; but we foon after arrived at our defired Port.
After which I vifited the Meetings of Friends at Philadelphia^ Burlington., the Falls^ Abington., German- town ^ Brijlol., and Frankfort^ and found the People had been under a general Vification of the Small-pox, infomuch that many Hundreds, efpecially of Chil- dren, were taken off the Stage of this Life in the City of Philadelphia^ and I was concerned to exhort Friends in that City to bring their Children to Meetings, and educate them, when young, in the Way they fhould go, that they might not depart from it when old -, and that he who had taken many away, could, if he pleafed, take many more ; for though he might have laid down his Rod at prefenr (the Diftemper in the City being much abated) he could foon take it up again. It is my Belief that the Lord Almighty will flill continue to vifit the City and People (if there is not a Reforma- tion)
rHOMAS CHALKLET, 245
tion) with further, if not forer, Vifitations, becaufe *i73i. he hath known them to do them Good, and make them ^•'V^^ a Blefilng to many Iflands and People ; giving them the Fatnefs of the Earth, and that which is far more, the Dew of Heaven ; fo that he may juftiy fay to us, as to Ifrael of old. Ton have I known of all the Families of the Earth ; therefore Iwillvifit upon 'jotifor all your Iniquities'.
In the Beginning of tiie Fourth Month, Robert Jordan was married to Mary^ the Widow of Rich' ard Hill (all three worthy Friends) The Meeting on this Occafion was large, and the Marriage folemni- zed in the Fear of God. Divers Friends were con- cerned to fpeak to the People, and it was greatly de- fired that thofe prefent (who were then fpoke to) might be married to Chrift, the great Lover of Souls, who laid down his Life (the moft precious Life that ever was on Earth) and Ihed his precious Blood for our Salvation.
A few Days after which I again took Shipping for voyag!* the Ifland of Barhadoes (being the fixth Voyage) in the AJafter New Brijtol Hope^ and left the Capes of Delaware the eighth Day of the Month. The 2 2d of the faid Month, ^* ^'^ I being weary, laid me down to reft, and fell afleep, and was awaken'd out of my Sleep with the Words, Oh Heart in Heaven ! '27; an excellent Thing to hav4- an Heart in Heaven ! Which Words were comfortable to me, and left a Sweetncfs on my Mind all the Day after, for which I was thankful, and greatly defired that my Heart and Mind might be fet and fixed more and more on Heaven and heavenly Things, and that my Treafure might be in Heaven, that my Heart might be there alfo, according to the Doftrine of my Saviour, Matt. vi. 6. 20, 21. Lay up for yourfelves treafure in Heaven^ for where your Treafure is, there will your Heart be alfo.
The 27ch Day (being the Firft Day of the Week) we had a comfortable Meeting, the Weather being moderate ; and on the 7th of the Fifth Month, we ar- rivJid at Bridge-Town in Barhadoes^ where we unloaded BariAdo^s.
Part
246 5r/&^ J O U R N A L e/"
1 73 1. Part of our Cargo, and from thence we went to v-/''"V"'>--' Speight*s-1own ; where, after a Stay of about five Weeks, we accomplifhed our Affairs. lalfo vifited all our Friends Meetings, and lome feveral Times, in which we were edified and comforted, and divers of us had occafion to blefs the holy Name of God for his Mercy to us : Before we left the I/land, there happen'd Hurricane, a great Storm or Hurricane^ which did much Damage to the Ships, and to ths lOand, blowing down many Hcufes, and fpoiling much Provifions, deflroying al- moft all the Plantain Trees on the Ifland, which is a very wholfome and pleafant Fruit, and much ufed by many inilead of Bread.
I was clearing out our VefTel when this Storm hap- pened, and being twelve Miles off, could not hear of or concerning her, but thought it altogether unlikely that fhe fhould ride out fo great a Storm, in fo bad a Harbour or Road, it being open to the Sea, and fuch a Scorm as had not been known for many Years, and ibme faid, never but one (to their Knowledge) though much more Damage hath at fome other Times been done to the Shipping, by reafon that the hardeft of the Wind was not that Way, which was moft dange- rous to them in CarliJIe-Bay, where they moftly lay ; for they all got out to Sea, except two or three that were loft by the Violence of the Weather. It was indeed a very difmal Time, the VefTels which rode it out were much damnified, and one being loaded, ready to fail, funk right down, and was loft in the Bay. When I had cleared our Ship, I iti forward in order to fee what was become of her ; but the Floods were fo out, and the Ways were fo bad, I could not without fome Danger get to her that Night ; but next Morning I fct out from Jofepb Ga7nble*s^ and, to my Admiration, from the Top of a Hill (on which a Houfe in the Storm v/as blown fiat to the Groundj I faw our Ship at an Anchor, having rode out the Storrn, with one
Sloop
"THOMAS CHALKLEt.
47
Sloop by her, for which Caufe my Soul was humbly 1731. thankful. s^O^*-^
On the ijh of the faid Month, with fome more than ordinary Fatigue, we got up our Anchor, and took in our Boat, and got our Pallengers and Provifions on board, the Sea breaking high on the Shore, fo that fe- veral of our People and our Boat were in Jeopardy of being loft ; but at length being all on board, we fet Sail, |*^'?^J°"* and having failed flowly about fix or feven Miles, we met with a Sloop who had loft her Maft in the Storm, and next Morning we met with two \2ivgt London Ships, who had put out to Sea, not venturing to ride it out.
We had fine pleafant Weather for feveral Days af- ter we left the Ifland, and on the 2 2d of the Sixth Month ( being the firft Day of the Week ) we had a Meeting for the Worfhip of God, which was comfortable and fatisfadory to us. The 4th and 5th of the Seventh Month, we had very frefh Gales from the North-Eaft to the North, and was near a Water Spout (about a Stone's throw off) which furprized fome on board, on which I came out of my Cabbin, and faw the Water run up out of the Sea into the Cloud, as plain as ever I faw the Water run into the River, till it filled the Cloud with Blacknefs, and then it would break in great Quantities into the Sea, which is dan- gerous, when falling on Veflels. The 5th of the Month, being the firft Day of the Week, we had a good religious Meeting for divine Worfhip, wherein our People were earneftly exhorted to a holy Life, and to be earneftly concerned for the true Faith, which is in Chrift J that Faith which works by Love, and is the Evidence of Things not vifibly feen, being manifeft by Works of Piety and Virtue. In this Voyage we were twenty two Days from the Ifland of Barbadoes to the Sight of Cape Henry in Virginia^ and had a pleafant PafTage in the main to Philadelphia^ where, in the 9hiiadd» Seventh Month, was held our Yearly-meeting, at which ^'*"'« I had a Defire to be, my watery Employment having
R hinder'd
^^4^ 77je JOVRN Ah of
^1731. hindered my being at a yearly Meeting for feveral S^^V^ Years : At this Meeting I met with my old Acquain- tance, and dear Friends, John Richard/on of Tork^ Jhire, and Paul John/on of Dublin, both on a Gofpel Vifit to the Brethren and Friends in America: The Meeting was large, and attended with divine Grace and Goodnefs, and ended with Thankfgivingand Praife to God and the Lamb. ..;,'.
While our Ship was loading I was at feveral Meet- ings in the Country, as at Ahington^ German-town^ Fair-hill, and Frankfort, m Philadelphia County ; and at the Falls of Delaware^ Buckingham, Nejhaminy^ and Brifiol^ in Bucks County. I was alfo at Burlington, at the Marriage of JVilliatn Callender junior, of ^^r- hadoes, with Katherine Stnith, Daughter of Daniel and Mar'j Smith, of Burlrngton. Voylge'J'o ^" the 1 6th of the Ninth Month I proceeded on Barhadocf the leventh Voyage 10 Barhadoes, in the Ship Klew Bri- asMafkr. pi Hope, as Mafter, having on board feveral PafTen- o;ers, one of whom {Elizabeth Martindale) was" on the Paffage convinced of the Principles of Truth, and af- terwards fuffered, in divers Refpefls, for her making Profeflion with us.
We had a long Pafiage down the River, the Wind being high and boifterous. On the 2 2d of the Ninth Month, we left the Capes of Delaware^ and faw the h«iSoil ^^^"^ 0^ Barhadoes the 2i{l of the Tenth Month, be- fore it was Day, and in the Afternoon came to an An- chor in the Bay of Sp eight' s-Town. In this Voyage I met with an Accident that was painful and troublefome JO me, which happened in a hard Gale of Wind, I be- ing to the Windward, and the Ship having a large Mo- tion, and miffing my Hold, was canted from my Place to the other Side of the Ytm, againfl the Edge of a Cheft, and fo bruifed my Leg that I could not do my Bufinefs as I ufually did, which was a great Hindrance and Difappointment to me : But in about - a mad;'' Time, with the Affiftance of fome of my
Friends
THOMAS CBALKLET, 249
Friends there, I got indifferently through it, and alio 1731: rode to Bridge-Town^ aad had feveral Meetings there. \./^^>J I was alfo at feveral good and comfortable Meetings at Speight\-Town, where we had one the Day we fail'd, being the 21ft of the Eleventh Month •, and on the Sea-fhore parted with our Friends in great Love, and fct Sail, the Wind being about North-Eaft, fo that saiis from we could not weather the Ifland of Marttnico ; we £«''^''^»''^. therefore faiTd along by the Illands of Domimco, and Guardaloupe^ and had Calms under the Iflands, and fometimes the eddy Winds from off the Mountains, or high Lands, would take the Sails, and carry the Ship clear round, which made it fometimes tedious. The 23d and 24th we pafTed by the Iflands of Montferrat^ Antigua^ Rodondo, ChriJiopher*Si Nevis ^ Bartholomew, Miatia, Saba, Barhuha, Martinis, and Anguilla, the Winds and the Weather being fair and pleafant. The 25th in the Evening, it began to be hazy; and, in the Night, we fplit our Main-top-fai!, which cofl us a great deal of Labour, and LofsofTime, before we could get it mended and fet again. We had pretty fair Weather about 20 Days, until we came on our Coafl, and into Soundings ; when a hard Gak of Wind fpringing up Eafterly, which fetting on the Shore, was dangerous, and we had a long Night: coming on; but, through the Favour of the Almighty, we got off from the Land. In the Midit of the Danger of this Storm, my Soul fang Praifes to the Lord.
The 1 2th of the Twelfth Month we met with ano- ther Eaflerly Storm, being in about thirty Fathom Water, it blew, and rain*d very hard, and was alfo exceeding cold, and our coming from a hot Climate made it more hard to bear. In this Storm we faw di- vers Lights, which the Sailors call Corpufants^ one of them was exceeding bright, and fat, as near as I can compute it, about Half an Hour on our Main-cop- rpall 'Head, plain to the View of all the Ship's Com- ''■•'■■ R 2 pany.
250 "The JOVR'N AL of
1731. pany, divers of whom faid they never faw the like, \/^>/^^^ and I think I never heard of, or faw the like before.
The Storm continued all Night till Day, when it abated, and it being the Firft of the Week, we had a comfortable Meeting, in which the Peeple on board ■were advifed to get divine and heavenly Learning, and not to be Fools in Religion, or in the Things of God, nor to hate his true Knowledge ; for if they had all the natural Knowledge, and brighteft natural Parts in the World, they would be but Fools without the true Fear of God^ which the wife King Solomon fays. Is the Beginning of Wifdom.
The 27th of the Month we faw CapeHenlopen^ having been 27 Days from the Ifland of Barbadoes : This was a clofe, toggy Day, we could fee but very little before us, ' and had like to have been a-ground on the Shoals, which they call the Hen and Chickens, but went between them and the Cape, in three Fathom Water v the Wind blowing hard at South, we went up the Bay by the I^ead ; for we could not fee Land •, and the Gale be- ing fo frefh, we got to Bo?nbay-Hook, from our CapeSy in about fix Hours, which is accounted twenty Leagues; where we came to an Anchor, and there met with abundance of Ice. Merciful was the Deliverance and Prefer vation we met with, from the Hand of the Al- mighty, this Voyage -, may we ever gratefully re- member it ! About a League above Bombay-Hook, when the Fog broke up, we found ourfelves clofe on ihe Jerfey Sliore •, and the Wind fprung up at North- weft, and obliged us to come to an Anchor ; where the Ice came down upon us, which furprized fome of us much. The fudden coming; out of fo hot a Cli- mate, into one fo feverely cold, had a bad Effed on moil of our Ship's Company; and for my own Part, i had a fore Fit of the Phihyfich^ and was, at Times, al- moft breathlefs, and thought I muft die, for I could hardly breathe, or fpeak ; but yet I refolved, as long as I was capable of Thgughts, I would think of God,
and
'THOMAS CHALKLET, 251
and my beloved Jefus ; in which Thoughts and Medi- 1731. rations I found fome Comfort and Confolation. I fat v^'S'^ up for divers Nights, not being able to lie down for want oi Breath ; and I could not drink any ftrong Drink, as Rum, Wine, Ale, or Punch, fuch as the Sailors drank ; but, infiead thereof, I drank Sage Tea, which was very helpful to me.
The next Day, the Ice came down more and more upon us, and we feared to put back, becaufe, if we had gone a-ground in the Bay, the Ice might have demo- Jifhed us -, fo we took the moft convenient Time we could, and got up our Anchor, with fome Difficulty, and flood for Reedy-IJland, one of the befl Harbours upon Delaware ; but, the Wind and Tide failing us, we could not get in ; and the Ebb brought down the Ice mightily on us, fo that it took away the Head of ourVefTel, and cut her Sides very much. The next Tide we got into the Harbour, and lay clofe to Reedy- JJland, making the Ship faft on Shore. While we lay here, feveral VefTels came to us, and faften'd on Shore as we did. The Ice drove one VelTel on us, and broke our Spritfail Yard. Here I went on Shore, where the People were very kind to us, particularly the Sheriff of the County, John Gooding ^ and his Wife and Family. I went alfo to the Houfe of John M'Cooh who, with his Wife, were very tender in their Care and Love towards mej baching my fwell'dand be- numb*d Limbs until the Frofl was pretty well out of them. The Good-will, and tender Love and Care, I here met with, afFeds my Mind in the noting of it : I pray the mofl High, whom I love and ferve, to be their Rewarder.
I had two Meetings at our Meeting-houfe at George^s-Creeky where was People of divers Perfwa- fions, who gave good Attention. For thefe Meetings I was truly thankful ; for though, through the extream Cofd, I could hardly fpeak when on board, I now fpoke freely, much to my Admiration, and I believe to
R 3 Che
252 fft^ JOURNAL 0/ ?■
1 73 1, the Peoples Satisfadlon more than is proper for me to- v-^S/-^^ mention, wherefore I praife God. When the Wea- ther was a little more open, and the Ice gone, we f&laf^^' failed' up the River to Philadelphia, where I was joy- fully received by my Friends ; and while the VefTel was repairing and fitting for another Vo>age, I was not idle, but vificed Friends Meetings at Philadelphia-y ^biriJoT' Bu^^^^^g^(^^-> -^bingtony Gerjnan-iowriy Biherry, Fair-billy «tc. ' and Frankfort^ being fometimes at four or five Meet- ings a" Week. I was alfo at Haddonfield and Eve/ham Meetings in TVeJt-Jerfey ; both good and comfortable Meetings, and will not eafily be forgotten i for there- in God was gracioufly pleafed to vifit us with his Word, blefiTed be his Name.
Vo/agea' ^^^ ^^^ °^ ^^^ ^^'^^^ Month, we again fet fail for
Mafter, Speight^-Town in Barhadoes ; and the 6th of the
^'^^ Month, about fix in the Morning, left the Capes of
Delaware. From the Time we left the Sight of the
Capes of Delaware^ to the Sight of Barhadoes, was
Twenty-five Days fwhich was the quickcfl Voyage
that ever I had in this Ship) in which Time we had
three Meetings for the publick Worfhip of Almighty
God, and to me they were beneficial ; and for God's
Goodnefs, I could do no lefs than return Praife to
him, who alone is worthy for ever.
Sar^^cie.r^ After I had done my Bufinefs at Barhadoes, and
, viured Friends Meetings, on the 5th of the fifth Month
I failed for Souih Carolina^ touched at the Ifland of
On/?,?. ChrijiopherSj and landed fome PaflTengers there. From
^^' * thence we went to Sea, and the fame Night we had a
Srorm, but fufiered little, the Wind being for us, that
we went before it, and after it was over, we had a
pleafant PafPage of about fourteen Days to the Coafl of
Carolina % and when we faw the Land, the Wind
came againfl us, which m.ade fome of our PafTengers
very iineaf}^ ; but in meditating on the infinite Being,
I v,'.is favoured with inward Comfort and ftrong Con-
' folation.
rnOM.AS CHALKLET, 253
folation, fo that I was humbly thankful, and prjiifed 1732. God. Vi-'VNj
We were prevented by contrary Winds, and a IJrong Current, from getting into Chark/lown, and while we were beating about the Coail, we met with s, Veffel which came from thence, who gave us In- telligence that many People died fuddenly, and that they buried ten or twelve in a Day. Hearing fuch News, and the Wind being ftill againft us, our Paflen- gers, who intended for Carolina^ concluded to go for Philadelphia j fo we tacked about, and flood for Dela- ware-Bay^ and then we had a frefh Gale a-head again for feveral Days, and (pending fo much Time on the Coafl:, our Water was far expended, and we agreed to come to an Allo\Yance of Water, a Quart a Man for Twenty-four ^ours, for feveral Days before we got in. We were about five Weeks in our PalTage from Barhadoes to Delaware River.
Soon after our Arrival at Philadelphia we got our miaid. Ship on the Ways, in order to refit and flieath her, in '^""* which Time I travelled into feveral Counties, and had many religious Meetings in divers Peaces, in which I had
food Satisfadion ; and my old Acquaintance and riends faid, they rejoiced to fee me again after my Sea .Voyages. I was thankful in my Heart for the Good- ;:|vill of my good Mafler, and of my Friends, in thofe Journeys, which was, and, I hope, ever will be better to me than choice Silver, and fine Gold.
The Winter letting in about a Month fooner than ufual, many VefTels were detained from going to Sea, being frozen up ; alfo many VefTels could not come from 3ea up the River, fo that a great Damp was put on Trade, and the Frofl coming fo fuddenly, many People were taken with Colds, and many died in both the Provinces of New-Jerfey and Penfylvania. My dear Friend and kind Landlord Paul Prefion^ died about this Time, who, on his dying Bed, faid. He had no Dejire to live, but to do Good, and that it had been his
R 4 Cars
C0WM.
254 'I'he J O U R N A h of
1 73 2. Care to keep a Confcience void of Offence towards Gody and \./^^^ to all Men^ which now was his Comfort. The hard Weather continuing, I found an Exercife and Concern on my Mind to vifit Friends Meetings in the County of Bucks, in Penfyhania^ and the County of Burling- ton in Wejl-Jerfey \ in both which I was at above twenty Meetings in about twenty Days. In this Journey I was favoured with the Grace and Goodnefs of the divine Hand to a greater Degree than I was worthy of, though I was exceeding poor in my Spirit, and, in my own Judgment, very weak for Service and Labour, both in Body and Mind ; our Meetings, confidering the fevere Seafon, were large, and, I hope, they were to general Edification. Borini. On the 25th of the Tenth Month, being the repu- ted Birth Day of our Lord Jefus Chrifi:, at a little Town, near the Falls, called Bordentown^ we had a Meeting (where never any had been before of our Friends) in one of the Houfes newly built by Jojepb Borden, the Proprietor of the Place : He entertained us lovingly at his Houfe, when he was fo generous as to offer Ground for a Grave- Yard, and to build a Meeting-houfe on, and a handfome Sum of Money towards building it, though he did not make Profeflion to be of our Society. Some that were at this Meet- ing, who did not profefs with us, came over the Creek on the Ice to Ifaac Hornerh^ in the Evening, where we had a fatisfadory Meeting, in which God, through Chrift,was glorified. Daniel Stanton (my Wife*s Sifter's Sonj accompanied me in this Journey, whofe Com- pany and Miniftry was acceptable, both to me and Friends, and we had Meetingi at the Falls, Brijlol, Middletown^ }Fright'sTown, Bordentown, Crofwicks, Mansfield^ Upper and Lower Springfield, Mount Holly, Rancocas, Evejloam, and Chejler, and divers Evening-, meetings at feveral Friends Houfes. It now beinga lictly Time I was often fent for to vific the Sick, in
which
THOMAS CHALKLET.
^SS
which Vifics we were comforted, and God's holy Name 1732. was praifed. t/VVJ
On the 18th of the Eleventh Month I was fent for to Brijlol to vifit Ennion IVilliams^ who was dangeroufly ^^.j-^^j ill, and to Burlington^ to the Burial of Elizabeth the EuritH^ren, Wife of Jonathan IVright, who v/as buried from the great Meeting-houfe at Burlington. The Meeting was very large, fhe being well beloved by her Neigh- bours and Acquaintance, being a Woman much given toHofpitality (and indeed many of the Friends of Bur- lington have exceeded in that Refpeft the moft that ever I have obferved in my Travels) She was a Pattern of Piety, a loving, obliging Wife, and tender and careful Mother, a kind Neighbour, a loving and faithful Friend, and fo continued to the End ; for fome of her dying Words were, That fhe defired her Love might be rememhred to all her Friends^ which was done openly in the faid Meeting, and tenderly affeded many.
After I came home, I was at the Marriage of PFil- Ham Parker and Elizabeth Gilbert^ at which Marriage was our worthy, antient Friend, John Richardfony with divers other European Friends. The Meeting was large and edifying.
The River flill continuing frozen up, I had a Defire to vifit my Friends and Brethren in Chefter County, whom r had not feen for fome Years -, and in order thereto, in the Beginning of the Twelfth Month, I, with my Kinfman, Daniel Stanton, fet out from Phila- delphia, and went to Newtown^ where we had a Meet- ing next Day (being the firfl of the Week) and after- wards an Evening-meeting at Evan Lewises -, from thence we went to the Monthly-meeting at Providence, on Third-day to Middletown^ Fourth-day to Concord, • Fifth-day to Birmingham, Sixth-day to London-Grove ; after which we had an Evening-meeting at a Widow's Houfe : From thence we travell'd on Seventh-day to Nottingham^ and were at a large Meeting there on Firft-day, and had an Evening-meeting at a Friend's
Houfe,
256 tr^^ JOURNAL ^
'2^^' ^°^^^' where fome Perfons came, who had never been ^ at a Meeting of Friends before ; on Second-day we had a Meeting at Sufquehannah Ferry, to which divers People came over the Ice, and it was a good Opportu- .nity tom;my of them. Third-day we had a large Meet- ing at TVefi-NoUingham, and in the Evening at William Browns^ and next we had a large Meeting at iV<?w- Carden, and at Michael Lightfoot^s Houfe we met with two Friends from Ireland, Mungo Bewley and Samuel Stephens, who were now proceedino- on the Courfe of their religious Vifit to Friends in Marylafid,
Virginia, and North- Carolina, ^From thence I went
to vifit my old Friend and Acquaintance Ellis^ Lewis, who had a Deiire to fee me : We had an Evening- meeting in his Chamber, to our mutual Comfort and Ketrefhment ; and next Day had a very large Meet- ing in the Meeting-houfe at Kennet ; after which we went to Concord to the Quarterly-meeting |br the County of Chejler, and were at three Meetings there, and likewife had three Evening^meetings ^t friends Houfes ; at which Meetings we had the Company of my Kinfwoman Mce Alder/on, and her Companion Margaret Coupland, who were lately come from the North of England, to vific Friends in this an^ the ad- jacent Provinces.
We went on Third-day to the General-meeting at Providence^ which was very large ; J o/hu a Fielding 2in<\ Ebenezer Large were there ; and we had an Evening- meeting at Rebecca MinJJjaWs ; and next went to Chichefter, where we had a larger Meeting than I ex- pected, confidering the Seafon ; we lodged at John Salkeld's ; and on Fifth-day we had a good, open Meeting at Chefter, and, in the Evening, another at Grace Loyd's -, next Day had a Meeting at Springfield, which I belive will be remembered by fome that were there, when we don't fee one another ; afterwards we travelled to Philadelphia.
u
7'HOMAS CHALKLET. 2^7
In this Year 1732, arrived 'Thomas Penn, one of 1732. the Proprietors of Penfylvmiiay and Son of the truly w-St^ honourable William Penn^ Governor and Proprietor of this Province, a v^^ife Man, a good Chriftian, and a mild Governor, a great Promoter of Piety and Virtue, and of good Men. May this his Son walk in his Steps !
In the Firfl Month was our general Spring-meeting, at which were feveral Publick Friends from England^ viz. John Richardfon^ Alice Alderfon^ and Margaret Coupland. The Meeting was large and edifying, the faid Friends having Service therein to general Satis- fa(5lion.
The 2d of the Second Month I proceeded on a ^7^3- Voyage to Barhadoes fit being the firft in the Snow ^^''''V^ Barb adoes -Packet^ a Veffel built on Purpofe for me) We got to the Capes the 20th of the Second Month in the Evening, where we were obliged to come to an An- chor j and the 21ft v/e put out to Sea, but the Wind being againft us, and looking like windy Wearher, I concluded to come to under our Cape^ and wait for a fair Wind : As foon as our Snow came to, we got our Boat out, and went to Lewis-Town ; and next t-c^i^- Day, being Firft-day, we had a Meeting in the ^°'^''"' Court- houfe. In this Town, is an Epifcopal^ and a Prejb'jterian Meeting- houfe ; but neither of their Teachers were that Day in I'own, and divers of the People were glad of a Meeting, and I had a good Op- portunity with them. After Meeting I went on board, and weighed Anchor, and had a fair Wind for above ^^ ^^^" a Week after : In which Time we overtook the Ship Amity^ Bowling Mafler, near the Latitude of
Bermudas ; where we had fmart Gales of Wind, which obliged us to carry our Topfails double-reelt'd : And, after having been at Sea 27 Days and one Night, in which Time we had feveral Meetings, we law the l^?iVidiO^ Barhadoes i though, for the .mod Part, wt'&arbaia
hid
fhia
25S "Tbe J OVR^ AL of
1723. had contrary Winds; but all was well, and God
ty'V^J blefled, who is for ever worthy,
J''* from Xhe 20th of the Fourth Month, having done my * Bufinefs, and alfo vificed Friends Meetings, we failed for Philadelphia ; and on the 2.5th of the Fourth Month, being Firft-day, we had a feafonable and fer- viceable Meeting, wherein the Almighty was worfhip- ped and praifed, and the People exhorted to Sobriety and Temperance. We were about 20 Days from
jj//<tflV/. Barbadoes to Philadelphia.
After having (laid at home about fix Weeks, and vifited the Meetings of Friends in divers Places, to mine and their Satisfaflion, on the2Sth of the Sixth Month, I proceeded on another Voyage for the Ifland o^ Barbadoes. We left Sight of our Capes on the 31ft of the faid Month. The Winds were, for the moft: Part, contrary, and, before we got into the Trade Wind, we met with two hard Gales ; the laft of which was a Kind of a Hurricane, in which we could carry no Sail at all, but let the Veflel lie to the Mercy of the Seas, or rather to the Mercy of him that made the Seas, and all that is therein, and in the Earth alfo. In this Storm we loft a fpare Top-maff, and divers other U- tenfils belonging to the VefTel ; but all our People were well and fafe. This Voyage we had feveral comfort- able religious Meetings on board, in which we were exhorted to prepare for another and better World, this being fo very uncertain and momentary, and full of various Exercifes, Temptations, and Affliflions.
I had on board three Whitehaven Sailors, William ^ozverfon^ William Trimble^ and William Atkinfon^ and I do not remember that I heard either of them fwear an Oath during the whole Voyage, which I thought wor- thy to (land on Record, becaufe it is fo rare in fea- faring Men. About the Beginning of the Eighth Month (being in the Latitude of Barbadoes) the Thoughts of my leaving my Family and Habitation, and many of my loving Relations, and near and dear
Friends
THOMAS CHALKLET, 259
Friends fas at divers other times alfo) made me pen- 1733. five and forrowtul ; but it being on a Principle of Juf- <y\^^ rice, and fometimes meeting with the Prefence and Goodnefs of God, I was enabled to do my Affairs and Bufinefs, and forbore to appear forrowful as much as pofTibly I could, or to be of a fad Countenance in the Sight of Men •, but to him, who knew ail Things, and fees in fecret, I poured out my Soul in all my Af- flidlions, for he only is able to help me. I met with fome who untruly cenfured me, as covetous of the Things of this fVorld, or to be rich -, and that for the fake of thefe outward Things^ I might venture my Life until 1 might lofe it : Really, as to my Life, it hath long been my Defire to be ready to refign it, and is fo flill : And, as to thofe outward Things, fo far as I know, my Heart is clear ; Food and Rai- ment, and to be clear and even with the World, hav- ing rather to give than receive, is all the Grandeur I defire, and if that be not granted, I hope to be con- tented 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 comparifon of a Houfe and Kingdom eternal in the Heavens. In this Voyage, as -ufual, I read in the holy Scriptures, and met with ^* sc*. ftrong Confolation therein, efpecially in the New-Te- ftament ; I alfo read much in the V\'"orks of that err.i- nent Judge and good Chriitian, Matthew Hale.
The 7th of the Eighth Month, we arrived at Bar- ^^^XStT,. hadoeSi ftaid three Weeks and one Day, and had divers religious Meetings. I haften*d to accomplifh my Af- fairs before Winter, it coming on, and the Time of the Year dangerous for failing on our Coafls. On the 30th of the Eighth Month we left the Ifland of Bar- badoeSy bound lor Philadelphia *, and on the i irh of the Ninth Month it pleafed God to favour us with a gra- At sea, cious Opportunity to worfhip him -, wherein was de- clared to the Ship's Company, The Nature and Ad- vantage
26o ^:>e JOURN AL of
I73g. vantage of Good, and the Fountain from whence it >^~\r<N-> flows, or fprings ; as alfo the Nature and Difadvan- tage 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 Men might be left without Excufe, God hath fent the divine and fu- pernatural Light of his holy Spirit, to fhow to Mor- tals what is Good, and what is Evil -, in order that they might embrace the Good, and refufe the Evil.
The 2iftof the Ninth Month we had a very hard Gale of Wind at North-weft, which blew fo hard, that k put us by from failing, fo that we were obliged ta ]ay her to the Wind i 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 rifmg very high : Indeed the long, ftormy and dark Nights v/ere very difmal , and feme of our Goods got loofe in the Hold. In the Beginning of the Night, about the fevcnth Hour, Philip Kearney, my Appren- tice, fell into the Sea and was loft, which was a deep AfHiclion to us in divers Confiderations.
The 25th we faw the Land, and next Day v/e came Fhiiadel. to an Anchor in Delaware Bay. The Lofs of this ^'""'' Lad, was a Caufe that we were not fo 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 Barhadoes-Packet) from Philadelphia^ bound to Barbadoes : We were tov/d through the Ice by two Boats from Thomai Alafter's Wharff, and in two Days got to Reedy-IJland \ from whence we failed dov/n Delaivare Bay \ where we lay tv/o Nights, the Wind being contrary, blowing hard, the Nights being long, the Days very fhort, and Weather Iharp ; we left our Capes in the Night, it being dangerous lying in the Bay 5 and after being out .At Sea, feveral Days, we had favour»\ble Winds, and pleafant Weather i but when we got into the Trade-Wind, it
blew
THOMAS CHALKLET, 261
blew hard, and moftly againft us ; fo that the firft Land 1 733* we faw was the Ifland of ChriJiopher\ where we arrived '^^^^^^^ in 20 Days from our Capes *, and the Market for Pro- chri/to. vifions being at that Time better than at any other of /^fr's. thofe Iflands, and the Property of the Veflel moftly belonging to me, and the Cargo generally confign'd to me, I difpofed of Part of it. Here being no Meet- ing of our Society on this Ifland, I had Meetings on board the Veflel in the Harbour, and divers trom the Shore, and fcveral Matters of VeflTels came to our Meetings, the Snow having large Accommodations for fuch an Occafion ; and, fo far as I could underftand, the People were generally fatisfied, and fpoke well ot our Meetings.
Of late Times, and alfo in this Voyage, meeting •with many Lofles and Crofles, and much Afllid:ions, and various Exercifes, I was ready to fay in my Heart, Lord^ why am I thus affl.iofed now in m'j decli- fling learSy fince thou knows^ I love thee above all Things J and that I would not willingly or knowingly of' fend tbee^ my great and dear Lord ? It was anfwered (as though vocally fpoken) My only begotten and beloved Son, who never offended me^ fuffered much more. This Word being fuch an evident Truth, I begg'd Pati- ence to go through all my Sufferings and Afilidions, fo that at laft I might live with Chrift in the glorious Kingdom of God for ever, where I might always blefs and 'praife his holy Name.
Five or fijf Days atter our Arrival at this Ifland, a Veflfel, that came out five or fix Days before us, arrived, fhe meeting with the fame boifterous Weather as we did, yet we made our Pafl'agc ten or eleven Days foon- er : Divers other Vefl^elSj, bound to Barbadoes, put in here, through thefe contrary Winds \ and when I faw others in the like Circum.ftances 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 Barhadoes, the lOand I was' bound
to.
262 77^^ JOURNAL (?/
1733. to, and a great Difappointment to me, and many
-/"y-"^ more.
At this Ifland a Perfon, whofe Name was Galloway i a Man of a great Eftate, hearing that I kept Meetings on board the Veflel, kindly invited me to have a Meeting at his Houfe, 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 wel- come to his Houfe, which was much more convenient than the Veffel-, but I was not very forward to accept of my Friend Gallowafs, kind Offer, being fenfible of my own Weaknefs and inward Poverty, fo that I made feveral Excufes to evade it i but he obviated them all. iff, I afk'd him, If he could hear the Reproach of having a Quakers Meeting at his Houfe ? He anfv/er'd, 2~es, there is Good and Bad of all Societies. 2dly, I afl-i'd. If his Wife would like it, or he willing that a Meeting fjjould he in the Houfe ? He faid. She defiredity and would he very willing, gdly, I alk'd. If he thought he could fit in Silence ? He told me. He heliev'd be could. T then told him, I was obliged to him for his kind and friendly Offer, and, God willing, I in- tended to come, and tell my People of the Ship's Com- pany to come alio, and delired him to give Notice of it : The which he did ; and there was a large fatisfac- cory Meeting ; Oh may the Almighty fanSify it to ibme 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 ProfefTions, were at this Meeting, and many cxprelTed their being glad of it. An Attorney at Law faid. He was thankful for the Words he heard that Day, and, if I would ftay with them, he would always come to our Meetings. One Judge A£lls was at this Meeting, and very kindly invited me to his Houfe. Some meeting me next Day, faid, They wtre forry they were not there. The
Miftrefs
"T HO MAS CHALKLE7. 263
Miflrefs of the Houfe told divers of the People, who 173:?. were Pcrfons of Note, That they Jhoidd remember -what they had heard ; and fpoke ic with a reh'gious Concern, as It (eem'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 Voicej faid unto me, How dofi thou know but for this Caufe, and for this Meetings thou art brought here to this IJJand^ tho' againft thy Will? The People told me, that they did not remember that there ever was a Meeting of our Friends before on the Ifiand. The Meeting had this Effed;, that the People had a better Opinion of our Society than they had berore. The Subjed in this Meeting was, The Excellency of the Gofpel Dif-penfation above that of the Law, in that it brought us to the Law, went through the Law, and was above the Lav/, and far from deflroying the Law, but fulfilled if, for Proof of which, they were referred to Chrift's mor: excellent Sermon which he preached on the Mounts Mat. V.
From the Ifland of Chrijlophcf^ I purpofcd, God willing, for Barbadoes •, the v/hich i apprehended would be a troublefome Voyage, it beingabout 100 Leagues to Windward, and a flrong Current againft us. ~ Oa the 19th of the Twelfth Month, w- failed, towards Barbadoes -, and the Wind being a-head, and blowing hard, we tarried two Nights at the Ifiand of Lucea.^ uccr. where we took in Wood and V/ater : The People here were moftly French, and were very civil to us.
The 2 ill we put out again to Sea*, but the Wind and Current being againft- us, obliged us to go into the Harbour from whence we came, and tarry tor an Op- portunity more favourable. While we were in this Harbour, which is a very good one, feveral Vefteis came in on the like Occafion \ and a VeiTel that cams '
S from
TZv J O U R N A L of
from Chriflophcr'^ about three Hours after us, came here three Days fmce we did.
We went out again, in order to proceed to Barla- does -, but, as before, the Current was fo ftrong againfl us, and rhe Wind alfo, that we could not get'^forward on our Way ; wherefore we put back again to Chri-
•ik'-vsua, Jlopher's, and, by the Way, called at Jntigua^ where I had an open, fatisfaftory Meeting, for which I was truly thankful, and lb were fome, not of our Society, of whom there were divers, and fome who had not been at our M-^etings before.
Onfto. '^^'^^^ ^'"xt Day we arrived again at Chrippher's^ and
pUr.;. there unloaded the Remainder of our Cargo, though much againfl my Mind. After having fold the moft of our Cargo at Bajeierre, we went to Sandy-Pointy and there fold the Remainder, and took in our Loading for Philadelphia. ^
In loading our Veflel, Judge Brown was my very good Friend, and helpful to me therein, for which I t.unk rnyfelf much obliged to him.
While we lay Iiere, I had a Meeting on board our Vellcl, to which came five Mafiers of VefTels. It was 4 good Meeting, tho^ I [poke to them in much Mifery iind Pain, having very angry painful Sores on my Ug^ occalioned by a Fall in getting out of the Boar, the bcas runninfT high, and through the Violence of the Waves, I fell acrofs the Boar, and broke both my ohms very grievouHy. J7^4, , "it;^ 31ft oftheFirft Month 1734, we had ano-
t/*VX»' ^'^'-'* Meeting on board our Vefiel, to which came fe- veral from other VclTels, and fome from the Shore, among whom was a young Baronet, and his Hoft (a lavern-keepe.r) with him, who at firfl behaved airily, but, after fome Time, he was more fober, and feemcd relpedful at partino-.
I v/as invited to have a Meeting next Firfl-day on board the Ship King George, a large VefTei j the Ma- tter tuid me his Cabbin was large, and would accom- modate
THOMAS CHALKLET. 265
modate many more than mine; but we did not flay 1734. fo iong as till the Firft-day. ^^-V^
After this Meeting was over, the Mafler of the large Ship came on board, and faid, He was forry he had not come fooner, fo as to have had the Oppor- tunity to have been at the Meeting.
From Chriftopher\ we fee fail Tor the Ifland of An- guilla, and had a Meeting at the Governor's Houfe on a Firll-day. We fraid at Anguilla three Days, and An^mUa,' there took on board fome Bags of Cotton on Freight, and failed from thence the loth of the Second Month. The Governor of this Ifland, whofe Name is George Leonard^ told me, That he Jh'juld live and die in our ^ Principles y faving that he muft defend his People. But he did not confider, that his Defence might deflroy both him and them, ai-d that fuch Defence was di- rediy contrary to Chrift's Doftrine and Pradicc. A remarkable and difmal PalTage he related to me, That, fome Days before, a VefTel came from the Ifland of Saltitudas (which went there to take in Salt) the People going on Shore, the Mafter told him, that there lay at the Landing the Heads of above twenty Men on one Side the Path, and the Qiiarters of them on the other ; which fo furprized them, that they made the bed of their Way to Anguilla, where they related this difmal Story, and fuppofed the Slain to be Brito77S by their Appearances, and that they were deftroyed by the Spaniards^ who are known to be cruel to them : This Adlion being far from the Spirit of Chrifbianicy, is a Reproach to the Adors thereof.
Not far from Anguilla is an Ifland they call St. Johi's,^ the Inhabitants of which are Dutch: The A'"^- groes there lately role and took the Ifland, kill*d the People, fpoiled their Plantations, and burnt their Houfes: I lodged at the Houfe of a Perfon, who went to fubdue thofe Negroes, who were too ftrong for him and his Company, and the Negroes kill'd di- vers of them, and among rhem, kill'd this Man's two
S 2 Sons,
266
ne JOVR-N AL of
1734.
Arrires a
¥hiiadci'
fhia.
Account cf the Death of his Son
Sons, for which their Mother and Sifters were in bitter Mourning, when I was at their Houfe. The Thoughts of the Bloodfhed, and vail Deftruftion, which War makes in the World, caufed me to cry in my Heart; How long, O Lord, thou holy, ju/l, and true God, will ji he till Nation lift up the Sword no more againfi Nation^ nor the People learn War any mere.
When I came home from this Voyage, which was the 30th of the Second Month, I met with the for- rovvful News of the Death of my only Son George, a beloved, dear Youth, who was taken fick the fifth of the Eighth Month 1733* and departed this Life at my Houfe in Frankfort, the 13th of the faid Month, a- bout the ninth Flour, in the Evening of the fixth Day of" the Week, and was carried to the Bank Meeting- houfe of Friends in Philadelphia, and buried from thence on the Firft-day following, being accompanied by many Friends, and others ; he was ten Years and feven pays old, when he died, and, as he was much be- Joved for the Sweetnefs of his Nature and Difpofition, lo he was greatly lamented by many who were ac- quainted v/ith him. I have this Account to leave con- cerning him, not fo much that he was my Son, as to excite other Youths to ferve and fear the Lord, and to Jove him above all, and that they might remember rheir Creator in their youthful Days, that it might be well with tliem in this World, and when Time here to them fhal] be no more.
' He was a Lad much inclined to read the holy ' Scriptures, and other good Books, cfpecially reli- , and was always obliging, obedient and t5, ^- liis Parents, and ready and willing to do riny Service he could to his Friends ; any little Services in his Power he chearfully performed, and took delight in ; he was very diligent, and ready to go to religious Meetings, and an entire Lover of re- ligious People. In his Sicloiefs he behaved him-
felf
gious Ones
loving, to c
THOMAS CHALKLET, 267
felf more like a wife Man, than a Youth of that Age, 1 734. bearing his Pain and Sicknefs with a great deal ot ^-^V^ Patience. I being in another Part of the World, he would gladly have feen me, but faid, he Ihould ne- ver fee me any more, and therefore defired his Mother to remember his dear Love to his Father, and tell him, that he was gone to his heavenly fa- ther He was very fervent in Prayer in the Time of his Sicknefs, and prayed that God would preferve his People all the World over. One Time, wnen in great Mifery and Pain, he prayed to Chrift, fliy- inc.; Sweet Jefus ! Bleffed Jefus ! Give me Patience to°bear my Mifery and Pain, for my Mifery is crreater than I can well bear ! O come, fweet j£fu?v- why art thou fo long a coming? I had rather be with thee than in the finell Place in all the World. Many relic^ious ExprelTions he fpoke on his dying Bed, greatly to the Satisfaction and melting of his Friends and Relations who came to fee him in his Illnefs ; one Day he laid, my Miiery and Pain is very great, but what would it be if the V/rath of God was in my Saul ? He believing in the Love of God in Chrifl:, made him defirous of being with him, and feeing the Joy that was fet before him, thought the Time long to be with Jefus, as knowing that then he would be out of all Mifery and Pain. His Heart was full of Love to his Relations, Acquaintance and Friends who came to fee him in his Illnefs •, and full of tender Sweetnefs and divine Love, he took his laft Leave of them, which greatly arkcled many. This was one of the molt pinching Exercifes 1 ever met with in all my Days •, but as he laid in his Illnefs, fo I now write. The Wifdom of the Lord is wonderful. One Time in this dear Child's Sicknefs he faid, Oh ! the good Hand of Thee the Lord help me, give me Eaie, and condud me fafe (/. e.) to God*s°Kingdom, uttering chis Verfe.*
c 2 Sweei
268
/i-
ne ]OVRlSiAL of
Sweet Jefus^ give jne Eafe, for Mercy I do crave % And if thou' II give me Eafe, then Mercy I ffjall have,
Alrho' this was a great and fore Exercife, and deep Affliftion to me in lofing this promifing Youth, and my only Son ; yet, confidering that he went off the Stage of Life like a folid, good Chriftian, it was made tolerable eafy to me •, for he departed this Life in much Bri^htnefs and Sweetnefs, and more like an old Chriftian, than a Youth of ten Years of Age.
It v/as ufual for me to advife his Mother not to fet her AiTeclions too much upon him, thinking he was too good to live long in this World, and too ripe for Hea- ven, to flay long here on Earth, or in this World of Sorrow and Mifery. This dear and tender Youth, when reading (to which he was much inclined) if he met with any Thing that affefted him, either in the flicred Writings, or other good Authors, he would write It down, and get it by Heart •, he was, more than common, affeftionately concerned for his Mother, do- >ng whatever he could freely and chearfully to ferve her, and told her not to do divers Things which he thought too much for her, faying, Mothtr, let me do tt^ ij I were a Man thou flooidd not do any Thing at all, (meaning as to Labour) My dear Wife, being very jnduUnous, and apt to o'verdo herfelf at Times • And ilie being affefted with his filial Love and Care for and cowards her in his Father's Abfence, it caufed her fometimes to turn about and weep, in Confideration of his great Care for and Love to her. I thought a little Men>orandum of the Life and Death of this religious Lad was worthy recording, in order to flir up other iouths to Obedience and Love to their Parents, who begat them, and carefully and tenderly nourifhed and brought them up ; and alfo to love and obey God, from waom they have their Life, Breath and Being, and ro believe in Chrjlf, who died for them j who is the glo-
rious
THOMAS CHALKLET, 269
rious Light of all the Nations of them that are faved, 1734. and walk therein, according to facred Writ. s
As noted above, he got I'everal Pieces by Heart out of the Bible, and other religious Writings, firft wri- ting them with his Pen. Two fhort Ones I may recite, of which Nature were divers others, which peradven- ture may be edifying to fome, who may cait their Eye thereon.
One Place which much affedled my Mind that he wrote down, and got by Heart, was the 15th Verfe of the 57th Chapter of that evangelical Prophet Ifaiah : For thus faith the high and lofiy one, that inhahitHh Eternity, -whofe Name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy Place, with him alfo that is of a contrite and hum- ble Spirit, to revive the Spirit of the Humble, and to re- vive the Heart of the contrite Ones.
Another little Piece was five Verfes, which among others he wrote, and got by Heart, viz.
As one Day goes another comes.
And fometimes Jhews us difmal Dooms,
As Time rozvls on, new Things we fee.
Which feldom to us do agree :
Tho* now and tben^s a pleafant Day,
^Tis long a coming, foon away -,
Wherefore the everlajiing Truth
Is good for Aged and for iVuth,
For them to fet their fiearts upon ;
For that will lad till Time is done.
I have now but one only Daughter, Rebecca, left me out of twelve Children, (except my Wife's Son and Daughter.)
After this long and tedious Voyage, which ended in the fecond Month, I ftay'd but a few Weeks at home, and loaded with Wheat and Flour for Dublin^ in Ireland -, had Alice Alderfon, my Kinfv/oman, and Margaret Copeland, Paffcngers. We had a verv com- tortable, pleafant PalTage, fair Winds and "Weather,
S 4 and
270 T;^^ JOURNAL 0/
1734. and good religious Meetings. I think it was the moft
i,^'"^ pleaiant Time that ever I croffed the Seas ♦, about
iSlr? Naniuckel we hw feveral Sloops a Whaling, and fpoke
with one, by v/hich Opportunity we enquired of the
Welfare of our Friends on that Ifland, and fent our
Loves to them. Not many Miles from the Sloops we
law a Shoal ol- Whales ; I counted eight in a Row lying
* Side by Side in the Water.
W^e v/ere four Weeks and fix Days from our Capes to Cape Clear in Ireland -, coming near the Land we met with Fiihing-Boats, and got Plenty of choice frefh iiitifaie. jTifi^ . \^ j-}^e Evening we got into Kin/ale^ took in a Pilot for Dublin^ and failed next Day from Kin/ale, and was out one Night at Sea, got next Day to Dub- ^"^""* lin-Bay^ where we went afhore, and were kindly enter- tained by our Friends •, we were at divers large Meet- ings in that great City, which feme of us, while we live, at Times I believe fhall remember. My Stay in Ireland v/as about feven W^eeks, in which Time I vifited feveral Meetings in the Country, and at Eden- derry^ the Moaie of Greenough^ Carlow, Bally lor e^ &c. Sails for We fet fail from Dublin with a fair Wind, in Com- pany v/ith the Ship Neptune^ and our Friends fent many Prayers and good Wifhes after us. We were a- bout forty Perfons, Sailors, PafTengers and Servants on board, and had a good Paflage, all Things confidered. "We had divers religious Meetings on board, and were on our PalTage, from the Sight of Ireland^ to the Sight jruvcs of our Land, five Weeks and fix Days ; it v/as the quickeft Voyage I ever made to Europe and back aga'n to Philadelphia.
When I came home, finding all well, I was thank- ful to God, in the Name of Chrifl, for all his Mer- cies, and the miany Prefervations wherewithal he had favoured me.
After being a little at home, and at feveral Meet- ings, and not being clear of the W^orld, in order to it, I I'ndertook another Voyage to BarbadoeSy and from
thence
e
ia.:^.
THOMAS CHALKLET. 271
thence intending for London^ in order to fettle my Af- 1734. fairs there, which I intended feme Years before, but s.-^'V"^ Lofles and Difappointments hinder'd me : Wherefore, the 7i:h of the Tenth Month, I proceeded on a Proceeds fifth Voyage in the Bnrbadoes-Packet, and left Philadel- garhadots. fh'ia^ and was at a Meeting the next Day at Chefter (being Firft-day) and in the Evening we had a large Meeting at Grace Loyd's, where I met with my dear Friend Jofeph Gill, who had good Service in the faid Meeting -, we rejoiced in Chrift to fee each other : We left Chefter the 9th5 and got that Tide down the River to Newcaftle, and, after vifiting thofe few- Friends there, we fet fail the 12th in the Morning ; the Wind being high, and the Weather very fharp, freezing hard, our Sails were fo froze, that we had hard Work to get the VefTel under fail. The 13th Day weighed Anchor, and failed down the Bay, and the 14th we were clear of the Capes. The Firfl-day following, we had a good, feafonable Meeting, for the Worfliip and Service of God, and, in the faid Meeting, as I was treating of Difobedience to Parents, and Dii- obedience to Almighty God, our great Parent and heavenly Father, a Youth, who was a Paffenger in the Veflel, went out hallily and abruptly, as I was fhew- At sea. ing the Ungrateful nefs of the firft, much more of tlie Jaft : When I aflced the Reafon of his going out, he faid, // was becaufe he could mi forbear crying ; and thinking I fpoke fo becaufe of him, he faid, He could not hear jne any more. Afterwards I underftood that he was a Youth who was very ungrateful and dif- obedient to his Parents ; the which 1 knew not of, for his Mother told me, and himfelf alfo, that he wenc to Sea on Account of his Heakh. I thought his going out fo haftily was occafioned by fome Indifpofition of Body ; but it was, as he gave us to underfband, thro' refenting ill what was fpoken, and by his taking of it to himfelf. I have, in ]ii<e Manner, fometimes obferved, chat divers People have fhewn a Reltlefsnefs and Un-
eafinefs
272 ' rhe ]OVKN AL of
1734. eafinefs in publick AiTemblies of Worfbip and Devo- ^/"^-^ tion, and foirietimes c;oing out, &c. fo that they have thereby expofed themfelves to the Notice of the Peo- ple, as Perfons guilty of the Matter publickly repre- hended, or rpoken againft •, juft as though they were the only Perfons in the Aflembly, who were guilty of the Evil then taken Notice of: Such publick Reftlefs- nefs, is a great Folly and Weaknefs, befides fo openly and publickly expofing themfelves.
After we left our Capes, we had divers hard Gales of Wind, which Liied feveral Days. The 28th, being a Firft-day, we had a IVIeeting for divine Worlhip, in which God was praifed, and his holy Name exaiced, tor his unfpeakable Grace, in fending his only begot- ten Son, a divine Light to enlighten the Inhabitants of the World : After which we had flormy Weather and contrary V\^inds for fome Weeks, (o that our PafTage was tedious -, and of 15 Times going to Bar- hadoes, I found this the moft difficult -, and the Prof- pect was very difcouraging of making a lofing Voy- age, by the great Expence I expedled for repairing and refitting the VefTel, &c. fo that I began to de- fpair of accomplifhing my Defign of difcharging my Debts in Great-Britain^ and the Thoughts and Confi- deration of lofing fo much of the Company and Con- verfation of my Wife, Relations, and Friends, and fpending fo much precious Time (which cannot be recalled) to fo little Purpofe, lay heavy on my Mind ; yet, by the Grace of God, my Mind was fupported, and my Refolutions confirmed to praife the Almighty, for every Difpenfation of his Providence.
The 23d of the Eleventh Month, we faw the Ifland js.niij.dors. of Barbodoes (at the Breaking of the Day) having been from the Capes of Delaware forty Days and one Night; and was truly thankful, that, at lail, we, through di- vine Favour, got well to our defired Port ; where we were lovingly received by our Friends at SpetghCs- TaWKt who vvese joyful at our Arrival. From thence
I went
"T HO MAS CHALKLET. 273
I went to Bridge-Town^ and fo on to the Governor's, 1735. in order to enter our VefleJ ; but, flaying a little too Lf^-^J late, the Governor, who was the Lord Ih-ive^ was come from his Houfe on his Way to Bridge-tozv/i^ with his Coach and Six^ and his Attendants ; but he (feeing me) courteoufly ltopp*d his Coach, and did my Bufinefs as he fat therein ; and though I made an Ef- fay towards an Excufe, he would not admit of it, faying, There was no Need of any Excufe. He was in- deed an extraordinary courteous Man : He died foon after, much lamented, as he was much beloved.
My Stay at Barbadoes this Time was the longefl I B-whaines. ever ftay'd, believing it to be the laft Time I Ihould go there, and that J fhould fee them no more. My fo faying troubled fome of them ; but growing in Years (being then turned of Threefcore) I thought it would be too hard for me to undertake fuch another Voyage j therefore I was at all the Meetings of our Friends on the Ifland.
Here I met with Mojes Aldridge^ a Friend from New-England^ who came on a religious Vifit to Friends of this Ifland, with whom we had divers good Meet- ings, his Service in Preaching the Gofpel being edify- ing and acceptable •, we were together at the Marriage of Andrew Drury and Mary Lezds, after which Meet- ing and Marriage, I was ill of a Fever fcveral Days, which Diftemper was very much among the People, of which near twenty Maffers of VefTels, and foiric Hun- dreds of People died •, and though I had been at Bar- badoes m^Luy Times, Intv&r had fo much Jllnels there be- fore i ?AofesAldridge, and feveral Friends of us, had a large Meeting ^ijohn Gibfott's^ where were many People, not of our Perfwafion, who generally were Ibber ; but as J was recommending Charity to the People, according to the Dodrine of the Apollle Paul^ as the mofl excel- lent Gift, I advifed them to fho# it forth to all People of all Profefnons, and alio to their Negroes, telling them, that fome of the Gentry of this Iiland had ob-
fcrved
274 T/je JOVK'N AL of
1735. ferved to nie, that the more kind they were to their v-xSr*^ Slaves, they had their Bufinefs the better done for it ; though I obferved alio, that I had been at fome Places, where I had watched to hear fome Exprefiions that might look like Charity -, but in divers Houfes, and Sarbadtes. ^^^^^^ ^c ^jote, I coLild not hear any Chriftian-like-Ex- prefilons to their Slaves or Negroes, and that with Sorrow I had feen a great deal of Tyranny and Cruelty, the which I diffv/aded them from : This Do6lrine lb exafperated fome that were there, that they made a Difturbance in the Meeting -, one of which Perfons meeting me on the King's High- way, fhot off his Fowling-piece at me, being loaded with fmall Shot, ten of which made Marks on me, and feveral drew Blood j by which unfriendly A(5lion, the Man got a great deal of Difgrace, it being highly refented by all who were acquainted with me j the Prefident of the Ifland look'd on it as a very bafe Adion, as did alio divers of the Juftices and the Gentry, alfo the Veflry, and feveral Clergymen and Lawyers ; one of the Lawyers told me, I Jhould not he jufi to the Coun- try, m^felf, nor the Man, if I did not profecute him ; another, profeffing the Lav/, faid. He ought to be abandoned by ail Mankind, if he fhot at me with De- fign ; many were for profecuring him, for the Peo- ple generally took Notice of it with Abhorrence ; but he fending for me, and fignifying, he v/ould not do {o again, I forgave him -, and i pray it may not be laid' to his Charge in the great Day, and that he may be forgiven, he being ignorant of the Love I had and have for him and all Men, even them v/hom I know to be mine Enemies. It would be too great a Scan- dal and Reproach, to expofe his Name and Station in the World. Some thought I did well in forgiving him, and fome thougljit I did ill in it ; but I fpoke my Mind to him alone freely, in which I had Satisfaction and Peace.
Ln tending
THOMAS CHALKLET, 275
Intending my Veflel for London^ I made my Chief- i^]%S- mate, Ralph Loftus, Mafter of her, not knowing vvhe- v>'"V-v^ ther I might proceed the Voyage, it being a very ^<"'*'"'''"' fickly Time ; afterwards my Mate had the Diftemper alfo, but I blefs God we both recovered a good State of Health.
It was this Voyage that my Friends in Barhadoes pubhfhed a little Piece I wrote at Sea, which I called, Free 'Thoughts communicated to Free Thinkers ; done in order to promote Thinking on the Name and Vv^orks of God •, which had, as far as I underftand, a good Acceptance among the People ; the principal Clergy- man on the Ifland, thanked me for it, and faid There was need enough of It : But I could be glad another, or a better Hand, had done feme Thing of that Nature, and more large. If this may ht of any Service, I fhall be thankful.
I had alfo a Meeting at John Lcu^u^ in Jofeph^i Parifh, at which v;ere divers not of our Profefllon, and fome who were never at any of our religious Meetings before •, who faid. They were glad they were there that Day ; it being a fatisfadory, open- Meet- ing.
After I had vifited my Friend.-;, and fettled my Af- fairs as well as I could, and loaded our VelTel v/ith Su- gars, for London^ being willing, once more, ro fee my native Land, and to. fettle my Affairs there, and fee my Relations and Friends •, on the 6th of the Third Month, we fet fail from Barhadoes for London^ and had pleafant Weather. The i6th, being the Firftday of ^^ ^^ the Week, we had a religious Meeting for the Worfhip of God, in which I was concerned to fpeak on the Go- vernment of the Tongise (having on board feveral Hands, v/hich did not fail with us before that Voyage, that were much ufed to Swearing.) After that Meet- ing, we had not fo many bad Words and Oaths as be- fore. I was thankful in my Soul to the Lord, and
blefTed
276 'The J O U R N A L <?/
ly^i:,. blefled his holy Name, for his Goodnefs tous that Day;
'>'Sr*\J and, in the Night, my Sleep was very fweet and com-
^ fortable, being Tenfible of the Love of God in the Vi-
fions of the Night \ fo that I witneiVd the Fulfilling of
the Prophecy of Joel^ Chap. ii. 28.
The 23d, being the Firft-day of the Week, we had a Meeting, in which the Grace of God, that comes by Jcfus Chrifb, was magnified, and a BlcfTing begg'd for all who love and fcrve God, throughout the World, by Sea and Land •, alfo a tender Petition was put up. to Almighty God, that, as he was gracioufly pleafed to look down on thofe eight Perfons in Noah's Ark, fo he would pleafe to look upon us in our VefTel •, and, that, as, by his divine Providence, they fafely landed on the Earth, fo we, if it were his Will, might fafely land at our defired Port; yet not tiiat our Wills, but his Will might be done : Which Supplication was put up vvith great Submiffion. Both Day and Night I of- ten fought the Lord, and was much alone in this Voy- age. I read the Old and New Teftament almoft through, and much of it divers Times over ; my Time being moftly taken up m Reading, Writing, and Meditating, in which at times, my Heart would be broken into Tendernefs ; and I was humbly thank- ful to God, that my Heart v/as not hard ; he having promifed to vifit the contrite Ones -, the which he lometimes iulfilied, to my unfpeakable Satisfadtion : Qlory to his holy Name for ever. My Heart was alfo thankful that God was pleated to vifit me in my wat*ry Travels and Troubles, and in my Separation from my Family and Friends, which are much nearer, and more valuable to me, than all Riches, and a great Crofs to my natural Inclination to part with.
The 8ih of the Fourth Monch, being the Firft-day of the Week, we had a Meeting, in which Acquain- tance with God was exhorted to, fhewing the Benefit of ir, and of loving him above all Things, and de- lighting if! hi:i Lavv, and meditating therein Day and
Nighc
THOMAS CHALKLET, 277
Night. The I9th5 in the Morning, a ftrong norther- 1735- Jy Wind came up, and blew fo hard, that we could not ^^'V^*-^ carry Sail, but lay t® the Wind, under our Mizen, which was fplit or torn with the Violence of the Wind, and the Sea rofe high, fo that it came into the Win- dows of our great Cabbin : It was very rugged for the Time, and, though it was Mid fummer, it was fo cold, that we were obliged to cloath ourfelves, as irx Winter. The22d, being Firft-day, we had a com- fortable Meeting after the Scorm, wherein the great Benefit of true Religion was a little open'd to our fmall Company, and the Lord, moft High, was praifed for our Deliverance and Prefervation. The 26th, we founded, and found about 70 Fathom Depth of Water. The 29th, we were a-breafbof the IJle of Wight. From the Time we left the Ifland of -E"**''/!' ' Barladoes^ to the Time we found Ground, v/as feven ^'"'""'^■' Weeks. Thus, through many Perils and Dangers, we came to Great- Britain-, for all which Mercies and Providences, let my Soul blefs and praife the holy Name and mighty Power of the mofl High. It was now a Time of very great Prefling for Seamen, and fe- veral Men of Wars Boats came on board to prefs our Sailors ; but they had prepared a Place in tnt VeiTc-J to hide themfelves, and the Men of Wars People couid not find them: One Lieutenant, with his Men, came on board, and feeing us weakly handed (the beft of our Hands being hid) he afked me, if I hud any more Hands on board ? I made him very little Anfwer j he then faid. He was fure I could not bring the Ship from Barladoes without Hands: I told him. Sailors were hard to be got in Barbadoes, either for Love or Money, to go tor London, for fear of being prefs'd, and I was oblig'd to take any I could get : He faid. It was in vain to talk much, but it I would fay, I had no more Hands on board, he would be fatisiied ; he having a Belief that I would fpeak the Truth, though he never faw me before ; and he faid, if i would lay,
there ^
27S ^!;.' J O U R N A L 0/
1 735. there were no more Men on board, he would go away ;
t^'V"^' for then he had no more Bufinefs there : But I made him no Anfwer, not daring to tell a Lie: Now I know that there is Men on board, faid he ; fo he commanded his Men to fearch the Ship to her Keel ; fo they ftripp'd, and made a narrow Search, and fweated and fretted, but could not find them. He be- ing civil, I made him, when he went away, a fmall Prefent ; he wiflied me well ; and fo I carry'd my People fafe up to London.
In the Beginning of the Fifth Month, I came to
Itndtn. London^ and lodged at the Houfe of Simeon Warner ^ in Soutbivark^ and at divers kind Friends and Relations in and about London ; the tender and brotherly Refpedt which I received from divers, in fome of thofe Fami- lies, in my Sicknefs, will not, I believe, ever be for- gotten, while I am in this World, at times, by me ; and, I hope, that He, whom I ferve with my Might and Strength, will be their Reward. When in the Country about London, my Refidence was moftly at Edmonton^ at my dear Brother George Chalklefs^ who, with my Sifter and Coufins, were a Comfort to me, both in Health and Sicknefs i for I was often in Lon- don forely afiiicted with the Phthyfick and Ajlhma^ which fometimes made me very uneafy •, and, though my Affairs required me to be often at the City, yet I was obliged to return into the Country for Air, and, both in Health and Sicknefs, was kindly and very af- fcdionately received and tended by my dear Brother, Siller, and ail my loving Coufins 1 the Memory thereof is cordi:iI tome in penning thefe Lines: It may be truly faid, We v/ere very joyful in meeting one ano- t';.er, and our Sorrov/ in parting not eafy to be expref- fed.
In London I fold my V'^eiTel the Barhadoes Packet^ and fettled all my Affairs to general Satisfadion, fo far as I knov/, on v/hich Account I had laboured for fevera] Years, and vvms joyful that Providence had
favoured
"THOMAS CHALKLEl. 279
favoured me fo far as to fee it accomplifhed j fo that I i735- now wholly intended to leave trading by Sea, the v./>r^ which I never inclined to, only on a Principle of Juftice i for I was fully refolved in my Mind, that my Creditors Ihould be paid their juft Debts, though I might lofe my Lite in the Purfuit of it, about which I had no anxious Guilt, becaufe I never was extravagant nor indolent, but met with divers Cafuakies by Fire and Water •, by the latter I loft many Hundreds of Pounds for feveral Years together ; and I would per- fuade all in their Undertaking for a Livelihood in this World, to be fure to have an Eye to divine Provi- dence, who will not fuffer us (if we do well) nor fo much as a Sparrow to fall to the Ground, without he think it belt for us, he knowing what is for our Good better than we know ourfelves. Thus when I had paid my Debts, and in a good Degree fettled my Affairs, I vifited feveral of my Relations, as at Kiyigfworth, Staimy Guildford, &c. had a Meeting at Market- Street, and one at Guildford, another at Stains, and one at Long- ford \ in all which I had fome Service, and my Re- lations were joyful to fee me once more, having never cxpeded to fee me again ; and when I had vifited Meetings in and about London, I went towards the North, in order to vific fome Places where I had never been, and fome that I had been at. The Number of Meetings, and the Names of the Places where 1 had Meetings (while I was this Time in England) are as fol- lows: While I was in and about London^ I was at; eighteen Meetings in that great City, at two of which I waswith Ma'j Brummond^ a virtuous young Woman, who hath a good Gift in the Miniltry, and had a gra- cious Opportunity of declaring her Convincement to our noble Queen Caroline (our great King George*% royal Confort.) The kind Treatment, and good Re- ception, fhe had with the ^teen, fpread fo in City and Country, that many Thousands flocked to hear her, and more of the Gentry and Nobility, than ever was
T known
28o ^^^ J O U R N A L of
17:^5. known before, to our Meetings. I had fome private
v^^V^w/ Converfation with her, which put me in mind of the '
Apoftle's Exhortation,where he advifeth the primitive
Chriftians, that their Words be few and favoury, and
that they Ihould be feafoned with Grace, for this crreat
Reafon, that they might adminifter Grace to"^ the
Hearers ; and truly I thought there was the Influence
of Grace in her Condudl and Converfation, whom I
pray God to preferve in Chrift to the End.
I had a Meeting at the Houfe of my Brother with
iimoHUH. his Scholars at Edmonton, and aifo with his Family and
divers of our Relations, which fome of us may have
Occafion to Remember. We had feven Meetings at
Totterham. Tottenham, at fundry times, and four at Hartford-, I
Si: travelled to /:/r/r/^/;,., from thence to ^^/J^^y^, and then
Eaidock, to btadtfold^ and Afljwell, The 7th of the Eighth
ii'iiart. Month (being the third Day of the Week) to Royfton,
To& f^^ ^^ ^'^'•^'^' ^^^ ^° Huntington, 6th to Ramfey. FirR
iiunun^ion.^^y> being the 32 th of the Month, we had a Meet-
£vS.e- ^ ^^- ^ ^^^i^ ^^''^''' "'"^^^ Finding, and the f^me
iaro,^\ Y^y-, in the Evening, had a large Meeting at Wellin?-
A^,r*.„^. borough m North am ptonfiire. ll)e 14th, being 3d Day
£r,sir.,h. Of the Week, we had a Meeting at Northampton, 4th
/J;i""' i?'y ^^ BrayhrouK 5th Day at Qkeham, in the County
cuckfon. lo^noi Rutland, bi\i Tiiy :it Long-Clackfon', and firft
tT'' J^'iy' being the iprh of the Month, I was at a large and
lanns^ opcii Meeting at Nottmghajn, where were many Peo-
f£'/ir'^. P^^J iic^t of oufSQcic-ty, who were very fober; 3d Day
a,.]hr. had a Meeting at Fairnsfidd, 4th Day at Mansfield,
^:X^^r 5th at ChePrfieUl In DerhyJIAre ; from whence we went
over the Moors and Mountains, Benjamin Bangs, the
youiiger, accompanying me, who came on purpofe
f roni Stockport to be my Companion and Guide thither :
Uis Company was both plealant and profitable to me
sn that Hill Country, thro' which we travelled to Stock-
port, where we had three Meetings, and where I met
with my dear, worthy old Friend, Benjamin Banfs ;
when we met, we embraced each other in Arms of
Chriili^n
THOMAS CHALKLET, 281
Chriftian Love, having not feen one another for many 1735. Years, with whom I ftay'd four Days. This worthy v-OT^' Friend, though upwards of Fourlcore Years of Age, went with me to Manchejler^ where we had two Meet- ings, and then I went back with him to his Houfe. He was a Man of extraordinary Charafter, and well be- loved, he being a Pillar in the Church of Chrift.
When at Manchejler^ I went to vifit a Friend newly Manckefur, cut for the Stone, who had a Stone taken out of him, the Meafure of which I faw, and had the Stone in my Hand ; it was nine Inches about, and three Inches over. Before I went out of thofe Parts, he was well enough to ride home, which was near an hundred Miles ; he was chearful as well as thankful.
From Stockport I went to Macclesfield^ to Jofeph ^f^'f^"^ Hohfon\ where I met with Jojhua Toft^ and his Bro- ther, two choice Minifters of Jefus Chrift, of whofe Company I was glad, though at thit Time I was very low and poor in my Spirit. We had two Meetings here ; on the 2d of the Ninth Month, b"ing firlt Day, I was at a large Meeting at Morley, and, in the Even- -^•^''''•y. ing at the Meeting at John Leigh\ at both which Meetings there were many People,, not of our Society, who were very (till, and fome were broken into Ten- dernefs. From Morley I went to Penketh, where we had ^'^>'^'-''^''' a large, folid Meeting, and had an Evening- meeting at Warrington, where I met with m^ny Brethren and ^^'"^^^^2- Sifters, who fincerely love our Lord Jefus Chrift, '*'*' with whom I was refrefh'd, particularly at Gilbert V'hompjon^s^ and Lazvrence Galen's. From Warrington I went to Langtree^ Prefion and Clifton^ where I had Lan^tree. Meetings, and fo went on to Lancafter. I went to o;y>««. * Wrajy in order to vifit my old Shipmate Elizabeth Lantofitr, Rawlinfon (whofe Son Hutton Rawlinjon went with me) When I came to Wray^ they defired me to have a ^/«v' Meeting with them •, and though there was little Notice, yet we had a large Meeting, divers Neighbours com- ing in, and Chrift was preached co them freely •, this '' T 2 Y/as
Lum after, fenktib.
^ftirtttt.
Aemvtott &C
Chelier.
hury.
r^(f J O U R N A L £/
was the loch, in the Evening, and fecond Day of the Week. Third-day I went to Kendal, and, in the Even- ing, with very little Notice, we met with feveral Hun- dreds of People, Friends and others ; it was a Surprize to me, I expeding but a few, becaufe of the Short- nefs of Time i but I acknowledge it was a pieafant Surprize, to fee the Wiihngnefs and Readinefs of the People to hear the Gofpel preached. Friends here are a great People, andwell beloved and efteemed by their Neighbours, and live in much Love and Unity. The fourth Day many Friends came to fee me from divers Parts, 1 giving them fome Notice that I defigned no farther Northward, and haft'ning to get ready to go to America, betimes in the Spring ; having been from )iome near two Years *, wherefore divers of my Friends, fome of whom who had been at Sea with me, met me here. We rejoiced to fee one another, and, after a large and good Meeting, we took a folemn Farewel, divers of us never expecting to fee each other any more. In this Journey and Travel I endeavoured to be (as much as 1 well could; at fuch Meetings as I had never been at before, and becaufe I was fhort in this Vifit to my Friends, fome were not lb well pleafed ; but my Call was molt to the American Shore, where I thought my Service moftly lay, and in order to return I fetmy Face toward London, and exped:ed to meet with my Friend and Brother in Chrilf, Ifaac Pickerell, in Che» Jhire, who deilgned to accompany me towards the South \ wherefore I went from Kendal to Lancajier^ and was at Pf;?-^(?/<6 on a fir ft Day, being the 1 6th of the Ninth Month, which Meeting was large and folid 5 after this Meeting we went to Stttton, where I met with Ifaac Pickereil; alfo with our antient Friend James Dkkinfon^ and Cbrijto^ber Wilfon, a choice young Man, his Fellow-labourer. We had Meetings at Sutton^ Ne-zvlO'Zi'n, Chejler and Shrewjhury : James Dkkinfon, was about four-fcore Years 01 Age, and yet held out in Travels to Adiruration, and was lively in preaching the
Gofpel,/
THOMAS CHALKLET. 283
Gofpel ; He is a worthy Elder, of whofe Company I i735- was joyful ; at Shrew/bury ^t parted, and Ifaac and I "^Q^ went to Colehrooky where, on a Firft-day, we had a folia, smrbridgc, good Meeting ■■, from thence we went to Siurbridge, and ^.^^^H- after having a Meeting there, we had another at Broom/- ^"''"^ grove, andfo went on to Worcejler, where we had divers mr.fM, large and folemn Meetings -, we lodged at John Corbin's, who was very kind to us, as alfo were his hopeful Children, and in great Love and Unity we both met and parted. From Worcejler, we wcjit to Evejham, Ewjham. where we had two Meetings, and from thence to Od- Oddin^ton. dington, and had a large Evening-meeting ; the People (who were moftly of other Societies) were very fober, and gave good Attention ; this was the Fourth-day of the Week -, Fifth-day we had a Meeting at Chalbury, Chaibury. and a tender Time with a Friend very weak at Walling- mm^-i fordy who expreffed his Satisfa6lion and Thankfulneis^"' • for the Vifit •, his Children were very tenderly affeded alfo. The good Lord, the great Phyfician of Value, was with us, and his balfamick Grace was at that Time fhed abroad in our Hearts. From WaUingford, we went to Reading, where my good Companion and Fel- ^'''^'"r- low Traveller Ifaac Pickerell dwelt -, we were lovingly received by our Friends ; I ftay'd here and refted fe- veral Days, and had feveral fatisfadory Meetings with Friends, they being a large People, living much in Love and Good-will ; here Samuel Thornton, of Ed- monton^ my Kinfman, and Ifaac Br own ^ my Wife's Son, came to fee me from London. From Reading, Ifaac Pickerell accompanied me to Maidenhead, and jj^ "", to Jordan's, at both which Places we had Meetings. Jordan^. The Houfe and Burying-ground at Jordan's, are ktpt in the neateft Order I ever faw, in which Ground lies the Bones of divers worthy Friends, Ifaac Penington, William Penn^ Thomas EUwood, George Bowles^ and their Wives, as I remember •, this Meeting is often if not moftly kept in Silence, yet feveral have been con- vinced there through the Grace ot God, and the Power
T 3 ©f
284 r^^JOURNALc^
1735. of the Holy Gholl, which Chrift faid he would fend t/'VNJ to the true Believers, and that Ihould abide with the Church for ever ; here my beloved Friend Ifaac and I parted in much Love, having good Defires for each other's Welfare. From Jordan's I went with my Kinf- Edmmon. man to my Brother's at Edmonton, where I ftay'd and refted a few Days from Travelling.
Then a Concern came upon me to vifit Friends Meetings in the County of EJfex^ and I went from my Mariford. Brother's to Hartford^ and had feveral Meetings there ; Ware: and oue I had alfo 2xWare, which was very large ; after Hartford, which I wcnt to Hartfovd again, I having divers Rela- Eifjjop. tions there ; from thence I went to Bi/hopfi afford^ where fiffford. I ha(j ^ Meeting, and fo on to Stebbinz-i where I had a Braintree. large Meeting ; and had a Meeting at Braintree^ Cog- Co^gejhaii, gefljall, and a large Meeting on a Firft-day at Halftead, Csne. and there was Abundance of People at Cone, at an Evening Meeting we had there, where I met with our worthy Friend Jojhua 'Toft^ and his Fellow-travel- ler Jofeph Hobfon, we rejoicing to fee each other. CotkfieM. From Cone^ I went to Cockfield, which was a very fmall Ceicbefier. Meeting ; from thence I went to Colchefier,v/htre I ftaid feveral Days, and went to feveral Meetings, as at Rock/lead and Manningtree^ and then back again to Colcbejler, where, (on the Firft-day) I had a large Meet- ing in the Afcernoon, and after Meeting, divers of the Friends came to fee me, and were for appointing Meetings for me to be at, in the enfuing "Week, an4 defired to know my Mind therein ; after a little Paufe I told them, I found a full Stop in my Mind from going to any more Meetings at prefenr, and that I would wait fome Days with them in the City, till I faw further ; while we were fitting together, a Letter came to me from London^ that a Friend, Stephen Pay ton, iiad let up my Name on the Exchange in London^ as Mailer of the Barbadoes-Packei, which was the Vef- fel bought of me by John Agar^ who fold her to faid Siephen Paytonj who intended her for Philadelphia^ and
next
"THOMAS CHALKLET. 2%^
next Morning a Meflenger wasfent for me from London: 1735. Thus having fuch a favourable Opportunity of return- 'w/'V*^ ing home, I embraced it, and went on Second-day to Witham^ where I again met with Jojhua Toft and wnham, Jofeph Hohfon at Meeting ; from thence we went to FlaiJloWy where we had a Meeting, and then went to piai>J:w, Bromley^ near Bow, and was at Jojeph Olive's, had a EremUy. Meeting with his People and Servants, which were many •, I thought it was a good Meeting, a divine Hand of Love was reached out to the young People, and they were advifed to give up their Hearts to their Creator in their Youthful Days i feveral Scores of Peo- ple belong to his Family ; after this Meeting I v/ent to London, and prepared for the Voyage. When our london. Veflel was loaded, which was chiefly by Ifrael Pemher- ton the Younger, who went with us, as did our Owner Stephen Payton and Ifaac Brown, and four of my Kinsfolks, whofe Names are Freeman^ with divers other PafTengers : In the latter End of the Twelfth Month, my Brother and his eldefl Daughter Rebecca, with her Hufband Samuel 'Thornton^ accompanied me to Graves^ c^'^'"'?^^* end, where our parting with them was, as at Edmon- ton, very folemn and forrowful, we never expe(5l- ing to fee one another more. From Gravefend we fail'd the 3d of the Firfl Month to tht Downs, and 'Ss-xw.] - from thence down the Britijh Channel to the Sea, and was at Sea above nine Weeks, which we thought long, having many contrary Winds ; but, after we came on Shore, we underftood, that there were divers VefTels that were much longer. At Sea we had divers Meetings, which were fome of them to my Satisfac- tion. I came very unwell on board -, bur, when at Sea, At sea. I mended ; for which Favour I am truly thankful. We landed all well and in Health at Philadelphia^ in ^1'^"^^^- the Third Month, 1736, where we were received with' '"' ^, Joy by our Relations, Friends, and Acquaintance ; it '73^* was much the more fo, becaufe they had heard I was '■''^'^^'"^ like to die ; I having, at London^ had a fore Fit of
T 4 the
286 1736.
T'/je JOVRN AL 0/
Sakm. Cohanfy.
Briftol.
BurlimgttH,
Trenton,
ITaddoH-
Ni'wton.
Martfori.
&c.'
Plsmouth,
rfiladd.
phia.
■JBrifttl,
the Afthma or Phtbyfick, three Perfons fitting up with me for three Nights, who I thought would fee my End, but the Time was not yet come that I muft die, though indeed Death was no Terror to me, hoping my Change would be much for the better ; for then, I hoped, I fhould be for ever with him whom I love bet- ter than Life. .^
After I had been at home feme Time, I went to Salem^ and from thence to Cohatify^ and, in my Re- turn, was at PP'^oodberry- Creeks and had Meetings at each Place : And, foon after, I vificed the Meetings of Friends at Briftol, Burlington^ Trenton^ and Borden's Town^ and, in my Return home, at Middleton ; by the Way, calling to fee my antient Friend Jofeph Kirk- bride, and the Widow Warder ; flie was 92 Years of Age, and perfe<5l in her Underftanding ; fhe faid. She did not know for what End the Almighty Ihould prolong her Days to that Age ; but fhe was fatisfied in his Will.
In the Fifth Month, I vifited tiie Meetings of Friends at Haddonfield in JVefi-Jerfey, and at Newton Hartford, German-town, Abington, JSJorth-Wales^ and Plymouth, and was divers Times at Philadelphia, and Frankfort.
After many Exercifes, and large Travels by Sea and Land, my Brethren, and divers others, not of our Society, exprefled their Gladnefs to fee me, re- joicing that I was like to fpend my Time more on the Land, hoping that I v/ould go no more to Sea -, the which (God willing) I determined, having fo fettled my Affairs, that I could (lay on Shore ♦, and am truly and humbly thankful to the Almighty, that He, by his good Hand of Providence, in his due Time, had fivoar'd and helped me fo to do. f
in the Sixth and Seventh Months, I again vifited the Meetings of Friends at Brifiol, Burlington, Byberry, Ahlngton^ Hcrfjatn, German-town, Fairhill, and divers Tinr^es at Frankfort and Philadelphia.
In
THOMAS CHALKLET. 2^7
In the Eighth Month, I went to Cohanfy ^nd Sa- 1736. lent, and was at two Meetings at Cohanfj^ and one at v-^~V*"^ yilloway\-Creek, where I met with Edward "Tyley^ a ^^//^f* Friend on a religious Vifit from Europe^ and John Aiioways SykeSy a Friend living near Cr^T/w/d'j, in the Jerfeys \ here we had an open, fatistadory Meeting : From whence I went to Sakm, it being their Week-day- Sakm. meeting, which was large, and to Edification of many. I was alfo at Piles Grove on Fifth day, and at Woodberry- Piiet Creek Sixth-day -, in which laft Meeting the obedient ^o^i^ns- Son was encouraged, and the Difobedient earneftly Creek. called home to his heavenly Father's Houfe. In this Journey I had John Bringhurji, the younger, for my Fellow-traveller ; his Father being unwilling that I fhould go the Journey alone.
-After I had been at home fome Time, I, with fome others, went to the Yearly-meeting at Shrewf- Shte-wC hury^ in Eaji-Jerfey^ which was on the 23d of the '""'^' Eighth Month : It was exceeding large, and the qui- eteft and moft fettled Meeting that ever I was at there ; and many divine Truths were delivered therein. From thence I went to Manejquan^ and had a Meeting, and Mirnefq<ian. then back to Shrewjhury^ and io to Middletown^ where J^'dd!t- we had a Meeting in the Baptiji Meeting-houfe, di- '*^'^' vers of whom were there, and glad of the Meeting j thence came back to Shrewjhury^ and had a Meeting on the Firft-day, being the 30th of the Month : From whence, on my Return home, had Meetings at Mofes Robin's, Allen'S'^own, at Crofwicks ('where I met ^''^''«"*- ' with divers of my old Friendsj Borden-Town, and ^rojwicks. Mansfield; fome of which were large, open and fatisfac- fj!^f'\.^ tory Meetings. After the laft Meeting, we went to Bur- Bm"h\qtoH. lifigionj and next Day came home, accompanied by ^''""^^f^''*- Richard Smith, jun. After being a few Days at home, I was fent for to Chefter^ to the Marriage of John Lee Chefur, (who had failed feveral Voyages with me) Next Day I went to the Week-day-meeting at Providence, and on Provfdntaf. Firft-day was at Springfield-, from whence I returned ^fj'-^' home. The
2S^ . ^^OOURNAL ^
. I^i: , P^ ^^^ ""^ ^^'^ ^'"^^ ^o"'^^^ I left home a^ain, P.iDwV ^"^ ^e"^J«, Philadelphia, and from thence with Z&«f./ ph,a. i^tanton^ John Eaflon, and John Proud, iun. (the two
tiZ: ^^''^' °f Rhode-Ifland) to i?^^;^,r Meeting, and 'from thence to Goflen JVTeeting, and by the Coldnefs of the Weather, and croffing feveral Creeks, I got a Cold, which fettled on my Lungs, fo that, in Converfation' 1 was hoarfe ; but I was helped in Meetings to Admi- ration ; for which I was truly thankful to the Almic^hty, the great Helper of his Servants and Children. '^ We
^ J^adanEvening-Meeting with an antient Friend, who "' ■ faid llie had above 200 who called her Mother, being her Children by Blood and Marriage to the fourth Ge- neration : We took our Leave of her, as never expeft- ing to fee each other more, and parted in Tendernefs of Heart. One of this Friend's Grandfons went with Conci^i, US to Concord, where, on a Firft-day, we had a very large Meeting, and an Evening-meeting zt Mofes MendenhaWs ; and the Remainder of the Week we had tir&. Meetings at Brimingham, Kennet, New- Garden^ Marl- borough, and the Monthly-meeting at Center on the Seventh-day following, at which were many young People -, for whofe fakes I was drawn and moved, in my Exercife of the Miniftry, to fhew the Rife and De- fign of our Meetings of Difcipline.
Firfi, That the fame Power that gathered us to be a People, inclined our Elders to eftablilli thofe Meetings, ?.nd fettle them in mod Parts where we were gathered, and had Meetings for the Worfliip of God.
Secondly^ They were advifed to do their Bufinefs, and fpeak to their Affairs, in the Senfe of the fame Power, Spirit and Wifdom of Chrifl, which, as it had railed us, would, as we kept to it, preferve us to be a People to the Praife ol God*s holy Name.
Thirdly, They were advifed, in doing their Bufinefs, not to run out into many unnecefTary Words, which might lead to Contention, and fpending much Time to little Purpofe ; religious Affairs beiqg done bed in a
meek
THOMAS CHALKLET. 289
'meek and quiet Spirit^ that being of great Price with the 1736. Lord ; great Evils having been known in many Ages, «wOr*^ thro' hot and long Contentions about Religion. It is alfo good to avoid, in Matters of Difference, Refpe^t of Perfons, on account of being acquainted or related, fo as to be fway*d thereby from Juftice.
Fourthly, They were advifed to be very careful of giving any juft Occafion of Offence to any, to Jew ov Gentile^ to Indian or Negroe ; for. Woe to them., fays Gur Saviour, by whom Offences come -, and if any will take Offence when none juftly is given, 'tis the belt Way to be patient, and take our Saviour for our Ex- ample, who got the Vidory thro' Suffering ; a fafe Way, and glorious in the End. And, as to few Words, the Apoflle fays. Let your Words be few and favoury^ fiafond with Crace^ that they may adminijler Grace to the Hearers,
Fifthly, I was engaged, for the Sakes of the Youth of both StxtSy to fhew them, that a material Part of the Service of thefe Meetings, is, that Care be taken therein to fee that Perfons are clear of prior Engage- ments or Entanglements, in relation to Marriage, and, that they had the Confent of Parents, or Parties con- cerned as Guardians, &c. and, alfo, that they, and all that belong to our Society, walk orderly in Conver- fation •, otherwife they could not be in Unity v/ith, us, oroAvned by us, as a Society of religious People: We don't own fcandalous Perfons, nor admit them to ba married amongft us, without acknowledging their Faults, and promifing Amendment for the future, through divine Grace and AlTiflance. Alfo, in thofe Meetings, the Widows and Fatherlefs are taken Care of, that they may be fupported and vifited, and Youths put out Appxentices to learn Trades, ^c.
This Meeting concluded with Supplication for the fifing Generation, and for the King, and all his Sub- je(5ts, and with Thankfgiving and Praifes to th^ facred Name of Hip who lives for ever.
After
AVw^jrft.
290 T& J O U R N A L 0/ ^
1736. After the abovefaid Meeting, we went to PVilrnhg- ^''^~^f^^ Z^;/, a new fettled Town on Chrijiiana Creek, which I Wtintins- j3ei}eve will be a flourilhing Place, if the Inhabitants take Care to live in the Fear of God, and feek his Glory, and the Riches of his Kingdom, preferring it to any Thing or Things of this World. We had a pretty large Meeting here, confidering the Seafon (for it was very cold) which was held in a large Houfe of JVtlliam Shipley's -, but they are making Provifion for a Meeting-houfe. From this Town we went to New- ark, and had a comfortable Meeting at George Robin- fon\ in the Evening, and next Morning fet out for Thiiadei Philadelphia.
f^'"- As it was now the Winter Seafon, and having been
divers times at this Seafon of the Year in the warm Climates, the Cold was become harder for me to bear than ufual, fo that I flaid at and about home pretty much, being divers times at Philadelphia^ Frankfort, German-town, and Abington Meetings.
The latter End of the Tenth Month, on a Firft- day of the Week, I was at a large, open Meeting ^eriy. at Derbj^ in Chefter County. After Meeting I rode home about 14 Miles; but it was fo cold, that my Limbs were much benumb*d, and were not fully re- covered in more than a Week. Coming home be- tween Schuylkill River and Philadelphia, we faw iht largeft Meteor that I ever faw, though I had feen many by Sea and Land ; this was in Sight almoft a Minute, as near as I could guefs ; it was a mighty Stream, hke a Flame of Fire, leaving, as \t were. Sparks of Fire behind it, as it went along, and then fettled like a Star, and difappeared. A few Days af- ter this Meteor, there appear*d in the Sky an uncom- mon Rednefs, with Streams like Fire. FraKkfort. About this Time was buried at Frankfort, John Hurford, who was about ninety Years ot Age-, at whofe Burial, theColdnefs of the Seafon confidered, were a pretty many Friends, Neighbours, and Relations, of
the
rnOMAS CHALKLET, 291
the Deceafed ; as alfo, divers from Philadelphia. I was concern'd to advile thofc prefent, To prepare for their final Change ; that being certain, though the ^'^"^'^f"'^' Time is uncertain ; which, generally, none know but the Almighty •, therefore we ought always to be prepa- ring for our DifToIution, and always watching and praying, left we enter into Temptation ; as faid our dear Lord , If the good Man of the Houfe had known in what Hour the Thief would come^ he would have watch- ed^ Luke xii. 0^^. And, we not knowing whether Death will come in our Youth, our middle, or old Age, therefore, were earneftly defired to prepare our Hearts to meet Death, fo that we might dwell with God and Chrifl in his Kingdom for ever. It was alfo obferved, that though this Friend had lived to a great Age, yet that few lived fo long, no, not one in a Thoufand, and many die very young ; therefore they were earneftly intreated, in the Love of God, throuo-h Chrifl, to prepare for their latter End, and not to fet their Hearts and Afiedions on Things belovv- j for, by how much they fet their Hearts and Affedion on natural or outward Things and Objeds, by fo much the harder it would be to part with them, when Death Ihould come. This Meeting ended with Prayer for Reformation and Prefervation to the End of Life ; and Praifes, yea, high Praifes, were given to him, who ■ had given to all prefent our Life, our Breach, and our Being.
It being exceeding fevere Weather, with much Rain, Wind, and Snow, there were great Floods, fo " that we could not get over Frankfort Creek to Meet- ing ; wherefore the Friends on the Wefl-fide met to- gether at my Houfe, and we had a farisfadory, good Meeting, in which we were exhorted to build our Religion on the fure Foundation, that Storms, Rain, nor Winds, might not be able co fhake us from this Foundation, which is Ci^ri/?, the Rock of Ages .
This
2^2
r/je J OVK^N AL of
1736.
.^rankfort.
§r{riol. Surlin^toH,
.jjticects.
Springjidd
Salem,
This Winter we were vifited at Frankfort with the Small-pox, of which many died at Philadelphia^ and feveral in our Neighbourhood.
The latter Part oF this Winter, flaying much at home, I rpent my Time much in Reading and Wri- ting, often being fenfible of the Love and Goodnefs of God, my exceeding great Reward ; he, by the Spirit of his Son, comforting me, and fometimes melting my Heart into Tendernefs, in Confideration of his many Mercies, which csufed me to praife his holy Name, who is thereof worthy, beyond ExprefTion, forever.
In the Firfl Month, I went with my Friend John Oicley^ of Barbadoes, to Br ijlolf where we had a large Meeting; tiience went over the River Delaware to Burlington Qiiarterly-meeting; we were obliged to get to the Jerfey Shore on the Ice, laying Boards thereon for about 100 Yards together, and being long on the Ice, and poorly, as to Health, I took fuch a Cold that I could not get to Meeting next Day ; but was at the Youths-meeting Third-day following — Fourth- day I went to AncQcai Meeting, thence to a large Meeting at Mount-Holly^ where was a Marriage ; af- terwards to Evejhain and Upper Springfield, or Hano- ver^ and then returned to Burlington^ and next Day was at the Monthly-meeting there, which, to me, was a good, open Meeting, wherein Church-difcipline was fomewhat treated of, and Friends advifed to waited for that Spirit which leads into all Truth, to guide them in their Difcipline.
In the Second Month 1737.^ I went to Cohanfy^ in > order to negotiate fome Affairs there, and, while there, had three Meetings at Greenwich^ and QVitztAllowafs- Creek j and on the 9th of the faid Month, being Firfl- day, was at Salem Meeting, which was large and open; and, in the Evening, we had a heavenly Meeting at Bartholomew PFyat'^s.
After my Return from Salejn, on the ifl of the Third Month, I took a Journey to the Eajiward,
having
THOMAS CBALKLET. 293
having a Define to fee BViends in thofe Parts, whom I 1737- had divers times vifited, in the Service of theGofpel, ''•"'^r^ in my young Years-, and though now upwards of Three-fcore Years of Age, was willing to vifit them once more before I died, who, in fome Places, where I had formerly travelled, were now grown very nume- rous. I fet out with Jofeph Gilbert^ and feveral other Friends, and we travelled together to Long-IJlanch ton^- where we parted, and I went to Newtown, where I ^^'^^ ' met with John Fotbergill and Samuel Bowne -, at which Place we had a Meeting, which was appointed on John\ Account, and his Service therein was to the Satisfaftion and Edification of Friends. From thence John went to fVejt-CheJier^ on the Main^ and I went to Flu/hing^ Fivfhi^^ where we had a large open Meeting; it was a folid, good Time, and the facred Name of him who lives forever, was prailcd.
From FluJJj'ing I went with my old Friend and School-fellow, Jofeph Latham, to his Houfe ; our Converfation was pleafant and comfortable to each other, wherein we remember'd our walking to and from School, in the Suburbs of that great and populous City, London •, when we were beaten, ftoned, and abufed, only for being the Children of thofe called ^takers : The Priefts, who had Money (or Preaching, had preached and printed fo many Lies againit our Friends, that the common People were almoft ready to make a Sacrifice of us; they telling us (when we pleaded our Innocency, by telling them, we v/ent quietly along the Streets to School) that It was no ?nore Sin to kill us, than to kill a Dog ', But now, through the Grace and Favour of the Almighty, we enjoy the Exercife of our Religion, according to our Confciences, free from Goals and Prifons, in which our primitive Friends fuf- fered much ; for which we ought to be truly thaaktul to the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift.
From Jofeph Latham* % we went to JVefibiiry and ^</J*»o- MatinicQck (after a Meeting at Cowneck) and after- efj"*'
294 ^v J O U R N A L ^y
1737. ward to N(fiv-2ork , where I had alfo religious Ser- '^.y^'^y'^^ vice, and a Meeting ; and from New-Tork 1 took my Ktwpon * PalTage in Robert Bowne^ Sloop for Newport ^ on in Rhode. Rhode IJland^ was two Days and Nights on the Wa- ^"^ • ter, and on my Arrival at Rhode- JJJand, the Brethren lovingly received me, and we were joyful to lee each other.
After having had divers good Meetings on Rbode- Dartmottth. Jjland^ I Went CO Dartmouth^ where we had a large, FoHy£anfef. (erviccable Meeting, at a Place called Ponyganfet ; ma- ny Hundreds being added to the Church fince I firft vifited thofe Parts. From this Place I went to Holder Slocum^s, and he lent us his Shallop to go over to Nantucket, but the Wind not favouring, we had a. fatisfadory Meeting at a large Farm of his on an llland bearing his own Name, and after Meeting fee fail for Nantucket^ had feveral large Meetings there, and I rejoiced to ke the Growth and Increafe of Friends on this Ifland ; where God hath greatly multiplied his People, and made them honourable j Glory to his Name for ever.
The Prieils, who have Money for preaching ; the Lawyers, who have it for pleading, and the Phyfici- ans, who have Money for giving Receipts tor Health ; are poor Trades here on this Ifland.
At Nantucket I had been about 39 Years before, at which Time there were only two Men and one Wo- man who joined with our Friends in Profeffion, and now it was computed there were about 1000 who went to our Meetings, they being a Ibber, religious People -, and there is a great Increafe of Friends in di- vers other Places in New- England : And whereas for- merly we were greatly perfecuted for our Religion, now we are treated with more Civility and Refpedl in thofe Parts.
From Nantucket, Nathaniel Star buck and Elijah
Collins went with me, with feveral other Friends, to
Rhode. the Yearly-meeting ai RhQae-Ijland j which was fo
ijiand, very
THOMAS CH ALKLEX.
■95
very large, that it was difficult to fpeak fo as to be 1737. heard all over the Meeting ; but the laft Day of ^yy-^*^ the Meeting, our Friend John Fothergill^ who had a high Voice, being attended with the divine Power, gave good Satisfadlion to the Meeting, and it ended well. After this Meeting was over, I went with Ben- jamin Bagnal to Bojton^ and from thence to Lynn and ^oji"'^- Salem, had leveral fatisfadtory Meetings, which tend- .sS. ed to the uniting our Hearts together in the Love of Chrift, and the Feliowfhip of his Gofpel. From Sa- lem I went with Zaccheiis Collins and his Wife to their Houfe, and lodged there three Nights, and was lov- ingly entertained, as I was alfo at many other Friends Houfes. From hfnn^ Zaccheus Collins accompanied me to Bofton, where we had a Meeting on a Fourth-day of Bofton. the Week, and the next Day there was a very large Meeting (the greateft Gathering of People which had been feen there at Friends Meetini^ houfe for a lon^ TimeJ occafi jned by the Marriage of John Mifflin^ of Philadelphia, to Benjamin Bagnal'^ eldeit Daughter.
From Bojion I returned 10 Rhode Ifland, and had Rhode.. divers Meetings at Newport and Foripnoulh^ wherein ^^*^'^' our Hearts were made glad in Chriil, and we were ftrengthened in our Faith in him •, bleilt^d be his holy Name for evtr,
Yvom Rhode IJland, I went xo Conanicut, and horn ConaKtm. thence over to Kingiion m the JSarrr.ganfei Country, j..,fig.. and had Meetings, and then back to Rhode- Ifiand a- ^ " ■ gain, and thence by Water in Company with divers » Friends to Greenwich^ where I v/as at two large Meet- GreeniMUh.^ ings : At this Place they fhewed me the Trees, under which about forty Years fine? I had a Meeting ; but now they have a pleafant Meeting-houfe.
The next Firitday, I was at a large, foiid, edifying Meeting in a new Meeting-houfe at Tiverton. From Thmen. thence I went to vific Jojeph lVanto?i\ Wife, who had been long fick ; and in her Chamber (with feveral of her Friends and Relations) I had divers religious Seafons,wirh
U which
296 ne JOVR'N AL of
1737. which flie exprefled much Satisfaftion : She died of ^•Vv^ this Sicknefs, and I was at her Burial, which was large, Ihe being well known and well beloved ; the next Day fmjmouth, YfdiS at an appointed Meeting at Portfmouth^ which was large, and to Satisfaftion, for which we bleffed the holy Name of God. I had divers good Opportunities at Rhode- IJland in private Families, and was at feveral Meetings over the Beach at John Eajlon's^ who was about ninety Years of Age j he had formerly travelled with me, when I was a young Man ; we took Leave of each other, never expeding to meet more in this World. ^ Now (after divers Meetings on Rhode-JJland) I took
ijiend, my Pallage for Long-IJlcwd^ in my Return homeward j and after a boifterous Paffage, and being four Nights on the Water, I got well again to my loving Friend Jofeph Latham^s, where I had left my Horfe, and on ee-.'.^eik, fi[x\^.^2iy had a Meeting at Cowneck^ where I met with Elijah Collins^ Roje Tibbiis-, and Patience Barker, we re- joicing to fee each other, after their long Journey by Land, and mine by Water, they being likewife going for PenfyhaniiJ. Thefe Friends went to Flujhing Wriiinry, Firll-dav Meeting, and I went to J^ejihury, where was a large Meeting, in which there was a drunken cScliOol-mafter who diiturbed the Meeting, though at iaft it ended quietly, and I hope well alfo. The next Fourth-day v/as at the Monthly Meeting at JVeftbury, v.'here many Friends met from divers Quarters, and it tvas a folid good Time. We had a Meeting at Thomas Rodman's^ who was unwell and had not been at a Meet- ing for fome Months •, he took our Vifit kindly, ex- prcifing his Love to us ; we had alfo a Meeting at Je- rmiah tVillia?nh to good Satisfaction. Fifth-day we Maim- had a large Gathering at Matmicock, and in the Even- **^*' ing a tender broken Meeting at Samuel Underh:U*s, Kivji*}^, and Sixth-day a good Meeting at Newton, wherein pri- mitive Chriftianity was opened, and experimentally declared to the People, and in the Evening we had a
good
7H0MAS CHALKLET. 297
good Opportunity to declare the Truth of Chrifl: at the 1737. 'Houk oi' Richard Hailef, among feveral of his fober (/VNJ Neighbours j next Morning, being the Seventh of the Week, we went to Wejl-Chejler, to a yearly Meeting, ^^^^^^^ which was much crowded, and the People very unfettled, fo that it was not fo fatisfadtory as could have been de- fired; after Meeting we went over again to Long-IJlandt and then to New-Tork, where we had a large quiet New-Yorh. Meeting in the Evening. At New-York^ Third- day in the Morning divers dear and loving Friends accom- panied us to the Water-fide, where we folemnly took JLeave of one another in the Love of Chrift, and in the Fellowfhip of his Gofpel, fome of us not expedling to fee each other any more, and from thence paffing over Long and Staten IJlands, to Elizabeth-Town^ we travel- led to Raway, and had a Meeting at Friend — ShotweWs, Ra-May, on aFourth-dny in the Evening, where many Neigh- bours came in, and after Meeting a certain Pcrfon was diflatisfied about Womens publick Speaking in religious Meetings (RoJeTihhits having public kly exhorted them in this Meeting to be religious, and to fear God, and having pray'd to God for us all, and praifed his holy Name) which faid Perfon defired we would endeavour to fatisfy him about it, inafmuch as the ApoftleB?^/ for- bad it, as he apprehended. To which it was anfwered, that the Apoftle Paiil^ only forbad, or did nor permit forward or overbufy Women, to fpeak or afl^ QLieitions in the Church ; but advifed them to afk their Huibands at home, and that doubtlefs he never intended to debar fuch godly Women, who had a real Neceffity laid on them, and were concerned, by the Almighty, to fpeak unto, or pray for the People, elfe he would not have ihewed them, how they ought to behave themfelves in their Speaking unto, or Prating for the People or Church ; for if he had any Defign to hinder fuch, whom the Almighty fhould concern, then he mufthave con- tradifted himfelf (where he fhews how they mud be- have themff Ives in their Duty of Speaking or Fraying) U 2 and
29S
3737-
IVood. hndge-
Stoiiy- bi 00k
77j^ J O U R N A L c/
and he would likewife thereby have oppofed the Apoftie Peter, who faid, Now is fulfilled the Prophejy of the Prophet Joe], that in the latter Days Sons and Daugh- ters Jhould p-ophecy. So that it is clear and plain, they who would limit or filence thofe, who have a Gift from God to preach or pray in publick, from the Words of the Apoitle Paul, they oppofe him to himfelf, and to the ApoIUe Peter^ and alfo to the Prophet Joel.
From Razvav, v/e went to JVoodhridge^ where we had a Meeting, and there I parted with my Fellow- travellers, having a Concern fthough much in the Crofs to my own Will) to go back in the Woods, to a Meeting about eight or nine Miles off •, which Meeting v/as much to mine and their Satisfadtion, as divers ot them exprefied. From this Place I went to Stony- Brook, had a pretty large Meeting, confidering it was rainy, in theTimeof the Meeting's gathering. At this Place my Son in l^'iw Ifaac Brozvn, with feveral Friends, came to meet me, whom I was glad to fee, and went Trntton. atter Meeting widi them to Trenton, and next Day to Bnirc!. Brifiol^ it being their Third day Meeting, which was h«T,kfort. large, and after Meeting v*/ent home to Frankfort^ and there was lovingly received by my Wife and Fa- mily. In this Journey I was from home three Months and nine Days^ had fifty five Meetings, and travelled by Land and Water above a thouland Miles 5 and I may truly fay, that therein I was favoured with the divine Prefence and Grace of God by Chrift in a good Degree, and alfo with the Fellov/diip of many (incere Believers in him, which in my Return caufed my Soul to blefs his holy Name, wiio lives for ever.
In the 6th Month, after having had divers Meet-
Doh- ings at and about home, I went to Derby, Chejler and
hu-wearik. NewcaJHe, having Meetings at each Place, which was
to the tendering ot fome mournful Souls, and to the
comforting and Urengthening them. From Newcaflle
Feitnfneck. I ferried over Delaware River to Pennfneck, where 1
had
THOMAS CHALKLET. " 299
had a Meeting, at which were fe vera 1 that had never 1737. been at any of our Meetings before, who v/ent away ^-'-V-v^ well fatisfied. From thence I went to Sale7n Monthly- ^^i^^- meeting, which was very large, and thence to Cobanfy Cohanfy. to tiie Third-day Meeting, and ftaid till next Firil-day Meeting, which (though fmall, by realbn of rainy, ftormy Weather) was a very precious Meeting. After I negotiated fome Atfairs at Cohanjy, I returned to Salem^ where 1 met with my Fellow-traveller ^^^""^ Elijah Collins, of Bojlon, with v/hom 1 went on to' Philadelphia^ and from thence home, having much Satisfadlion in this Journey, in which I had nine Meet- ^^f^^^' ings, and travelled about 150 Miles. I cannot be frankfon. clear in my Mind without faying, that I did nor, nor do not ftudy what t preach to the People, nor did I, or do I receive any Pay or natural Confideration ior Preaching, it being, as I really believe, contrary to the Dodrine of Chrilf, and his Apoftles and Difciplcs.
This Fall 1 vifited feveral of the Meetings of Friends in Bucks County, and the Meetings at and about home, P^"/}'^'^^"'^- as at Frankfort, Philadelphia, Abington^ Byberry and German-town. In the Ninth Month 1 was appointed, with feveral other Friends, by our Monthly-meeting, to vifit the Families of Friends in Philadelphia, -, my Lot was to vilit the upper Part of the City, in Com- pany with Phebe Morris, Hannah Parrock, and Daniel Stanton •, in which Service we were of one Heart and Mind, and we performed the faid Service in pure Seir- denial, and in the Crofs of our holy Lord Jefus Chrift j and wonderful it was, how the Prefence and Good- nefs of God went with us from Houfe to Houib, and ^ opened the States and Conditions of the Families to us, to the tendering of many Hearts, both of Parents, and of their Children. We vifited about forty Families of our Friends, and the Winter fetting in, and I being but weakly, having had a fliarp Spell of the Fever, we, by Confenl, were willing to defer the Conclufion of this Work, until longer Days, and warm.er Weather.
U 3 In
30O rke JO VKlSiAL of
^737- ^" ^^'^ Month I was fent to, in order Co be at the v_-^-v-^ Burial of the Wife of Richard Sjnithy junior : She was Burlington. ^ vircuous Woman, and well beloved, at whofe Fu- neral were many of her Neighbours and Friends : It was a very Iblemn Time, in which Meeting, it was defired that thole who had loll their Parents would live fo, that they might not be a Difhonour to them , for it was obferved of fome Children, after their Parents were dead, they grew worfe than when they were alive, taking undue Liberties, which their Fathers and Mo- thers could not have allowed of, which was a fore Grief, and Trouble to their Friends, and fuch as wifhed them well ; therefore they were exhorted not to do that now, when their Parents were dead, which they would not have done, if they were living, which would be heavy on them, and tend to bring a Blafl on them in this World j and they were defired to confider, how they would anfwer it in the World to come.
It was alio obferved, that fometimes the Death of Pa- rents had a good Effed: on divers fober young People, they being thereby led more ferioufly to think on their own Mortality, and to confider the great Lofs of their careful and religious Fathers and Mothers, and the good Example and Counfel they gave them. This Meeting concluded with a folid weighty Frame of Mind in many. From Burlington I went to Mount-Holly^ had a large Meeting at the Meeting-houfe, and another .7/«hn jj^ the Evening at Mount-Holly Town, at the Houfe of ' "■'* Thomas Shinn ; both which were open Meetings, and divers People, not of our Profefllon, were there, who were well fatislied therewith. From Mount-Holly I En^efi^a.ii, went to Evejham and Chejler^ as alio to Haddonfield^ at jHadrhn- all which Places I had large Meetings, and then I went Pf!d. back again to Burlington^ and was at their Fifth-day
'■ * Meeting. From Burli^igton I want •with Richard Smithy . Caleb Rciper, and Jonathan Wright^ to vifit a Friend who was fick, afcer which the faid Friends accompa- fratikfon. nied me lo the Ferry ; after I was over the Ferry I rode hon e, where I found my Family well, for which
I was
THOMAS CHALKLET. 301
I was thankful. In the fore Part of the Tenth Month 1737: our worthy Friend, John Fothergill^ failed in the Bri-'-"'^''^ gantine Jofeph^ Ralph Lofttis Mafter, for Barbadoes^ he having made a third Vifit to America from Europe On a religious Account. His Vifit was acceptable and ferviceable, and we parted in great Love and Tender- nefs -, the Night before, about the eleventh Hour, was an Earthquake, which was the greatefl known in this Province, the whole City of Philadelphia being fhaken, and moft Part of the adjacent Provinces, though little or no Damage done thereby, which fhews the abundant Mercy of a merciful God ; as alfo, if it were the Pleafure of his Will, how foon he can lay Cities and Countries wafle and defolate, and bury Thoufands in a Moment ; but notwithllanding the mighty Power of the eternal Jehovah, Oh how hard are the Peoples Hearts, and how they hate to be re- formed, and how unconcerned are the Inhabitants of the Land about their eternal Peace and Well-being ! This is really lamentable : Oh ! how do Earthly-mind- ednefs, Pride, Covetoufnefs, and Drunkennefs, abound, with many other Evils, which were fcarceiy known amongfl the firfl Settlers of this peaceful, and now , plentiful Land of Penfyhania.
The 26th of the Twelfth Month (being the firft Day of the Week^ was buried at Merion^ Edward Jones^ . aged about Ninety-two Years, he was one of the firft "^*'' Settlers of Penfyhania^ and was a Man much given to Hofpitality, a Lover of good and virtuous People, and was likewife beloved by them. There were many Hundreds of People at his Funeral. I had a Concern to be at this Meeting before I left my Place at Frank- fort^ and before I heard of this Friend's Deceafe.
The Beginning of the Firfl Month (being the fifth of the Week) I was fent to, in order to be at the Bu- rial of Hannahy the Wife of John Mickle, at Newtozvn in Wefi-Jerfey : My Kinfman, Daniel Sianlon, was with me at this Burial : It was a folid, Heart-melting
U 4 Time,
302 Tie JOVKNAL cj
1737. Time, my Heart was broken into Tendernefs with v-'S"""^ many others. This deceafed Friend was much be- loved by her Friends and Neighbours, and there was much Mourning among her Relations at her Grave, a- mong whom fhewill be greatly miffed. The People were defired earneftly to prepare tor their latter End, and final Change, and that, as we had all Realbn to hope it was well v;ith our deceafed Friend, we might likewife have a well grounded Hope that it would be well with ourfelves, when we came to put off our Mortility, and put on Immortality. The Meeting ended with fervent Supplication for our future Well- doing and Well-being both here and hereafter, and Praife to the mofl high, who is alone worthy for ever more. <¥hikdi'' -^^ ^^^"^ ^^ ^ returned to Philadelphia^ on the Sixth- pkta. day of the Week I heard of the Death of Jofeph Kirk- hride, at Jj'rael Pembertoji's, who told me, I was defired to be at his Burial. He, his Son, and William Logan, accompanied me as far as Samuel Buntings, that After- TiOon, with which Journey I was exceedingly tired, fo that I could hardly (land or go when I alighted off my Horfe, but being refrefhed with a good Night's Reft, I went in the Morning to the Houfe of my deceafed Friend. There was a Multitude of People at the Burial, among v;hom we had a good Opportunity to invite them to lay hold of Truth and Righteoufnefs, and prepare for anorher World. They were reminded, ihat neither natural Wifdom, nor Riches, Youth nor Strength, Crowns nor Scepters, v/ould, nor could fe- cure th"m from the Stroke ot Death. Robert Jordan VvMs at this Meeting, and had good Service therein ; it concluded in Supplication for the Widow and Fa- therlefs, and for Mankind univerfally. Firft-day being the fourth of the Firft Month, I was at Middleton Meet- M:dd:etun jp,g^ \^ Company With Thomas Broivn, wherein the Divi- nity of Chriil, and his being made Flelh, born of a Virgin, crucified, dead and buried, and his being raifqd
from
THOMAS CHALKLET. 303
from the Dead by the divine Power, was largely opened 1737. to the People, and that the fame Power muft be wit- ^-^V-v^ nelTed to retorm our Lives, and give us the true faving Faith and Knowledge of God the Father, and Chrift the Son, and of the holy Ghoft.
This Month, at our General Spring- meeting, I ac- quainted Friends, that I had a Defire once more to fee my Friends in Virginia, Marylandy and North-Carolina^ if Health and Strength did permit, and divine Providence favoured, I not having yet fully recovered my former Health and Strengdi, to which the Meeting confenred.-
The latter End of the Firft Month I v/asat the Bu- 173S. n^do^ Robert Evan, oi North-JVales-, he was upwards b'^'""^ of Fourfcore Years of Age, and one of the firll Settlers wliJj, there. A Man who lived and died in the Love of God and his Neighbours, of whom, I believe it might be truly faid, as our Saviour laid of Nathaniel -, Behold an Ifraelite indeed, in whom there is no Guile. He was a Minifler of Chrift, full of divine and religious Mat- ter. In this Month I was at Fairhill^ at a Meeting appointed for Ruth Courtney, and Sufannah Hudfon^ \vho were on a religious Vifit from Ireland^ to Friends in" this and the adjacent Provinces •, it was a good Meeting, the Friends fpeaking to the State thereof.
The Beginning of the Second Month, I went over Delaware^ and fo to Cohanfy, intending home before Cokanty I i^tt out for my Journey to the Southward ; but my Affairs not anfwering to come home, and afterwards to reach the Yearly-meeting of Friends at Wefl-River^ the which I propofed to our General- meeting •, I now wrote to my Wife and Family, that I intended to pro- ceed to Wejl-River Meeting, it faving me much Time and Riding, and after having; been at feveral Meet- ings at Cohanfj, and at the Yearly-meeting at Salevi, ^^;^^^ £,g and at a Meeting zt files-Grove , being accompanied by a Friend of Saletn, I proceeded, and went over DeLi' ware River, and firft had a Meeting at George's Creek, and from thence to the Head o^SaJfafras River, where g^.,r..^^.
we
3H ^^^ JOURNAL^
1738^ we had a Meeting, but by Reafon of the wet Weather -^^2^^ ^^ "^^Z b^>^ ^"^^1' ' thence we travelled to Cecil Meeting, --^. and lo on to Chefter, where we had a Meeting on Firlt- day, then to ^leen Ann's County, and back from ^.v^.,.^.«. thence to Nezmwn, on Chefter River, at which Town we had a large fatisfaftory Meeting, in which it was ihewn, that no good Chriftian might or could break the moral Part of the Law, for it (faith the Apoftle) is a Schoohnafter to bring to Chrifi, and that thofe who come to the Gofpelof Chrift, can in no wife break the Jeaft Commandment of God. As for Example, the 'Livj {^\th^ thou /halt not for/wear thy felf, but if a Man (according to Chrift's Gofpel) /wears not at all, then that Man cannot forfwear himfelf. Again, the Law faith, Ihou fljalt love thy Neighbour and hate thine Enemy, but Chrift fiys. Love your Enemies ; the which if we do, there is no doubt but we fhall Love our Neighbours, Again, the Law fays. Thou /Joalt not Commit Adultery ; but if according to the Do6lrine and Gofpel of Chrift, a Man doth not look on a Wo- man with a luflful Eye, there is no Danger of com- mitting Adultery with her, ^c. Thofe Things were ■ largely fpoke to and opened in the Meeting, and the People (there being many not of our Society) were very attentive and fober, and the good Hand of the Almighty was amongft us in this Meeting. From Ci?/?/?^r River, we croffed Che/apeak Bay, to the Yearly- WeAKher, meeting at fFejh River, with Che/ler Friends, in miltam Thomas's Boat, and fent our Horfes over by Kent-I/land to IVe/l' River ^ where we met with our Friends Michael Ligbtfoot^ Elizabeth IVyat^ and Grace Ma/on, with di- vers others, {Elizabeth and Gmv, being on their Re* turn from a religious Vifit to North -Carolina and Vir^ gtnia:) We all being far from home, and well acquaint- ed, were glad to fee one another, being thankful to the Alnnighry, who had been pleafed to preferve us' lotaron our Way. After the Meeting was ended at IVeJl^Rivcr, taking Leave in the Love of Chrifl of di- vers
rHOMAS CHALKLET, 305
vers Friends, with Hearts full of Love, and Eyes full of Tears, as never expelling to fee one another again. I with my Companion and Armiger Trotter (who came up with the Friends from Virginia, to IVeJl-River) fet out for Firginia, and having pafTed over Patuxent p^^^^.^,,,. River, had a Meeting among the Family of the Plum- R^vn. mers, one of whom, with another Friend, accom- ^''""*'^'^' panied us to the River Potomack j we rode as near as we could compute it fixty Miles that Day, I being heavy and aged, and the Weather hot, was very much tired, and laid down in my Clothes all Night, and the next Morning ferried over the River Potomack^ com- puted about three Miles over, and parted with our Guides. When over this River, we travelled about fif- teen Miles to William Duff%, had a Meeting there, and from thence to a Meeting of Friends at John Cheagles^ and fo on to Black-Creek, had a Meeting there, and ^^^^^ then went to the Monthly-meeting of Friends on the g-^.-a:.' Wefl-fide of James-River, and fo to William Lad's, after which we went to the Monthly -meeting of Friends at Nanfemond-River, and from thence to Carolina, and Nanfemoni, on a Firft-day had a large Meeting at a new Meeting- 'clrluna. houfe built to accommodate the Yearly-meeting; it was a good folid Meeting, and there the Friends ap- pointed for us the Meetings following. Third- day of the Week, being the 1 3th of the Fourth Month, 3.1 Jo- feph Barrow's, Fourth-day at Jacob BuiUr's, F'ifth- day at Samuel Nezvbfs, Sixth-day and Firft-day at the Upper-meeting-houfe at Little- River, and Third- day at the Lower-meeting-houfe on faid River, and Fourth-day at Pofpotanck, and Fifth-day at Amos True- blood's up Pofpotanck- River, and then we went to the Paffounck Quarterly-meeting for Friends in 'North-Carolina, which ^'^"'• was very large ; the People were exhorted to overcome Sin as Chrift overcame, that they might fit with him in bis Kingdom, as he overcame, and is fit down in the Kingdom of God his Father i that Subjeft was largely fpoken to that Day, and we had a good Op- portunity^
3o6
natnd.
Bennet's. Creek. Chucka- iuck, &cc.
Creek, &c,
TZ'^ J O U R N A L 0/
portunlty with the People, and the great Name of God was exalted over all. After this Quarterly-meet- ing, we had a Meeting at Ja7ne5 ff^tlfonh^ in the Bar- rens:, which was a large, good and open Meeting ; in the Conclufion thereof, I told them, That I came among them in great Love (tho' in a Crofs to my own Will, with refped to my Age, and the Heat of the Weather) being willing to fee them, in that Pro- vince, once more before I left the World -, and, as I came in Love, fo I parted with them ; defiring them, to dwell in Love and Peace, and then the God of Love would be with them.
From Carolina we travelled into Virginia [Zacbariah Nickjon accompanying us) and had a Meeting at the Widow Ndwby^s.^ and from thence had a Meeting at Nanfimiind, and fo to the Branchy where we had a very large Meeting •, many People were there not of our Society, and v/ere very attentive and fober •, and next Day, being the Second-day of the Week, we had a latisfaitory Meeting at Bennefs-Creek, and thence to Chukatuck^ and fo on to Rafper-Neck^ and then to Pagan-Creek, thence into Surry County to Samuel Se- brell*s^ and thence to Rchert Honicut^^ had a Meet- ing there, then to Curl^Sy up James River^ to Thomas and John FleajdHl\ had a Meeting there on a Firft- day, and then to the Swamp and Cedar-Creek^ and fo on to John Cheagle^s. We came to John Cheaglch the 20th of .the Fifth Month, being the Fifth of the Week, and being unwilling to be idle on Sixth and Seventh Days (intending to have a Meeting at his Houfe on Firfl-day) I aflced John if he could tell where we could have a Meeting on Sixth and Seventh-day ? And he fa id Tes, he could. And he appointed one about three Miles otf his Houfe, and another fix Miles off ', at vv-hich Places we-- had good Service ■, and then had a very large Meeting at his Houfe on Firfl- day, which was, I hope, to pretty general Satisfac- tion, to the religious Part of the People. From thence
we
"T HO MAS CHALKLET. 10^
we travelled to William Diqf's {Jehn^ and another 173S. Friend, going with us) and had a Meeting at their L./'V\J Meeting-houl'e, and afterwards William went with us over Fotomack River, as far as Pifcataway in Mary- 1%7^''* land; this River is computed to be near four Miles i^xy^^ff^. over, and, when about the Middle, there was a large '**'''^* Swell in the River, fo that our Horfes could not (land, and the Motion of the Boat made them fall down, and the Boat having much Water in it, being vety leaky, Ihe was near overfetting ; they in the Boat were in fome Concern and Confternation, f<3ying, when we came to the Shore, thar they did not remember they were ever before in the like Danger ; and I ap- prehend we v/ere in Danger, and if the Boat had oveFfet, in all Likelihood, we might all have beea drowned ; and I then thought I was in the Service of Chrift, my great Mafter; and I alfo knew, I mufl die, and I thought I might as well die in liis Service as my own-, fo 1 gave up m,y Life for ChnTc's Sake, and he gave it to me again. Oh ! may 1, with all thofe who fincerely- love him, ferve him truly all our Days, is my Defire !
From Pifcataway we travelTd to Patuxent^ to the p,inm;«- Family of the Plummers, who were ten Sons of one ^''"'"'• Father and Mother, who were convinc-'d about tiie Time I firft had Meetings in thofe Parrs, and, fofaras 1 know, they are all fober Men. After this Meeting we went to Gerard Hopkins'' ^^ and from thence to Pa- Fatapfco. tapfce^ had a large Meeting, the Houfe being full be- fore the Friends came, fo that they were hard let to get in ; to me it was a good, feafonable Opportunity, as was our next in the Foreft of Gunpowder River -, Gins^o-ji'der- where Friends have huik a new Meeting-houl'e, which, ^'^"' at this Time, could not contain the People : From Gunpowder River we went to Bu/l River, had a good, BurcRha-.
_ i^tt' v-itcis., 4iju io over
Sujqticbannab to Elihu H dill's.
open Meeting, ajid ore at Deer Creek, and fo over ^^^^
Ac
3o8 ' ^72^ J O U R N A L 0/
3738. At Wefi-JNotlingha?)!^ I parted with my Companion, K./'-^r-^ he having about a Day's Travel home. I had two T/4imn' Meetings on Firft-day at the great Meeting-houfe at JVeft-l^otttngham, which were very large, and Friends glad to fee me once more : And after having Meetings mlml!''- ^^ Chridine Bridge, Wilmington, Center, and Kennet, ton. Center, Went to thc Quarterly-mceting of Minifters at Con- Komt^&ic. ^^^^^ and was there Firft and Second-day j and Third- day at Derby, all which were very large Meetings, and Friends were fatisfied and comforted, and I was en- couraged in theWork and Service of theGofpel of Chrill. jTriiifm. From Derby I went home, having been abroad about four Months, and rode, by Computation, above ele- ven hundred Miles, and at about feventy Meetings.
While I was on this Journey, I had an Account of the Death of my dear and only Brother, George Chalk- ley, a religious, prudent Man ; he died the 24th of the Ninth Month 1737, near the feventieth Year of his Age, and left behind him a mournful Widow and four Daughters, all virtuous Women.
When in Virginia, I wrote to thofe of our Society at Opeckon, Shannadore^ Sec. many of whom went out of our Province, to fettle in the Government of Fir- ginia^ to the following EtFed, viz.
Virginia, ditjohn Cheagle\, 2\^ c^th Month, ^72^*
To Friends of the Monthly-meeting at Opeckon,
Dear Friends, who inhabit Shannadore and Opeckon. ' TTAV I N G a Concern tor your Welfare and * i. JL Profperity, both now and hereafter, and alfo ' the Profperity of your Children, I had a Defire to ' fee you ; but being in Years, and heavy, and much « fpenc and fatigued with my long Journeys in Virgi- ' nia and Carolina, makes it feem too hard for me to «■ perforra a Vifit in Perfon to ygu ; wherefpre I take
' thij
THOMAS CHALKLtr, 309
this Way of Writing to difcharge my Mind of what 173S. lies weightily thereon : And,
' Firfty I defire that you be very careful (being far and back Inhabitants) to keep a friendly Correfpon- dence with the native Indians^ giving them no Oc- cafion of Offence -, they being a cruel and mercilefs Enemy, where they think they are wrong*d or de- frauded of their Right, as woful Experience hath taught, in Carolina^ Virginia^ and Maryland^ and efpecially, in New-England^ &c. And, ' Secondly^ As Nature hath given them, and their Fore-fathers, the PoiTefTion of this Continent of ^;«<?- rica (or thisWildernefs) they have a naturalRight there- to in Juftice and Equity j and no People, according to the Law of Nature and Juftice, and our own Prin- ciple, which is according to the glorious Gofpel of our dear and holy Lord Jefus Chrift, ought to take away, or fettle, on other Mens Lands or Rights, without Confent, or purchafing the fame, by Agree- ment of the Parties concern'd i which, I fuppofe, in your Cafe is not yet done.
' Thirdly, Therefore my Counfel and Chriflian Ad- vice to you is (my dear Friends) That the mofl reputable among you, do, with Speed, endeavour to agree with and purchafe your Lands of the native Indians or Inhabitants ; Take Example of our wor- thy and honourable late Proprietor, IVilliam Penn ; who, by his wife and religious Care, in that Rela- tion, hath fettled a lafting Peace and Commerce with the Natives, and, through his prudent Manage- ment therein, hath been infbrumental to plant in Peace, one of the moft flourilliing Provinces in the the World.
* Fourthljy And who would run the Rifque of tire Lives of their Wives and Children, for thefparing a little Cofl and Pains ? I am concerned to lay thofe Things before you, under an uncommon Exercife of Mind, .that your new and fiourilhing, little Settle-
' ment.
3 ]0 ."^ ^' ne J OVR'N AL of ':■
ment, might not be laid wafte, and (if the Provf- dence of ciie Almighty doth not intervene^ fome of the Blood of yourfeives. Wives or Children, be be fhed and fpilt on the Ground. ' Fifthly, Confider you are in the Province of Vir- ginia, holding what Rights you have under that Go- vernment ; and the Virginians have made an Agree- ment with the Natives, to go as far as the Moun- tains, but no farther -, and you are over and beyond the Mountains, therefore out of that Agreement ; by which you lie open to the Infults and Incurfions of theSouchern Indians, who have deftroyed many of the Inhabitants of Carolina and Virginia, and even now have deftroyed more on the like Occafion, [The Englifh going beyond the Bounds of their Jgree- ment. Eleven of the^n were killed by the Indians while we were travelling in Virginia.] ' Sixthly^ If you believe yourlelves to be within the Bounds oi William Penn'^s Patent from King Charles the Second, which will be hard for you to prove, you being far to the fouthward of his Line •, yet, if done, that is of no Confideration with the Indians» without a Purchafe of them •, except you will go about to convince them by Fire and Sword, contrary to our Principles ; and if that were done, they would ever be implacable Enemies, and the Land would never be enjoyed in Peace.
' Seventhly, Pleafe to note, that in Penfyhania no
new Settlements are made, without an Agreement
wfih ti'.e Natives ; as witnefs, ILancafierx County,
■ lately fettled ; though that is far within the Grant of
IVilliatnPenn^s Patent from King C/j(3r/^i the Second;
• wherefore you lie open to Infurre<5lions of the North- ■^ era as w.'^ll as Southern Indians.
*• And, Lajlly, Thus having fliewn my Good-will to ' you, and to your new little Settlement, that you
• might fit every one under your own Ihady Tree,
• where none might make you afraid, and that you
' might
"THOMAS CHALKLE7. 311
* might profper naturally and fpiritualjy, you and 1738.
* your Children i and having a little eafed my Mind CZ-VVJ
* of that Weight and Concern (in fome Meafure)
* that lay upon me, I, at prel'ent, defift", and iub-
* fcribe, in the Love of our holy Lord JefusChrifl,
DTour real Friend^
1. C.
After my Return from this Journey, I ftay*d much at home that Winter, travelling now being hard for me, fo that I could not perform long Journeys as formerly, being more broken in the long and hard Travelling in this Journey, than in divers Years before.
In the Year 1739, I took feveral fhort or lefTer 1739- Journeys, and had many Meetings in divers Places, as "^^^"^"^ in Salem and Burlington Counties, in Wefi-Jerfe'^.^ and j^^." "^ ' Philadelpbiay Chejier and Bucks Counties, in Penfylva- nia ; having many large and comfortable Meetings, and fome fatisfaftory Service in divers of them.
This Year the War broke out between Great-Bri- tain and Spain ; the Spaniards giving great Occafion of Offence to the Britijh Nation ; notwithftanding which. King George the Second fought to accommodate Matters peaceably j but the Crown of Spain not com- plying with the Terms agreed on for an Accommoda- tion, therefore War was proclaimed ; which occafioned much Difturbance and Diftradion in our little peace- able Province and Government ; War being deftrudive to Life, Health and Trade, the Peace and Profperity of the People, and abfolutely againft the Dodrine and Pradice of the Prince of Life and Peace, our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift ; a great Concern came on my Mind to promote his Dodrine ; in order to which I was largely concerned to treat thereof in or at the Ge- neral Spring-meeting at Philadelphia ; with which Ser- vice divers wife and pious People were well farisfied.
though fome were offended.
Wher
312
1740.
Wilming-
Jen,
Neivccftli;,
George's
Creek.
Ikuck'
Creek,
Lht!e,
Creek,
Mother-
KzlL:
Little- €jeek..
'/IppoquTna
X^evucinftk,
^ a rr;^ JOURNAL of i
When the Meeting was over, I having a Defire and Concern once more to vifit Friends in the three lower Counties, Newcaftle, Kent and Sujfex, among v/hom I had not travelled for near twenty Years, and being now a little better in Health than I bad been, I fetout from my Home, and went to Chefier, and from thence to Wilmington^ and had a Meeting there ; and then to Newcajlle., where we had another ; William Hammond being with me, he and I went from Newcaf- tle to Georgeh-Creek, had a Meeting there ; and then went to Buck-Creek ; after having two Meetings at Duck. Creek, I went to Little-Creek Meeting, and fo pro- ceeded to the Mother -Kills., where I had a large, open Time in preaching the Gofpel to the People, which di- vers ot chem received with Gladnefs ; and there were many, not ot our Society, who were very fober and at- tentive, a Door being open among them -, yet, notwith- standing there may be much Opennefs both in Speakers and Hearers, I have obferved with Sorrow, that there are but few who retain the Iruth fo as to be really con- verted ; many are convinced, but few converted and come to be regenerated or born again, as our Saviour taught.
From Mother-kills I went back to Little-Creek to ^inothy Hanfon's.^ he accompanying me, and from Timothy's I went to Duck- Creek, and from thence to -. Jppoquinamy to the Burial of a Friend's Son, who died of the Small-pox j on which Occafion we had a folid Meeting, the mournful Relations being thankful for our Company. From Appoquinamy I went to Jdhn M'Cool\ and from thence to Newcajile ; where we had a large open Meeting, to the Satisfaction of c^i- vers i though I was very weakly and poorly, as to my Health, fo that it was hard for m'e to floop to take any Thing from the Ground, and with Difficulty I walk- ed from the Friend's Houfe to the Meeting ; but be- ing helped by Grace, and carried through the Service ot the IVTeeting beyond my Expeftation, was, with
divers
THOMAS CHALKLET. 313
divers others, truly thankful to God the Father, and 1740. Chrill,. my Lord and Saviour. *«-"v-x«
-'' From Newcafile I went to JVilmingion^ had a Meet- wnmin^- ing there, and from thence to Newark to the Marriage ^^/^g^k. of Alexander Seaton \ the Meeting was uncommonly Jarge, and to general Satisfadtion.
From Newark I went back to Wilmington^ and from thence to the Center Monthly-meeting, and fo on to Cenur. Kenn^ty where was a very large Meeting : Here divers, Kcnnrt^ who had profelTed among us, refrained coming to the Publick Meetings for divine Worfhip ; with wiiom, next Day, we had a Meeting, wherein the evil Confe- quence of forfaking the afTembling ourfelves together was fpoke to, and that it would be a great Hurt to the young and rifing Generation, and themfeives alfo j be- ing a bad Example to them, and contrary to the Ad- vice and Counfel of the holy Apoflle, Not to forfake the ajfeinhling of ourfelves together^ as the Manner of fome is.
From Kennet I went to Concord to the Burial oi Concord, benjamin Mendinhall^ where we had a large and folid Meeting, feveral lively Teftimonies being born there- in : This Friend was a worthy Elder, and a itv* viceable Man in our Socieiy, and one of the firfl: or early Settlers in Penfylvania » A Man given to Hoi- pitality, and a good Example to his Family, and hath left divers hopeful Children furviving him.
The Night before this Meeting I lodged at the Widow GUpin% whofe Hulband, Jofepb Gilpin, was lately deceafed 5 there was true Chriftian Love and Friendlhip between us for above fifty Years. When -fii^ft I faw Jofepb in Penfylvania, he lived in a Cave in the Earth, where we enjoyed each others Com- pany in the Love and Fear of God. This Friend had fifteen Children, whom he lived to fee brought up to the States ol Men and Women, and all but two married well, and to his Mind. h" , X 2 From
bfL,
3H
rhe JOURNAL^
1740.
Wilmington,
Nevticafite.
Ptnn's-
Ketk.
Salem.
Gntnwiih,
W»odberrf-
Creek.
thilaieU
fhia,
frankftrt.
BtiTiif^tOH.
Shrt-mr-
frtnkforr.
From Concord I went to Wilmington^ and from thence after Meeting to Newcaftky where J, with George Hogg, went over the River Delaware into Penn^s-Neck, and had a Meeting at James fVilfon*s ; from Penn*^-Neck we went to Salem, and thence to Cohanfy, where I had feveral Meetings at Greenwich, and at the Head of Ailoway*s~Creek, alfo at David Davis's, where the People kindly lent us the Benches of their Meeting-houfe, and many of them came them- felves, and were very attentive ; after which I went to Pikfgrove and had a Meeting there, and from thence to PFoodberry-Creek, and fo to Gloucejier, where I fer- ried over Delaware to Philadelphia, and from thence came home, having travelled about 500 Miles in this Journey -, after which I ftay'd at and about home for fome Time.
I was at the Yearly-meeting at Burlington in the Seventh Month ; going to this Meeting, my Horfc ftarted, and threw me, which hurt my Shoulder and Hip badly, of which Hurt I did not recover for above half a Year.
This Meeting was very large, and though I was outwardly in Mifery and Pain, yet in the Senfe of the Love and Goodnefs of God, and Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrifl, I was, with many others, much com- forted in Spirit.
From Burlington I travelled to Shrew/hury, having feveral Meetings by the Way ; as, at Bordentown, Crofs- wicks, Trenton, &c. This Journey I rode in much Pain ; but the Satisfaction I had in Meetings through the Spirit and Power of the moft High, made Amends for all the Labour and Pain I underwent. I blefs the facred Name of God, and may I do it for ever ! I made what Hafte I could home, being in Pain with my Fall, and tarried at home moll of the Winter, which was one of the longeft and hardeft known in thefe Parts by fome of the oldeft Livers here j divers People being frozen to Death in feveral Places, and many Sheep
and
1H0MAS CHALKLEr 315
and Cattle perifliing, and much of the Winter Grain 1740. kilJed with the Froft, fo that there was fome Appre- C/«Ow^ henfion of a Want of Bread ; all which I took to be Warnings of the jufl and righteous Judgments of God for the Ingratitude, Pride, and other Sins and Iniqui- ties of the People, the which I was divers Times, and at divers Places, concerned to put them in Mind of. How well would it be if the People would lay the Judgments of the mofl High to Heart ; and when hisjudgments are abroad in the Earth, that the Inha- bitants would learn Righteoufnefs !
After this Winter I was at a General-meeting at I74'» German-town^ and at Meetings at North-fFales, Hor- ^^Qf^ Jham, and Byberry, and from thence, with Jofepb Gil- Meetings bert, went to Burlington^ and was at a Marriage there, ?^ ^'J*^"/' and then returned home. Place*.
t In the Second Month I was under an inward and religious Engagement in my Mind to vifit the Meetings of Friends in Gloucefter and Salem Counties, in fVefi- Jerfey -, and the 19th of the faid Month I went over De- laware River, and was at Haddonfield on a Firft Day, and Third-day at Chejier^ Fourth-day had a Meet- ing at the Houfe of Joftah Fofter, and Fifth-day at Evejham -, from which Meeting I went to John E- jlaugh's, Ebenezer Large and Samuel Jordan being with me. In the Morning we went to IVoodberry-Cresk Meeting, and next Day down to Salem^ in order for the Yearly-meeting, which began on the 26th of the Second Month, and was an extraordinary folid Meeting, the divine Prefence and Glory being richly manifefted amongft us;
^, From Salem I went, in Company with John Evans Sau^
.'and Elizabeth Stevens^ to Allowafs-Creek and Cohanfy^ where we had Meetings, I believe, to the Satisfadion of many ; here I parted with the faid Friends, and not being well, I ftaid at Greenwich^ and they went to
3iDavid Davii\ in order for Pile/grove Meeting.
X 3 The
:>
i6 rhe JOURNAL of On
1741. The 3d of the Third Month, being the Firft of the '-^^'^'yr^^ Week, I was at Cobanfy Meeting, which was folid and CehsKfj. ^ejgiity . jn which the mighty Works of God, and his wonderful Power, was fet forth to the People in di- vers Refpedls.
Fir/i, As to the Work of the Creation of the Hea- vens and the Earth, and of Man to govern in the Earth, referving to himfelf the Government of Man ; to whom he gave a Law, for the Breach of which hiS was turned out of Paradife, and brought Death into the World.
Secondly, Notwithftanding Man's Fall, God had Love, Mercy and Compaffion towards him, and pro- mifed the Seed of the Woman fhould bruife the Head of the Serpent, who led them aflray, which Seed was Chrift, whom all are commanded to hear, believe and follow, in the Praftice of his holy Do6trine, which is contained in his Words fpoken to his immediate Difciples and Apoftles, and likewife made known and revealed in our Hearts.
I'hirdhy That now in our Day his righteous Judg- ments are abroad in the Earth, as the Sword, and a Threatning of Famine, or want of Bread •, all which %vas /poken in the tender Love and Fear of God, and Faith of Chrift, and all were intreated to lay thefe Things to Heart, and Turn to the Lord, and he will have Mercy, and to our God, and he will abundantly ^pardon. In this Meeting God was glorified, and his Name magnified, through the AfTiflance of the Spirit of his dear Son our Lord.
From Cohanfy I went to Sak'm, and thence to Da- ind Davis's, where we had a Meeting, at which were leveral People of divers ProfelTions, who were fatisfied and edified therein *, and thence we went to Pilef- grove Meeting, afterwards into Penn*5-Neck, and had a good open Meeting at the Widow Hughs^s, and fo to JFocdberryCreek Meeting, which, I hope, was ftrviceabie ; after which I went home with my Friend
James
rnOMAS CHALKLET. 317
Jamei Lord*s Widow ; who, with her Sifter Anne Coo- 1741, 'per, and Jofiph Clews, went with me to Gloucejier "^^X^ Goal, where we vifited one under Sentence ot Dtfath Qll^f" for Stealing ; I afked him, if he truly repented of that Sin of Stealing, ot" which he had been fo often guilty ? He told me» he hoped he had, and was willing to die. He was recommended to the Grace of God, and to keep in an humble Frame of Mind, and beg Mercy of the Almighty, for the Sake of Chrift, for all his Sins.- While a Friend was praying by him, he was broken into Tendernefs.
r Here the aforefaid Friends parted from me •, I crof- ■fing the River Delaware to Philadelphia^ and fo home to Frankfort. I was at ten Meetings in this Journey (befides the Yearly-meeting at Salem) and travelled about 150 Miles; but Travelling was painful to my Body •, for I now more and more felt the EtFedts of many old Falls and Bruifes, which much difabled and hurt me in Riding.
In the Fourth Month I was at divers Meetings about or near home, as at Fair-hill^ German-town^ and at a Meeting at Thomas Roberts's \ alfo was at Fhila- pkHadei- delphia Meeting. In the Beginning of the Fifth p^^^. Month, I vifited Friends Meetings at Derby, Meri- j^i^y^m. on, and Haverford ; at the laft Place the Meeting Havn{ori, was large, and very open ; wherein the mighty Power of God was exalted over all, and it was plainly ma- nifefted, that if there was any Virtue, or any good Gift or Genius in the Creature, it derived its }:,xcellen- cy from the Creator ; and that Man, in his bell Capa- city, in either natural or fpiritual Attainment.% hath - no Caufe to boaft or glory in any Thing or Things, which he, as an Inftrument in the divine Hand, might 1
help to do or perform; wherefore wc ought to hum- ]
ble ourfelves under the mighty Hand of God, attribu- ting no Glory to Self, or the Creature-, but all Glory and Praife to the Creator, who is in and over all blefled j
for ever.
The
3^8
I74I'
J^Hol,
- -^^ JOURNAL 0/ -^^"
The 2oth of the Fifth Month, I fet forward on a Journey, in order to vifit Friends at and near 5«r- lington^ and was next Day at a Meeting at Brifloly which was large, confidering the Heat of the Wea- ther, and the Shortnefs of the Notice •, next Day, being the Fourth-day of the Week, and the 2 2d of the Month, I was zi Mount -Holly, at the Burial of our antient Friend, Rejlored Lifpincoat : He was, as I un- derftood, near an hundred Years of Age, and had upwardsof 200 Children, Grandchildren, and Great Grand Children, many of whom were at his Funeral ; the Meeting was large, and thought to be a ferviceable Meeting by divers. After this Meeting, I went with a few choice Friends to vifit Sufannah Fearon, who had been long ill •, in which Vifit we were favoured with the divine Prefence and Goodnefs of the moft High ; for which we returned him Thanks and Praife. After which we went to Burlington, and next Day had a Meeting, which was an acceptable Oppor- tunity to many.
Next Firfl-day, being the 27th of the Month, w€ had a good, folid Meeting at Trenton ; from thence I went, with divers Friends to Brijloly and fo home to Frankfort % and was thankful to the Almighty for the Grace which he was pleafed to bellow upon me, a poor Worm -, and that, confidering the extream Heat, I had my Health better than ufual. After coming home, I vifited divers Meetings at Philadelphia, Had- donfield, Frankfort, &cc.
In the Sixth Month there was a great Mortality in Philadelphia, and many were taken away ; on a Fifth- day, I was concerned to put the People in Mind of it, and of their own Mortality, and exhorted them to prepare for it, they not knowing whofe Turn it might be next, nor the Hour when Death might come to iheir own Habitations \ and was concerned, in the fame Nature, at fcveral large Burials ; in the Meeting at Philadelphia, they were told, It was better to fall
into
THOMAS CHALKLET. 31^
into the Hands of the Lord, than into the Hands of 174?. Men *, and that fince we had been fettled in this Pro- iXV>a) vince of Penfyhania, we were preferred from the Hands of Men ; there having never been an Enemy in it, in a warlike Way ; our Dependance being on Pro- vidence, and our Principle agalnft War, and againft fpilling of human Blood by Wars and Fighting, ac- cording to the Doftrine of Chrift, the peaceable Savi- our; wherefore I believe the Hand of God was mani- fefted in preferving us in Peace : Yet I would not be underftood to be againft the Magiftrates exercifing the Power committed to them, according to juft Law ; but national Wars, woful Experience teacheth, are de- ftrudive to the peaceable Religion of Jefus, to Trade, Wealth, Health and Happinefs. Our dear Lord preached Peace to the People, and againft Wars; tell- ing his Followers, That they mufi love and pray for their Enemies, and rather take a Stroke or a Blow, than give one ', and that they Jhould not reftji Evil ; which peace- able Dodrine of Chrift, the Jews could not away with ; no, no, by no Means; O, fay they. If we let this Man alone, the Romans will come and take away our Place and Nation : Juft as the People now fay in this Province, among and to thofe peaceable Men, who, for the Sake of Chrift and his Dodtrine, cannot ufe the Sword ; The Romans will come and take our Country, if we donU build Forts and Cajlles, and have military Preparations: And I wifh it were not true, that fome, who profefs this peaceable Principle, too much endeavour to fmoother, ftifle and keep under, this peaceable Do£lrine, through a flavifti Fear, and too much diftruftingof the divine Providence, which may caufe the divinp Hand to deliver us to the Romans in- deed ; at which I fhould not wonder, fince we diftruft that divine Hand that hath hitherto preferved us, without our preparing for War, above thefe fifty Years. To which I know that it is objeded ; But pow there are Abundance of People who are not of that
Prifi'
320 r:i f7^^ JOURNAL ^'--
1741. ciple. I anfwer. Then why did they come among ^ii^V"^ us, if they could noc truft themfelves with our Princi- ples, which they knew, or might have known, if they would ? The King gave the Province, and the Go- vernment of it, to our worthy Proprietor William 'Penn, who was a Man of this peaceable Principle ; for which the Heathens loved him, and honour his Name and Memory to this Day, and thofe of his Socie- ty and Principles*, v;hereof I am a living Witnefs. The ■^ - - Senfe of the Sweetnefs and focial Life that the firft Sett- lers of the Province of Penfyhania and the City of Phi- ladelphia lived in, makes me exprefs myfelf in this Man- ner. Oh ! that the Inhabitants of the City and Coun- try, did but live and dwell in that firft Love, and hold it faft ; and then I believe that the Almighty would not fufFer any to take our Crown ; which Crown is Righteoufnefs, Peace and Love, through true Faith ; which true Faith 'ivorks by Love, in Chrilt Jcfus. fo?a v!fit On the lail Day of the Fifth Month, I acquainted to^.'o. jny Friends of the Monthly-meeting of Philadelphia, * ' with a Concern I had been lome Time under, to vifit the People in the Virgin I/lands, and more particularly in Anguilla and Tortola -, in order to preach the Gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrid freely, to thofe who might have a Defire to hear, as the Lord fhould be pleas'd to open my Way : And my Friends having Unity with me therein, at their next Meeting, gave me a Certificate of their Concurrence ; Soon after which, having fettled my Affairs, and taken Leave of my dear W^ife and Daughter, and the refl of my Family and Friends, on the 19th Day of the Seventh Month, J embarked at Philadelphia, in the Sloop John, Peter Blunder Mafter, bound for the Ifland of lortola.
We fail'd down the River, and came to an Anchor
near Chrijline Creek that Night, in which there was a
\ rioient Storm, which drove feveral Vefiels on the
MarOies •, fo that when the Tide ebb'd, one might
v/aik round them. Next Day we fail'd to Reedy-
J/laud'
THOMAS CHALKLET, 321
IJlandy where we waited for a fair Wind: We fail'd 1741- down the Bay (in Company with two Sloops, one ^/V^*' bound for Bermudas^ the other for the Ifland of Chri- Jiopher^) and left the Capes on the a^d Day of the A« ^w. Month, and in 18 Days, from that Time, fell in with the Ifland of Thomas^ and in one Day more turn'd up to Tortola.
In this Voyage we faw nine Sail of Veflels ; but fpoke with none of them : Had a rough Pafiage, the Wind being high and contrary above a Week, and much Rain i yet, thro' the Mercy and Grace of God, I was preferved above all Fear, except the holy Fear of the living Lord, in which I blefs*d his holy Name.
On the 1 2th Day of the Eighth Month, John Picker- Trteim. ingi the Owner of the Sloop ("who was likewife Go- vernor of the Ifland) with his Spoufe, met me at the Water-fide, and lovingly embraced me, and led me up to their Houfe, and, the fame Evening, had a Meeting at his Houfe -, and on the 15th of the Month, being the Fifth-day of the Week, we had a large, fa- tisfadory Meeting, at which were many People, di- vers of them not of our ProfefTion, and I think, the good Hand of the Lord was with us. I was concern- ed in this Meeting to fhew. That the laft Difpenfation of God to Mankind in and through his dear Son, was a fpiritual Difpenfation ; a Difpenfation of pure, di« vine Love, which is to laft and be with the true Be- lievers in Chrift forever, according to his own Dodlrine in the New-Teftamenr.
On the Firft-day of the Weei^, and the iSth of the Month, we had another Meeting larger than the for- mer (and the Governor told me, he had never feen fo large a Gathering on the Ifland, on any Occafion) my Spirit was much fet at Liberty in this Meeting, and great Opennefs and Brokennefs was among the Ptople, fo that the Gofpel was freely and largely declared to them. The Cafe ot Conielius, and of the ApoftJe P^*fr going to his Houfe, was treated of , with divers
other
322 72-^ JOURNAL^ OWV:
1 741. other Matters, tending to Edification, I was fo af- r^'QC^ ^^^^"^ ^'^^ ^^^ Power, Spirit and Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that, when the iVIeeting was over, I withdrew, and, in private, poured out my Soul before the Lord, and begg*d that he would be p!eas*d to manifeft his Power and glorious Gofpel more and more. At this Meeting there was a Woman who had fufFer'd much for her going to Meetings ; her Huf- band being a proud, haughty Man, had beat her to the drawing of Blood ; he alfo drew his Sword, and prefented his Piftol, with Threat'nings to kill her ; but Ihe thank'd God, that fhe was refign*d to lofe her life for Chrift's Sake : This Woman exprefs'd fome Words in Supplication in this Meeting, in a bro- ken Manner. There was alfo another (a beautiful young Woman; whofe Father had tiirn'd her out of Doors for coming to Friends Meetings.
I went, with the Governor and his Wife, to vifit a few Families up in the Mountains, and had a Meet- ing, in which was great Brokennels and Tcndernefs in the Time of Prayer.
On Second-day we vifited feveral Families in the Di- vifion called the Road, to which we went by Water in a Coble Cfome- what like our Canoes) there were four of thefe in Company, five Perfons in two of them, and feven in the other two. In this Vifiting of Families, the People came and filled the Rooms, and we had feafonable Meetings, in which the People were fo lov- ing, and well-affeded, that we could feldom go in a friendly Way to vifit our Friends, but they would pre- fently fill their little Rooms, and we fcarcely could de- part, without having a Time of Worfhip.
Next Day we went to vifit a young Man's Habita- tion Cwho had not yet finifhed his Houfe) and the Neighbours coming in, as ufual, we had a good Meeting.
I cannot but note, That the Hand of the Lord God was with us, and I felt his Vifitation as frefh and lively
tHOMAS CHALKLET. 323
as ever; for which I was truly thankful, and thought, 1741, if I never faw my H.ibitation again, I was fatisfied in \.y\r^ this Gofpel Call, and religious Vifit j though, being 2"o«»/<i. in Years, it was fometimes a little troublefome to the Flefh ; being in the 66th Year .of my Age, and ftiff" in my Limbs from Hurts with many Falls and Bruifes •, but, as to my Health, 1 had it better now, than for feveral Years pa ft •, for which I am humbly thankful to him, in whom we live and have our Being ; Glo- ry to his Name, through his dear Son.
Third-day and Fourth-day, vifited feveral Families, and had divers good Opportunities j in one of thofe Meetings, a young Man, named Jeremiah Martin^ fpoke a few Words in Prayer ; in which Seafon, we were, I think, all broken into Tendernefs ; fo that in Truth we might fay. That the Power and Spirit of Chrift was with and among us, and his great Name was praifed.
Fifth-day, being the Week-day- meeting, it was larger than was ever known of a Week-day at that Place 1 there being divers Friends who came from an Ifland called Jos. Vandike'%^ and many Neighbours and fober People, who were very attentive.
Sixth-day, was at feveral Peoples Houfes, and had religious Meetings j which we could not well avoid, the People were fo loving and defirous to hear what might be fpoken to them -, they being many of them like thirfly Ground, wanting Rain, and our good and gracious Lord gave us celeftial Showers, which were refrefhing to us, and thankfully received.
Seventh-day, I went, with feveral Friends, to the Houfeofone, who, with his Wife, had been at our Meeting on Fifth-day *, he kindly invited me to his Houfe 5 his Name was Blake ; he and his Wife were loving i though he had formerly wrote againft Friends, he was now better informed. From his Houfe I went to Townfend B'ljhoph^ and there being many Friends there from another Ifland, we had a moft comfortable,
tender
324: rhe ]OVRN AL of
1 741. tender Evening-meetirtg, in which we ofFer'd up an
^^'''"V"*^ Evening Sacrifice of high Praifes and Thankfgiving to
:forttia. jj^g j^^ly jsjame of the living eternal God, and his
dear Son our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, through
the Influence of the holy Spirit, one GOD over all,
blefled for ever. And^ ^
On the Firft-day of the Week, being the 25th of the Month, we had a larger Meeting than ordinary ; and, in Expedation of larger Meetings than ufual, the Governor, John Pickering, had made feveral new Forms to accommodate the People at his own Houfe, which he fent fix Miles on Mens Heads, the Roads not being paflable for Carriage by Carts, ^c. This I think worth noting, that their Zeal may be had in Remembrance, and that others may be ftirr'd up to a more religious Concern^ who will fcarce go fix Steps to a religious Meeting, or will not go at all. In this Meeting I was concern*d to fpeak of and fet forth the Dc6lrine of ChrilV, which he preached on the Mounts contain'd in the 5th, 6th and 7th Chapters of Mat- thew ; and to prefs the People to come to the Pradice of what is there commanded by the great Author of the Chriftian Religion -, and to Ihew that the defpifed fakers had learn*d out of that excellent Sermon much of their Religion, which difpleafes many People, and divers of the great Men of the World ; and to urge them to regard the Grace of God, which bringeth Sal- vation and hath appeared to all Men. In this Meet- ing Dorcas (the Wife of John Pickering) fpoke to the People in publick Teftimony, to which they gave good Attention.
After Meeting we returned by Water from the Road Harbour, to Pat-Hogg-Bay (where John Picker- ing lives) being upwards of twenty of us in Company, in three Cobles.
Thefe two Weeks I fpent in the Ifland of lortola, to my great Satisfaiflion, ■ ■
The
mo MAS CHALKLET. ^2?
"ithe Journal of this worthy Friend ending here^ the fol- •i74i« lowing Supplemeni is colleSfed from [ome Notes fent hy ^^''V^ ii Friend of that JJland^ gi'uing an Account of his_ fur- ther Ser'^i4iii, Sicknefs md Death.
TJhe S U,t P t E M E N T.
ON the 2d Day of the Third Week of his being among us, he vifited Ibme Friends in the Neigh- bourhood, and likewife the Man who had treated his Wife fo cruelly for coming to Friends Meetings.
On Third-day^ he was employed chiefly in Writing to hts Family and Friends in Piji/rt(^^///??w.'>''^^f'* • ? On Fourth-day, iome Friends from the Road came to fee him, which prevented his going out to vifit the Neighbours, as ufuaL
On Fifth-day Morning, being the 29th of the Eighth Month, he found himfelf much indifpo'fed ; yet he went to our Week-day-meeting, about a Quarter of a Mile. When the Meeting broke up, he had a hot Fever'-on him : Do6lor Turnhull (the chief Phyfician in our Ifl'and) thought it proper to take fome Blood from him, and he being very willing, it was done chac Afternoon, and the Fever abated fometime that Night; and the next Day he waik*d about, and made no ComJ)laint until about Eight o'Clock in the Even- ing i about which Time the Fever return*d, and con- tinued very fevere till Firft-day Mornings when the Doctor advis'd him to take a Vomit, which he declined that Day, being defirous of attending the Meeting; 'which was held at my Houfe, and was a large, fwect ■^nd tender Meeting ; \n which hefpoke to us firft con- cerning Temptations, and how Chrift was tempted, and how to withftand them ; and afterwards on the Pa- rable of the great Supper, and other Subjeds ; ending his Teftimony with the Words of the Apoftle Pat/.L
I
326 SUPPLEMENT.
1 74 1 . have fought a good Fight, I havefinijhed my Courfi, I have
xy^y'\J kepi the Faith^ henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown
ofRighteoufnefi: Which Words, and moft Part of this
laft Sermon, was delivered in great Brokennefs ; trom
whence I judged that he was fenfible that he had not long
,;r^ ^-«^ to live, though, I believe, he was not afraid to die.
'"* On Second-day Morning, the Fever abated a little, and
he complied with the Dodor's Prefcription of taking a
Vomit, which feem'd to have its proper EfFedl; but that
Night the Fever return'd, and continued on him until
he dy'd *, which was between two and three o* Clock on
Fourth day Morning, the fourth Day of the Ninth
Month, being fpeechlefs about feven Hours before.
A general Invitation was given to Friends and others to his Funeral ; where three Teftimonies were born, all in great Brokennefs, under a juft Senfe of our great Lofs. After which he was decently interr'd on the ■'' Evening of the fame Day, in a Piece of Ground which " / is fince given to Friends for a Burial Place, and on which a Meeting-houfe is built, by John Pickering. the Governor of the Ifland at that Time.
It is faid in the Scriptures, That the Righteous are ta- ken awa-j^ and no Man layeth it to Heart i but, I hope, it may be truly faid, this was not the Cafe at this Time i for Friends, in general, much lamented their great Lofs, in being fo foon deprived of fo inftruflive a Friend and Elder, whofe Care over us was very great ; and who, by his loving and exemplary Life, and Tender- ! nels to People of all Ranks and ProfeiTions, engag*d
i the Love and Refped of moft of the People in the
I* Ifland. We are fully alTured, that his Labour among
us was not in Vain, and that many have felt the good Effefts of it 1 fo that we believe fome of the laft Words he exprefs*d in Publick, may juftly be apply'dtohim., and that he now enjoys a Crown ofRighteoufnefs.
FINIS.
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