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one, whose people said they were chased by a Turk, but got from him, at which they greatly rejoiced. We apprehended it was our ship that they saw over night, for we saw a sail that crowded from us as fast as she could, and it being near night, we shortened sail, and so she 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 Englishmen, we spoke to each other, and were glad to meet with some of our own nation upon the great ocean; but our vessel sailing best, we took our leave of them, wishing them a good voyage. We met with rough seas and high winds in the latter part of our passage, till we came to the capes of Delaware, which we were all rejoiced to see, and we had a pleasant passage up the bay and river to Philadelphia, where I had once more 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 1st of the Second month, 1720; after which I staid at, and about home for some time, and I was not idle, but kept to my business, and to meetings, and having a desire to see my friends in the province of Maryland, at their general meeting at West River, I was accompanied by Isaac Norris and Thomas Masters, both sober young men. It had been a time of pretty much rain, and the waters thereby being out and high, going over a ford at Brandy Wine, my mare got among the rocks, it being a very rocky creek, she fell down, and the stream being very strong, she rolled upon me, and being entangled with the stirrup, I could not easily clear myself, but I gave a spring from her, and swam to clear myself from her; and when I was clear, I

got to her again, and laid hold of her mane, and through the good Providence of God, got well out with the mare on dry land, which was a remarkable deliverance. In three days we got to West River, to the yearly meeting, which was large, and Friends were glad to see me, I having not been there for several years. I was out on this journey about two weeks, and rode about three hundred miles; and after my coming home, I travelled pretty much in and about the provinces of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

CHAPTER V.

1721-1724.

SEVERAL JOURNEYS-REMARKABLE DEATH OF TWO ATHEISTICAL YOUNG MEN-REMOVAL FROM PHILADELPHIA TO THE NEIGHBOURING VILLAGE OF FRANKFORT VISITS IN DIFFERENT PLACES EPISTLE TO FRIENDS OF BARBADOES-VISIT IN LONG ISLAND-AFTER HIS RETURN, MEETS WITH AN ACCIDENT-A LETTER ON THE SUBJECT OF BAPTISM-GREAT LOSSES AND TRIALS-EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM HIS AGED FATHER, WITH HIS ANSWER.

In the year 1721, Thomas Lightfoot and I, with William Browne, went to a meeting at Bush River, and going over Susquehannah-Ferry, the people were fiddling and dancing. When their dance was over, I asked them, believing them to be Protestants, If they thought Luther to be a good man? They replied, Yes, there was no doubt of it. "Well," said I," and so do I; and I will tell you what he says concerning dancing, That as many paces as a man takes in his dance, so many steps he takes towards hell;" which spoiled their sport, and they went away, and we went on ours towards the meeting; and a good meeting it was! and we after it returned by way of Nottingham, and had a meeting there, and

one at New-Garden, and so on to Philadelphia. I was from home about a week, and travelled in this journey about one hundred and fifty miles, and was well satisfied therein.

In the years 1721 and 1722, I went several journeys, and had many large meetings, travelling many hundreds of miles, of which I neglected to keep a particular account, hardly thinking what I did worth recording; but divers of my friends in many parts of the world, put me upon something of this nature, to which, at length, I gave up, and found some benefit and satisfaction therein, in looking back and considering the dealings of God with me in my youth, and upwards.

From Philadelphia I went to the general meeting at Shrewsbury, in East Jersey, where I heard of J. G.'s being wounded by a young man, with a sword, of which he died, lamenting that he did not take the counsel of his friends; as young men who slight the counsel of those that wish them well, commonly do, either sooner or later, if the day of their visitation be not over. Some few days after this meeting at Shrewsbury, I visited Friends on Long Island, and returned home again, having travelled about three hundred miles. In my stay at, and about home, I wrote something concerning perfection, in answer to a nameless author; as also something concerning predestination, or election and reprobation.

In the year 1722, I went back in the woods to Buckingham, the Great Swamp, Perkiomy, Manahatawny, and Oley, where I had meetings, travelling over great mountains, from which we could see many miles. I travelled in this journey about one hundred and fifty miles, and returned home in about two

weeks; and after staying some time at home, and visiting neighbouring meetings, I went to the yearly meeting of Friends on Long Island, which meeting was very large, many people, not of our persuasion, being there, and were very sober. Many things were opened in the love of Christ, and his great love was declared to that great congregation. The parable concerning the Prodigal Son, came before me to speak of to the people in a very moving manner, and strongly to invite the youth to lay hold of the love of the Father in his Son, to poor souls: and indeed it is a wonderful parable, setting forth the infinite love of the great Lord of all to his poor creatures. Many were affected and reached to at this meeting, and the Almighty was praised and glorified, who alone is worthy.

From thence I went and had a meeting at New York, and then set forward to Woodbridge, where we had a comfortable meeting; Naaman, the Assyrian, being much the subject of that day's work: and that one thing loved and esteemed more than Christ, whatever it be, is to be avoided, and the people warned to be careful to keep close to the God of Israel, spiritual Israel, and to give up all which is contrary to his nature, and to take up Christ's cross, and follow him: for it is those who follow him in the regeneration, that are to be heirs of his kingdom.

In this year also, I was at the burial of our friend, Jonathan Dickinson, at which we had a very large meeting; he was a man generally well beloved by his friends and neighbours. In this meeting a passage, 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 happened at

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