_The following letter, or account of one Evan Jevans, is also
remarkable._
‘Since it hath pleased the divine goodness to endue me with
reason, I heartily thank his most excellent Majesty: that it has
been the further product of his good will to give me life and
being in that part of the world, where I have had the freedom to
use it; especially in the choice of my persuasion, and way of
returning my acknowledgment to him. I wish that all, who make any
pretensions to religion, would make use of this noble faculty
with subjection to the divine will to determine their choice in
this grand affair; and not let the religion of their education
be that of their judgment. If people were thus truly wise unto
their own salvation, and did not too lazily resign themselves to
the conduct of their guides, thereby regarding more their ease
than safety, they would not only be the better able to give a
reason of the hope that is in them, but they would show more
warmth in their devotion, more charity in their religion, and
more piety in their conversation than at present they do.
‘When I was visited some time ago by the chastising hand of the
Lord, for sin and my disobedience to his holy will, I laboured
under great affliction of mind, and anguish of spirit; and though
I was constant above many in my attendance on the public prayers
of the church, strict in my observation of its ceremonies, and
exceeding frequent in the use of private devotion, yet my burden
increased, and I waxed worse.
‘In this wretched and doleful condition I was, when at a
relation’s house, who had providentially returned from
Pennsylvania to his native country, I lighted upon R. Barclay’s
Apology for the Quakers; by the reading whereof I was so well
persuaded of their principles, and by turning my mind inward
to the divine gift, (according to their doctrine,) it gave me
victory, in a great measure, over our common enemy, banished
away my disorderly imaginations, and restored me to my former
regularity; I received such satisfaction and comfort to my
distressed soul, that thereupon I left the church of England,
and joined myself in society with them; and I am the more
confirmed in my change, especially where it respects the worship
of our Creator; because it is not only the most agreeable to
the Scriptures of Truth, but heaven has given us assurance of
its approbation thereof, it having been at times, to my own
experience, most powerfully attended with the presence of the
Most High.
‘I hope none will begrudge me this mercy, because I received
it not by their ministry; if they do, I have cause to suspect
their charity is not of a Christian latitude, since our blessed
Redeemer approved not of that narrowness in his disciples in
somewhat a like case.
‘But here to obviate the objection some may make to my change,
because of the distress I lay under, and the discomposure I was
subject to at times, I would have it remarked, that I read the
said Apology beyond my expectation, with more sedateness than
usual, and a more quiet composure of mind: so that with the
influence of the Almighty, or Providence, or both, I had also
the benefit of that distinguishing faculty of man in the change
of my opinion. O that I may never forget the Lord’s mercy to
my soul, who had compassion on me when I wallowed in my blood,
and who said to the dry bones, Live. O that all such as are
visited by the chastising hand of their Maker would seriously
lay it to heart, and consider their own welfare and salvation;
I could wish with all my heart, that such who labour under this
anxiety of mind, would take encouragement to hope in the Lord’s
mercy through their blessed Redeemer, by his kindness and long
forbearance with me. I am a living monument of it now; and I hope
I shall be so, while he affords me a being here. If these lines
should come to the hands of any that are afflicted and distressed
as I was, I have an effectual remedy, through mercy, to prescribe
unto them. Turn your minds inward to the grace of God in your
own hearts, refrain from your own imaginations, be still, and
quietly resign yourselves to his holy will, so you shall find
health to your souls, refreshment to your spirits, and the sweet
consolation of the Lord in your own bosoms; you shall find your
mourning turned to gladness, and your heaviness to joy; this has
been my experience of the goodness of the Holy One of Israel, who
abhors sin and iniquity; therefore I recommend it to you, and I
think this is no mistrusting of the cause, for they are the sick
and wounded in spirit, not the whole, that need the physician.
‘As for renouncing the covenant, which I and every Christian
ought to be under, of forsaking the devil and all his works, I
am so far from entertaining one thought of neglecting that duty,
that I think myself wholly obliged to observe it: and if I should
affirm, that through the grace of God, and his assistance, (for
otherwise I am satisfied I cannot do it,) the observation of it
is possible, I can find no reason why it should be false doctrine
in a Quaker, more than in a churchman.
‘As for deserting that church and ministry which the Son of God
came down from heaven to establish, I am not conscious to myself
thereof; for I say, Christ himself, is the head of our church,
and, by his Spirit and grace, the ordainer of our ministry.
‘And as to the last query, my ingenious acquaintance is pleased
to propose, I do let him know, that my former despair and forlorn
condition has been, since my adhering to that reproached people,
changed into a sweet enjoyment of the goodness of God. I could
not conceal the Lord’s goodness, lest he should withdraw his
mercies from me.
‘I had no secular interest to corrupt me in this change. It is
apparent to many, I declined it; but as it was peace with God my
Maker, and mercy to my soul I wanted; so having found the pearl
of great price, among them, I parted with all to purchase it;
or rather, I was restored to all, I mean, the enjoyment of the
divine goodness, and of myself, by setting a due value upon it.’
From this account it appears, that the writer thereof aimed at nothing
in his change of religion, but the quietness of his mind, and the
salvation of his soul.
1710-1712.
Now I am to mention, that the queen, in the year 1710, in her speech
to the parliament, having again declared that she would maintain the
toleration and liberty of conscience, was addressed by many; wherefore
the people called Quakers esteemed it their duty to show also their
grateful acknowledgment of this favour, which they did by the following
address.