_His preparing to visit Friends in_ England--_His embarking at_
Chester, _in Company with_ SAMUEL EMLEN, _in a Ship bound to_
London--_His deep Exercise, in observing the Difficulties and
Hardships the common Sailors are exposed to_--_Considerations on the
Dangers to which Youth are exposed, in being trained to a sea-faring
Life; and its Inconsistency with a pious Education_--_His Thoughts
in a Storm at Sea: With many instructive Contemplations on the
Voyage_--_And his Arrival at_ London
Having been some Time under a religious Concern to prepare for crossing
the Seas, in order to visit Friends in the northern Parts of _England_,
and more particularly _Yorkshire_; after weighty Consideration, I
thought it expedient to inform Friends, at our Monthly-meeting at
_Burlington_, of it; who, having Unity with me therein, gave me a
Certificate; and I afterward communicated the same to our
Quarterly-meeting, and they likewise certified their Concurrence
therewith. Some Time after which, at the general Spring-meeting of
Ministers and Elders, I thought it my Duty to acquaint them of the
religious Exercise which attended my Mind; with which they likewise
signified their Unity by a Certificate, dated the twenty-fourth Day of
the third Month, 1772, directed to Friends in _Great-Britain_.
In the fourth Month following, I thought the Time was come for me to
make some Enquiry for a suitable Conveyance; being apprehensive that, as
my Concern was principally toward the northern Parts of _England_, it
would be most proper to go in a Vessel bound to _Liverpool_ or
_Whitehaven_: And, while I was at _Philadelphia_, deliberating on this
Occasion, I was informed, that my beloved Friend, SAMUEL EMLEN, jun.,
intending to go to _London_, and having taken a Passage for himself in
the Cabbin of a Ship, called _Mary and Elizabeth_, of which JAMES
SPARKS was Master, and JOHN HEAD, of the City of _Philadelphia_, one of
the Owners; and I feeling a Draught in my Mind toward the Steerage of
the same Ship, went first and opened to SAMUEL the Feeling I had
concerning it.
My beloved Friend appeared glad that I had Thoughts of going in the
Vessel with him, though my Prospect was toward the Steerage; and he,
offering to go with me, we went on board, first in the Cabbin, a
commodious Room, and then into the Steerage; where we sat down on a
Chest, the Sailors being busy about us: Then the Owner of the Ship came,
and sat down with us.
Here my Mind was turned toward Christ, the heavenly Counsellor; and I
feeling, at this Time, my own Will subjected, my Heart was contrite
before him.
A Motion was made, by the Owner, to go and sit in the Cabbin, as a Place
more retired; but I felt easy to leave the Ship, and made no Agreement
as to a Passage in her; but told the Owner, if I took a Passage in the
Ship, I believed it would be in the Steerage; but did not say much as to
my Exercise in that Case.
I went to my Lodgings, and soon after went to Bed, and my Mind was under
a deep Exercise before the Lord; whose helping Hand was manifested to me
as I slept that Night, and his Love strengthened my Heart. In the
Morning I went with two Friends on board the Vessel again; and, after a
short Time spent therein, I went, with SAMUEL EMLEN, to the House of the
Owner; to whom, in the Hearing of SAMUEL only, I opened my Exercise, in
relation to a Scruple with regard to a Passage in the Cabbin.
After this I agreed for a Passage in the Steerage; and, hearing in Town
that JOSEPH WHITE had a Desire to see me, I felt the Reviving of a
Desire to see him, and went then to his House, and next Day Home; where
I tarried two Nights; and then, early in the Morning, I parted with my
Family, under a Sense of the humbling Hand of God upon me; and going to
_Philadelphia_, had Opportunity with several of my beloved Friends; who
appeared to be concerned for me, on Account of the unpleasant Situation
of that Part of the Vessel where I was likely to lodge.
Having stayed two Nights in _Philadelphia_, I went the next Day to
_Derby_ Monthly-meeting; where, through the Strength of divine Love, my
Heart was enlarged toward the Youth then present; under which I was
helped to labour in some Tenderness of Spirit. Then, lodging at WILLIAM
HORNE'S, I, with one Friend, went to _Chester_; where, meeting with
SAMUEL EMLEN, we went on board, the first Day of the fifth Month, 1772;
and, as I sat down alone, on a Seat on the Deck, I felt a satisfactory
Evidence that my Proceedings were not in my own Will, but under the
Power of the Cross of Christ.
Seventh Day of the fifth Month. We have had rough Weather mostly since I
came on board; and the Passengers, JAMES REYNOLDS, JOHN TILL-ADAMS,
SARAH LOGAN and her hired Maid, and JOHN BISPHAM, were all sea-sick,
more or less, at Times; from which Sickness, through the tender Mercies
of my heavenly Father, I have been preserved; my Afflictions now being
of another Kind.
There appeared an Openness in the Minds of the Master of the Ship and of
the Cabbin-Passengers toward me: We were often together on the Deck, and
sometimes in the Cabbin.
My Mind, through the merciful Help of the Lord, hath been preserved in a
good Degree, watchful and inward; and I have, this Day, great Cause to
be thankful, in that I remain to feel Quietness of Mind.
As my lodging in the Steerage, now near a Week, hath afforded me sundry
Opportunities of seeing, hearing, and feeling, with respect to the Life
and Spirit of many poor Sailors, an inward Exercise of Soul hath
attended me, in regard to placing our Children and Youth where they may
be likely to be exampled and instructed in the pure Fear of the Lord;
and I, being much amongst the Seamen, have, from a Motion of Love,
sundry Times taken Opportunities, with one of them at a Time alone, and
in a free Conversation laboured to turn their Minds toward the Fear of
the Lord: And this Day we had a Meeting in the Cabbin, where my Heart
was contrite under a Feeling of divine Love.
Now, concerning Lads being trained up as Seamen; I believe a
Communication from one Part of the World to some other Parts of it, by
Sea, is, at Times, consistent with the Will of our heavenly Father; and
to educate some Youth in the Practice of sailing, I believe, may be
right: But how lamentable is the present Corruption of the World! how
impure are the Channels through which Trade hath a Conveyance! how great
is that Danger, to which poor Lads are now exposed, when placed on
shipboard to learn the Art of sailing!
O! that all may take Heed and beware of Covetousness! O that all may
learn of Christ, who was meek and low of Heart! Then, in faithfully
following him, he will teach us to be content with Food and Raiment,
without respect to the Customs or Honours of this World.
Men, thus redeemed, will feel a tender Concern for their
Fellow-creatures, and a Desire that those in the lowest Stations may be
assisted and encouraged; and, where Owners of Ships attain to the
perfect Law of Liberty, and are Doers of the Word, these will be blessed
in their Deeds.
Rising to work in the Night is not commonly pleasant in any case; but,
in dark rainy Nights, it is very disagreeable, even though each Man were
furnished with all Conveniences: But, if Men must go out at Midnight, to
help manage the Ship in the Rain, and, having small Room to sleep and
lay their Garments in, are often beset to furnish themselves for the
Watch, their Garments or something relating to their Business being
wanting and not easily found, when, from the Urgency occasioned by high
Winds, they are hastened and called up suddenly, here is a Trial of
Patience on the poor Sailors and the poor Lads their Companions.
If, after they have been on Deck several Hours in the Night, and come
down into the Steerage soaking wet, and are so close stowed that proper
Convenience for change of Garment is not easily come at, but for Want of
proper Room, their wet Garments are thrown in Heaps, and sometimes,
through much crouding, are trodden under Foot in going to their Lodgings
and getting out of them, and they have great Difficulties, at Times,
each one to find his own, here are Trials on the poor Sailors.
Now, as I have been with them in my Lodge, my Heart hath often yearned
for them, and tender Desires have been raised in me, that all Owners and
Masters of Vessels may dwell in the Love of God, and therein act
uprightly; and, by seeking less for Gain, and looking carefully to their
Ways, may earnestly labour to remove all Cause of Provocation from the
poor Seamen, either to fret or use Excess of Strong-drink; for, indeed,
the poor Creatures, at Times, in the Wet and Cold, seem to apply to
Strong-drink to supply the Want of other Convenience.
Great Reformation in the World is wanting; and the Necessity of it,
amongst these who do Business on great Waters, hath, at this Time, been
abundantly opened before me.
The eighth Day of the fifth Month. This Morning the Clouds gathered, the
Wind blew strong from South-eastward, and before Noon increased to that
Degree that Sailing appeared dangerous. The Seamen then bound up some of
their Sails, and took down some; and, the Storm increasing, they put the
Dead-lights, so called, into the Cabbin-Windows, and lighted a Lamp as
at Night.
The Wind now blew vehemently, and the Sea wrought to that Degree, that
an awful Seriousness prevailed in the Cabbin, in which I spent, I
believe, about seventeen Hours; for I believed the poor wet toiling
Seamen had Need of all the Room in the crouded Steerage, and the
Cabbin-Passengers had given me frequent Invitations.
They ceased now from Sailing, and put the Vessel in the Posture called,
lying-to.
My Mind, in this Tempest, through the gracious Assistance of the Lord,
was preserved in a good Degree of Resignation; and I felt, at Times, a
few Words in his Love to my Ship-mates, in regard to the All-sufficiency
of him who formed the great Deep, and whose Care is so extensive, that a
Sparrow falls not without his Notice; and thus, in a tender Frame of
Mind, spake to them of the Necessity of our yielding, in true Obedience,
to the Instructions of our heavenly Father, who sometimes, through
Adversities, intendeth our Refinement.
About eleven at Night I went out on the Deck, when the Sea wrought
exceedingly, and the high-foaming Waves, all round about, had in some
Sort the Appearance of Fire, but did not give much, if any, Light.
The Sailor, then at the Helm, said he lately saw a Corposant at the Head
of the Mast.
About this Time I observed the Master of the Ship ordered the Carpenter
to keep on the Deck; and, though he said little, I apprehended his Care
was, that the Carpenter, with his axe, might be in Readiness, in case of
any Extremity.
Soon after this, the Vehemency of the Wind abated; and, before Morning,
they again put the Ship under Sail.
The tenth Day of the Month, and first of the Week, it being fine
Weather, we had a Meeting in the Cabbin, at which most of the Seamen
were present: This Meeting to me was a strengthening Time.
The thirteenth Day of the Month. As I continue to lodge in the Steerage,
I feel an Openness this Morning, to express something farther of the
State of my Mind, in Respect to poor Lads bound Apprentice to learn the
Art of Sailing. As I believe Sailing is of some Use in the World, a
Labour of Soul attends me, that the pure Counsel of Truth may be humbly
waited for in this Case, by all concerned in the Business of the Seas.
A pious Father, whose Mind is exercised for the everlasting Welfare of
his Child, may not, with a peaceable Mind, place him out to an
Employment amongst a People, whose common Course of Life is manifestly
corrupt and prophane; so great is the present Defect amongst Seafaring
Men, in regard to Piety and Virtue: And, through an abundant Traffic,
and many Ships of War, so many People are employed on the Sea, that this
Subject of placing Lads to the Employment appears very weighty.
Prophane Examples are very corrupting, and very forcible. And as my
Mind, Day after Day, and Night after Night, hath been affected with a
sympathizing Tenderness toward poor Children, put to the Employment of
Sailors, I have sometimes had weighty Conversation with the Sailors in
the Steerage, who were mostly respectful to me, and more and more so the
longer I was with them: They mostly appeared to take kindly what I said
to them; but their Minds have appeared to be so deeply impressed with
that almost universal Depravity amongst Sailors, that the poor
Creatures, in their Answers to me on this Subject, have revived in my
Remembrance that of the degenerate _Jews_ a little before the Captivity,
as repeated by JEREMIAH the Prophet, "There is no Hope."
Now, under this Exercise, a Sense of the Desire of outward Gain
prevailing amongst us hath felt grievous, and a strong Call to the
professed Followers of Christ hath been raised in me, that all may take
Heed, lest, through loving this present World, they be found in a
continued Neglect of Duty, with respect to a faithful Labour for a
Reformation.
Silence, as to every Motion proceeding from the Love of Money, and an
humble Waiting upon God to know his Will concerning us, has now appeared
necessary: He alone is able to strengthen us to dig deep, to remove all
which lies between us and the safe Foundation, and so direct us in our
outward Employments, that pure universal Love may shine forth in our
Proceedings.
Desires arising from the Spirit of Truth are pure Desires; and when a
Mind, divinely opened toward a young Generation, is made sensible of
corrupting Examples, powerfully working, and extensively spreading
amongst them, how moving is the Prospect!
The sixteenth Day of the Month. Wind for several Days past often high,
what the Sailors call squally, rough Sea and frequent Rains. This last
Night a very trying Night to the poor Seamen: The Water, chief Part of
the Night, running over the main Deck, and sometimes Breaking-waves came
on the Quarter-deck. The latter Part of the Night, as I lay in Bed, my
Mind was humbled under the Power of divine Love; and Resignedness to the
great Creator of the Earth and Seas, renewedly wrought in me; whose
fatherly Care over his Children felt precious to my Soul: And Desires
were now renewed in me, to embrace every Opportunity of being inwardly
acquainted with the Hardships and Difficulties of my Fellow-creatures,
and to labour in his Love for the spreading of pure universal
Righteousness on the Earth. The Opportunities were frequent of hearing
Conversation amongst the Sailors, in respect to the Voyages to _Africa_,
and the Manner of bringing the deeply-oppressed Slaves into our Islands.
The Thoughts of their Condition, frequently in Chains and Fetters on
board the Vessels, with Hearts loaded with Grief, under the
Apprehensions of miserable Slavery; my Mind was frequently opened to
meditate on these Things.
On the seventeenth Day of the Month, and first of the Week, we had a
Meeting in the Cabbin; to which the Seamen generally came. My Spirit was
contrite before the Lord; whose Love, at this Time, affected my Heart.
This Afternoon I felt a tender Sympathy of Soul with my poor Wife and
Family left behind; in which State, my Heart was enlarged in Desires
that they may walk in that humble Obedience wherein the everlasting
Father may be their Guide and Support, through all the Difficulties in
this World; and a Sense of that gracious Assistance, through which my
Mind hath been strengthened to take up the Cross and leave them, to
travel in the Love of Truth, hath begotten Thankfulness in my Heart to
our great Helper.
On the twenty-fourth Day of the Month, and first of the Week, a clear
pleasant Morning: And, as I sat on Deck, I felt a Reviving in my Nature;
which, through much rainy Weather and high Winds, being shut up in a
close unhealthy Air, was weakened.
Several Nights of late I felt Breathing difficult; so that a little
after the rising of the second Watch (which is about Midnight) I got up,
and stood, I believe, near an Hour, with my Face near the Hatchway, to
get the fresh Air at the small Vacancy under the Hatch-door; which is
commonly shut down, partly to keep out Rain, and sometimes to keep the
Breaking-waves from dashing into the Steerage.
I may, with Thankfulness to the Father of Mercies, acknowledge, that, in
my present weak State, my Mind hath been supported to bear the
Affliction with Patience; and have looked at the present Dispensation as
a Kindness from the great Father of Mankind, who, in this my floating
Pilgrimage, is in some Degree bringing me to feel that, which many
thousands of my Fellow-creatures often suffer in a greater Degree.
My Appetite failing, the Trial hath been the heavier; and I have felt
tender Breathings in my Soul after God, the Fountain of Comfort, whose
inward Help hath supplied, at Times, the Want of outward Convenience:
And strong Desires have attended me, that his Family, who are acquainted
with the Movings of his holy Spirit, may be so redeemed from the Love of
Money, and from that Spirit in which Men seek Honour one of another,
that in all Business, by Sea or Land, we may constantly keep in View the
coming of his Kingdom on Earth, as it is in Heaven; and, by faithfully
following this safe Guide, shew forth Examples, tending to lead out of
that under which the Creation groans!
This Day we had a Meeting in the Cabbin; in which I was favoured in some
Degree to experience the fulfilling of that Saying of the Prophet, "The
Lord hath been a Strength to the Poor, a Strength to the Needy in their
Distress;" for which, my Heart is bowed in Thankfulness before him!
The twenty-eighth Day of the Month.--Wet Weather of late, small Winds
inclining to Calms: Our Seamen have cast a Lead, I suppose about one
hundred Fathoms, but find no Bottom: Foggy Weather this Morning.
Through the Kindness of the great Preserver of Men my Mind remains
quiet; and a Degree of Exercise, from Day to Day, attends me, that the
pure peaceable Government of Christ may spread and prevail amongst
Mankind.
The leading on of a young Generation in that pure Way in which the
Wisdom of this World hath no Place; where Parents and Tutors, humbly
waiting for the heavenly Counsellor, may example them in the Truth, as
it is in Jesus;--this, for several Days, hath been the Exercise of my
Mind. O! how safe, how quiet, is that State, where the Soul stands in
pure Obedience to the Voice of Christ, and a watchful Care is maintained
not to follow the Voice of the Stranger!
Here Christ is felt to be our Shepherd, and, under his Leading, People
are brought to a Stability; and, where he doth not lead forward, we are
bound, in the Bonds of pure Love, to stand still and wait upon him. In
the Love of Money, and in the Wisdom of this World, Business is
proposed; then the Urgency of Affairs pushes forward; nor can the Mind
in this State, discern the good and perfect Will of God concerning us.
The Love of God is manifested in graciously calling us to come out of
that which stands in Confusion: But, if we bow not in the Name of Jesus;
if we give not up those Prospects of Gain, which, in the Wisdom of this
World, are open before us, but say, in our Hearts, I must needs go on,
and, in going on, I hope to keep as near to the Purity of Truth as the
Business before me will admit of; here the Mind remains entangled, and
the Shining of the Light of Life into the Soul is obstructed.
In an entire Subjection of our Wills the Lord graciously opens a Way for
his People, where all their Wants are bounded by his Wisdom; and here we
experience the Substance of what _Moses_ the Prophet figured out in the
Water of Separation, as a Purification from Sin.
_Esau_ is mentioned as a Child red all over, like a hairy Garment: In
_Esau_ is represented the natural Will of Man. In preparing the Water of
Separation, a red Heifer, without Blemish, on which there had been no
Yoke, was to be slain, and her Blood sprinkled by the Priest seven Times
toward the Tabernacle of the Congregation; then her Skin, her Flesh, and
all pertaining to her, were to be burnt without the Camp; and of her
Ashes the Water was prepared. Thus the crucifying the old Man, or
natural Will, is represented; and hence comes a Separation from that
carnal Mind, which is Death.
"He who toucheth the dead Body of a Man, and purifieth not himself with
the Water of Separation, he defileth the Tabernacle of the Lord; he is
unclean." _Numb._ xix. 13.
If any, through the Love of Gain, go forth into Business, wherein they
dwell as amongst the Tombs, and touch the Bodies of those who are dead;
if these, through the infinite Love of God feel the Power of the Cross
of Christ to crucify them to the World, and therein learn humbly to
follow the divine Leader;--here is the Judgment of this World;--here the
Prince of this World is cast out.
The Water of Separation is felt; and, though we have been amongst the
Slain, and, through the Desire of Gain, have touched the dead Body of a
Man, yet, in the purifying Love of Christ, we are washed in the Water of
Separation; are brought off from that Business, from that Gain, and from
that Fellowship, which was not agreeable to his holy Will: And I have
felt a renewed Confirmation, in the Time of this Voyage, that the Lord,
in his infinite Love, is calling to his visited Children, so to give up
all outward Possessions and Means of getting Treasures, that his holy
Spirit may have free Course in their Hearts, and direct them in all
their Proceedings.
To feel the Substance pointed at in this Figure, Man must know Death, as
to his own Will.
"No Man can see God, and live." This was spoken by the Almighty to
_Moses_ the Prophet, and opened by our blessed Redeemer.
As Death comes on our own Wills, and a new Life is formed in us, the
Heart is purified and prepared to understand clearly. "Blessed are the
Pure in Heart; for they shall see God." In Purity of Heart the Mind is
divinely opened to behold the Nature of universal Righteousness, or the
Righteousness of the Kingdom of God. "No Man hath seen the Father, save
he that is of God; he hath seen the Father."
The natural Mind is active about the Things of this Life; and, in this
natural Activity, Business is proposed, and a Will in us to go forward
in it. As long as this natural Will remains unsubjected, so long there
remains an Obstruction against the Clearness of divine Light operating
in us; but when we love God with all our Heart, and with all our
Strength, then in this Love, we love our Neighbours as ourselves; and a
Tenderness of Heart is felt toward all People for whom Christ died, even
such who, as to outward Circumstances, may be to us as the _Jews_ were
to the _Samaritans_. Who is my Neighbour? See this Question answered by
our Saviour, _Luke_ x. 30.
In this Love we can say, that Jesus is the Lord; and the Reformation in
our Souls is manifested in a full Reformation of our Lives, wherein all
Things are new, and all Things are of God; _2 Cor._ v. 18. in this the
Desire of Gain is subjected.
When Employment is honestly followed in the Light of Truth, and People
become diligent in Business, "fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord;"
_Rom._ xii. 11. here the Name is opened: "This is the Name by which he
shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." _Jerem._ xxiii. 6. O! how
precious is this Name! it is like Ointment poured out. The chaste
Virgins are in Love with the Redeemer; and, for the promoting his
peaceable Kingdom in the World, are content to endure Hardness, like
good Soldiers; and are so separated in Spirit from the Desire of Riches,
that in their Employments they become extensively careful to give none
Offence, neither to _Jews_ nor _Heathen_, nor the Church of Christ.
On the thirty-first Day of the Month, and first of the Week, we had a
Meeting in the Cabbin, with near all the Ship's Company; the Whole being
near thirty. In this Meeting, the Lord, in Mercy, favoured us with the
Extendings of his Love.
The second Day of the sixth Month. Last Evening the Seamen found Bottom
at about seventy Fathoms.
This Morning, fair Wind, and pleasant. As I sat on Deck, my Heart was
overcome with the Love of Christ, and melted into Contrition before him;
and, in this State, the Prospect of that Work, to which I have felt my
Mind drawn when in my native Land, being in some Degree opened before
me, I felt like a little Child: and my Cries were put up to my heavenly
Father for Preservation, that, in a humble Dependence on him, my Soul
might be strengthened in his Love, and kept inwardly waiting for his
Counsel.
This Afternoon we saw that Part of _England_ called the _Lizard_.
Some Dunghill-fowls yet remained of those the Passengers took for their
Sea-store; I believe about fourteen perished in the Storms at Sea, by
the Waves breaking over the Quarter-deck; and a considerable Number with
Sickness, at different Times. I observed the Cocks crew, coming down the
_Delaware_, and while we were near the Land; but afterward I think I did
not hear one of them crow till we came near the Land in _England_, when
they again crowed a few Times.
In observing their dull Appearance at Sea, and the pining Sickness of
some of them, I often remembered the Fountain of Goodness, who gave
Being to all Creatures, and whose Love extends to that of caring for the
Sparrows; and believe, where the Love of God is verily perfected, and
the true Spirit of Government watchfully attended to, a Tenderness
toward all Creatures made subject to us will be experienced, and a Care
felt in us, that we do not lessen that Sweetness of Life, in the animal
Creation, which the great Creator intends for them in our Government.
The fourth Day of the Month. About Noon a Pilot came off from _Dover_;
where my beloved Friend, SAMUEL EMLEN, went on Shore, and thence to
_London_; but I felt easy in staying in the Ship.
The seventh Day of the Month, and first of the Week. Clear Morning; we
lay at Anchor for the Tide, and had a Parting-meeting with the Ship's
Company; in which my Heart was enlarged in a fervent Concern for them,
that they may come to experience Salvation through Christ. We had a
Head-Wind up the _Thames_; lay sometimes at Anchor; saw many Ships
passing, and some at Anchor near; and had large Opportunity of feeling
the Spirit in which the poor bewildered Sailors too generally
live.--That lamentable Degeneracy, which so much prevails on the People
employed on the Seas, so affected my Heart, that I cannot easily convey
the Feeling I have had to another.