[This letter to his "Dear Heart" from York during the winter of
1677 shows that he still had some power of endurance left.]
"DEAR HEART:
"To whom is my love, and to thy daughters, and to all Friends
that inquire after me. My desires are that ye all may be
preserved in the Lord's everlasting Seed, in whom ye will have
life and peace, dominion and settlement, in the everlasting home
or dwelling in the house built upon the foundation of God.
"In the power of the Lord I am brought to York, having had many
meetings in the way. The road was many times deep and bad with
snow, our horses sometimes were down, and we were not able to
ride; and sometimes we had great storms and rain; but by the
power of the Lord I went through all.
"At Scarhouse there was a very large meeting, and at Burrowby
another, to which Friends came out of Cleveland and Durham; and
many other meetings we have had. At York, yesterday, we had a
very large meeting, exceedingly thronged, Friends being at it
from many parts, and all quiet, and well satisfied. Oh the glory
of the Lord that shone over all!
"This day we have had a large men's and women's meeting, many
Friends, both men and women, being come out of the country, and
all was quiet. This evening we are to have the men's and women's
meeting of the Friends of the city.
"John Whitehead is here, with Robert Lodge and others; Friends
are mighty glad, above measure. So I am in my holy element and
holy work in the Lord; glory to His name for ever! To-morrow I
intend to go out of the city towards Tadcaster, though I cannot
ride as in days past; yet praised be the Lord that I can travel
as well as I do!
"So with my love in the fountain of life, in which as ye all
abide ye will have refreshment of life, that by it we may grow
and gather eternal strength to serve the Lord, and be satisfied,
to the God of all power, who is all-sufficient to preserve you,
I commit you all.
G. F.
"York, the 16th of the Second month [April] 1677."
[After much service in several counties, he returns to London.
The Journal proceeds:]
It pleased the Lord to bring me safe to London, though much wearied;
for though I rode not very far in a day, yet, through weakness
of body, continual travelling was hard to me. Besides, I had not
much rest at night to refresh nature; for I often sat up late with
Friends, where I lodged, to inform and advise them in things wherein
they were wanting; and when in bed I was often hindered of sleep by
great pains in my head and teeth, occasioned, as I thought, from
cold taken by riding often in the rain. But the Lord's power was over
all, and carried me through all, to His praise.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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