The journal, with other writings of John WoolmanWoolman, John
Religion
The journal, with other writings of John Woolman
Woolman, John
Quakers -- Biography; Woolman, John, 1720-1772
Having felt my Mind drawn toward a Visit to Friends along the Sea-coast
from _Cape-May_ to near _Squan_; and also to visit some People in those
Parts, amongst whom there is no settled Worship; I joined with my
beloved Friend, BENJAMIN JONES, in a Visit there, having Friends Unity
therein: And, setting off the twenty-fourth Day of the tenth Month,
1765, we had a prosperous and very satisfactory Journey; feeling, at
Times, through the Goodness of the heavenly Shepherd, the Gospel to flow
freely toward a poor People scattered in those Places: And soon after
our Return, I joined my Friends, JOHN SLEEPER and ELIZABETH SMITH, in
visiting Friends Families at _Burlington_, there being at this Time
about fifty Families of our Society in that City; and we had Cause
humbly to adore our heavenly Father, who baptized us into a Feeling of
the State of the People, and strengthened us to labour in true
Gospel-love amongst them.
An Exercise having, at Times, for several Years attended me, in regard
to paying a religious Visit to Friends on the eastern Shore of
_Maryland_: Such was the Nature of this Exercise, that I believed the
Lord moved me to travel on Foot amongst them, that, by so travelling, I
might have a more lively Feeling of the Condition of the oppressed
Slaves, set an Example of Lowliness before the Eyes of their Masters,
and be more out of the Way of Temptation to unprofitable Converse.
The Time now drawing near in which I believed it my Duty to lay my
Concern before our Monthly-meeting, I perceived, in Conversation with my
beloved Friend, JOHN SLEEPER, that he was under a Concern to travel the
same Way, and also to travel on Foot in the Form of a Servant amongst
them, as he expressed it. This he told me before he knew aught of my
Exercise.
We, being thus drawn the same Way, laid our Exercise and the Nature of
it before Friends; and, obtaining Certificates, we set off the sixth Day
of the fifth Month, 1766; and were at Meetings with Friends at
_Wilmington_, _Duck-Creek_, _Little-Creek_, and _Motherkill_; my Heart
being sundry Times tendered under the divine Influence, and enlarged in
Love toward the People amongst whom we travelled.
From _Motherkill_, we crossed the Country about thirty-five Miles to
Friends at _Tuckahoe_ in _Maryland_, and had a Meeting there and at
_Marshy-Creek_.
At these, our three last Meetings, were a considerable Number of People,
Followers of one JOSEPH NICHOLS, a Preacher; who, I understand, is not
in outward Fellowship with any religious Society of People, but
professeth nearly the same Principles as our Society doth, and often
travels up and down appointing Meetings, to which many People come. I
heard some Friends speaking of some of their Neighbours, who had been
irreligious People, that were now his Followers, and were become sober
well-behaved Men and Women.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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