The ninth Day of the tenth Month, 1769. My Heart hath often been deeply afflicted under a Feeling I have had, that the Standard of pure Righteousness is not lifted up to the People by us, as a Society, in that Clearness which it might have been, had we been so faithful to the Teachings of Christ as we ought to have been: And, as my Mind hath been inward to the Lord, the Purity of Christ's Government hath been opened in my Understanding; and, under this Exercise, that of Friends being active in civil Society, in putting Laws in force which are not agreeable to the Purity of Righteousness, hath, for several Years, been an increasing Burthen upon me; having felt, in the Openings of universal Love, that where a People, convinced of the Truth of the inward Teachings of Christ, are active in putting Laws in Execution which are not consistent with pure Wisdom, it hath a necessary Tendency to bring Dimness over their Minds: And, as my Heart hath been thus exercised, and a tender Sympathy in me toward my Fellow-members, I have, within a few Months past, in several Meetings for Discipline, expressed my Concern on this Subject. CHAPTER X _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_.