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 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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