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