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
His Disorder, then, which proved the Small-pox, increased speedily upon
him, and was very afflicting; under which he was supported in much
Meekness, Patience, and Christian Fortitude. To those who attended him
in his Illness his Mind appeared to be centered in divine Love; under
the precious Influence whereof, we believe, he finished his Course, and
entered into the Mansions of everlasting Rest.
In the early Part of his Illness he requested a Friend to write, and he
broke forth thus:
"O Lord, my God! the amazing Horrors of Darkness were gathered around me
and covered me all over, and I saw no Way to go forth: I felt the Misery
of my Fellow-creatures separated from the divine Harmony, and it was
heavier than I could bear, and I was crushed down under it: I lifted up
my Hand, and stretched out my Arm, but there was none to help me: I
looked round about, and was amazed: In the Depths of Misery, O Lord! I
remembered that thou art omnipotent; that I had called thee Father; and
I felt that I loved thee, and I was made quiet in thy Will, and I waited
for Deliverance from thee; thou hadst Pity upon me when no Man could
help me: I saw that Meekness under suffering was shewed to us in the
most affecting Example of thy Son, and thou wast teaching me to follow
him, and I said, Thy Will, O Father, be done."
Many more of his weighty Expressions might have been inserted here, but
it was deemed unnecessary, they being already published in Print.
He was a Man endued with a large natural Capacity; and, being obedient
to the Manifestations of divine Grace, having in Patience and Humility
endured many deep Baptisms, he became thereby sanctified and fitted for
the Lord's Work, and was truly serviceable in his Church: Dwelling in
awful Fear and Watchfulness, he was careful, in his public Appearances,
to feel the putting forth of the divine Hand, so that the Spring of the
Gospel-ministry often flowed through him with great Sweetness and
Purity, as a refreshing Stream to the weary Travellers toward the City
of God: Skilful in dividing the Word, he was furnished by Him, in whom
are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge, to communicate freely
to the several States of the People where his Lot was cast. His Conduct
at other Times was seasoned with the like watchful Circumspection and
Attention to the Guidance of divine Wisdom, which rendered his whole
Conversation uniformly edifying.
He was fully perswaded that as the Life of Christ comes to reign in the
Earth, all Abuse and unnecessary Oppression, both of the human and brute
Creation, will come to an End; but, under the Sense of a deep Revolt and
overflowing Stream of Unrighteousness, his Life has been often a Life of
mourning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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