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
He was deeply concerned on account of that inhuman and iniquitous
Practice of making Slaves of the People of _Africa_, or holding them in
that State; and, on that Account, we understand he hath not only written
some Books, but travelled much on the Continent of _America_, in order
to make the Negro-masters (especially those in Profession with us)
sensible of the evil of such a Practice; and though, in his Journey to
_England_, he was far removed from the outward Sight of their
Sufferings, yet his deep Exercise of Mind remained, as appears by a
short Treatise he wrote in this Journey, and his frequent Concern to
open the miserable State of this deeply-injured People. His Testimony in
the last Meeting he attended was on this Subject; wherein he remarked,
that as we, as a Society, when under outward Sufferings, had often found
it our Concern to lay them before those in Authority, and thereby, in
the Lord's Time, had obtained Relief, so he recommended this oppressed
Part of the Creation to our Notice, that we may, as way may open,
represent their Sufferings, in an Individual, if not a Society Capacity,
to those in Authority.
Deeply sensible that the Desire to gratify People's Inclinations in
Luxury and Superfluities is the principal Ground of Oppression, and the
Occasion of many unnecessary Wants, he believed it to be his Duty to be
a Pattern of great Self-denial with Respect to the Things of this Life,
and earnestly to labour with Friends in the Meekness of Wisdom, to
impress on their Minds the great Importance of our Testimony in these
Things, recommending to the Guidance of the blessed Truth in this and
all other Concerns, and cautioning such as are experienced therein
against contenting themselves with acting up to the Standard of others,
but to be careful to make the Standard of Truth, manifested to them, the
Measure of their Obedience; for, said he, "that Purity of Life which
proceeds from Faithfulness in following the Spirit of Truth, that State
where our Minds are devoted to serve God, and all our Wants are bounded
by his Wisdom,--this Habitation has often been opened before me, as a
Place of retirement for the Children of the Light, where they may stand
separated from that which disordereth and confuseth the Affairs of
Society, and where we may have a Testimony of our Innocence in the
Hearts of those who behold us."
We conclude with fervent Desires that we, as a People, may thus, by our
Example, promote the Lord's Work in the Earth; and, our Hearts being
prepared, may unite in Prayer to the great Lord of the Harvest, that as,
in his infinite Wisdom, he hath greatly stripped the Church, by removing
of late divers faithful Ministers and Elders, he may be pleased to send
forth many more faithful Labourers into his Harvest.
_Signed in, by Order, and on Behalf of, said Meeting_:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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