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
That Holy Spirit which affected my Heart when I was a Youth, I trust is
often felt by the Negroes in their Native Land, inclining their Minds to
that which is righteous, and had the professed Followers of Christ in
all their Conduct towards them, manifested a Disposition answerable to
the pure Principle in their Hearts, how might the Holy Name have been
honoured amongst the _Gentiles_, and how might we have rejoiced in the
fulfilling of that Prophecy, _I the Lord love Judgment, I hate Robbery
for Burnt-offerings, and I will direct their Work in Truth, and make an
everlasting Covenant with them. Their Seed shall be known amongst the_
Gentiles, _and their Offspring amongst the People: All that see them
shall acknowledge them, that they are the Seed which the Lord hath
blessed_, Isaiah lxi. 8, 9.
But in the present State of Things, how contrary is this Practice to
that meek Spirit, in which our Saviour laid down his Life for us, that
all the Ends of the Earth might know Salvation in his Name!
How are the Sufferings of our blessed Redeemer set at nought, and his
Name blasphemed amongst the _Gentiles_, through the unrighteous
Proceedings of his profess'd Followers!
My Mind hath often been affected, even from the Days of my Youth, under
a Sense of that marvellous Work, for which God, in infinite Goodness,
sent his Son into the World.
The opening of that Spring of living Waters, which the true Believers in
Christ experience, by which they are redeemed from Pride and
Covetousness, and brought into a State of Meekness, where their Hearts
are enlarged in true Love toward their Fellow Creatures universally;
this Work to me has been precious, and the Spreading the Knowledge of
the Truth amongst the _Gentiles_ been very desirable. And the professed
Followers of Christ joining in Customs evidently unrighteous, which
manifestly tend to stir up Wrath, and increase Wars and Desolations,
hath often covered my Mind with Sorrow.
If we bring this Matter home, and as _Job_ proposed to his Friends, _Put
our Soul in their Soul's stead_, Job xvi. 4.
If we consider ourselves and our Children as exposed to the Hardships
which these People lie under in supporting an imaginary Greatness.
Did we in such Case behold an Increase of Luxury and Superfluity amongst
our Oppressors, and therewith felt an Increase of the Weight of our
Burdens, and expected our Posterity to groan under Oppression after us.
Under all this Misery, had we none to plead our Cause, nor any Hope of
Relief from Man, how would our Cries ascend to the God of the Spirits of
all Flesh, who judgeth the World in Righteousness, and in his own Time
is a Refuge for the Oppressed!
If they who thus afflicted us, continued to lay Claim to Religion, and
were assisted in their Business by others, esteemed pious People, who
through a Friendship with them strengthened their Hands in Tyranny.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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