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
On the second Day of the ninth Month, in the Year 1751, feeling Drawings
in my Mind to visit Friends at the _Great-Meadows_, in the upper Part of
_West-Jersey_, with the Unity of our Monthly-meeting, I went there; and
had some searching laborious Exercise amongst Friends in those Parts,
and found inward Peace therein.
In the ninth Month of the Year 1753, in Company with my well-esteemed
Friend JOHN SYKES, and with the Unity of Friends, we travelled about two
Weeks, visiting Friends in _Bucks-County_. We laboured in the Love of
the Gospel, according to the Measure received; and, through the Mercies
of him, who is Strength to the Poor who trust in him, we found
Satisfaction in our Visit: And, in the next Winter, Way opening to visit
Friends Families within the Compass of our Monthly-meeting, partly by
the Labours of two Friends from _Pennsylvania_, I joined in some Part of
the Work; having had a Desire some Time that it might go forward amongst
us.
About this Time, a Person at some Distance lying sick, his Brother came
to me to write his Will: I knew he had Slaves; and, asking his Brother,
was told he intended to leave them as Slaves to his Children. As Writing
is a profitable Employ, and as offending sober People was disagreeable
to my Inclination, I was straitened in my Mind; but, as I looked to the
Lord, he inclined my Heart to his Testimony: And I told the Man, that I
believed the Practice of continuing Slavery to this People was not
right; and had a Scruple in my Mind against doing Writings of that Kind;
that, though many in our Society kept them as Slaves, still I was not
easy to be concerned in it; and desired to be excused from going to
write the Will. I spake to him in the Fear of the Lord; and he made no
Reply to what I said, but went away: He, also, had some Concerns in the
Practice; and I thought he was displeased with me. In this Case I had a
fresh Confirmation, that acting contrary to present outward Interest,
from a Motive of divine Love, and in Regard to Truth and Righteousness,
opens the Way to a Treasure better than Silver, and to a Friendship
exceeding the Friendship of Men.
The Manuscript before-mentioned having lain by me several Years, the
Publication of it rested weightily upon me; and this Year I offered it
to the Revisal of Friends, who, having examined and made some small
Alterations in it, directed a Number of Copies thereof to be published,
and dispersed amongst Friends.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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