of the week, I was at the meeting at Lurgan, till my peace began to lessen, by reason of which was very large in the forenoon, and also in the afternoon; and it was a good meeting, Truth being over all, and many things largely opened, to the glory of him who hath the key of David; "who opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens." Being wearied and worn out with my journey and service, and willing to take a little rest, especially where I found the most service, I staid here till the 3rd of the eighth month, and was at the meeting again, which was an open and comfortable season, and several strangers were there, and affected.

my aversion and neglect. For if I could always have had peace, and the enjoyment of the good presence of the Lord, without either preaching, or answering the concerns incumbent on me from him in matters of discipline and affairs of the church, I had much rather never have meddled in them, observing the tempers of some men professing Truth, and what spirits they are of that are for the most part to be dealt with in it. Though the disci pline now in use in the church is of God, through the openings of his wisdom, and dictates of his Spirit; yet it may be said now of On the 4th I went to their meeting at Mon- discipline, as Paul, personating that state, said allen, which was open and free, and several of the law; the law is spiritual, holy, righte. strangers reached by the power of Truth, and ous, just, and good, "but I am carnal, sold broken, and it was a good time. On the 7th, under sin." The discipline is settled to great being the first of the week, I was at the meet- and glorious ends; but as satan regards not ing at Grange, by Charlemount, which was what be the law, if he can be judge to pervert an open good meeting; after which I was as it, so even in this age, the mystery of iniqui easy and as much comforted as at any hitherto ty has so wrought, as that ungodly men in in Ireland. I had a long time in it, and many some places have advanced themselves into things were fully and clearly opened. One the seat of judgment, whose spirits and ways was concerning such teachers and priests as are for judgment and condemnation; who, by pretend to have power by the text in Matthew that means, being unseen of some, and awing xxviii. 19, to teach and baptize all nations, others, turn the edge of judgment backwards, and yet sit down at the first parish or town and pervert right, put truth for error, and where they can have a presentation, or make error for Truth; which being the highest a bargain for so much a year, and never go abomination and indignity to the Lord, he into half, or a thousandth part of their own will shortly arise, to the discovery and over. nation, and baptize nobody, for sprinkling is throw of all such, with their evil work throughno baptism; it is neither dipping, washing, out the world. Until that day come, as a few nor wading into water, nor are infants sub- are easier brought to a settlement, through jects of baptism. Besides, the apostles them- debateable points, than a multitude; so, when selves, who had the immediate command of things are fully settled in the church that now Christ, who has all power in heaven and is, whilst but few; such as shall be added, will earth, by whom these priests and teachers sooner fall in with what is established before pretend to derive their authority successively their coming in, than if they were to be set as they were not to proceed upon that com-tled after. And this is one great cause why mand barely, without actual power by the the Lord delays bringing in the great multiSpirit; so none else can have power but by tude yet to be gathered. the same Spirit. Since then these have not the Spirit, by their own confession, they have no power from God; but through covetousness, and as mercenary hirelings for bread, run when they are not sent, and do not profit, but deceive the people; who, nevertheless, loving to have it so, the buyers and sellers, as in the parable of the ten virgins, are excluded together, &c.

On the 13th, the seventh of the week, was their province meeting, being for worship in the forenoon, and business in the after. It was large and open, and I had some time after the meeting for business, which was very satisfactory to all, being something of my own experience in my convincement, and the satisfaction I had in secret in these meetings for business, before I found myself at all qualified to meddle in them, which was not

On the 14th the meeting was large, and I had a full time in the forenoon, many things being opened to general satisfaction, though there were many strangers, as well Episcopa lians and Presbyterians, as Papists. In the afternoon many more strangers appeared there, so that the evening meeting was almost as large as that in the morning, and the bless ed Truth reigned over all, to the praise of his own name, of whom is the power, and to him be the glory from every baptized soul, now and for ever.

The province meeting at Lurgan being over, on the 15th I proceeded to Alexander Seton's, and the day following had a meeting at Ballinahinch, a village where there is no settled meeting, but had it at an inn kept by an Episcopalian, though the people are gener ally Presbyterians. Having great peace and

comfort in the Truth after this meeting, we he made; but a person in the meeting turned went that evening to Downpatrick, and lodged him out, and some boys also that were with with our friend John Beck, he and his family him, and at last things ended peaceably, and we being all the Friends that were in town. were generally comforted. One thing I think Next day we had a meeting there, which was fit to mention here, which was with me to say pretty large and open. to the multitude in the street, viz: "That it could not be childish behaviour only in those children who scoffed at the prophet of old, that provoked the great and merciful God to bring, or suffer, that destruction upon them by a she-bear out of the woods; but as, without all doubt, they had been taught and countenanced by their parents, they were punished in their children. So, in like manner, we impute not this to them only, but to those that set them on, and abet them, being well apprized of the root of this evil treatment, wherein those miserable parents and abettors are but laying in their children a foundation of a more dreadful destruction; for being thus debauched in their very infancy, and improving therein as they increase in years, their end must needs be miserable."

On the 18th we had a meeting at Rathfriland, and the people having notice, seemed inclinable to come; but the Presbyterian priest, one Robert Gordon, and Robert Little, one of his elders, went about to forbid their party, and hindered them generally from coming to the meeting; they two standing in the street to that end, their sect not daring to go to meeting in their sight. But their envy extended further than this; for after we were set down in the meeting, there came a great company of boys and made a noise near the door; but being discouraged by some Friends who went out to that end, then they threw dirt, stones and turf, and disturbed the meeting that way, several of that sect of envy looking on and abetting them. Our peace nevertheless remained in us, and we were comforted in him [the Lord]. After a while John Turner, of Lurgan, with some other Friends, went out into the street, there being many people in the shops and houses, as near the meeting as they could; and I went after him, having the same thing also in my mind. We stood by the end of a house which had a view several ways, and there preached to them a pretty while; and by the time he had done we had a far greater auditory than the meeting-place could have contained. After him I stood up, and then the Friends came to us out of the meeting, and I had a full time among them. But all the time we spoke, the boys made a noise, and threw stones, dirt, and turfs; and though sometimes some of the people would reprove them, and drive them off, yet others gave countenance, and encouraged them; and some others, who, by the distance they stood, must have been stronger than boys, threw turf and some stones amongst us over a house, standing out of sight behind it, most part of the time; one stone struck me on the right breast, but did little harm: the Lord preserved us from their violence, so as no great harm was sustained by any of us.

The day's work being over, we went to the inn to refresh ourselves, and then going out of the town, the rabble of boys followed, stoning us, and saying, "We will drive them out of the town like dogs." I rode back till I met with some of the inhabitants, and told them we understood the meaning of all that, and where to place it; not only on those poor children, who were thus depraved, and ruined by their wicked leaders and abettors, but were certainly informed that their Presbyterian priest and their elder had hired them, by giving them money for that evil service, and therefore they must answer for it in time. The priest being at his door as we were riding that way, I intended to speak with him on that subject, but seeing me, he slunk away into the house, and in a minute's time they in the house said he was not within, though I was at the door by the time he got out of it. I made this observation on these Presbyterian people in the north of Ireland, that as their party in Scotland exercise their church tyranny there over all not of their way, many of the teachers of that sect in Ireland, either coming from Scotland, or having their educa tion there, through pride and a self-exalting, This being over, having had a full and open domineering spirit, forget that they are in antime among them, we retired to the meeting, other nation where they themselves are but where some of the people came, and we had dissenters as well as we, and begin to exersome time there. But the work of that spirit cise the same cruelties which they do at home, of envy in these Presbyterians was not yet at and would do every where if they had power. an end; for they renewed their disturbance, But as there is nothing wanting to the blind and one fellow came into the meeting with leaders of that unhappy people but power, to water, and in a scoffing manner said, "The make the nations once more swim in blood, preacher must needs be very dry by much so I hope the merciful God has a more fa. speaking, here is water for him;" and seemed vourable aspect upon the poor deceived inhab to intend to throw it among us by some motion | itants than to gratify their lusts therein, or

give power any more to such, who, when invested with it, used it so illy; exercising the antichristian cruelty of their religion and tempers, upon such whom the grace of God had taught to fear him, and deny their wicked ways.

That night we went forward to Newry, and lodged at an inn; and desiring to have a meeting, the landlord, who was also seneschal of the town, readily accommodated us with a long malt-house, which being made ready in the morning, some hundreds of people of several sorts came, many of them Presbyterians; and we had a very open good meeting, the people being generally sober and satisfied, which gives me occasion to remember that true saying, "The leaders of the people cause them to err." For in the place above, where they were under the eye and influence of their priest and leader, they were full of fury and ill-nature; but here, where they had not such an abettor, they behaved like other sober people.

was an open, good season; for the Lord comforted us together.

On the 2nd we went to Ballytore, where we had a free open meeting. On the 4th, being the first-day of the week, I went to the province meeting at Castledermont, which held that day and the next. It was a large good meeting; and thither came also George Gib son and Edmund Peckover, from Norfolk. On the second-day evening we went back to Ballytore.

On the 6th we had a meeting at Stephen Wilcox's, a Friend's house, in three rooms opened together; and being mostly strangers, and the meeting pretty large, things opened accordingly for convincement, and we had a pretty good time among them, George Gibson and Edmund Peckover being also there.

On the 7th we returned to Dublin, the half. year's national meeting beginning the day following. The affairs of it were carried on with great ease and unity, and much sweetness, which gave me, and some other stran gers, occasion to remark, that it were happy, and greatly to the benefit and growth of the

London could be so unanimous and peaceable; which could not well be expected till some men are removed, and others regulated, who have crept in unawares under the wings of others, who were never true members of the living body, or ever qualified for the sta tions they have assumed by the connivance of such as ought to have been more vigilant, and kept them at a due distance.

Finding an openness at Dublin, and many people of divers sorts frequenting our meet. ings, especially in the afternoons, I staid there till the 20th of the tenth month, where I had services of several kinds. And being fully recovered, for I was a little out of order of a cold, I went to Ballytore, Amos Strettle and some other Friends being with me.

That evening, the 19th, we passed the mountains, and came within night to Dundalk, and lodged at an inn, William Sewel land-church, if the affairs of the yearly meeting at lord. A little after we were alighted, having a mind to have a meeting, I inquried of him where a place might be had for that purpose, and he immediately proffered his own house, which was a new building, and not a small one. Expecting a pretty large gathering, no meeting having been there or at Newry for many years, we tried to have had the courthouse; but one putting it off to another, we found the magistrates were not willing, and so we prepared the inn next morning, being the seventh of the week. The meeting gathered about the tenth hour, and was as large as several rooms together could accommodate, and many in entries, stairs and other places, a great concourse of divers sects, and many Papists. Things opened very suitably to them, and the meeting was to general satisfaction, the ten- On the 21st we had a meeting there, which dency of what was delivered being mostly to was not very large, but pretty open. On the their convincement of the principles of Truth. 22nd, being the seventh of the week, we went On the 21st, in the morning we went to to the province meeting at Carlow, which held Drogheda, where there is a small meeting of that day and the following, and was a good Friends; but the notice being short, it was open meeting, and many strangers there on the very small, and but a dull time, till some peo-first-day, and matters opened suitable to them, ple without, hearing me speak, came in, and then things quickened a little, and the meeting On the 24th I went to Samuel Watson's, at ended pretty well. We went that night to Kilconnermore, and the next day had a meetDublin, where I remained till the 29th, and ing there, being the third of the week, and then went to Timaho, and on the 30th had a that day supposed to be the nativity of Christ, meeting there. The 31st being the meeting- commonly called Christmas. There were pret day at Edenderry, I went thither. It was ty many strangers in the meeting, and the pretty large and open, and the next day, Lord was with us, to the comfort of Friends. being the 1st of the ninth month, Thomas In this meeting it was upon me to set forth Wilson, with some other Friends, went with the Word of God made flesh, or appearing me to a meeting at John Stephenson's, which in flesh, born of the Virgin Mary, sent to

and things ended to general satisfaction.

On the 2nd I had a meeting at Ballancarring, which was pretty large, and the Lord was good to us, especially in the latter end of it.

the Jews in that manifestation, according to ments yet to come, in case of continuance in the foreknowledge, purpose, and promise of wickedness, by the sword, plagues, pestilence, God; but they, save a remnant of them, re- fire and famine. In the delivery whereof all jected and crucified him, and yet at the same were bowed, and some amazed, and the meettime were magnifying Moses, and garnishing ing concluded in a weighty frame. the tombs and sepulchres of the prophets, and boasting themselves of them, but refusing the Son of God himself, who is Lord of all the prophets. Even so now the nominal Christians of several notions, whilst they keep feastings and revellings, under pretence of honour to Christ, in commemoration of his birth, behave themselves so as rather to represent a triumph of sin and satan, rejecting his divine light and grace in themselves; crucifying to themselves the Son of God afresh by wicked works, in which they abounded especially at that time. It was a solid meeting, and ended to satisfaction.

That evening I returned to James Lecky's, and the day following, accompanied by him and Samuel Watson, I went through the mountains to William Eve's, being late within night before we got there, and wet, cold weather.

On the 3rd I went to New-Ross, and the day following, being the sixth of the week,. had a meeting at John Elly's about three in the evening; and many of the inhabitants coming, it was a large gathering, so that many could not crowd in. The Lord seasoned my heart with his grace, and renewed his holy Spirit in me; for I had been somewhat low in my mind that day. Many things opening to their conditions, with somewhat also relating to the abomination aforesaid, they were generally weighed down under the testimony of Truth, and Friends were comforted, some being there from several places.

On the 6th, being the first of the week, I was at the meeting at Waterford. It was not large in the morning, though some strangers were there, but very open and comfortable, many being bowed under the blessed Truth, and some sweetly broken and melted; and a comfortable time the Lord gave us, to his praise. In the afternoon we had a large full meeting, many strangers being present, and things opened fully and with good authority, and the Lord exalted his own name and Truth over all, the people generally settled and bowed down under the weight of it, to the honour of the Lord, and the consolation of the faithful there.

On the 8th I was there again, and the meeting was pretty large and open, many of the inhabitants of all sorts being there, though but a few Friends belong to the meeting, and generally satisfied. I staid till the 10th, and had another meeting, which was larger than before, the people being a little awakened by the former meetings. Things opened clearly in the authority of Truth, which was over them.

On the 27th we had a meeting at Bally cane, which was not large, but an open meeting, and Friends were refreshed together in the Truth, who was near to several. After the meeting I went to William Errot's at Escontinna, and on 28th had a meeting there, which, though small, was open, several strangers being there; and a good time we had, the Lord seasoning us together by his grace. The 30th, being the first of the week, I went to the monthly meeting at Lambstown, which was large, consisting of several neighbouring meetings. In the beginning it was heavy, the ears of the people being outward for words; but the Lord condescending to us, was pleased to appear after some time, and the way of life was opened clearly and fully, and many were reached, and Truth over all; but it was a laborious meeting, many things being thoroughly handled in the word of Truth, On the third-day following, being the 1st of eleventh month, commonly called Newyear's day, (1717) I went to a meeting at Wexford, which was large and open, the On the 11th I had an appointed meeting at Truth appearing in his divine majesty. I had Thomas Barnes's, about four miles out of the to declare to the people, the abomination of town, which was crowded, the place being Ireland in her different parties, covering her but small. Hither came several officers of fields with the blood one of another; the the king's customs, who were civil, and the earth receiving the blood of professed Christians at the hands one of another, mixed with the blood of the beasts and cattle of the earth; the inconsistency of it with the nature of that love through which Christ died for all, whilst yet enemies; the ingratitude of Ireland to the Lord for her many deliverances; and the threatenings of the Lord of further punish

meeting was well and open; and several of the Irish Papists, and others, were well satisfied, though things tended in some part to expose their priests and their deceit. After the meeting we were invited by a Baptist and his wife, who were at the meeting, to their house near the place, where we were kindly entertained. That night I returned to Waterford.

here.

On the 14th I departed to Carrick, and next day had a large and open meeting there. Truth came over them in some good degree, most of any note in town being there, and and generally well satisfied, and the Lord comforted us in his service. On the 16th we had a meeting at Clonmel, about ten in the morning, which was large and pretty open; and the greatest part being strangers, things opened for conviucement, and much concerning the true church, what it is, and how constituted, and the people were generally sat isfied.

Here I staid till the 13th, and being the when he that is almighty hath determined first of the week, had two more meetings. they shall never comply:" with much more That in the forenoon was large, and an open to the same effect, too long to be inserted meeting, the people being reached and brought down; but that in the evening was much larger, filled with people of all sorts, and Truth reigned over all in wisdom and power, to his own lasting praise; and I believe many will remember that day so long as they live. I was concerned here to open to the people that called the Apostles' Creed, which came very clear in my understanding at that time, as at some other times: but as to that article, "He descended into hell," I took exceptions to it. Another point also fell in my way, viz: Predestination; wherein the Presbyterians say, "That God, from all eternity, hath decreed some men and angels unto life and salvation, On the 17th we went to Youghall, and on and others unto damnation or destruction; the 18th, in the evening, had a meeting there, and the number is so certain and definite, which was very large and open, though but that not one can be added or diminished;" few Friends, and the people were well satisfied. referring, for more certainty of words, to On the 19th I went to Cork, and the next the Greater Catechism of the Presbyterians day being the first of the week, and their promade at Westminster. Upon which I thus vince meeting, it was pretty large and well, remarked, among other things, "That it is a and held two days. I staid till the 25th, and contradiction in the terms in which they have was at their week-day meeting, consisting for laid it down for the act of the divine Will, the most part of Friends, where I had oppor moving to a decree, must have a beginning in tunity to speak to some things more peculiar order to effect that decree; and therefore can- to their states than in those mixed meetings. not be from all eternity, or without beginning, which is all one. And if God had at all made such a decree, whether before or since the world began, he had not then left any room for that saying, As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of a sinner, (whether it might be man or angel) but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live.' But so the Lord hath said long since the world began, and since the time of the supposed decree; and therefore he had not made any such decree at all. And again, when God, by his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, offered salvation to all the people of the Jews, especially at Jerusalem, and they, most of them, refusing it upon the terms offered, he wept over them, saying, O Jerusalem, &c., thou that killest the prophets, &c., how often would I have gathered thy children, as a hen gathereth her chickens, &c., but thou wouldst not. O that thou hadst known, in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes.' Now, if God had decreed these to destruction, why did he then offer them salvation, and charge it upon themselves as an act of their own wills to refuse it? It cannot consist with any notion of justice that God should decree any to damnation, without either foresight of faith, or condition of works, and yet offer terms of salvation to the same persons, as in this case, and seem to reject them for noncompliance,

6

The first-day following, being the 27th, ac companied with many Friends from Cork, I was at a meeting at Kinsale, which, in the morning was not very large, but pretty open. In the evening it was greatly crowded by people of all ranks and sorts, and many things were declared to general satisfaction, though errors, both of Papists and Protestants were laid plainly open. The crowd was so great that many went away, who coming late, could not get in, and were not able to abide the cold, or stand so long without doors. This was a good meeting, and Truth over all, and the people generally, both officers, soldiers, and others, were very civil to us; especially the next morning as we passed the streets, wishing us well.

On the 29th I was at their week-day meeting at Cork, and on the 3rd of twelfth month, being the first-day, I was again there, where the meeting in the afternoon being put off till towards the evening, and the town's people having pretty general notice, it was one of the largest that had been seen there, and very open, being crowded with people of all ranks, and for any thing we could learn, they were very well satisfied, Truth being over all to his own glory.

There being a couple of Friends to be mar. ried the third-day following, 1 staid the occa sion; and the meeting was greatly crowded, the novelty of the thing drawing some, and