with water, we deny not; and that they were circumcised, and did circumcise, is also undeniable. Now, must we circumcise because the apostles did, and were themselves circumcised? Consider this carefully, and I hope that will give thee some sight or light, concerning the dispensation of water baptism, which was John's baptism, and was glorious in its day and dispensation, in pointing at Christ's baptism, until it came, which was the substance, and was with spiritual fire, and spiritual water, and will continue for ever. To Christ and his baptism, I heartily direct thee for further instruction, in whom is life, and that life is the light of men.

and divine power of Jesus, the good Saviour and precious guide of souls. That saying of his has often been a comfort to me in deep exercises and distresses of mind, when he said to his disciples, 'It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.' I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth. And when he is come, he shall guide you into all truth; he shall take of mine, and show it unto you, and shall bring all things to your remembrance, that I have spoken unto you. He was to convince the world of sin, and to abide with Christ's disciples for ever. May the precious gift of the spirit be given to thee, and to all true seekers of God, his Christ and kingdom, is my real desire and humble prayer to the Most High. [See the four Evangelists for this promise, they not wording it alike.]

"Having answered most parts of thy letter, would add a few lines more, viz: I have known some who could not be satisfied with words about this point of baptism with water, until Christ had by his spirit given them satisfaction in themselves; and as thou comes more and more into close communion with his grace and spirit in thy own soul, I hope thou also wilt have better satisfaction than that of words only. I have known some of the people called Baptists, who have been convinced of the truth, according to our way and principle, to whom all the writing and disputing, and reading, and preaching about this

"I would write a little further concerning water baptism, on some texts of Scripture, being Christ's own words, viz: He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved, and he that believeth not, shall be damned, or condemned." This must needs be understood of the spirit's baptism; for it would be absurd to say, or believe, that all who are baptized with water, are saved, or that all who are not bap-I tized with water, are damned; therefore it is the spirit's baptism, that all professing Christianity ought to come unto, in order to witness salvation. Again, Christ says, 'Except a man be born of water, and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.' Some will have this to be a mixture of the element water, and of the spirit; but Christ says, 'It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.' That which is born of the flesh, is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit, is spirit.' Ac-point, could never give full satisfaction, until cording to which doctrine, I have faith to be- they had it inwardly and immediately from lieve, that outward, fleshly, or elementary Christ, manifested to them by his holy Spirit water baptism, profits little or nothing to the in their hearts, as aforesaid. I would not, soul. Again, why should water in that place however, be understood to be against satisfybe understood of the element, any more than ing one another as much as lieth in our power, fire in the other, viz: To be baptized with the and as we find openness in the love of God Holy Ghost and with fire, since Christ said, and Christ. And further, I never understood My words they are spirit and life.' Remem- that our Society were absolutely against those ber the well of water that springs up to eter-persons practising it, who could see no further, nal life in the believers, and the water that or did really think in their conscience, that it Christ gave, whosoever drank of which, was was their duty so to do; but we believe, that never to thirst more. This is all spiritual, we see beyond the figure or shadow, and are which the carnal mind cannot comprehend or come to the substance, for the reasons menenjoy, but is witnessed by the spiritual man. tioned, and many more which might be given. And further, if we consider what confusion Several treatises have been published upon there is in the world about water baptism, it this subject, one of which is very full, written may well put a tender seeking soul upon fur- before we were a people, by William Dell, a ther search into the nature of holy, saving wise and learned man, and one who had a baptism. The Papists have one way; the large sense of the power of God: and among Lutherans and Calvinists another; and the us, Barclay's Apology, and a treatise by John Baptists have another; and all differ so widely, Gratton, who had been a Baptist preacher, that generally speaking, they will not worship and one by Joseph Pike. There is also a together; neither are they ever likely to be little book of Thomas Upsher's, who was a reconciled, except they come to the holy Spirit | Baptist preacher before he came to join with

us, which I send thee, with whom I was well our youths' meeting in Philadelphia, where I acquainted, as also with those men who sub- was concerned to advise parents to do justly scribed it. If thou applies thyself to Richard to their children, in the divers relations of a Smith, of Burlington, he is as likely as any child's state; to be just in correction, and to person I know, to help thee to those books, all be sure to give them learning, and train them which are larger on the subject, and have up in reading the holy Scriptures, they being given satisfaction to thousands about it; though able, through faith in Christ, to make us wise some, as I have said, could never be satisfied unto salvation. I also was earnest in exhorwith words. In reading the latter part of thy tation to the youth, to obey and honour their letter I was tenderly affected, and my prayers parents, and to have a care not to be disobe to the Almighty were, that he would please to dient to their fathers and mothers. I had a direct thee by his power and spirit, and the concern also to remind that large congregagrace of his dear Son, who hath said, He tion, that the Almighty had stretched out his that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast arm, with his rod, and had given the people off.' Now, tender friend, Christ is the true of this land three strokes therewith, as a light, that lighteth every man that cometh into gentle admonition towards heart preparation the world, by which light thou must walk to to meet him, and to be ready for their latter the kingdom and city of God. He is the end: which were first, a sickness, or pestilendoor into the true sheep-fold: he is the truth, tial fever, which carried off many of the peoin whom thou must believe: he is the divine ple. Secondly, an earthquake, of which dilife and light of the soul: he is the true Christian's all in all. And as the kingdom is within, as said Christ, so the king is within, and without also. He is God, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, the immortal Jehovah, and is God over all, blessed for ever. And, as a servant of his, I recommend thee, with my own soul, unto him for preservation and direction; for it is the great work of Christ's true ministers and servants, to direct the seeking, travelling souls to him; to whom with the Father, and the eternal spirit, be glory, now and evermore. Amen.

"From thy assured friend in Christ,

"THOMAS CHALKLEY."

The person to whom I wrote this letter, some time after informed me, that it gave him great satisfaction.

After I had staid at home some time, and pretty well recovered of the hurt I received by my fall, I visited some meetings about home, as Philadelphia, Abington, and Germantown. In several of those meetings I was concerned to exhort Friends, as our meetings and worship in this province of Pennsylvania, were a kind of national worship, to beware that they did not indulge themselves in the sins of the nations, but to be careful to keep to the holy, self-denying life of Jesus.

On the 5th of the sixth month, between the hours of nine and ten at night, there was an earthquake, of which many people were sensible; and about this time many were taken off with a violent fever. I was concerned in several meetings to put the people in mind of their mortality, and the shortness and uncertainty of time; and of the necessity of speedy preparation for their final change and future well-being. In the aforesaid month I was at

vers in town and country were sensible. Thirdly, a terrible whirlwind, such as we never before heard of in this land, that I remember. They were admonished to take particular and special notice of these gentle strokes of the divine hand, for if he pleased, he could as soon take away many by sickness, as a few, and could make us a desolation, as well as the country about mount Etna, or Port Royal, in Jamaica, not very far from us; and he could also blow us away with the whirlwind of his wrath, and could as easily have blown down all our city, as those few houses in the country.

Next day after this meeting I went with John Rodman to the quarterly general meeting of worship in the county of Chester, which was large and satisfactory.

The 25th of the sixth month I was at the burial of the wife of Richard Waln, a virtuous and good woman. Some of her last words were, "Some men's sins go beforehand to judgment, and some follow after them; and that her sins were gone before, which was a great comfort to her, now she was going to leave the world." It was a large meeting, and a seasonable opportunity at the funeral. The people were called upon to work while it is called to-day, because, as our Saviour said, the night cometh, wherein no man can work.

In this and the foregoing year, I met with various trials and exercises; as first, great inward poverty and want. Secondly, great losses in outward affairs. And thirdly, the evil spirits of some were stirred up against me, to report falsehoods concerning me, with many other sore exercises, both inward and outward. As to the first, I had often been tried that way, and found by experience, that I must wait upon God my Saviour, for fresh and renewed visitations from above; in which

exercise, I had always, in the Lord's time, get the assistance of the elders; and that the received comfort from him, and by the same same power and spirit of God which was exercise I had now the same comfort also; with Moses, was upon the elders who assisted but I thought it very long, and the enemy did him in the affairs of the church and congrenow greatly endeavour to break in upon my gation of the Lord's people; so that it was patience more than usual: but my heart still governed by God's spirit, and is to be godepended in faith and hope upon the Lord, verned by the same still, and not by the will my Redeemer and Saviour, and in his time of man, nor according to the will of man, in he was pleased to help me, blessed be his his corrupt nature. And when Israel went holy arm and power for ever! Many blessed from God's power and spirit, the Lord left saints and servants of Jesus were brought to them, but at last sent to them his only begotmy mind, who were in the like condition, so ten Son, our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus that I had a secret joy in their company, who Christ; and he was, and ever is, to be gomet with the like in their travels to the holy vernor of his church, through his holy Spirit, city. of which he told his disciples, that he would Secondly, as to my outward losses, I pray the Father, and he should send unto thought with myself, peradventure it might them the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, or holy be best for me: and I remembered that many, Spirit, the spirit of truth, and that he should through the increase of outward riches, were abide with them for ever, and should lead and exceedingly hurt as to their inward state; and guide them into all truth; which sweet and though I, or any good man, might be con- precious promises, the true believers do witcerned for our children, to get and leave ness to be fulfilled at this day. Glory to his something for them, yet I plainly saw, that name for ever, he is the wonderful Counselgenerally speaking, much riches does much lor, mighty Saviour, and Prince of peace! of hurt to youth. This was a melancholy ob- whose peace and government there shall never servation that I had made in my life and tra- be an end, and upon whose shoulder the govels, and I see at this day, that it is an uni-vernment is to be for ever. Friends were versal distemper, a very few excepted; where- exhorted to pray and wait for his holy power fore I cried mightily to God that he would and spirit, and to be sensible of it in the discigive to me and mine, the gift of his grace and pline and government of the church now in holy Spirit, whatever our circumstances might this gospel day, in which is a brighter manibe in the world. In this also I saw that pa- festation of God's love, through his Son, than tience was an excellent virtue, and that the in the time of the law. The youths' meeting meek had the best inheritance of the earth, was also large, and divers testimonies were if they had ever so little of it; and that true borne, by way of exhortation and counsel to happiness did not consist in earthly things, the youth. They were with much tenderness which my experience had largely taught me. advised to take counsel of their elders, and And thirdly, as to the base and evil treat- were shown how it fared with some young ment I met with, which was more than I had men, who slighted the advice and counsel of ever met with in all my life before, great the elders; and that one, when on a dying endeavours were used to lessen my reputa- bed, cried out in the bitterness and agonies of tion, as a man and a Christian; all which his spirit, "Oh! that I had taken the counsel proved false and fruitless, and in due time my and advice of my friends, for then I had not innocence was made manifest. I considered been here, nor in this condition." They were that they could not use me worse than they advised to beware of keeping bad company, had done my Lord and Master, and that the and spending their precious time in taverns, devil was angry with any who endeavoured which hath undone many fair and promising to dethrone him and pull down his kingdom, youths and it was shown how a young man at the foundation of which, through the help might cleanse his ways, by taking heed thereof my Master, I had made many a stroke, to, according to the Word of God, which with such weapons as he was pleased to fur- liveth and abideth for ever, and which the nish me withal. holy Scriptures proceeded from; and they The last of the sixth month, and the 1st of were earnestly exhorted to read and practise the seventh month, was the quarterly and what was written therein. A very tender youths' meeting at Burlington, at both of time we had in prayer to God, through his which I was present. At the quarterly meet- dear Son, to preserve us all in his fear, both ing I was concerned to open how the church youth and aged; and so our meeting broke of God was governed by his spirit, in the time up, and we parted in the sweet love of God, of the law, and Moses was an instrument and his Christ, our holy Saviour. therein; and that when it was too hard, and too much work for Moses, he was advised to

My troubles in the world, and in the things of it, being many, and my outward losses

him.

great; as also was my inward poverty of great satisfaction, in my little service for spirit, I took my pen, and wrote one day as follows: "Oh! if it be right in the sight of God, how do I long to be unclothed of this frail, mortal body, that my soul might mount up to the ethereal plains, and repose itself in the arms of its Maker and most sweet Saviour for ever."

Being at and near home some time after I came from Burlington, I visited the meetings of Germantown and Philadelphia, which were large, and some sense of truth was in the hearts of divers. I was concerned at that meeting at Philadelphia, to let the people know, that as God had blessed the people of that city, and the province, with spiritual and temporal blessings, and made the land fruitful, enriching many of the inhabitants, he now expected from them fruits of piety and virtue; and that if there was not a stricter walking with God in Christ Jesus, they might expect his divine hand, which had visited them with favours from heaven above, and from the earth beneath, would visit them with a rod, with which he had already given them some gentle strokes.

Our yearly meeting was this year at Burlington, for the provinces of New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, to attend the service of which, our quarterly meeting appointed me, with divers others. It was a large and comfort-able meeting, and many went home thankful to the holy name of God and Christ, that they were there.

I shall here transcribe part of a letter which my dear father wrote to me, when above eighty years of age, he having been a minister of Christ above forty years; viz:

"With repeated love to you all, I rest thy aged, and thereby, through pain, afflicted father, "GEORGE CHALKLEY. "Southwark, London, 5th of Sixth month, 1724."

To see my dear father's hand-writing, now he was above four-score years of age, was very affecting to me; and the more, because I expected it might be his last, which it was. The answer I sent to my dear father's letter, is as followeth :

"Frankford, 22nd of Eighth month, 1724. "My dear father,

"Thine, per James Wilkins, I received with joy, and was greatly comforted to hear that thou wast yet alive; and especially that thou art favoured, now in thy old age, with a sense of the gift of God, through the holy Spirit of his dear Son, our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

"The reading of thine, did refresh and tender my heart, not expecting many more such epistles from thee, by reason of thy great age. But, my very dear and truly honoured father, if we should never hear from, nor see one another more in mutability, yet are we, while here on earth, as living epistles in one another's hearts, written by the finger of God. I have hope also, that we shall meet where we shall never part more, in the glorious kingdom of God and his Christ.

"With unspeakable love from self and wife, to thee, my dear and aged father, and all relations and friends,

"I remain thy loving and dutiful son,
"THOMAS CHALKLEY."

"Loving son, Thomas Chalkley, "Thine dated the 11th of the tenth month, 1723, I received, and was very glad to hear of your welfare, and that the Lord hath given In this year, 1724, I met with various trials, you children and I pray the Almighty God, afflictions and tribulations; and had not the that he may preserve them with you, that they secret hand of the Lord, which I felt undermay be a comfort to you in your latter days; neath, borne up my spirit from sinking, I and that if the Lord may be pleased to con- think I could not have waded through them. tinue them with you, they may, as they grow I was now removed, as already related, in days, grow in grace, and in the knowledge into the country, for retirement, which I of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and greatly loved and delighted in; but as soon that the Lord may be pleased to preserve us as I was a little settled there, the enemy of all to the end of those few days we may have all good endeavoured to disquiet my repose, in this world, that we may lay down our by stirring up some bad people against me, heads in peace, and in the full assurance of who lived near, and in time past had fawned everlasting blessedness, for ever and ever-upon me. To add to my afflictions, I lost a

more.

"I bless the Lord that he hath preserved me sensible of his blessed and holy Spirit, whereby my understanding is clear and well, considering my age; and the Lord in his great loving kindness, I do feel to help me to my

vessel, in which, I suppose, I had upwards of five hundred pounds; another vessel came in almost a wreck, in which I suffered in my interest several hundreds more, and a third I heard of, in which I had the like loss; and about the same time I had also a good new

barn burned to the ground in a few minutes, does, and that you meet with some discouso that I was exceedingly stripped that way. ragement inwardly and outwardly, it is in my To add yet more to my exercise, I was sorely mind to comfort and strengthen you in so afflicted with sickness, having a swelling in great and good an undertaking, and honourmy jaws, mouth, and throat, that I could nei-able work, as is the cause of Christ, who, for ther speak nor swallow for some time, nor eat our sakes, crossed himself abundantly benor sleep, for about seven days, as I remem-yond expression, more than is possible for us ber, without great difficulty. What the dis-to do for his sake, or the sake of his people, temper was, we could not be certain. Some whom we may so entirely love, as to lay supposed it to be the quinsy, others an impos-down our lives for his and their sakes. But thume; also my only daughter at the same what are our lives to the life of the only betime was likely to die; and as for my own part, I was very willing to go, if it so pleased God; for I saw through the deceit of the world, and that the friendship of it was not permanent. And in my sore afflictions of body, mind, and interest, it fared with me as with Job, for divers of my pretended friends added to my afflictions by undue reflections; whom I pray the Lord to forgive for his Son's sake! At these times, the remembrance of that saying of Christ, that the very hairs of your head are numbered, supported me in hope that all would work together for good.

gotten Son of God? And truly, we must give them up often, if we have the cause of souls at heart; and then he often gives them to us again, glory to his holy name for ever! As Christ said, He that will save his life, shall lose it, and he that will lay down his life for my sake and the gospel, shall find it; which reacheth your case in this undertaking. And indeed, some of our lives, in our own sense, are hardly worth mentioning, considering the cause of Christ.

"And, dear children of our heavenly Father, I may, through some good experience, When I got better, so that I could go to truly inform you, that there is much openness meetings, I went to Germantown, Abington, in many people on that island, and good en Philadelphia, and Darby. My first going couragement I have had from above, in my abroad was to Philadelphia, where, on a first-visiting the people there; though, true it is, day, we had a large meeting, and divers the inhabitants too generally, are luxurious, things were opened in my mind. I told them they had Moses and the prophets, and Jesus Christ, who has arisen from the dead; for neither death, hell, nor the grave could detain the Lord of life and glory. And I was opened to declare to them, that they had a great advantage of the coming of Christ, not only in his appearance at Jerusalem, but as he came to, and spoke in the heart, by his inward and spiritual appearance; and that this gospel dispensation was, by his coming, made more conspicuous, bright, and glorious, than that which went before. Friends were very glad to see me abroad again, they having expected daily to hear I was dead, and there was tenderness over the meeting, and God over all, through his dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, was praised and glorified, who is worthy for

ever.

and much given to vanity: yet I have this seal in my heart, that the Lord hath a seed in that place who desire to serve him, and that seed will surely join with you in your exercise, and you will be comforted one in another, and in the Lord. And that there are differences among them, is also true; but they have the more need of being visited by such, who are, through their wise conduct and restoring disposition, likely to heal those breaches which are, or may be among them. Some, indeed, have gone among them, and have done hurt, by a rash and turbulent management, and by so doing, have rather made the breaches wider, than by a meek and loving, as well as lowly disposition, lessened their differences and healed them.

"And, tender friends, though it may seem hard for you in several considerations, to give In this year two sober young women, Eliza- up to go to sea, and also to divers who love beth Levis and Jane Fenn, were concerned to you, and are nearly related to you, know visit Friends in the island of Barbadoes, and ye, and such so concerned, that the Lord is they meeting with some discouragement, in stronger than the noise of many waters, and Christian love, I wrote them the following let-than the mighty waves of the sea. And I ter to encourage them in the work of Christ.

"Frankford, 1st of Twelfth month, 1724-5. "My dear friends,

"Elizabeth Levis and Jane Fenn, "Understanding by our friend, Grace Lloyd, that you have proposed your intention of visiting the few Friends in the island of BarbaVOL. VI.-No. 2.

really believe that you, as well as my soul, with all the servants of Christ, will experience it to be so, as David did, whose words they are.

"I remember the words of our great Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, when he sent forth his servants to preach his gospel; I send you forth as lambs among wolves.' No question but you, like innocent lambs, before your

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