1746, with the unity of Friends, and in company with my beloved friend and neighbour Peter Andrews, brother to my companion before mentioned, we set forward and visited meetings generally about Salem, Cape May, Great and Little Egg Harbour; and had meetings at Barnagat, Manahockin, and Mane Squan, and so to the yearly meeting at Shrewsbury. Through the goodness of the Lord way was opened, and the strength of divine love was sometimes felt in our assemblies, to the comfort and help of those who were rightly concerned before him. We were out twenty two days, and rode, by computation three hundred and forty miles. At Shrewsbury yearly meeting, we met with our dear friends Michael Lightfoot and Abraham Farrington, who had good service there. The winter following died my eldest sister, Elizabeth Woolman jun. of the small-pox, aged thirtyy-one years. She was, from her youth, of a thoughtful disposition, and very compassionate to her acquaintance in their sickness or distress, being ready to help as far as she could. She was dutiful to her parents; one instance whereof follows:-It happened that she and two of her sisters, being then near the estate of young women, had an inclination one first-day after meeting to go on a visit to some other young women at some distance off, whose company, I believe, would have done them no good. They expressed their desire to our parents, who were dissatisfied with the proposal, and stopped them. The same day, as my sisters and I were together, and they talking about their disappoint ment, Elizabeth expressed her contentment under it, signifying she believed it might be for their good. A few years after she attained to mature age, through the gracious visitations of God's love she was strengthened to live a self-denying exemplary life, giving herself much to reading and meditation. The following letter, may show, in some degree, her disposition: Haddonfield, First-day, 11th month, 1743. Beloved brother John Woolman, In that love which desires the welfare of all men, I write unto thee. I received thine, dated second day of the tenth month last, with which I was comforted. My spirit is bowed with thankfulness that I should be remembered, who am unworthy; but the Lord is full of mercy, and his goodness is extended to the meanest of his creation; therefore, in his infinite love, he hath pitied, and spared, and showed mercy, that I have not been cut off nor quite lost; but at times, I am refreshed and comforted as with the glimpse of his presence, which is more to the immortal part, than all which this world can afford: so, with desires for thy preservation with my own, I remain thy affectionate sister, The fore part of her illness she was in great sadness and dejection of mind, of which she told : one of her intimate friends, and said, "When I was a young girl I was wanton and airy, but I thought I had thoroughly repented for it ;" and added, "I have of late had great satisfaction in meetings." Though she was thus disconsolate, still she retained a hope, which was as an anchor to her and some time after, the same friend came again to see her, to whom she mentioned her former expressions, and said, "It is otherfor the Lord hath rewarded me sevenfold; and I am unable to express the greatness of his love manifested to me." Her disorder appearing dangerous, and our mother being sorrowful, she took notice of it, and said, "Dear mother, weep not for me: I go to my God:" and many times, with an audible voice, uttered praise to her Redeemer. wise now, A friend coming some miles to see her the morning before she died, asked her how she did? she answered, "I have had a hard night, but shall not have another such, for I shall die, and it will be well with my soul;" and she accordingly died the next evening. The following ejaculations were found among her writings; written I believe at four times. 1. Oh! that my head were as waters, and mine eyes as a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night, until acquainted with my God. 2. O Lord, that I may enjoy thy presence; or else my time is lost, and my life a snare to my soul. 3. O Lord, that I may receive bread from thy table, and that thy grace may abound in me. 4. O Lord, that I may be acquainted with thy presence, that I may be seasoned with thy salt, that thy grace may abound in me. Of late I found drawings in my mind to visit Friends in New England, and having an opportunity of joining in company with my beloved friend Peter Andrews, we, having obtained certificates from our monthly meeting, set forward on the sixteenth day of the third month, in the year 1747, and reached the yearly meeting at Long Island; at which were our friends Samuel Nottingham from England, John Griffith, Jane Hoskins, and Elizabeth Hudson from Pennsylvania, and Jacob Andrews from Chesterfield; several of whom were favoured in their public exercise; and through the goodness of the Lord, we had some edifying meetings. After this, my companion and I visited Friends on Long Island; and, through the mercies of God, we were helped in the work. Besides going to the settled meetings of Friends, we were at a general meeting at Setawket, chiefly made up of other societies: and had a meeting at Oyster Bay, in a dwelling-house, at which were many people; at the first of which there was not much said by way of testimony, but it was, I believe, a good meeting: at the latter, through the springing up of living waters, it was a day to be thankfully remembered. Having visited the Island, we went over to the main, taking meetings in our way, to Oblong, Nine-partners, and New Milford. In these back settlements we met with several people, who, through the immediate workings of no the spirit of Christ on their minds, were drawn from the vanities of the world, to an inward acquaintance with him they were educated in the way of the Presbyterians. A considerable number of the youth, members of that society, were used to spend their time often together in merriment, but some of the principal young men of that company being visited by the powerful workings of the spirit of Christ, and thereby led humbly to take up his cross, could longer join in those vanities; and as these stood steadfast to that inward convincement, they were made a blessing to some of their former com.. panions; so that, through the power of truth, several were brought into a close exercise concerning the eternal well-being of their souls. These young people continued for a time to frequent their public worship; and besides that, had meetings of their own; which meetings were awhile allowed by their preacher, who sometimes met with them: but, in time, their judgment in matters of religion disagreeing with some of the articles of the Presbyterians, their meetings were disapproved by that society; and such of them who stood firm to their duty, as it was inwardly manifested, had many difficulties to go through: and their meetings were in a while dropped; some of them returned to the Presbyterians, and others of them, after a time, joined our religious society. I had conversation with some of the latter, to my help and edification; and believe several of them are acquainted with the nature of that worship, which is performed in spirit and in |