1718. We had a good Paffage, being five Weeks and two

Days from Barbadoes to Great Britain, in which we faw divers Veffels at Sea, but spoke with none; and after Sight of the Land, we got in two Days to BeachyHead, which is about fifteen Leagues from the Downs or Deal. We failed along the Shore by Folkstone, where we took in a Pilot, and had a comfortable Paffage through the Downs, and up the River of Thames London. to London, where I met with my dear and aged Father, and loving Brother, Sifter, and Coufins, and many other of my near and dear Relations and Friends.

In this Voyage I wrote fome Things which opened in my Mind at Sea, upon that excellent Sermon of Chrift's upon the Mount, as it is recorded in the holy Scriptures of the New Teftament, in the vth, vith, and viith Chapters of the Evangelift Matthew, but have fince heard that the fame is much better done by an abler Hand; and therefore it may fuffice here to give the Advice, which in the Course of my Travels I have often had Occafion to do, that the Profeffors of Christianity should frequently read this Sermon, and be careful to practice the fame; that they may not only be Christians in Name, but in Deed, and in Truth,

After vifiting my Relations, and fome Meetings of our Friends in and about London, and having finished my Business, being ready to return homeward, divers Friends accompanied us from London to Gravefend; and the Wind not being fair, we went to Rochefter, and had a Meeting there; and then back to Gravesend, and there took a folemn Farewel of our Friends, recommending one another to the Grace of Chrift; having this Time made but little Stay in Bri tain.

In the Fifth Month 1718, we failed from the At Sea Downs in the aforefaid Snow Hope, divers Friends, viz. John Danfon, Ifaac Hadwin, John Oxley, Lydia Laneafter, Elizabeth Rawlinfon and Rebecca Turner, being in Company with us: After about nine Weeks Paffage

from

1

from Land to Land, having had Meetings on Firft 1718..
Days and Fifth Days, on board all the Voyage, we Philadel
came all fafe and well to Philadelphia, through the phia,
Bleffing of God, where I ftay'd with my Family a few
Months, and then took another Voyage for Barbadoes
and Britain. I was under fome Concern more than
ordinary, as to the Support and Well-being, or Ac-
commodation of my Family, the Circumftances there-
of being a little changed by the Increase of Children,
remembring the Words of the Apostle, That those who
bad not that Care and Concern, were worse than Infidels;
my Lord Jefus (whofe Servant I profefs myself to be)'
alfo faying, It is better to give than receive; wherefore
an Opportunity offering of the Confignment of a
Veffel and Cargo (the Snow Hope, Warner Holt
Mafter) to Barbadoes, and from thence to London, and
fo to make Returns Home again for Philadelphia, I
embraced it; tho' with Reluctance, to leave my very
loving Wife, Children and Friends, all whom I
tenderly loved and refpected. I also had in my Eye
an Hope, thro' the Bleffing of God, to obtain where-
with to accommodate my Friends, who were Stran
gers and Pilgrims in this World for Jefus Sake, as I'
alfo had been myself; and that they might find a
Place or Home, and Refreshment under my Roof;
not to Excefs, but to Comfort and Edification;
which in Sincerity, is all the Grandeur I, cover or de-
fire in this World: So after due Confideration, on
the fecond Day of the Eleventh Month 1718, we fet
Sail from Philadelphia, many Friends taking their
Leaves and Farewel of us for that Voyage. Thus
with Hearts full of Love and Good-will, we parted
with our Friends, and went down the River about five
Miles, where we run aground, but got off next Tide,
and next Day came to an Anchor at Chefter. On the
4th Day of the Month we fet Sail, and got to New-
caftle about the eleventh Hour; it being Meeting-
Day, we went to Meeting, where our great Lord

was

1718. was pleafed in fome good Measure to own us with his living Prefence, and comfort us with his Love; blef fed be his holy Name! In the Morning we failed to Reedy-Ifland, where we ftay'd for the Tide, and in the Night our Cable parted, which we knew not of till the Morning, and then we had gone from the Place where we anchored, about a League: But tho' the Vessel drove about the River, yet the did not go on Ground. We dropp'd, our other Anchor, and fent the Boat to feek for that which was parted from us, but could not find it until the next Tide, and then could not get it up, and were unwilling to go to Sea without it; which occafioned us to stay feveral Tides before we could get it: At laft with much Difficulty we weigh'd it, our Men's Clothes being much frozen; for it was very cold, and froze extreamly hard. After this we went down to Bombay-Hook, where was allo another Veffel going out to Sea,,, Next Day the Wind was against us, and it fnowed much, and froze hard; and that Night the River and Bay was filled with Ice as far as we could fee, and it drove very hard against our Veffel, fo that we wished for Day; for we thought fometimes it would have torn our Bows in Pieces; but our Anchor and Cable held us, we thought, to a Miracle (for which we were thankful to the great Keeper of all those who put their Truft in him.) When the Tide turned for us we got up the Anchor, and fo let her drive with the Ice down the Bay: The other Veffel did the fame. It was now dangerous moving, go which Way we would. The Veffel in Company with us attempted to go back again, but feeing that we did not, as we fuppos'd, came to Anchor again, and we both went down the Bay together; and the Wind fpringing up fair, we got clear of the Ice in a few Hours Time; but by this Hindrance we could not get to Sea that Day, but were obliged to come to Anchor near the Middle of the great Bay of Delaware, and the Night being tair and calm, we rode it out

fafely,

At Sea.

fafely, which if it had been windy Weather, would 1719. have been dangerous. Early in the Morning (of the 9th Day of the Month) we got to Sea, and foon left Sight of the Land. Next Day the Wind was high, and the Weather proved ftormy for feveral Days, infomuch that our Main-deck was under Water most of the Time, fo that we were forced to go before it for feveral Days together. We also fhut up our Cabbin Windows, and were toffed exceedingly, and I was very Sea-fick; and we began in this Storm to fear falling on the Rocks of Bermudas, which we were near, as we imagined, and the Wind fet right on the Ifland. But when we had paffed the Latitude of Bermudas, we met with fair Weather and Winds (all the remaining Part of our Paffage being pleafant and comfortable) by which I was led to confider the Viciffitude which Mortals may expect while on this unftable terraqueous Globe, which is full of Changes; and I ftrongly defired to be rightly prepared for that World which is eternal, and its Joy and Filicity permanent; at which bleffed Port, I hope in God's Time, thro' his Grace, fafely to arrive. Thus thro' Storms, Tempefts, Ice, and Snow, we left those frozen Climes, and croffed the Tropick of Cancer (between which, and that of Capricorn, there is neither Froft nor Snow at Sea, at any Time of the Year) and the Wind always within a fmall Matter one Way, viz. Eafterly (except in Hurricanes and violent Storms, which fometimes they have in those Parts of the World.) We arrived at Bridge-Town, in Barbadoes, in one-and-twenty Days, Barbadezi. which was the quickest Paffage that ever I had, this being the fourth Time of my coming hither, where I was always kindly received by my Friends.

About this Time War was declared against Spain by the King of Great-Britain, by Proclamation, in Bridge-town, which put fuch a Damp on Trade, that there was little Bufinefs, and the Markets low and dull, which made my Stay longer than I would have

chofe ;

1719. chofe; but my Friends, among whom I had many Opportunities, feem'd rather pleas'd than otherwise, telling me, That they did not care if I was to stay there always, if it were my Place: And when I left Barbadoes, Friends gave me better Credentials than I thought I defervedA Friend of mine giving me Intelligence that the Market was better at Antigua than at Barbadoes, I dispatch'd my Affairs, and took Part of our Cargoe there, and was kindly received by our Friends. We were about three Days in our Paifage, and had fine Weather therein. At Antigua I had divers Meetings, my Bufinefs at no. Time hindered me in my more weighty Service; for I always, through divine Help, made that give Way to my religious Duty, in which I ever found Peace and inward Satisfaction. In about five Weeks I finished my Business in this Ifland,, having no fmall Satisfaction in coming to it; and our Veffel being now loaden, we took our folemn Leave, and with the good Wishes of many, departed for England.

Antigua,

Our Friends there fignified to their Brethren, that they were glad of my Company, and that I was ferviceable to them, tho' I came upon Bufinefs. My Hand, when need required, was to my Bufinefs, but my Heart was, and I hope is, and ever fhall be, freely given up to ferve the Lord, in that Work whereunto I believe he has called me. We have Liberty from God, and his dear Son, lawfully, and for Accommodation's Sake, to Work or feek for Food or Raiment; tho' that ought to be a Work of Indifferency, compar'd to the great Work of Salvation. Our Saviour faith, Labour not for the Meat which perifheth, but for that which endureth for ever, or to eternal Life: By which we do not understand, that Chriftians muft neglect their neceffary Occafions and their outward Trades and Callings; but that their chief Labour, and greatest Concern ought to be for their future Well-being in his glorious Kingdom;

elfe