the way whereby we found out most of the retired people we visited. After near two hours time with him, we took waggon for the Hague, leaving the peace of God

upon

bim. The first thing we did there, was to inquire out the lady Overkirk, a person of a retired and religious character, separated from the publick worship of that country: she was at home; but her husband's being with her, a great man of the army, of another dispotion and way of living, hindered our access at that time.

The next person we went to, was a judge of the chief court of justice in that republick: he received us with great respect, and a more than ordinary desire to know the truth of our faith and principles. We declared of the things most surely believed amongst us, in the power and love of God. He made his observations, objections, and queries upon several things we spake; to whom we replied, and explained all matcers in question; insomuch as he declared himself satisfied in our confessions, and his good belief

of us and our principles. We took a folemn and sensible leave of him, and we felt the witness of God reached in him, and his fpirit tendered, which filled our hearts with dear love to him: he brought us to his street-door, and there we parted.

From him we went to visit that person for whom we had a letter from the doctor at Leyden, but he was not at home. We immediately took waggon for Delft, and from thence an exprefs-boat for Rotterdam, where we arrived well about eight at night.

The next day was mostly spent in visiting of friends, and the friendly people in that place, which confifted of several persons of worldly note.

The next day, being the first day of the week, we had a large and blessed meeting, wherein the deep

Mysteries of the kingdom of Christ and Antichriji, were declared in the power of an endless life.' Se

? 14. 8. a. Ii 2

veral of divers religions were there, but no disturbance or contradiction; but a profound filence and reverent attention were over the meeting: 5

That night I had a blessed meeting at my lodging, with those persons of note, that at some times visited our publick meetings, as that day, and have a convincement upon them: the Lord's love, truth and life, preciously reached towards them, and they were very sweetly affected.

Next day I bestowed in perfecting and correcting several publick letters, which I was moved to write, both in my first and second journey in Germany, and after my return to these Low-Countries. The titles whereof follow.

I. A Summons, or Call to Christendom; in an

Earnest Expoftulation with her, to prepare for the Great and Notable Day of the Lord that is

at the Door. II. To all those who are sensible of the Day of their

Visitation, and who have received the Call of the
Lord, by the Light and Spirit of his Son in their
Hearts, to partake of the Great Salvation, where
ever scattered throughout the World; but more
especially in the High and Low-Dutch Nations;
Faith, Hope, and Charity, which overcome the

World, be multiplied among you,
III. To all those Profeffors of Christianity, that are

externally separated from the visible Sects, and
Fellowships in the Christian World, (so called)
wherever Hidden or Scattered: True Knowledge,
which is Life Eternal, from God the Father,

through Christ Jesus, be increased. IV. A Tender ViGitation, in the Love of God that

overcometh the World, to all People in the

• A person then convinced, though the world prevailed, died lately,

High and Low-Dutch Nations, who hunger and thirst after righteousness, and desire to know and worship God in Truth, and in Sincerity; containing a Plain Testimony to the Ancient and Apoftolical Life, Way and Worship that God is reviving and exalting in the Earth, in his Spirit and Truth.

The sense of the serious retreat of the great man we heard of at Leyden, was so strong upon me, that I could not see myself clear to leave the country before I had given him a visit. I purposed therefore the next morning to set forward to the Hague, from thence to Leyden, and so to Wonderwick.

I arrived there in the evening with B. F. A. Sonnemans, and M. Sonnemans, and immediately made known our coming, and the end of it, to him and his wife, by the means of the young German, who was got thither before us to visit them. An invitation came to us all at our inn, and immediately we repaired to his house, which was very stately, and yer plain. He presently came to us, took us by the hand, and bid us heartily welcome.' We immediately fat down, and after some time of retirement, I poke something of what was upon me; yet not before he had given us a sober and pathetical account of his life, and of the present frame and disposition of his spirit.

All this was in the absence of his wife; but so soon as I had finished what was then upon mc to speak of the witness of God, and of its work in man, upon the occasion of the history he gave us of his life, he led us into another room, where his wife was: he told her, here were some Christian friends come to visit her; the faluted us very kindly.

We all sat down, and after some filence, the heavenly power of God did, in a living and tender manner, open their states and conditions to me, and opened

my mouth to them. The substance of my testimony was to this purpose, • That death reigned from Adam

to Möses; Moses was till the prophets; the prophets

till John; and John till Christ : what Christ's day « was : how few see this day: and whilst people are

talking of being in Christ, under grace, and not

under the law, death reigneth over them, and they • are not come to Moses, nor the shaking or quaking ' mountain, the thunderings, lightnings, and whirl• winds: and what was that way which led to CHRIST, • and what it was to be in him, and under the govern'ment of his grace; directing them to the bleffed

principle of light, and truth, and grace, which God I had shed abroad in their hearts. I declared the na• ture and manner of the appearing and operating of

this principle; and appealed to their own conscience, " for the truth of what was said:' and I can truly fay, the holy life of Jesus was revealed amongst us, and, like oil, swam on the top of all. In this fenfe I was moved to kneel down and pray: great brokenness fell upon all; and that which was before the world began, was richly manifested in and amongst us.

The meeting being done, the great man and his wife blessed us, and the work of God in our hands, saying, with tears in his eyes, "My house is bleffed

for your fakes; and blessed be God that I ever lived s to see you.'

And thus we left them, though with much difficulty; for they pressed us, with great earnestness, both to eat and to lodge with them; and it was hard for them to bear our refusal. They said it was a scandal to their house, that they should let such good people as we were go out of it or suffer us to lodge in any other place: but we declared our pre-engagement ellewhere, and that it was not for want of true kindness towards them.

One passage I had almost forgot to mention : "I was,' said he, once at table with the duke of Holstein at Frederickstadt, when the magistrates came to complain against a people called Quakers in that

« çity;

• city: the duke was ready to be prejudiced againft

them; but at the very naming of them, I conceived a more than ordinary kindness in my mind towards them. I asked the magistrate what they were for a

people? He told me that they would not pull off o their hats to their superiors. I asked him, whether ' they would pull off their hats to God? He said, Yes. · Said I, That may be the reason why they will not

pull them off to man. Do they live peaceably? Yes. Do they pay their taxes? Yes. Do they rub their hats in your eyes ? No. Do they do any harm

with them? No. Why what is your quarrel then?'' $ They meet in silence, and they will not speak or

pray unless they be moved by the Spirit. Why, that ! is according to the doctrine of scripture : if this be

to be a Quaker, I would I were a Quaker too. But,' said he, I never saw one before, but I bless God I “ see you now. He very much inveighed against the false Christianity that is in the world, and greatly magnified a tender, mortified, and retired estate. I have great hopes he and his wife will die in the truth. We returned to our inn to supper, and to bed.

Next morning' we took waggon for the Hague, where we met with Docemius, the king of Denmark's resident at Cullen, who had been at Rotterdam to seek us, and came back thither, with hopes to meet us. We had some service there with a lawyer ; but were again disappointed of visiting the lady Overkirk, because of her husband's presence; and the other retired man before-mentioned was again from home: the judge would gladly have received us, but a great cause then depending commanded his attendance. That afternoon we took boat for Delft, and so to Rotterdam, where we all arrived well.

It was my desire to have been the next day' at a meeting at Dort; but it seems that the way we hoped had been open for us, was Ihut, insomuch that we were prevented of that service. However, I applied