believe me, his fan is still in his hand, and he will, if you will let him, thoroughly purge his floor, viz. your hearts, and make all things clean and new there, by his Spirit and power. So will you come to find your interest in Christ, as you feel his workmanship and interest in and over you: and as you thus come to be related to Christ, the Heavenly Head, (by knowing him to be Head in you) so you will come to be related to his body, the church, and see your proper membership and service therein; which I pray God effect, to his glory, and your comfort.

And now to the whole family and flock of God, in this European part of the world, of the same communion, according to the dispensation of God; be they young or old, high or low, rich or poor, wise or simple, strong or weak, male or female, bond or free; I send this parting salutation of my most dear love in the Truth; beseeching you all to have me and mine in your remembrance, not only when upon the mighty waters, but when in the solitary deserts of America, if it please the Lord to bring us safe thither: for I am not above the love and prayers of my dear brethren, knowing I need them, and have often found, by good experience, that they avail much with the Lord.

'I must leave you, but I can never forget you; for my love to you has been, even as David's and Jonathan's, above the love of women and suffer me to say, that, to my power, I have from the first endeavoured to serve you (and my poor country too) and that at my own charges, with an upright mind, however misunderstood and treated by some, whom I heartily forgive. Accept you my services; and ever love and remember, my dear friends and brethren, your old, true, and affectionate friend, brother, and servant in Christ Jesus, WILLIAM PENN.

⚫ Cowes, Isle of Wight, weighing Anchor,

the 3d of the 7th month, 1699.'

On the ninth of the same month they set sail, and were near three months out at sea; Providence, by the tediousness of their voyage, protracting the time of their arrival, until the danger of a contagious distemper, then reigning in that country, was over. Upon their coming thither, they were received with the universal joy of the inhabitants.

Being now' determined to settle in his province, he applied himself to the offices of government, always preferring the good of the country and its inhabitants to his own private interest; rather remitting, than rigorously exacting his lawful revenues: so that under the influence of his paternal administration, the province was in an easy and

flourishing condition: when some persons here in England, taking advantage of his absence, were endeavouring to undermine both his and other proprietary governments, under the specious pretence of advancing the prerogative of the crown; and a bill for that purpose was brought into the House of Lords. His friends, the proprietors and adventurers here, presently represented the hardship of their case to the parliament, soliciting time for his return to answer for himself; and accordingly giving him a speedy account how matters stood, they pressed his coming over forthwith; with which he seeing it necessary to comply, summoned an assembly to meet at Philadelphia, to whom, on the 15th of September, 1701, he made the following speech, viz.

Friends,

'You cannot be more concerned than I am at the frequency of your service in assembly, since I am very sensible of the trouble and charge it contracts upon the country: but the motives being considered, and that you must have met of course in the next month, I hope you will not think it an hardship now.

The reason that hastens your sessions, is the necessity I am under, through the endeavours of the enemies of the prosperity of this country, to go for England; where, taking advantage of my absence, some have attempted, by false or unreasonable charges, to undermine our government, and thereby the true value of our labours and property. Government having been our first encouragement, I confess I cannot think of such a voyage without great reluctancy of mind, having promised myself the quietness of a wilderness, and that I might stay so long at least with you, as to render every body entirely easy and safe. For my heart is among you as well as my body, whatever some people may please to think; and no unkindness or disappointment shall (with submission to God's providence) ever be able to alter my love to the country, and resolution to return and settle my family and posterity in it: but having reason to believe I can at this time best serve you and myself on that side of the water, neither the rudeness of the season, nor tender circumstances of my family, can overrule my inclinations to undertake it.

'Think, therefore, (since all men are mortal) of some suitable expedient and provision for your safety, as well in your privileges as property, and you will find me ready to comply with whatsoever may render us happy by a nearer union of our interests.

Review again your laws; propose new ones that may

better your circumstances; and what you do, do quickly, remembering that the parliament sits the end of the next month, and that the sooner I am there, the safer I hope we shall be here.

'I must recommend to your serious thoughts and care, the king's letter to me for the assistance of New York with three hundred and fifty pounds sterling, as a frontier government: and therefore exposed to a much greater expense in proportion to other colonies; which I called the last assembly to take into their consideration, and they were pleased, for the reasons then given, to refer to this.

I am also to tell you the good news of the governor of New York, his happy issue of his conferences with the Five Nations of Indians, that he hath not only made peace with them, for the king's subjects of that colony, but (as I had by some letters before desired him) for those of all other governments under the crown of England on the continent of America, as also the nations of Indians within those respective colonies: which certainly merits our acknowledgments.

I have done, when I have told you, that unanimity and dispatch are the life of business, and that I desire and expect from you, for your own sakes, since it may so much contribute to the disappointment of those that too long have sought the ruin of our young country.'

The Assembly's Address.

'May it please the Proprietary and Governor,

We have this day in our assembly read thy speech, delivered yesterday in council; and having duly considered the same, cannot but be under a deep sense of sorrow for thy purpose of so speedily leaving us, and at the same time taking notice of thy paternal regard to us and our posterity, the freeholders of this province, and territories annexed, in thy loving and kind expressions of being ready to comply with whatsoever expedient and provisions we shall offer for our safety, as well in privileges as property, and what else may render us happy in a nearer union of our interests; not doubting the performance of what thou hast been so lovingly pleased to promise, we do in much humility, and as a token of our gratitude, return unto thee the unfeigned thanks of this house.

Subscribed by order of the house,

JOSEPH CROWDON, speaker.'

The next month he took shipping for England, and safely arrived at Portsmouth about the middle of December; and

the same month came up to London: after his return, the bill, which, through his friends solicitations, had been postponed the last sessions of parliament, was wholly dropped, and no farther progress made in that affair.

About two months after this, viz. on the eighth of the month called March 1701-2, king William died; and the princess Anne of Denmark ascended the throne, who began her reign with moderation and clemency, and declared for maintaining the act of toleration. Our author, being in the queen's favour, was often at court, and for his conveniency took lodgings at Kensington; where he wrote "More Fruits of Solitude, being a Second Part of Reflections and Maxims relating to the Conduct of Human Life." After which he removed to Knightsbridge, over against Hydepark-corner, where he resided for some years.

About this time," a bill to prevent occasional conformity was brought into the House of Commons; on which occasion he wrote a sheet entitled, "Considerations upon the Bill against Occasional Conformity."

In the year 1703, he wrote a preface to a book published by Dan. Philips, M. D. entitled, "Vindicia Veritatis, being a Defence of the Quakers' Principles, from the Misrepresentations of John Stilling fleet, a Clergyman in Lincolnshire:" and in the same year he published a preface to a collection of Charles Marshall's writings, entitled, "Zion's Travellers Comforted:" and in the next year a preface to the written labours of John Whitehead; all which the reader may find in the front of the books they were designed for.

Anno 1705, he wrote a short epistle, by way of exhortation, to his friends the Quakers, being as follows, viz.

My dear Friends,

'HOLD all your meetings in that which sat them up, the heavenly power of God, both ministers and hearers; and live under it, and not above it, and the Lord will give you dominion over that which seeks to draw you again into captivity to the spirit of this world, under divers appearances: that the truth may shine through you, in righteousness and holiness, in self-denial, long-suffering, patience, and brotherly-kindness; so shall you approve yourselves the redeemed of the Lord, and his living witnesses in and to an evil generation. So prays your friend and brother through the many tribulations that lead to the rest and kingdom of God. W. PENN.'

In this year he again visited the meetings of his friends

m 1702.

in the western parts of England; where he had good service, and his testimony was effectual to the information of many.

In the year 1706, he removed with his family to a convenient habitation, about a mile from Brentford, and eight from London, where he dwelt some years; and frequently attended the meeting at Brentford; which his friends, as well for the accommodation of his family, as the general service of their persuasion, then first appointed to be held there once a month.

In the year 1707, he was unhappily involved in a suit at law with the executors of a person who had been formerly his steward; against whose demands he thought both conscience and justice required his endeavours to defend himself. But his cause (though many thought him aggrieved) was attended with such circumstances, as that the Court of Chancery did not think it proper to relieve him; wherefore he was obliged to dwell in the Old Bailey, within the rules of the Fleet, some part both of this and the next ensuing year, until such time as the matter in dispute was accommodated.

Now" although the infirmities of old age began to visit him, and to lessen his abilities of continuing his service in the work of the ministry with his wonted alacrity; yet he travelled, as his strength and health would admit, into the west of England, as also the counties of Berks, Buckingham, Surry, and other places.

In the year 1710, the air near London not being agreeable to his declining constitution, he took a handsome seat at Rushcomb near Twyford in Buckinghamshire, where he had his residence during the remainder of his life.

In the year 1711, the works of an ancient friend of his, John Banks, being ready for the press, he dictated to a person, that wrote it from his mouth (as he walked to and fro with his cane in his hand, and gave occasional answers to other matters intervening) the following preface, which being the last piece he published, and observable for its concise and pithy expressions, we here insert.

The Preface to John Banks's Journal.
Friendly Reader,

THE labours of the servants of God ought always to be precious in the eyes of his people, and for that reason, the very fragments of their services are not to be lost, but gathered up for edification; and that is the cause we expose the following discourses to public view: and I hope it will

☐ 1709.