Page images
PDF
EPUB

of truth, or fome religious fubject whereby they might be diverted from thofe vain difcourfes that are too frequent in many companies. In his public teftimony he was many times zealously concerned for the convincement of strangers, being gifted for that service, having a good understanding, a ready utterance, and a clear way of delivery; and indeed his labour of love in that refpect did, through the bleffing of God, prove effectual to feveral. He has left in manufcript feveral pieces written in defence of truth, against priefts and others; particularly on immediate revelation, on the call of a gofpel minifter, on womens' preaching, baptifm, the Lord's fupper, &c. He travelled feveral times through this nation and in England; and in the year 1695, vifited Holland, fome parts of Germany, and Denmark, and some time after, Scotland, in the work of the miniftry; and at length, having been very ferviceable among friends for many years, and finished his course, he laid down his head in peace.

This year (17c6) feveral Friends, by appointment of the Province meeting, made a general vifit through the province of Ulfter, and returned fatisfactory accounts of their fervice.

This year (1707) also several Friends, appointed by the Quarterly meeting of Leinster, performed a vifit to the feveral Monthly meetings of that province to good fatisfaction. And in the year 1708, a like general vifit was made through the meetings in the province of Munfter with good effect.

This year (1708) Jofeph Pike published a Treatife on Baptifm and the Lord's Supper, which, though ordered to be printed at a national charge, the author chofe to do at his own coft.

N. B. It is no new thing, that the church of Chrift fhould flourish under perfecution, and, on the other hand, fuffer in a time of outward ease and tranquillity; for this has been ufually her lot. Accordingly, the

former part of this hiftory is pretty much made up of accounts of the zeal, piety and fervent charity that prevailed among the brethren in times of perfecution; on the contrary, the remaining parts of this narrative of the state of the church, in the days of tranquillity and ceffation from perfecution, will afford but too many inftances of the decay of love towards God and one another; and it were doing injustice to the prefent time to pass by the following obfervation, viz. That in the year 17c8, complaint was made from divers parts of the nation to the Half-year's meeting, of a lukewarm fpirit among the profeffors of truth, and particularly of the want of that true concern and travail of fpirit which ought to prevail, in the meetings for the worship of Almighty God; and it appeared to Friends at their National meeting, upon a ferious confideration of this complaint and grievance, that it might be very much occafioned through the too great love of, and too eager pursuit after, the things of this world; for which reafon the cautions formerly given forth against this evil, in divers minutes, were revived, and the more diligent obfervance thereof recommended.

About the fame time I find there was a weighty concern among Friends, for the regulation of men's and women's meetings, that none might be admitted members thereof, but fuch who were well inclined and concerned for the profperity of truth, according to the first inftitution; and William Edmundfon wrote an epiftle this year on this head, which was approved and recommended by the National meeting, and may be seen at the end of his journal.

Among other miniftring Friends who vifited this nation this year (1709), was James Dickinson, who had a particular warning to Friends and others, of a day of great mortality approaching.

VOL. III.

* See the Treatife of Christian Difcipline.

N

This year John Exham, a Friend, aged about eighty years, came from his dwelling at Charleville, in the county of Cork, and vifited Friends in their families through moft parts of the nation. See a further account of him in the year 1721.

This year (1710) and in the fixtieth of his age, died John Watfon of Kilconner in the county of Catherlough. He was convinced about the year 1673, by the miniftry of John Burnyeat; when he took up a refolution to be faithful, according to the then present manifeftation of his duty given him, notwithstanding its expofing him to fome difficulties, and fufferings from his parents and relations, for refufing to join with them in their way of worship, for ufing the plain language, &c. which was hard to be borne by his father, who with the archdeacon, John Plummer, used their endeavours to reduce him to a compliance with their church-ordinances by perfuafion, which proving ineffectual, the archdeacon threatened him with a prifon; to which he answered, I do not fear it, but will make ready for one,' and accordingly. he difpofed of fome of the land which he held, that he might have lefs rent and incumbrance lying on

him.

In the year 1678, a meeting was fettled at his house, which caufed the faid archdeacon Plummer, and Richard Boyle, bishop of Leighlin and Fernes, to be angry, and foon after he was fued in their court, and taken by a writ de excommunicato capiendo, for refufing to pay one pound fixteen 'fhillings, demanded towards the repairs of the worfhip-house at Fenagh; but before he was taken to prifon, the said Plummer meeting him, fpoke with feeming kindness to him, faying, if he would fubmit to them, and not fuffer meetings to be at his houfe, all fhould be paffed by and forgiven him; which he, for confcience fake refufing to comply with, the faid Plummer being enraged, faid, Take him away to prifon; there he

fhall lie till he rots;' and then going away, John Watfon called him back, and faid he was to tell him that he should not profper in what he intended against him, which accordingly came to pafs; for although John was fent to prifon that day, and closely confined for about fix months, he after that, by the favour of John Tench the fheriff, obtained fome liberty to go home to his family; whereat the faid Plummer being much difpleafed, went the week before the enfuing affizes to confult with the bishop, in order to fue the fheriff for granting him that liberty; but in returning home he was fuddenly fmote with the lofs of the ufe of his limbs, and continued in that condition for fome time before he died, whereupon the fuit dropt for that affize, and he lived not to fee his defign accomplished on the faid John Watson, who however continued a prifoner above two years.

He received a gift in the ministry in the year 1676, in the exercise of which he approved himself a faithful steward, and a diligent and zealous labourer, often vifiting the meetings of Friends in this nation, ́as alfo in England; and befides attending the meetings in the province of Leinster, to which he belonged, he usually once a year, whilft of ability to travel, vifited the meetings of Friends in the other two provinces of Ulfter and Munfter, and the Lord was pleased to blefs his concern and labour of love therein, to the convincement of fome, and edification and comfort of many." He was alfo ferviceable in difcipline, being zealous to keep up good order, and that all might walk as becometh the gofpel, in an holy and blameless conversation, wherein he was a good example, and careful to rule well his own house. He died in great peace of confcience, and refignation

* Robert Lecky of Kilmainham, accompanying him and Anthony Sharp, in a journey to the north, was convinced, and became a ferviceable man to the Society.

to the will of God, with the comfort of an affurance that he had finished his day's work in his day.

A general vifit was performed, (1711) by Friends. appointed by the Province meeting, through the province of Leinster, in order to ftir up Friends effectually, to put in practice the feveral advices that had been from time to time given forth, from national and other meetings.

This year the following Friends were appointed to go over to London, in order to join Friends in England in foliciting the English parliament, for further eafe with refpect to the affirmation, (fee the year 1696 above) and accordingly they went over on that account, viz. Alexander Seaton, John Barcroft, Thomas Ducket, John Boles, Nicholas Harris and Gerfhon Boate, fon of the late Gershon Boate.

And in the year 1712, a treatife concerning oaths, formerly printed at London in the year 1675, was, by order of the Half-year's meeting, reprinted here for a general fervice, to the number of one thoufand.

Among other miniftring Friends from abroad, who vifited this nation this year, was James Hofkins, who having been here last year, and upon fome extraor dinary occafion returned to England, landed a fecond time in Dublin, went from thence northwards, and had meetings among ftrangers in the counties of Derry and Donnegal. At Londonderry he was handled roughly, and put out of the city, nor would they fuffer him to have a meeting, yet he had good fervice in feveral places thereaway. Afterwards he went into Connaught, accompanied by feveral Friends from Dublin, and had feveral meetings in that province among frangers, and without moleftation, except at Caftlebar, where the people were intimidated from going to the meeting by fir Henry Bingham, the chief man of that place, and juftice of the peace, who threatened to fend them to the house of correction if they went to the meeting, and by his au

« PreviousContinue »