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The Journal of John Woolman
A TESTIMONY of the Monthly Meeting of Friends, held in Burlington, the Firstday from the Eighth Month, in the year in our Lord 1774, concerning our esteemedfriend, John Woolman, deceased.
HE was born in Northampton, within the county of Burlington and province of WestNew Jersey, in the Eighth Month, 1720, of spiritual parents, who instructed himvery at the start of the foundations from the Christian religion as professed by thepeople called Quakers, that they esteemed a blessing to him even in his youngeryears, looking after preserve him from the infection of wicked children. But,with the workings of the enemy and the levity incident to youth, he frequently deviated from those parental precepts, by which he laid a renewedfoundation for repentance that was finally succeeded with a "godly sorrow not tobe repented of"; and so he became knowledgeable about that sanctifying power whichqualifies for true gospel ministry, into that they was called concerning the twentysecond year of his age; and by a faithful use of the talents dedicated to himhe experienced an increase, until he arrived at your a parent, capableof dividing the term aright towards the different states he ministered unto,dispensing milk to babes and meat to people of riper years. Thus he found theefficacy of this capacity to arise, which, in his own expressions, "prepares thecreature to face like a trumpet through which god talks to His people."He would be a loving husband, a tender father, and was very humane to each part ofthe creation under his care.
His concern for that poor and those in affliction was evident by his visits tothem, whom he frequently relieved by his assistance and charity. He was formany years deeply exercised on account of the poor enslaved Africans, whosecause, as he mentioned, lay almost continually upon him; and that he laboured toobtain liberty for all those captives both in public as well as in private, and wasfavoured to determine his endeavours crowned with considerable success. He wasparticularly desirous that Friends shouldn't be instrumental to put burdens onthis oppressed people, but should recall the times of struggling with whichthey have been providentially delivered, that, if times of trouble shouldreturn, no injustice dealt to those in slavery might increase in judgment againstus, but, being clear, we might on such occasions address the Almighty with adegree of confidence for His interposition and relief, being particularlycareful regarding himself to not contenance slavery even through thoseconveniences of life that have been provided by their labour.
He was desirous to have his own mind and also the minds of others redeemed fromthe pleasures and immoderate profits of this world,canada goose price, and to fix them on thosejoys which fade not away; his principal care being following a lifetime of purity,canada goose jacket,endeavouring to avoid not only the grosser pollutions, but those also which,appearing inside a more refined dress, aren't sufficiently guarded against by somewelldisposed people. In the latter a part of his life, he was remarkable for theplainness and ease of his dress, and as almost as much ast possible avoided the useof plate, costly furniture, and feasting, thereby endeavouring to become anexample of temperance and selfdenial which he believed himself called unto;and he was favoured with peace therein, even though it carried the look ofgreat austerity in the look at some. He was very moderate in the charges in theway of business, as well as in his desires after gain; and though a man of industry,he avoided and strove much to lead others out of extreme labour and anxietyafter perishable things, being desirous that the strength in our bodies mightnot be spent in procuring things unprofitable, and that we would use moderation and kindness towards the brute animals under our care, to prize using them as agreat favour, and by no way to abuse them; the gifts of Providenceshould be thankfully received and applied to the uses they were created for.
He many times opened a school at Mount Holly, for the instruction of poorFriend' children yet others, being concerned for their help and improvementtherein. His love and care for the rising youths among us was truly great,recommending to parents and those who possess the control of them to chooseconscientious and pious tutors, saying, "It is really a lovely sight to beholdinnocent children"; and that to "labour for their help against what wouldmar the beauty of their brains is a debt we owe them."His ministry was sound, very deep and penetrating, sometimes pointout out thedangerous situation which indulgence and custom led into, frequently exhortingothers, especially the youth, to not be discouraged at the difficulties whichoccur, but to press after purity. He often expressed an earnest engagement thatpure wisdom should be dealt with, which would lead into lowliness of mind andresignation towards the divine will, in which state small possessions here would besufficient.
In transacting the affairs of the discipline, his judgment was sound andclear, and he was very useful for with people who tried amiss; hevisited such in a private means by that plainess which truth dictates, showinggreat tenderness and Christian forbearance. He was a constant attender of ourYearly Meeting, in which he was a good example especially useful,assisting in the business thereof with great weight and a focus. He severaltimes visited the majority of the meetings of Friends in this and the neighbouringprovinces, with the concurrence from the Monthly Meeting to which he belonged,and that we have reason to think he did good service therein, generally or alwaysexpressing at his return the way it had fared with him and the evidence of peace inhis mind for thus performing his duty. He was often worried about otherFriends in the important service of visiting families, that they was enabled togo right through to satisfaction.
In the minutes from the meeting of ministers and elders with this quarter, atthe foot of the listing of the members of that meeting,www.america1063fm.com/2013/10/canada-goose-home-sverige/, made about five years beforehis death, we find in his handwriting the following observation andreflections:
"As looking over the minutes produced by persons who have delay this body hathsometimes revived in me a concept how ages perish, so this list may probablyrevive a like thought in some, when I and also the rest of the persons above namedare centered in another state to be. God who was the guide of my youth hath in tender mercies helped me hitherto; He hath healed my wounds; He hathhelped me from grievous entanglements; He remains to be the effectiveness of mylife, to whom I need to devote myself over time as well as in eternity.
"John Woolman"In the Twelth Month, 1771, he acquainted this meeting he felt his minddrawn towards a spiritual trip to Friends in certain parts of England,particularly in Yorkshire. In the First Month, 1772, he obtained ourcertificate, that was approved and indorsed by our Quarterly Meeting, and bythe HalfYear's Meeting of ministers and elders at Philadelphia. He embarked onhis voyage within the Fifth Month, and found its way to London in the Sixth Monthfollowing, at the time of their Annual Meeting for the reason that city. Throughout his shortvisit to Friends for the reason that kingdom, we are informed that his services wereacceptable and edifying. In the last illness he uttered many lively andcomfortable expressions, being "resigned, without will either to live ordie," as appears by the testimony of Friends at York in the uk, in thesuburbs whereof, in the house in our friend Thomas Priestman, he died of thesmallpox, around the 7th from the Tenth Month,canada goose online shopping, 1772, and was buried in Friends'
burialground for the reason that city, on the 9th of the identical, after a solid meeting heldon the occasion at their great meetinghouse. He was aged near fiftytwo,being a minister up to thirty years, where he belongedto Mount Holly particular meeting, that they diligently attended when at homeand in health of body, and his labours of love and pious care for theprosperity of Friends within the blessed truth, we hope may not be forgotten, butthat his good works might be remembered to edification.
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