FROM "THE SNAKE BROKEN," A THANKSGIVING DISCOURSE PREACHED AT THE DESIRE OF THE WEST CHURCH IN BOSTON, N. E., FRIDAY, May 23, 1766; OCCASIONED BY THE REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT.

Brethren, ye hars been called unto LIBERTY; only use not LIBERTY for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve oneanother.-Aг. PAUL

We have never known so quick and general a transition from the depth of sorrow to the height of joy, as on this occasion; nor, indeed, so great and universal a flow of either, on any other occasion whatever. It is very true, we have heretofore seen times of great adversity. We have known seasons of drought, dearth and spreading mortal diseases; the pestilence walking in darkness, and the destruction wasting at noonday. We have seen wide devastations made by fire; and amazing tempests, the heavens on flame, the winds and the waves roaring. We have known repeated earthquakes, threatening us with speedy destruction. We have been under great apprehensions by reason of formidable flects of an enemy on our coasts, menacing fire and sword to all our maritime towns. We have known times when the French and Savage armies made terrible havock on our frontiers, carrying all before them for a while; when we were not without fear, that some capital towns in the colonies would fall into their merciless hands. Such times as these we have known; at some of which almost every "face ga thered paleness," and the knees of all but the good and brave, waxed feeblo. But never have we known VOL. 1.-10

a season of such universal consternation and anxiety among people of all ranks and ages, in these colonies, as was occasioned by that parliamentary procedure, which threatened us and our posterity with perpetual bondage and slavery. For they, as we generally suppose, are really slaves to all intents and purposes, who are obliged to labor and toil only for the benefit of others; or, which comes to the same thing, the fruit of whose labor and industry may be lawfully taken from them without their consent, and they justly punished if they refuse to surrender it on demand, or apply it to other purposes than those, which their masters, of their mere grace and pleasure, see fit to allow. Nor are there many American understandings acute enough to distinguish any ma terial difference between this being done by a single person, under the title of an absolute monarch, and done by a far-distant legislature consisting of many persons, in which they are not represented; and the members whereof, instead of feeling, and sharing equally with them in the burden thus imposed, are cased of their own in proportion to the greatness and weight of it. It may be questioned, whether the ancient Greeks or Romans, or any other nation in which slavery was allowed, carried their idea of it much farther than this. So that our late apprchensions, and universal consternation, on account of ourselves and posterity, were far, very far indeed, from being groundless. For what is there in this world more wretched, than for those who were born free, and have a right to continue so, to be inade slaves themselves, and to think of leaving a race of slaves behind them; even though it be to masters, confessedly the most humane and generous in the world! Or what wonder is it, if after groaning with a low voice for a while to no purpose, we at length groaned so loudly, as to be heard more than three thousand miles; and to be pitied throughout Europe, wherever it is not hazardous to mention even the name of liberty, unless it be to reproach it, as only another name for sedition, faction or rebellion!

The REPEAL, the REPEAL, has at once, in a good measure, restored things to order, and composed our minds by removing the chief ground of our fears The course of justice between man and man is no longer obstructed; commerce lifts up her head, adorned with golden tresses, pearls, and precious stones. All things that went on right before are returning gradually to their former course; those that did not we have reason to hope will go on better now; almost every person you meet wears the smiles of contentment and joy; and even our slaves rejoice as though they had received their manumission. Indeed, all the lovers of liberty in Europe, in the world, have reason to rejoice; the cause is, in some measure, common to them and us. Blessed revolu tion! glorious change! How great are our obliga. tions for it to the Supreme Governor of the world! He hath given us beauty for ashes, and the oil of gladness for the spirit of heaviness. He hath turned our groans into songs, our mourning into dancing. He hath put off our sackcloth, and girded us with gladness, to the end that our tongues, our glory may sing praises to him. Let us all, then, rejoice in the Lord, and give honor to him; not forgetting to add the obedience of our lives, as the best sacrifice that we can offer to Heaven; and which, if neglected, will prove all our other sacrifices have been but ostentation and hypocrisy, which are an abomination to the Lord.

If I may be indulged here in saying a few words

in a passive obedience to authority. I was on horse back when he spake to me; and as I turnel from him, he said he was obliged to me: to which I said nothing; but thinking on the expression, I grew uneasy; and afterwards being near where he lived, I went and told hun on what grounds I refused taking pay for keeping the soldier.

In 1763 he determined to visit the Indians on the east branch of the Susquehannah, some of whom he had met at Philadelphia. Some Friends who had heard of his intention came from that city to him, so late, that friends were generally gone to bed," to warn him that the Indians "had taken a fort from the English westward, and slain and scalped English people in divers places, some near Pittsburg," and of the consequent dangers of the journey; but he was not to be deterred, and on the following morning set out with two companions and a guide. The journey occupied the greater portion of the month of June; and its record forms some of the pleasantest portions of our Friend's Journal. We extract some passages:

We reached the Indian settlement at Wioming: and here we were told that an Indian runner had been at that place a day or two before us, and brought news of the Indians taking an English fort, westward, and destroying the people, and that they were endeavouring to take another; and also, that another Indian runner came there about the middle of the night before we got there, who came from a town about ten miles above Wehaloosing, and brought news, that some Indian warriors, from distant parts, came to that town with two English scalps; and told the people that it was war with the English.

Our guides took us to the house of a very ancient man; and soon after we had put in our baggage

there came a man from another Indian house some distance off; and I, perceiving there was a man near the door, went out; and he having a tomahawk, wrapped under his matchcoat out of sight, as I approached him, he took it in his hand; I, however, went forward, and, speaking to him in a friendly way, perceived he understood some English: my companion then coming out we had some talk with him concerning the nature of our visit in these parts; and then he, going into the house with us, and talking with our guides, soon appeared friendly, and sat down and smoaked his pipe. Though his taking the hatchet in his hand at the instant I drew near to him, had a disagreeable appearance, I believe he had no other intent than to be in readiness in case any violence was offered to him.

Hearing the news brought by these Indian unners, and being told by the Indians where we lolged, that what Indians were about Wioming expected, in a few days, to move to some larger towns, I thought that, to all outward appearance, it was dangerous travelling at this time; and was, after a hard day's journey, brought into a painful exercise at night, in which I had to trace back, and view over the steps I had taken from my first moving in the visit; and though I had to bewail some weakness, which, at times, had attended me, yet I could not find that I had ever given way to a wilful disobedience: and then, as I believed I had, under a sense of duty, come thus far, I was now earnest in spirit, beseeching the Lord to show me what I ought to do. In this great distress I grew jealous of my self, lest the desire of reputation, as a man firmly settled to persevere through dangers, or the fear of

disgrace arising on my returning without performing the visit, might have some place in me: thus I lay, full of thoughts, great part of the night, while my beloved companion lay and slept by me; till the Lord, my gracious Father, who saw the conflicts of my soul, was pleased to give quietness: then I was again strengthened to commit iny life, and all things relating thereto, into his heavenly hands; and getting a little sleep toward day, when morning came

we arose.

On the fourteenth day of the sixth month, we sought out and visited all the Indians hereabouts that we could meet with; they being chiefly in one place, about a mile from where we lodged, in all perhaps twenty. Here I expressed the care I had on iny nind for their good; I fold them, that true love had made me willing thus to leave my family to come and see the Indians, and speak with them in their houses. Some of them appeared kind and friendly. So we took our leave of these Indians, and went up the river Susquehannah, about three miles, to the house of an Indian called Jacob January, who had killed his hog; and the women were making store of bread, and preparing to move up the river. Here our pilots left their canoe when they came down in the Spring, which, lying dry, was leaky; so that we, being detained some hours, had a good deal of friendly conversation with the family; and, eating dinner with them, we inade them some small presents. Then, putting our baggage in the canoe, some of them pushed slowly up the stream, and the rest of us rode our horses: and swimming them over a creek called Lahawahamunk, we pitched our tent a little above it, being a shower in the evening; and in a sense of God's goodness in helping me in my distress, sustaining me under trials, and inclining my heart to trust in him, I lay down in an humble bowed frame of mind, and had a comfortable night's lodging.

having been some time under a religious conIn 1772, after a long and debilitating sickness, cern to prepare for crossing the scas," he made preparations to visit England. In consequence of singular religious scruples he took passage in the steerage.

I told the owner, that on the outside of that part of the ship where the cabbin was, I observed sundry sorts of carved work and imagery: and that in the cabbin I observed some superfluity of workmanship of several sorts; and that according to the ways of men's reckoning, the sum of money to be paid for a passage in that apartment, hath some relation to the expence of furnishing it to please the minds of such who give way to a conformity to this world; and that in this case, as in other cases, the money received from the passengers, are calculated to answer every expence relating to their passage, and amongst the rest, of these superfluities: and that in this case, I felt a scruple with regard to paying my money to defray such expences.

As my mind was now opened, I told the owner, that I had, at several times in my travels, seen great oppressions on this continent, at which my heart had been much affected, and brought into a feeling of the state of the sufferers. And having many times been engaged, in the fear and love of God, to labour with those under whom the oppressed have been borne down and afflicted, I have often per ecived, that a view to get riches, and provide estates for children to live conformable to customs, which stand in that spirit wherein men have regard to the honours of this world-that in the pursuit of these things, I had seen many entangled in the spi

rit of oppression; and the exercise of my soul had been such, that I could not find peace in joining in any such thing which I saw was against that wis doin which is pure.

His account of the voyage contains many humane and sensible suggestions for the better care of sailors, and abounds in devout and well penned reflections. On his arrival in England he visited a few meetings of his sect. He refused to travel by stage-coach or receive letters by post, on humanitarian grounds.

As my journey hath been without a horse, I have had several offers of being assisted on my way in the stage coaches; but have not been in the:n: nor have I had freedom to send letters by the posts, in the present way of their riding; the stages being so fixed, and one boy dependent on another as to time, that they commonly go upwards of one hun dred miles in twenty-four hours; and in the cold long winter nights, the poor boys suffer much.

I heard in America of the way of these posts; and cautioned friends in the general meeting of ministers and elders at Philadelphia, and in the yearlymeeting of ministers and elders at London, not to send letters to me on any common occasion by post. And though, on this account, I may be likely to hear seldomer from my family left behind: yet, for righteousness' sake, I am, through Divine favour, made content.

He was also troubled about dye-stuffs.

Having of late travelled often in wet weather, through narrow streets in towns and villages, where dirtiness under foot, and the scent arising from that filth, which more or less infects the air of all thick settled towns; and I, being but weakly, have felt distress both in body and mind with that which is impure.

In these journies I have been where much cloth hath been dyed; and sundry times walked over ground, where much of their dye stuff's have drained

away.

Here I have felt a longing in my mind, that people might come into cleanness of spirit, cleanness of person, cleanness about their houses and gar

ments.

Some, who are great, carry delicacy to a great height themselves, and yet the real cleanliness is not generally promoted. Dyes being invented partly to please the eye, and partly to hide dirt, I have felt in this weak state, travelling in dirtiness and affected with unwholesome scents, a strong desire that the nature of dying cloth, to hide dirt, may be more fully considered.

To hide dirt in our garments, appears opposite to the real cleanliness,

To wash garments, and keep them sweet, this appears cleanly.

Through giving way to hiding dirt in our garments, a spirit which would cover that which is disagreeable, is strengthened.

Real cleanness becometh a holy people: but hiding that which is not clean by colouring our garments appears contrary to the sweetness of sincerity.

Through some sorts of dyes, cloth is less useful; and if the value of dye-stuffs, the expence of dying, and the damage done to cloth, were all added together, and that expence applied to keep all sweet and clean, how much more cleanly would people be.

The journal closes abruptly, a few pages after, with some remarks on eloquence, which have much of the quality of which they treat.

The natural man loveth eloquence, and many love to hear eloquent orations; and if there is not a careful attention to the gift, men who have once laboured in the pure gospel ministry, growing weary of suffering, and ashamed of appearing weak, may kindle a fire, compass themselves about with sparks, and walk in the light, not of Christ who is under suffering; but of that fire, which they, going from the gift, have kindled: And that in hearers, which are gone from the meek, suffering state, into the worldly wisdom, may be warmed with this fire, and speak highly of these labours That which is of God gathers to God; and that which is of the world is owned by the world.

In this journey a labour hath attended my mind, that the ministers amongst us may be preserved in the meek feeling life of Truth, where we may have no desire, but to follow Christ and be with him; that when he is under suffering we may suffer with him; and never desire to raise up in dominion, but as he by the virtue of his own spirit may raise

us.

A few days after writing these considerations, our dear friend," says the kind hand who continues the record, "came to the city of York,” where before the sittings of the quarterly meeting were over, he was taken ill of the small-pox. An account of his sickness from day to day follows.

His disorder appeared to be the small-pox: being asked to have a doctor's advice, he signified he had not freedom or liberty in his mind so to do, standing wholly resigned to his will, who gave him life, and whose power he had witnessed to raise and heal him in sickness before, when he seemed nigh unto death; and if he was to wind up now, he was per fectly resigned, having no will either to live or die, and did not choose any should be sent for to him: but a young man, an apothecary, coming of his own accord the next day, and desiring to do something for him, he said he found a freedom to confer with him and the other friends about him, and if any thing should be proposed, as to medicine, that did not come through defiled channels or oppressive hands, he should be willing to consider and take, so far as he found freedom.

The disease made rapid and fatal progress. Ilis last act, "about the second hour on fourth-day morning," was to call for pen and ink, and, being unable to speak, write, "I believe my being here is in the wisdom of Christ, I know not as to life or death."

Four hours after, he expired "without sigh, groan, or struggle."

Woolman's chief productions, in addition to his Journal, are-Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes, the_tract_already referred to; Considerations on Pure Wisdom and Human Policy, on Labour, on Schools, and on the Right Use of the Lord's Outward Gifts, 1768; Considerations on the True Harmony of Mankind, and how it is to be Maintained, 1770; Remarks on Sundry Subjects, 1778; An Epistle to the Quar terly and Monthly Meetings of Friends, 1772; and A Word of Remembrance and Caution to the Rich. Our extract is taken from the Remarks on

Sundry Subjects.

Worship in silence hath often been refreshing to my mind, and a care attends me that a young generation may feel the nature of this worship.