for in a few months after Fletcher, a mere stranger, had arrived, they granted him a provision, and made the Crown a present; while for years, even up to that very time, they had not so much as furnished a table for William Penn. These things made them wish for their

former governor again.

Though the thoughts of Penn were naturally directed towards Pennsylvania, yet the loss of his wife made it impossible for him to go there for the present. He felt it his duty to stay at home for a while, that he might comfort and instruct his family; and that he might make what arrangements were necessary in his domestic con

cerns.

While thus confined to his house, he wrote "An Account of the Rise and Progress of the People called Quakers, in which their fundamental Principles, Doctrines, Worship, Ministry, and Discipline, were plainly declared." He also wrote about this time, a small pamphlet called "A Visitation to the Jews."

While employed in this manner, two events took place of a most pleasing character. The first was a complete reconciliation with his own religious society. The second was his restoration to the government of Pennsylvania. Soon after his last discharge by the King and Council, Penn had sent a petition to the King, requesting to be restored. The King having taken the subject into consideration, thought it but just and reasonable to comply with his request. Accordingly an instrument was made out by the royal order, by which he was restored to his government; and the way in which this instrument was worded, was particularly creditable to William Penn, for it was declared therein, that the disorder and confusion into which the Province and Territories had fallen, which had been the pretence for dispossessing him, had been occasioned entirely by his absence from them. I may add to this, that he now began to rise again in the estimation of his countrymen at large. While Fuller, his accuser, was living in disgrace, Penn, after having passed through four fiery trials, was raised to greater honour than before.

Having arranged his domestic concerns, and obtained his former rank and character in society, he visited the counties of Glocester, Somerset, Devon, and Dorset, as a minister of the Gospel, having meetings almost daily, both in the most considerable towns and other places in those counties, to which the people flocked abundantly; and his testimony to the truth was received by many. "At Bridgewater," says John Whiting, "he had a great meeting in the Town-hall, as he had in most places, the Mayors generally consenting to this for the respect they had to him, and few places else being sufficient to hold the meetings. What a delightful change!

In a letter to John Gratton, which he wrote after his return to London, he says,

"As yet I have not seen my own home above these four months. I am a poor pilgrim on the earth, yet my hope is established for an abiding place in an unchangeable world.

"Dear John, never trouble thyself with priests. Let them have our books. Take two or three gross things from theirs, confute them, and leave the rest."

About this time died Thomas Lloyd, whom I have had occasion so often to mention. He died at the early age of fifty-four, greatly lamented by all who knew him. On his death bed, after an illness of only six days, he o ok leave of those who were near him in the following words: "I die in unity and love with all faithful friends. I have fought a good fight. I have kept the faith, which stands not in the wisdom of words, but in the power of God. I have sought, not for strife and contention, but for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the simplicity of the Gospel. I lay down my head in peace, and desire you may all do so.

Farewell."

About this time, 1693, the Quakers petitioned Parliament for an act to make their affirmation equal to their oath, and Penn, being appointed to act for them, appeared before the House of Commons, and delivered there a paper containing their request, and stating their reasons for urging it upon them.

Soon after this he travelled again in the work of the ministry, as in the former year. At Wells, while in the midst of his discourse, a constable and other officers came with a warrant signed by the Mayor and a Justice, and, breaking through the people, seized him, and hurried him away before the magistrates. The magistrates however did not detain him long; for finding upon examination that the place had been licensed by the bishop, and that by disturbing a lawful assembly they had overshot their mark, they excused themselves as well as they could, and were glad to dismiss him; "having done just enough," as one of the old writers of his life says, manifest the keenness of their stomachs for the old work of devouring, in that they could not refrain from whetting their teeth again, after the act of toleration had blunted them."

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CHAPTER XXII

A. 1696.

IN MARCH, 1696, Penn married again. His wife was Hannah Callowhill, daughter of Thomas Callowhill, merchant, of Bristol. A few weeks after he had brought his newly married wife home, he lost his eldest son. He was a youth of high attainments, and most amiable and engaging manners, and had been looked up to as a child of no mean promise. He had passed his twentieth year, and his father felt greatly the affliction of losing him.

In a short account which Penn drew up of his son, he says:

"My very dear child did from his childhood manifest a disposition to goodness, and gave me a hope of a more than ordinary capacity; and time satisfied me in both respects. For besides a good share of learning and mathematical knowledge, he showed a judgment in the use and application of it much above

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his years. He had the seeds of many good qualities rising in him, that made him beloved and consequently lamented; but especially his humility, plainness, and truth, with a tenderness and softness of nature, which, if I may say it, were an improvement upon his other good qualities. For more than half a year before it pleased the Lord to visit him with weakness, he grew more retired, and much disengaged from youthful delights. But when he saw his state doubtful as to health, he turned his mind more apparently still to the Lord, praying often with great fervency, and uttering many thankful expressions and praises. One day he said to us, 'I am resigned to what God pleaseth He knows what is best. I would live, if it pleased him, that I. might serve him; but, O Lord, not my will, but thine be done!'

"A person speaking to him of the things of this world, a d what might please him when recovered, he answered, 'My eye looks another way, where the truest pleasure is.' When he told me he had rested well, and I said it was a mercy to him, he quickly replied with a serious yet sweet look, 'All is mercy, dear father; every thing is mercy.' Another time when I went to meeting, at parting he said, 'Remember me, my dear father, before the Lord. Though I cannot go to meetings, yet I have many good meetings. The Lord comes in upon my spirit. I have heavenly meetings with him by myself."

"Not many days before he died, at my return from a meeting, asking him how he did, he told me, 'O, I have had a sweet time, a blessed time! great enjoyments! The power of the Lord overcame my soul: a sweet time indeed!'

"And telling him how some of the gentry, who had been to visit him, were gone to their games, and sports, and pleasures, and how little consideration the children of men had of God and their latter end, and how much happier he was in this weakness to have been otherwise educated and preserved from those temptations to vanity, he answered, 'It is all stuff, my dear father: it is sad stuff. O that I might live to tell them so !' Well, my dear child,' I replied, 'let this be the time of thy entering into secret covenant with God, that, if he raise thee, thou wilt dedicate thy youth, strength, and life to him and his people and service.' He replied, with great tenderness upon his spirit, Father, that is not now to do; it is not now to do.'

"Being ever almost near him, and doing any thing for him he wanted or desired, he broke out with much sense and love, 'My dear father, if I live, I will make thee amends;' and speaking to him of divine enjoyments, that the eye of man saw not, but which the soul made alive by the Spirit of Christ plainly felt, he cried out, O, I had a sweet time yesterday by myself! Blessed be his name! My soul praises him for his mercy. father, it is of the goodness of the Lord that I am so well as I am.' Fixing his eyes upon his sister, he took her by the hand,

saying, 'Poor Tishe, look to good things! Poor Child, there is no comfort without it! One drop of the love of God is worth more than all the world. I know it. I have tasted it. I have felt as much or more of the love of God in this weakness than in all my life before.' At another time as I stood by him, he looked up upon me, and said, 'Dear father, sit by me! I love thy company, and I know thou lovest mine; and, if it be the Lord's will that we must part, be not troubled, for that would trouble me.'

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Taking something one night in bed just before his going to rest, he sat up and fervently prayed thus: 'O Lord God! Thou, whose Son said to his disciples, Whatever ye ask in my name ye shall receive; I pray thee in his name bless this to me this night, and give me rest, if it be thy blessed will !' And accordingly he had a very comfortable night, of which he took a thankful notice before us next day.

"And when he at one time more than ordinarily expressed a desire to live, and entreated me to pray for him, he added, 'And, dear father, if the Lord should raise me, and enable me to serve him and his people, then I might travel with thee sometimes, and we might ease one another,' (meaning in the ministry.) He spoke this with great modesty; upon which I said to him, My dear child, if it please the Lord to raise thee, I am satisfied it will be so; and if not, then, inasmuch as it is thy fervent desire in the Lord, he will look upon thee just as if thou didst live to serve him, and thy comfort will be the same. So either way

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it will be well: for if thou shouldest not live, I do verily believe thou wilt have the recompense of thy good desires, without the temptations and troubles that would attend if long life were granted to thee.'

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Saying one day thus, ' I am resolved I will have such a thing done,' he immediately corrected himself, and fell into this reflection with much contrition, 'Did I say, I will? O Lord, forgive me that irreverent and hasty expression! I am a poor weak creature, and live by Thee, and therefore I should have said, If it pleaseth Thee that live, I intend to do so. Lord, forgive my rash expression!'

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Two or three days before his departure he called his brother to him, and, looking seriously upon him, said, Be a good boy, and know that there is a God, a great and mighty God, who is a rewarder of the righteous, and so he is of the wicked, but their rewards are not the same. Have a care of idle people and idle company, and love good company and good friends, and the Lord will bless thee. I have seen good things for thee since my sickness, if thou dost but fear the Lord: and if I should not live (though the Lord is all-sufficient,) remember what I say to thee, when I am dead and gone. Poor child, the Lord bless thee !