CONTENTS. Volume the First. SECTION 1.-The author's reasons for writing his Journal.— His education and early views as to religion.—Attends the christening of an infant.-Dispute with a papist on transubstantiation. -An early review of his past life.-A state of deep religious exercise in 1689.-Succeeded by precious consolation.-A dream. -A song of praise.-A prayer. Page 13 SECT. II.-Considerations on the national worship, in 1690.Practices religious retirement instead of it.-His first attendance at a Friend's meeting for worship; and of another for discipline.— A test of his belief in the unlawfulness of oaths-and on drinking healths. His convictions on these points originated in his own mind also on the two sacraments-on which he has a discussion with Dr. Gilpin.-Alludes to divers disputations. 62 SECT. III.-Some change in his father's views respecting him. He quits the profession of the law in 1691.-Travels with Andrew Taylor and afterwards with John Bowstead in Scotland. -First acquaintance with William Penn, in 1693.—Travels with Thomas Wilson.-His view of entering on the work of Gospel Ministry. His yielding to that service.-He leaves his father's house. 104 SECT. IV.-Visits some of the South and West parts of England. with Aaron Atkinson, 1694.-Settles in London as a conveyancer, 1695.-Visits the North of England and Scotland, accompanied by Henry Atkinson, 1696.-Visits Peter the Great, 1697. 134 SECT. V.-Visits Ireland in company with William Penn and John Everott.-Epistle to the Yearly Meeting in London.-Pro- vidential preservation of a gentlewoman and her daughter, during the siege of Cork.-Discourses with a Romish Priest at Clonmel SECT. VI. His concern to visit America.-Goes with Roger SECT. VII.-Continuation of his religious visit in America from the 5th month, 1699.-Christ dwelling in his people.-The gentiles doing by nature the things contained in the law. Their Instructor the Spirit of Christ.-New England law for a forced SECT. VIII.-The Author being at liberty to return to England at the close of the year 1699 or beginning of 1700, is appointed Recorder, &c. &c. hy William Penn.-Visits the THE LIFE OF THOMAS STORY. Section E. The author's reasons for writing his Journal.-His education and early views as to religion.-Attends the christening of an infant.-Dispute with a papist on transubstantiation.-An early review of his past life.-A state of deep religious exercise in 1689.-Succeeded by precious consolation.-A dream.-A song of praise.-A prayer. THAT which I intend by the following work, is, to record the tender mercies and judgments of the Lord; to relate my own experience of his dealings with me through the course of my life; and to write a faithful journal of my travels and labours in the service of the Gospel; which I design for my own review, and likewise for the B serious perusal of all those who may incline to inquire into things of this nature. I have solid evidence to believe that the Lord, in his great mercy and kindness, had an eye upon me for my good even in my infancy, inclining my heart to seek after Him in my tender years from whence, I may reasonably conclude, arose that early inclination I had to solitude; in which I sometimes had religious thoughts, and frequently read in the Holy Scriptures, which I ever loved and still do, above all books, as most worthy and most profitable; especially the New Testament, in which I chiefly delighted. In this state my mind suffered many flowings and ebbings; and as I grew up towards a young man, I found myself under great disadvantages in matters of religion, as I was then circumstanced; for my father intending me for the study of the law, which being esteemed a genteel profession, he first sent me to the fencing school, as a fashionable and manly accomplishment. Here I became a considerable proficient in a short time, and obtained the chief vogue over all my neighbouring contemporaries in that faculty, by which my mind was greatly drawn out, and too much alienated from those beginnings of solidity which I had once known: and having acquired some skill also in music, the exercise of that occasioned an acquaintance and society not profitable to religion; though I was hitherto preserved from such things as are generally accounted evils among mankind. After this I was put to the study of the law, under a counsellor in the country, thereby to be initiated, with a design to be entered afterwards into one of the inns of court, and to make further progress and finish there: but being much in the country, and the family sober and religious in their way, of the most moderate sort of Presbyterians, I had again the advantage of solitude and little company, and that innocent; so that my mind returned to its former state, and further search after Truth. And though I had, at times, some youthful airs, yet, through secret grace, I was preserved from gross evils, and gained respect from all the family.' During my abode with this counsel, I was several times with him at London, where, by the fear of God, I was preserved from vice and evil company, which much abound in that great and populous city; though not without temptations, not otherwise to be resisted than by the secret influence of Grace, which supersedes them; though it may not always be immediately apprehended by such as are preserved by it. And though I was educated in the way of the 1 1686. B 2 |