Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman (SRSC 12)

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Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman

peaceable way, and many of their children were taught to labor for their living. Few of these, I believe, settled in any of the Southern Provinces; but by the faithful labors of traveling Friends in early times there was considerable convincement among the inhabitants of these parts. I also remembered having read of the warlike disposition of many of the first settlers in those provinces, and of their numerous engagements with the natives in which much blood was shed even in the infancy of the colonies. Some of the people inhabiting those places, being grounded in customs contrary to the pure truth,* were affected with the powerful preaching of the Word of Life and joined in fellowship with our Society,* and in so doing they had a great work to go through. In the history of the Reformation from Popery it is observable that the progress was gradual from age to age. The uprightness of the first Reformers in attending to the light and understanding given to them opened the way for sincere-hearted people to proceed further afterward; and thus each one truly fearing God and laboring in the works of righteousness appointed for him in his day finds acceptance with Him. Through the darkness of the times and the corruption of manners and customs, some upright men may have had little more for their day’s work than to attend to the righteous principle* in their minds as it related to their own conduct in life without pointing out to others the whole extent of that into which the same principle* would lead succeeding ages. Thus, for instance, among an imperious warlike people, supported by oppressed slaves, some of these masters, I suppose, are awakened to feel and see their error, and through sincere repentance cease from oppression and become like fathers to their servants, showing by their