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

Chapter 7: Discerning the Way Forward (1769–1770)

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in returning homeward; I therefore went over among Friends on the Jersey shore and tarried till the morning on which the vessel was appointed to sail. As I lay in bed the latter part of that night my mind was comforted, and I felt what I esteemed a fresh confirmation that it was the Lord’s will that I should pass through some further exercises* near home; so I went thither, and still felt like a sojourner with my family. In the fresh spring of pure love, I had some labors in a private way among Friends on a subject relating to truth’s* testimony, under which I had frequently been exercised* in heart for some years. I remember, as I walked on the road under this exercise,* that passage in Ezekiel came fresh upon me, “Wherever the spirit would go, they went” (Ezek 1:12, 20; 21:16 ). And I was graciously helped to discharge my duty in the fear and dread of the Almighty. In the course of a few weeks it pleased the Lord to visit me with a pleurisy; 1 and after I had lain a few days and felt the disorder very grievous, I was thoughtful how it might end. I had of late, through various exercises,* been much weaned from the pleasant things of this life; and I now thought, if it were the Lord’s will to put an end to my labors and graciously to receive me into the arms of His mercy, death would be acceptable to me; but if it were His will further to refine me under affliction, and to make me in any degree useful in His Church, I desired not to die ( Phil 1:21–24 ). I may with thankfulness say that in this case, I felt resignedness worked in me, and had no inclination Experience of God in a Time of Sickness (Late 1769 to Early 1770)

1 Pleurisy – Inflammation around the lung causing pain in one’s side.