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

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Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman

Twenty-eighth of Fifth Month.—Wet weather of late, and small winds, inclining to calms. Our seamen cast a lead, I suppose about one hundred fathoms, and found no bottom. Foggy weather this morning. Through the kindness of the great Preserver of men my mind remains quiet; and a degree of exercise* from day to day attends me, that the pure peaceable government of Christ may spread and prevail among all. The leading of a young generation in that pure way in which the wisdom of this world has no place, where parents and tutors, humbly waiting for the heavenly Counselor, may example them in the truth* as it is in Jesus, has for several days been the exercise* of my mind. Oh, how safe, how quiet, is that state where the soul stands in pure obedience to the voice of Christ, and a watchful care is maintained not to follow the voice of the stranger! Here Christ is felt to be our Shepherd, and under His leading people are brought to a stability; and where He does not lead forward, we are bound in the bonds of pure love to stand still and wait upon Him. Second of Sixth Month.—Last evening the seamen found bottom at about seventy fathoms. This morning, a fair wind and pleasant. I sat on deck; my heart was overcome with the love of Christ, and melted into contrition before Him. In this state the prospect of that work to which I found my mind drawn when in my native land being, in some degree, opened* before me, I felt like a little child; and my cries were put up to my heavenly Father for preservation, that in an humble dependence on Him my soul might be strengthened in His love and kept inwardly waiting for His counsel.