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

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Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman

out this business for me, and I was taught to be content with it, though I felt at times a disposition that would have sought for something greater; but through the revelation of Jesus Christ I had seen the happiness of humility, and there was an earnest desire in me to enter deeply into it; at times this desire arose to a degree of fervent supplication, wherein my soul was so environed with heavenly light and consolation that things were made easy* to me which had been otherwise. After some time my employer’s wife died; she was a virtuous woman, and generally beloved of her neighbors. Soon after this he left shopkeeping, and we parted. I then worked at my trade as a tailor, carefully attended meetings for worship and discipline, and found an enlargement of gospel love in my mind, and therein a concern 2 to visit Friends in some of the back settlements of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Being thoughtful about a companion, I expressed it to my beloved friend, Isaac Andrews, who told me that he had drawings 3 to the same places, and also to go through Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina. Reflections on the First Southern Journey (1746–1748) Two things were remarkable to me in this journey: first, in regard to my entertainment. 4 When I ate, drank, and lodged free of cost with people who lived in ease on the hard labor of their slaves, I felt uneasy; and as my mind 2 Concern – A Quaker “concern” is a sense of burden about some issue or situation that others confirm as a leading of God. These concerns are “found” in our hearts then “followed” in our relationships and actions. 3 Drawing – A leading of the Spirit. 4 Entertainment – Housing arrangements, usually with Friends who hosted traveling ministers.