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

Chapter 2: Learning to Speak (1743–1756)

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practice, and I thought he was displeased with me. In this case I had fresh confirmation that acting contrary to present outward interest, from a motive of divine love and in regard to truth* and righteousness, and thereby incurring the resentments of people, opens the way to a treasure better than silver, and to a friendship exceeding the friendship of men. The manuscript before mentioned having laid by me several years, the publication of it rested weightily upon me, and this year I offered it to the revisal of my friends who, having examined and made some small alterations in it, directed a number of copies to be published and dispersed among members of our Society.* Epistle from Leaders Regarding Armed Service (1755) From a disagreement between the powers of England and France, 6 it was now a time of trouble on this continent, and an epistle to Friends went forth from our General Spring Meeting, which I thought good to give a place in this Journal. An Epistle from our General Spring Meeting of ministers and elders for Pennsylvania and New Jersey, held at Philadelphia, from the twenty-ninth of Third Month to the first of Fourth Month, inclusive, 1755. To Friends on the Continent of America:— Dear Friends,—In an humble sense of divine goodness, and the gracious continuation of God’s love to His people, we tenderly salute you, and are at this time engaged in mind, that all of us who profess the

6 That is, the French and Indian War (1754–1763).