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

Chapter 2: Learning to Speak (1743–1756)

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Almighty arm, from one generation to another, the peaceable kingdom will gradually be extended “from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Zech 9:10), to the completion of those prophecies already begun, that “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3). And, dearly beloved friends, seeing that we have these promises, and believe that God is beginning to fulfill them, let us constantly endeavor to have our minds sufficiently disentangled from the consuming cares of this life, and redeemed from the love of the world, that no earthly possessions nor enjoyments may bias our judgments, or turn us from that resignation and entire trust in God to which His blessing is most surely annexed; then may we say, “Our Redeemer is strong, he will surely plead our cause” ( Jer 50:34 ). And if, for the further promoting of His most gracious purposes in the earth, He should give us to taste of that bitter cup of which His faithful ones have often partaken, O that we might be rightly prepared to receive it! And now, dear friends, with respect to the commotions and stirrings of the powers of the earth at this time near us, we are desirous that none of us may be overly disturbed at this, but to rest in the protection of that Rock which all these shakings shall not move, even in the knowledge and feeling of the eternal power of God, keeping us surrendered to His heavenly will, and feeling it daily to mortify that which remains in any of us which is of this world; for the worldly part in any is the changeable part, and that is up and down, full and empty, joyful and sorrowful, as things go well or ill in this world. For as the truth* is but one, and