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

Chapter 3 The Ministry of Visitation in Meetings (1757–1759)

Chapter Summary Woolman’s—now current—account begins with his travels through the “Southern Provinces” of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The remainder of his Journal is full of stories of missionary journeys, meetings Woolman attended, and what he did in these meetings. Woolman speaks of his companions, his housing, and his experience of God. By reading these accounts we can see the pattern of Woolman’s presence in a meeting. He sits in silence, waiting, dwelling deep in the Spirit. He attends to the “operations* of divine love.” Woolman frequently shares in his Journal about his own inner sufferings during meetings. But at other times Woolman notices an “opening”* or an “engagement”: a draw by God’s Spirit for him to speak or act in some fashion. He speaks, trying to say only what is from God and not what is from himself, and to speak in the right tone. Then he receives whatever response—whether affirmation or

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