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

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Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman

rejection—may come his way. Woolman is learning to resign himself to the prophetic mission: to share what God opens and to be less concerned for the effects of one’s delivery than the purity of attention to the Spirit. This work is particularly difficult when he finds himself compelled to follow his conscience in tension with other well-respected Friends who have no qualms regarding some concern. Along the way, Woolman records reflections on economic development, taxes used for war, and other interesting matters. T he T ext Second Southern Journey: Visits and Reflections (1757) Feeling the exercise* in relation to a visit to the Southern Provinces to increase upon me, I acquainted our Monthly Meeting therewith, and obtained their certificate. Expecting to go alone, one of my brothers who lived in Philadelphia, having some business in North Carolina, proposed going with me part of the way; but as he had a view of some outward affairs, to accept of him as a companion was some difficulty with me, whereupon I had conversation with him at sundry times. At length feeling easy* in my mind, I had conversation with several elderly Friends of Philadelphia on the subject, and he obtaining a certificate suitable to the occasion, we set off in Fifth Month, 1757. Coming to Nottingham Weekday Meeting, we lodged at John Churchman’s, where I met with our friend, Benjamin Buffington, from New England, who was returning from a visit to the Southern Provinces. From there we crossed the river Susquehanna, and lodged at William Cox’s in Maryland. Soon after I entered this province, a deep and painful exercise* came upon me, which I often had some