University of Virginia Library

“Dear Friend: I salute thee with much love from
this new Countrie, where the Lord hath spread a table
for us in the Wilderness. Here is a goodlie companie
of Friends, who doe seek to know the mind of Truth,
and to live thereby, being held in favor and esteem by
the Rulers of the Land, and soe left in Peace to worship
God according to their consciences. The whole
Countrie being covered with Snow, and the Weather
being extreme cold, we can scarce say much of the
natural gifts and advantages of our new Home; but it
lyeth on a small River, and there be fertile Meadowes
and old Cornfields of the Indians, and good Springs of
Water, soe that I am told it is a desirable and pleasing

place in the warm season. My soul is full of Thankfulness;
and a sweet inward Peace is my portion.
Hard things are made easie to me; this desert place,
with its lonelie Woods and wintry Snows, is beautiful
in mine eyes. For here we be no longer gazing-stocks
of the rude Multitude, we are no longer haled from our
Meetings, and rayled upon as Witches and possessed
People. Oh! how often have we been called upon
heretofore to repeat the prayer of one formerlie —
`Let me not fall into the hands of man.' Sweet,
beyond the power of words to express, hath been the
change in this respect; and in view of the Mercies
vouchsafed unto us, what can we do but repeat the
language of David? — `Praise is comelie; yea, a joyful
and pleasant thing it is to be thankful. It is a good
thing to give thanks unto the Lord, to sing praises unto
thy Name, O Most High! to show forth thy loving
kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every
night.'

“Thou hast doubtless heard that thy dear Brother
hath been favored to see the way of Truth, according
to our persuasion thereof, and hath been received into
Fellowship with us. I fear this hath been a tryal to
thee, but, dear heart, leave it in the hands of the Lord,
whose work I doe indeed count it. Nor needest thou
to fear that thy brother's regard for thee will be lessened
thereby, for the rather shall it be increased by a
measure of that Divine love which, soe far from destroying,
doth but purify and strengthen the natural
affections. Think, then, kindly of thy Brother, for his

love towards thee is very great; and of me, also,
unworthie as I am, for his sake. And soe, with salutations
of love and peace, in which my dear Mother
joins, I remain thy loving friend,