FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER. "TAKE FAST HOLD OF INSTRUCTION; LET HER NOT GO; KEEP HER; FOR SHE IS THY LIFE." 725 727 729 729 730 729 730 733 735 ... 736 EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY AN ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS. COMMUNICATIONS MUST BE ADDRESSED AND PAYMENTS MADE TO EMMOR COMLY, AGENT, CONTENTS. The Penns and Pening tons........ Communication from Sarah Hunt...... At Publication Office, No. 144 North Seventh Street, On Divine Interpositions...... TERMS: PAYABLE IN ADVANCE The Paper is issued every Seventh-day, at Three Dollars per annum. $2.50 for Clubs; or, four copies for $10. Agents for Clubs will be expected to pay for the entire Club. Remittances by mail must be in Checks. Drafts, or P.O. MONEY ORDERS -the latter preferred. MONEY sent by mail will be at the risk of the person so sending. The Postage on this paper, paid in advance at the office where it is received, in any part of the United States, is 20 cents a year. AGENTS-Joseph S. Cohu, New York. Henry Haydock, Brooklyn, N. Y. Benj. Stratton, Richmond, Ind. William II. Churchman, Indianapolis, Ind. THE PENNS AND PENINGTONS. (Continued from page 706.) A few weeks after the death of Sir William Springett, the bereaved widow was roused from the depth of her desolation and sorrow, by her maternal feelings on the birth of an infant daughter. This was Gulielma Maria, above mentioned.* tinually in her mind as a case in point, that she could in no degree yield to the entreaties of her friends and relatives. It was very trying to maintain her ground against all their persuasion; but hard above all it must have been to stand out aginst the expressed desire of her loved and honored mother-in-law; nevertheless, singlehanded and conscientious, she Her Heavenly Father had in this darling withstood all who endeavored to pursuade her child sent another claim on her affections, to have her child formally baptized. She says, another tie binding her to life, and her energy "That scripture in the last of the Galatians, of arose to meet the surrounding circumstances. circumcision or uncircumcision availing nothIn the name Gulielma Maria given to the infant, those of both parents were united. Her mother-in-law, now the chief earthly friend left to the young widow, came to reside with her, and she remained there during the residue of her life, which only lasted about four years after the death of her son William. ing, but a new creature, was so often in my mind, that I could not but resolve that it [the baptismal rite] should not be performed. This brought great reproach on me, and made me as a byword among the people of my own rank in the world, and a strange thing it was thought to be by my relatives and acquaintances. Those Lady Springett had adopted the same views who were accounted able ministers, and such which her husband had arrived at, respecting as I formerly delighted to hear, were sent to perthe unscriptural character of infant baptism, suade me; but I could not do it and be clear. and the injury that had resulted to Christian My answer to them was, "He that doubts is life from the popular construction put on water-damned if he do it." She did doubt, and she baptism. Sue therefore refused to allow her believed that she had good reason to doubt of little daughter to be baptized. When reflecting on the rite of baptism, as practiced in the Church, the declaration of the Apostle relative to another ritual observance, which was abolished under the new dispensation, was so con* As February, old style, was the last month of the year, it may be presumed Gulielma was born in 1644, but we have no exact record of the date. infant baptism being an institution authorized It seems marvellous of two such young per- to receive the popular idea of water baptism, as being the essential baptism which accom panies regeneration and salvation. It is very certain that Mary Penington says nothing about having studied any writings on the question, save those of the New Testament; or of having any example before her of any one who altogether on scriptural grounds disapproved of the rite as practiced in the churches, except her deceased husband. It does not appear that the views advocated by them were the same as those held by the Baptists, who, though disapproving of infant baptism, insist on adult water baptism as essential, and as that which was commanded by Christ. George Fox did not commence his ministry for several years after the death of Sir William Springett; it was not therefore from the Friends' ideas they had been brought to that conclusion. But it is true that about the time of Guli's birth, and after it, there was a minister who held an official place in the University of Cambridge, who entertained very decided convictions against the notions of water baptism which prevailed in the Church of England, of which he was a member. This was William Dell, Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. How far he had sufficient Christian faithfulness to preach in that persecuting age the views he set forth in his writings which were afterwards published, I know not. He seemed to have but little hope of the age he lived in taking a right scriptural view of the doctrines in ques tion, because he says it was so rooted and built up in the doctrines of men." Hence he appealed to and wrote especially for the next generation. So far as I can ascertain, his excellent work on The Doctrine of the Baptisms was not published for eight or ten years after the period in question; and in bis preface to the reader,'introducing the work On Baptisms, he warns him that he would "speak mnch otherwise than all former or later writers whatever, that he had met with." leaving thy great-grandmother with two sons and a daughter (born after her father's death.) She was married to him about three or four years, and left a widow about twentytwo years of age. She was an excellent woman; and had a great regard to the well-being of her children, both in the inward and outward condition; and that she might the better bring them up, she lived a retired life; refusing all other marriage, though frequently offered, as I have heard her say. She suffered pretty hard things of his two executors, his brother Sir Thomas Springett, and a brother-in-law, who thought that she, being so very young a widow, would marry again. Through their jealousy on this point, they refused her the management of the education of her children, and put her upon suing them for it; which she at last obtained, with charges, after some years' suit. "She lived a virtuous life,-constant in morning and evening prayer by herself, and often with her children; causing them to repeat to her what they remembered of sermons they had heard, and of scriptures. I lived in the house with her from nine years of age, till after I was married to her son; and after he died, she came and lived with me, and died at my house. In all which time I never, as I remember, heard her say an improper word, or saw her do an evil action. She spent her time very ingeniously; and in a bountiful manner be stowed great part of her jointure yearly upon the poor, in providing physic and surgery. She had a yearly jointure of about twelve-score pounds, and with it she kept a brace of horses, a man, and a maid. She boarded with her only brother, Sir Edward Partridge. She kept several poor women constantly employed simpling for her in the summer; and in the winter preparing such things as she had use for in physic and surgery, and for eyes; she having eminent judgment in all three, and admirable success; which made her famous and sought to out of several counties by the greatest persons, as well as by the low ones. She was daily employing her servants in making oils, salves, and balsams; drawing of spirits; distilling of waters; making of syrups and conserves of many kinds, with pills and lozenges. She was so rare in her ability in taking off cataracts and spots ou eyes, that Hopkins, the great oculist, sent many Of her mother-in law's high moral worth and to her house when there was difficulty of cure, great ability and usefulness, Mary Penington and that he could not attend or spare so much gives her grandson a beautiful account. Speak time as was necessary to compass it. She cured ing of both great grandparents, she says, "Thy many burns and desperate cuts; also dangerous dear mother's father was of religious parents; sores that came by thorns; likewise broken his father (thy great-grandfather) though a limbs; many afflicted with the king's evil; taklawyer, was religious and strict, as I have ing out bones. One case of great difficulty I heard of him, in those things wherein the min- especially remember-a child's head that was istration of that time consisted, and in the ex-so burnt that its skull was like a coal; she ercise of what in that day of dim light was ac counted holy duties. He died of consumption, Within the four years which elapsed from the death of Sir William Springett to that of Madam Springett, John, his first born child and only son, scems to have also died, though the child's mother has left us no specific account of the event. Circumstances indicate that it was within that time his brief life closed. brought it to have skin and hair again, and invented a thin pan of beaten silver, covered with bladder, to preserve the head in case of a knock | offend him by an unkind word, but would take or a fall. She frequently helped in consumptious cases beyond the skill of doctors to help, through her diligence and care. "lu the villages about her lodged several patients, that had came there some hundreds of miles to be under her care; and sometimes would remain there, away from their homes, for a quarter of a year at a time. She has sometimes had twenty persons in a morning-men, women, and children-to attend to. I have heard her ay she spent half her revenue in making the medicines which she needed for these cures. She never would take presents of much value from any one; only this she would do-if the patients were able, she gave them a note of what things they could buy, and they brought them to her, and she made up the medicines for them; her man servant writing the directions she gave, and packing up the salves and medicines. "In the place where she dwelt she was called in her religion, of latter times, a Puritan; afterwards she was called an Independent. She had an Independent minister in her house, and gave liberty to people to come there twice a week to hear him preach. She constantly set apart the Seventh-day, about three or four o'clock in the afternoon, for her family to leave all their occasions, and this minister preached or prayed with them as a preparation for the morrow. She was a most tender and affection. ate mother to thy grandfather, and greatly delighted in his love to me, and always showed great kindness to me. Indeed she was very honorable in counselling her son not to marry for an estate, urging him to consider what would make him happy in his choice ('many great offers' having been made to draw him into marriage alliance). She would discourse to him in this wise, that she knew me, and we were known to one another, and said she would choose me for his wife if I had no portion. She lived to see thy mother three or four years old, and was very affectionate to her, and took great delight in seeing her wisdom." Thus closes her daughter-in-law's account of that admirable Puritan matron. (To be continued.) ADVICE TO MOURNERS. I saw a pale mourner stand bending over the tomb, and his tears fell often. As he raised his humid eyes to heaven, he cried, My brother! oh my brother!" every occasion to show his friendship, if he could but come to his fond embrace." "Then waste not thy time in useless grief," said the sage; "but if thou hast friends, go and cherish the living, remembering that they will one day be dead also." EXTRACT. The sunshine lies upon the mountain top all day, and lingers there latest and longest at eventide, yet is the valley green and fertile, and the mountain top barren and unfruitful. So the discipline of adversity accomplishes for us that which prosperity has never wrought. "Father," said a daughter, "how can I be a Christian when there is so much to do?" "Do you see the vine crawling up by the wall?" he replied; "it lays hold of the stones and sticks for support, and makes them help it. Just so we must make our daily tasks and cares help us. Take fast hold of them, and climb up by their means. If they are a hindrance, then it is because we do not look at them in the true light. We may be sure of one thing. God hinself has placed us in our present circumstances, and it is He who appoints for us our daily tasks. Is it possible to conceive that a Being of so much wisdom and goodness would place us amid duties whose tendency is to draw us away from, instead of toward Himself?" "Small trials suffice as heavenly discipline, just as truly as great afflictions and misfortunes can. God can sanctify the small as well as the great events of our lives. Great sorrows drive every Christian to God; but we are only too prone to try to bear our little trials alone. We must throw ourselves upon Him as children. We must be willing to consult His pleasure in the smallest affairs of our lives; to seek His compassion and sympathy in every pain we bear. Let Him be the judge of their worth and consequence, and perhaps He who seeth not as man seeth, will detect the mountain in what is called the hillock, and mark as our intolerable burden that which men regard as the small dust of the balance." "In the valley of humiliation there are green pastures; how strange that one who has reposed there, should ever pine for the mountain tops." "It is well to hedge ourselves about with a habit of prayer." What a blessed day it is when we learn to expect distractions, and a heedless absorption in every petty passing interest! Then first we throw ourselves on the simple grace of God, forsaking forever the farcied stronghold of our own good purposes. As we pray, the petty interests and disappointments of life grow more and more insignificant. "What wouldst thou do if he were restored to We should never be so absorbed in what we thee?" undertake as to care for nothing but its accomThe mourner replied, "that he would never plishment." Interruptions are often more A sage passed that way, and said :"For whom dost thou mourn?" "One," replied he, "whom I did not sufficiently love while living; but whose inestimable worth I feel." แ directly the Master's work for us than the tasks | earthly trial are light indeed to those whose we set ourselves." hearts are set free from the burden of guilt, and the weight of an aimless life. There is such a thing in these days as coming to Christ personally, not thinking about Him merely, but coming to Him; not coming to Him for forgiveness and deliverance from death only, but for strength to suffer, to labor, to conquer, to serve; coming to Him and having life. He does not say, "Get on," but, "Follow me." One The influence of a genuine Christian is noiseless and silent as the continual dropping of a summer shower, which refreshes and enriches oftentimes more than the heavy fall of rain. Who has not felt his heart glow with quickened warmth at a mere glimpse into a holy soul? or stimulated to like grace in witnessing an act of patience or forbearance? There are two ways in which genuine piety develops itself. One busies itself chiefly in lopping off useless, diseased or unsightly branches, and this work occupies it so incessantly that it has not time to perceive that fruit of good quality is not thus produced. The other rather lets the branches take care of themselves, and goes to the root of the matter, assured if all is right there, all will become right outside. The great Fountain of Life and Light is always open to us. We need only to turn forever away from the contemplation of ourselves to be henceforth vivified, strengthened, and filled with the fulness of Christ. A true Christian has always a consciousness of God. A woman once said, "When I began to try to be a Christian, if I found myself sinuing, I always said to myself, 'Now I know I am not a Christian;' and so I would sit crying and lamenting, and never had time to go forward. I afterward learned not to do so. When I fall, instead of lying on the ground, crying and wasting my time and strength in complaints, I just tell God how sorry I am, and beg Him to forgive me, and get right up and go on." The path of duty is comparatively easy when once made plain. God leads some of His children gently and over a smooth and comparatively easy path, and to others He appoints the winding way, both dark and rude." And while the same hand leads alike over the plain and through the intricate way, the favored pilgrim will not boast himself, neither will the wearied one repine. The loving discipline of pain! how good it is! how needful! Who that has looked upon the radiant countenance of one who has suffered, and on which the peace of God has forever stamped itself, could venture to lament the discipline that had left such beautiful traces? "Bear ye one another's burdens," will soon bring us to the end of our strength, unless we have first proved-unless we are daily proving "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain thee." The connection with the Fountain needs to be opened, before the connection with the fields to be watered. Go forth every morning, not from God's presence, but in His presence, strong in the faith of His personal love to you, and you shall find the hardest yoke easy and the heaviest burden light; for the burden of circumstances and me." He does not want us to do as well as other people, out as well as we can. He wills all His children to bring Him their work every evening. Some of them have done things which will be talked about and praised while the world lasts, and some have done what no one thinks anything of, perhaps. But He is quite as well pleased with the one as the other. It is not necessary to be happy about everything. It is only necessary to do right, and God will take care of the happiness. Is doing good the highest object to live for? Doesn't loving come first? Doesn't being good and pleasing God come a little before it? It is not so much the things done for people, as the heart it is done with that makes people grateful. "One hour of thoughtful solitude will nerve the heart for days of conflict." A. For Friends' Intelligencer. First month 1st, 1868. I send the Spirit's greeting to the lonely and disconsolate, the sick and suffering, who are confined to their chambers, and secluded from an intercourse with the world; such as cannot be reached but by the swift wings of thought, and the deep flow of sympathetic feeling. There are many of these whose anguish cannot be told, whose yearnings for relief cannot be fathomed; and yet, in sweet resignation to their lot, the language arises from the deep recesses of the heart, "All the days of my ap pointed time will I wait till my change come. Only Thou, Father of mercies, be with me, and bear me up. These spirit breathings arise to the presence chamber of Him, whom "the heaven of heavens cannot contain," as incense offered from an angel's hand. There may be others who have a hard struggle to bring their minds to this state,-invalids to whom life is sweet, and the ties that bind to this lower world are strong-to whom the thought of shroud, and pall, and narrow house, brings sadness, if not terror. May such be strengthened to look beyond things terrestrial to those that are eternal; remembering the language of the Apostle, "I reckon the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed hereafter." Let the mind fix upon this in holy trust and confidence; and if, when, in survey- | On the contrary, they support it, for in like ing the past, omissions and commissions rise manner the circulation of counterfeit money up as a cloud, obscuring the Divine Presence, may be considered an evidence that there is or remember the blessed assurance, that though has been genuine coin in existence. "judgment and justice are the habitations of Premonitions of imminent danger, whereby his throne," yet He delights in mercy and lives have been saved or calamities averted, are and forgiveness. We have incontrovertable so frequent and so well attested, that few perevidence of this in the Parable of the prodisons, I presume, will venture to assert that they gal son, and the thief on the cross, with very are all the result of mere coincidence. I will many other instances that might be cited, select one example which I find in Bushnell's to show poor erring mortals that they need work entitled "Nature and the Supernatural, only approach the Majesty on high, in humble as together constituting the One System of prayer and simple faith, and He will do more God," p. 475. He says, "As I sat by the fire for them than they can ask or think. If it be one stormy November night, in a hotel parlor, not His will to raise up from a low state," He in the Napa valley of California, there came in will blot out their transgressions and love them a most venerable and benignant-looking perfreely." son, with his wife, taking their seats in the circle. The stranger, as I afterwards learned, was Captain Yonut, a man who came over into California, as a trapper, more than forty years ago. Here he has lived apart from the great world and its questions, acquiring an immense landed estate, and becoming a kind of acknowledged patriarch in the country. His tall, manly person, and his gracious paternal look, as totally unsophisticated in the expression as if he had never heard a philosophie doubt or question in his life, marked him as the true patriarch." Then, O ye afflicted and heart stricken, lean upon Him who doeth all things well. Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without his notice, are not ye of more value than many sparrows?" S. HUNT. For Friends' Intelligencer. ON DIVINE INTERPOSITIONS. BY 6. M. JANNEY. In reading the history of the Christian church, I have observed that, at certain seasons, there have been awakenings or revivals, simul "At my request, he gave me his taneous in various places, or spreading from story. About six or seven years previous, in place to place, as though a breath from the a mid-winter's night, he had a dream, in which spiritual world was sent to stir the stagnant he saw what appeared to be a company of emiwaters of human life and heal the maladies of grants, arrested by the snows of the mountains the soul. The most remarkable of these was and perishing rapidly by cold and hunger. He on the day of Pentecost, after the ascension of noted the very cast of the scenery, marked by Christ, for an impulse was given then that has a huge perpendicular front of white rock cliff; he saw the men cutting off what appeared to be At the time of the Protestant Reformation, tree tops, rising out of deep gulfs of snow; be a wave of religious emotion passed over the distinguished the very features of the persons, whole of Europe. In the days of George Fox, and the look of their particular distress. there was in England and some other countries, woke, profoundly impressed with the distincta similar visitation of Divine love; and in the ness and apparent reality of the dream. At time of the Wesleys, there was in Great Britain length he fell asleep and dreamed exactly the and her American colonies, a wide spread awa-same dream again. In the morning he could kening of religious feeling. never ceased to act. These manifestations of spiritual life cannot be accounted for by natural causes; they must be referred to the immediate action of Divine Power and Love. This conclusion will probably be accepted by most professors of Christianity; but I propose to go farther, and avow my be lief that in various ages of the Christian church, prophetic revelations have been made, remarkable premonitions witnessed, and diseases healed in a supernatural manner. He not expel it from his mind. Falling in, shortly, with an old hunter comrade, he told him the story, and was only the more deeply impressed, by his recognizing, without hesitation, the scenery of the dream. This comrade came over the Sierra by the Carson Valley Pass, and declared that a spot in the Pass answered exactly to his description. By this the unsophisticated patriarch was decided. He immediately collected a company of men, with mules and blankets, and all necessary provisions. The neighbors were It will perhaps be objected, that in a great laughing, meantime, at his credulity. No many cases, reported revelations and miraculous matter,' said he, 'I am able to do this, and I cures have proved fallacious, being the result will, for I verily believe that the fact is accordof fanaticism or imposture. This I readily ad-ing to my dream.' The men were sent into the mit, but such deceptions do not disprove the mountains, one hundred and fifty miles distant, reality of Divine interposition in other cases. I directly to the Carson Valley Pass. And there |