EXHORTATION TO THE INHABITANTS Of the PROVINCE of SOUTH-CAROLINA, To bring their DEEDS to the Light of Some AccoUNT of the AUTHOR's Ex- GOD, who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness, hath shined in our That which we have heard, which we have feen with our Eyes-and *********:*:*** BRISTOL: Printed by SAMUEL FARLEY, in Caftle-Green, M.DCC.L. An EXHORTATION to the INHABITANTS of SOUTH-CAROLINA, &c. My Friends and Neighbours, A FTER an Abfence of near fix Years from this Province (my native Country) and my Arrival among you, I have beheld the Faces of many of the Inhabitants whom I have known, and been known to, fome Years: But the Novelty of my religious Sentiments, and Meannefs of my Appearance, has, I find, render'd me despicable in your Eyes; which has been obvious, when a Few of us, called Quakers, have met to worship the Supreme Being in a Manner agreeable to the best of our: Understanding and Knowledge: And tho' fome perhaps may ftile our Principles * and Tenets by the hard Name of Herefy, and our Mode or Manner of Worship, redicu lous or abfurd; neverthelefs, we are humbly of Opinion, they are neither unfcriptural nor unchriftian, having, as we think, the Sanction and Authority of our LORD Himself, the Example of primitive Believers, and right Reafon on our Side. But notwithstanding, as I have noted, that I have fuffered your Ridicule and Reproach, as I am confcious it is for no other than Obedience to the Will of my Heavenly Mafter, whose I am, and whom I ferve, I am willing to become more vile in your Eyes; which, it is more than probable, I fhall appear, when I expose the following Lines to your Obfervation and Cenfure. I would not have you imagine that any Confideration, lefs than his Favour, could have prevailed with me to have appeared thus publickly in Print, or otherwife; for could I, with any Eafe to my own Mind, have evaded this, or been excufed from returning to this Place (as I apprehended it was required of me by the Almighty) you had never beheld my Face in the Province, much lefs any Performance of this Sort in publick. I am not infenfible, that the Reafon I have offered for writing, as well as the Subject itself, may probably be confider'd as the Production of a diftemper'd and enthufiaftick Brain; as it is poffible, on fuch a novel and uncommon Occafion, as a Woman's appearing on the Behalf of GoD and Religion, you may (as others have done in the like Circumftances) be induced to confider fuch an One under fome unaccountable Delufion, or affected with religious ladness; and more efpecially, as the Things recommended to your Con A 2 * Any Perfon who defires to be informed of the Principles of the Quakers, is referred to Robert Barclay's Apology, fince I find we are oftentimes condemn'd unheard. But be that anfwereth a Matter before he beareth it, it is Folly and Shame unto bim, Prov. xviii. 13. The Apology may be had at Luke Hynde's, in George Yard, Grace-Church-Street, London. Confideration, are offer'd by a fimple Female of your own Country: Some, in this Cafe, I expect, will afford me a Smile of Contempt, while others (acted by a more generous Paffion) pity my Folly, and kindly wish me a Return of my Senfes: But however this may be, I have confidered, that from the earliest Ages of Chriftianity, and indeed in all preceeding Time, those who refused to conform to the Ufage and wicked Cuftoms of the Age, and lived a Self-denying Life, "Their Lives were counted Madness by the World, and their "End to be without Honour:" Not confidering that religious Minds defpife and contemn all worldly Honour, and earthly Preferment, feeking that only which comes from GOD, and which He is pleased to diftinguish those by, who honour Him (by walking in Conformity to his Laws and Precepts) as He Himself declares, Thofe who honour me, I will honour; but thofe who defpife me, fhall be lightly esteemed. But before I proceed to what the Title-page mentions, I fhall premife one Propofition, on which all I have to offer, will greatly de pend, viz. That all Mankind have a Measure and Manifeftation of the Light, Spirit, or Grace of GoD, given them to profit withal. This Doctrine of the univerfal Extent of the Grace of GoD, the People called Quakers, hold in a peculiar Manner, and are diftinguished by, from fome other diffenting Sects, who generally limit God's Gifts of his Holy Spirit, or faving Means, to what they call The Elect; and affert, that the rest of Mankind are (as they term it) passed by, or denied the Means of Salvation, being predeftinated from all Eternity to Deftruction. * However, we say that this Gift of the Holy Spirit, or Grace of GOD, is bestowed on all Mankind without Exception, agreeable to the Affertion of the Apostle Paul; The Grace of GoD, which brings Salvation, bath appeared to all Men, teaching us, that denying Ungodlinefs, and the World's Lufts, we should live righteously, foberly and godly in this prefent World. But tho' all Men have received this Talent of Grace, or Manifeftation of the Spirit of CHRIST, all are not faved, as Men may rebel against, or quench the Spirit; and, by fruftrating its Motions, render it ineffectual. Under the Law it is faid, The Almighty gave of his good Spirit to the Jews to inftruct them, but they rebelled against it, Nehemiah ix. 20. And the Prophet Isaiah allo tells us, They rebelled, and vexed GOD's Holy Spirit. And, under the Gospel, the Apostle Paul cautions the Theffalonians against quenching the Spirit, or extinguishing the Light, and hindering the confuming Force, that would deftroy Sin and Iniquity in the Heart. Thus, according to the Teftimony I have offered, and many I might produce, all Men have received a Proportion of Light and Grace, but all have not obey'd its Leadings; all have heard, but all have not obey'd: However, this internal Monitor or Director, is ready on all Occafions (if we will apply to it for Knowledge and Help) to inftruct us in our Duty, and affift us in overcoming the Temp * To refute the Doctrine of Predeftination, read Doctor Whitby on the NoTament; and his Difcourfes on the Fire Controverted Points. Temptations of the great Adversary of our Soul's Happiness; but we muft diligently attend to its Voice, and not only hear, but obey its Inftructions, that our Souls may live. But fome have said to me, We grant that Chriftians ought to walk agreeable to the Dictates of the Spirit of CHRIST; but the Quakers make the Guidance and Direction of the Spirit necessary in trivial and indifferent Matters; nay, Sometimes they offer its Dictates as a Reason for many Things accounted by us irrational and abfurd.-I answer; With Reference to our Duty and Obedience to the Almighty, I confider no Action indifferent; every Thing of this Nature must tend to fome Purpose, good or evil: And 'tis upon this Confideration that we extend the Doctrine of the Crofs, Self denial, and perfect Obedience to the Precepts of CHRIST, farther than the Generality of those who profefs the Chriftian Name: And I take this Occafion to say, my principal Errand among you, is to recommend, as far as I am enabled, these Chriftian Doctrines; fince our LORD Himself pofitively, declares, That unless we take up a daily Cross, (to our corrupt Wills and Affections) we cannot be his Difciples: And farther, to advise you to a ftrict Adherence to the Light or Grace of GoD in your own Confciences or Understandings, as unto a more fure Word of Prophecy, or perfect Director; whereunto you will do well to take Heed, as unto a Light Shining in a dark Place: For the Nations of them that are. faved, must walk in this Light of the LORD. But it may be objected, "That many of the People called Quakers, have anciently bore Teftimony to thofe Doctrines, and continue fo to do; then what Need of my feeble Testimony or Evidence?" "Tis true that numerous Pens have been employed, and many earnest Endeavours, and fervent Defires of this People, to recommend and propagate (as far as they are enabled by divine Affiftance) thofe Chriflian Doctrines, which they have proved by their own happy Experience to be fo beneficial and advantageous to themselves; and being thro' Grace made Partakers of that Charity or Love, which is the Bond of Perfection, and the Characteristick of a genuine and real Christian; these, I fay, by this Gospel Love, are excited to wish well to all Mankind, and, as much as in them lies, they endeavour to ferve one another in it, as the Apoftle exhorts, Gal. v. 13. And their frequent Supplications afcend to the moft High, on Behalf of Mankind in general, that all People may come to the Knowledge of the Truth, as it is in JESUS, and be faved. And when our Hearts ́are thus enlarged, both to GoD, and one towards another, then are our Mouths opened to declare of his wonderful Works to the Children of Men, and fhew forth his mighty Acts, which he is able and ready to perform, by the powerful Operation of his Holy Spirit in our Hearts, in fubduing every evil and inordinate Defire and Affection, and bringing them under his Government, and into Subjection to his divine Will; and by fpeaking well of his great Name, to invite and encourage others to come, tafte and fee that the LORD is good, and to partake of his Offer of great Salvation, no less than the Redemption of the Soul (by Jesus CHRIST) from the Bondage of Sin |