FRIENDS' MISCELLANY. The memory of the just is blessed.-Prov. x. 7. John, vi. 12. No. 3. SIXTH MONTH, 1831. VOL. I. Notes and Observations, on some Remarkable events and circumstances, chiefly relating to the time of the American Revolution. Extracted from the writings of John Hunt, who resided near Moorestown, New Jersey. I think it was in the year 1766, that Thomas Gawthrop came from Old England, on a visit, and was at our meeting. In his public testimony, he said, "I am not come the third time into this wilderness country to sew pillows to the armholes of the people. No, I am not come to cry peace, but a sword. There is a bright, polished, glittering sword prepared for this nation.” Not far from this time, the hedges died all over the Jerseys and Pennsylvania in one summer; and I remember to have heard old Robert Willis, in his testimony at our meeting, mention something concerning it, that the Lord had taken away the outward hedges, and that he would take away the inward hedge, and mentioned something concerning the besom of destruction. The 11th of 4th month, 1771, I was at a meeting with my cousin William Hunt, at Upper Springfield, wherein he told us to note it down that he said, he had but little hope of this generation: but it was his belief that the next generation would make a better progress in the truth. He said he believed there were little lads there that would live to see it. At a meeting at Evesham he dropt some words to this effect; that the time drew near in which he believed the truth would spread and shine more gloriously, though there might be a time of probation and trial first; and signified, the man was grown that would live to see it. The 5th of 11th month, 1774, I went to Evesham to a meeting appointed for Robert Walker, from Old England. He told us of the many favours and warnings we had had, and whether we would choose or refuse, the Lord would have a people. That he would call others if we refused; and that the day was dawned, that would never be totally eclipsed; and that the indignation and wrath of the Almighty would be poured out on this land, in a very great degree, the people did not return; and that God would be clear, and his servants would be clear, and our blood would be upon our own heads. He reminded us of the many warnings we have had, and threatenings of wars, and of trouble in times past, and of the Indian wars, and of the cruel oppression of the negroes in the southern provinces, and mentioned something of an overflowing scourge that would pass over this land. 25th of 5th month, 1774. At this time there was a melancholy aspect on the trees of the woods and fruit trees, they being eat very bare in many places by the caterpillar: so that the trees looked more like winter than spring. There was also a very uncommon late frost this spring, so that the leaves were killed, and the woods looked in places as if fires had passed. There were also locusts in great numbers came. in many places several years before the caterpillars These locusts and caterpillars appearing in such vast numbers I have thought had some resemblance to great armies. See Joel xi. 25. "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker worm and the caterpillar, and the palmer worm, my great army which I sent among you." The small pox and measles went through the country pretty generally before the war broke out. Amongst sundry other things very uncommon and strange in our land, some years before these troubles came on, there were many dogs went mad, and bit other creatures, and they went mad, and many horses, cows, and other sorts of creatures were lost that way in our neighbourhood,-they dying in a most frightful strange manner. Some years before that, there was a grievous distemper amongst the dogs, and many died very strange and uncommon. A few years before the war began, pride and a love for earthly treasure did seem to be growing fast in our nation, excess and superfluity of almost every sort, in houses, furniture, and dress. The old people seemed to be going fast into the earth, and the young people into the air. Many people let out their affections after fine horses, and that was a very great snare to the youth. Religion seemed to be much like a fable at that time. But now the waves of confusion did exceedingly arise and dash one against another; as John Woolman prophesied, the time would come, when the enemies of righteousness would dash one against another and make a terrible rattle, and they should grievously torment and afflict one another. It is good in the days of prosperity, to remember the days of adversity. In the writings of Sophia Hume, I remarked some words on this wise; that not all the enemies and persecution that ever rose up against religion, did it that hurt that prosperity had done; and that where the invitations and favours of Providence were not regarded, judgment followed. In the time of great prosperity, when the fatness of the earth was showered down in a plentiful manner upon us, we were too much like the brute animals, who eat the fruit under the tree, and look not from whence it comes. Oppression increased through worldly mindedness. "Their idols were upon hearts, and upon their cattle; the carriages were heavy laden-they were a burden to the weary beasts"—as the prophet Isaiah expresses himself in his day. their In this time of great plenty, this nation seemed to have the offer of the dew of heaven as well as the fatness of the earth, with the upper as well as the nether springs. The ministers of Christ were sent from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, amongst us, like clouds filled with rain. But good sermons in that day of ease, fulness of bread and abundance of idleness, were to many, too much like music to a sleepy man. Jeremiah vii. 25. "Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt, until this day, I have sent unto you all my servants, the prophets, daily, rising up early and sending them; yet they hearkened not unto me." Now these times of great commotion came on fast. I remembered the privileges and blessings we enjoyed in days past, the peace and plenty we were favoured with, and the government we had lived under; but now all civil government seemed to be broken up by the spirit of confusion: all trade and carry ing on business very much marred. Nothing but wasting and destruction appeared. The way of peace too little known. In the days of great prosperity, I often thought people made too much ado on every trifling occasion; when we visited one another, at raising of buildings, and especially at weddings. Oh the feasting and drinking, and excess people did run into. I often thought the time might come when we should have to think of those things. In Jeremiah vii. 18. "The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own face?" 1776. We had heard much of the calamities of war at New England and there away. This spring there was great noise and confusion about going to learn war, all over our neighbourhood. A company of men at Elsinborough went to exercise, and one of their guns being loaded, he that had it not knowing it, it went off in his hand, and shot the load through another man that had a family. Another company met together this spring at Woodbury, and falling out. concerning going to the wars, one struck another with his fist several times, and killed him dead. This spring I took particular notice of two lads at our meeting whose dress seemed to bespeak them, disposed for One of them, soon after, was at Keys' mill, and there got to fighting with one of the neighbour's boys, who pulled him down stairs, and he was killed. other went to camp this summer, at York; he being caught several times asleep on his guard, news came to his parents, that he was to suffer death for it; war. The |