mon Protestancy of the kingdom and the ancient rights of the government. For to say truth, the one cannot be maintained without the other.

"Upon the whole matter, I must say, I love England; I ever did so; and that I am not in her debt. I never valued time, money nor kindred, to serve her and do her good.

dice, nor any personal interest oblige me in her wrong. For I always abhorred discounting private favours at the public cost.

"Would I have made my market of the fears and jealousies of people, when this king came to the crown, I had put twenty thousand pounds into my pocket, and an hundred thousand into my province. For mighty numbers of people were then upon the wing. But I waved it all, hoped for better times; expected the effects of the king's word for liberty of conscience, and happiness by it. And till I saw my friends, with the kingdom, delivered from the legal bondage, which penal laws for religion had subjected them to, I could with no satisfaction think of leaving England; though much to my prejudice beyond sea, and at my great expense here; having in all this time, never had either office or pension; and always refusing the rewards or gratuities of those I have been able to oblige.

thing more foolish as well as false, than that because I am often at Whitehall, therefore I must be the author of all that is done there, that does not please abroad. But supposing some such things to have been done, pray tell me, if I am bound to oppose any thing that I am not called to do? I never was a member of council, cabinet or committee, where the affairs of the kingdom are transacted. INo party could ever bias me to her prejuhave had no office or trust, and consequently, nothing can be said to be done by me, nor for that reason, could I lie under any test or obligation to discover my opinion of public acts of state, and therefore neither can any such acts, nor my silence about them, in justice, be made my crime. Volunteers are blanks and cyphers in all governments. And unless calling at Whitehall once a day, upon many occasions, or my not being turned out of nothing, for that no office is, be the evidence of my compliance in disagreeable things, I know not what else can with any truth, be alleged against me. However, one thing I know, that I have every where most religiously observed, and endeavoured in conversation with persons of all ranks and opinions, to allay heats and moderate extremities, even in the politics. It is below me to be more particular, but I am sure it has been my endeavour, that if we could not all meet upon a religious bottom, at least we might "If therefore an universal charity, if the upon a civil one, the good of England; which asserting an impartial liberty of conscience, is the common interest of king and people. if doing to others as one would be done by, That he might be great by justice, and we and an open avowing and steady practising free by obedience; distinguishing rightly on of these things, in all times, to all parties, the one hand, between duty and slavery; and will justly lay a man under the reflection of on the other, between liberty and licentious-being a jesuit or papist, of any rank, I must not only submit to the character but embrace "But, alas! I am not without my appre- it too; and I care not who knows, that I can hensions of the cause of this behaviour to-wear it with more pleasure, than it is possible wards me, and in this I perceive we agree; I for them with any justice to give it me. For mean my constant zeal for an impartial lib- these are corner-stones and principles with erty of conscience. But if that be it, the me; and I am scandalized at all buildings cause is too good to be in pain about. I ever that have them not for their foundation. For understood that to be the natural right of all religion itself is an empty name without them, men; and that he that had a religion without a whited wall, a painted sepulchre, no life or it, his religion was none of his own. For virtue to the soul; no good or example to what is not the religion of a man's choice, is one's neighbour. Let us not flatter ourselves; the religion of him that imposes it. So that we can never be the better for our religion, if liberty of conscience is the first step to have our neighbour be the worse for it. Our fault a religion. This is no new opinion with me. is, we are apt to be mighty hot upon specuI have written many apologies within the last lative errors, and break all bounds in our retwenty years to defend it, and that imparti- sentments; but we let practical ones pass ally. Yet I have as constantly declared, that without remark, if not without repentance. bounds ought to be set to this freedom, and As if a mistake about an obscure proposition that morality was the best; and that as often of faith, were a greater evil than the breach as that was violated, under a pretence of con- of an undoubted precept. Such a religion science, it was fit the civil power should take the devils themselves are not without; for place. Nor did I ever once think of promot- they have both faith and knowledge, but their ing any sort of civil liberty of conscience for faith doth not work by love, nor their knowany body, which did not preserve the com-ledge by obedience. And if this be their

ness.

gion, and that to the fatherless and widow at large. We can hardly now extend them to those of our own way. It was said by him that could not say amiss; Because iniquity abounds, the love of many waxeth cold. Whatsoever divides man's heart from God, separates it from his neighbour; and he that loves self more than God, can never love his neighbour as himself. For, as the apostle said, if we do not love him whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen?

judgment, can it be our blessing? Let us not then think religion a litigious thing; or that Christ came only to make us good disputants, but that he came also to make us good livers. Sincerity goes further than capacity. It is charity that deservedly excels in the Christian religion; and happy would it be, if where unity ends, charity did begin, instead of envy and railing, that almost ever follow. It appears to me to be the way that God has found out and appointed to moderate our differences, and make them at least harmless to society; and therefore I confess, I dare not aggravate them to wrath and blood. Our disagreement to turn people to God, as they are to blow lies in our apprehension or belief of things; and if the common enemy of mankind had not the governing of our affections and passions, that disagreement would not prove such a canker as it is, to love and peace, in civil societies.

"He that suffers his difference with his neighbour about the other world, to carry him beyond the line of moderation in this, is the worse for his opinion, even though it be true. It is too little considered by Christians, that men may hold the truth in unrighteousness; that they may be orthodox, and not know what spirit they are of; so were the apostles of our Lord; they believed in him, yet let a false zeal do violence to their judgment, and their unwarrantable heat contradict the great end of their Saviour's coming, love.

"O that we could see some men as eager

them up, and set them against one another. But indeed those only can have that pure and pious zeal, who are themselves turned to God, and have tasted the sweetness of that conversion, which is to power, not form; to godliness, not gain. Such as those bend their thoughts and pains to appease, not increase heats and animosities, to exhort people to look at home, sweep their own houses, and weed their own gardens. And in no age or time was there more need to set men at work in their own hearts, than this we live in, when so busy, wandering, licentious a spirit prevails. For whatever some men may think, the disease of this kingdom is sin, impiety against God, and want of charity to men. And while this guilt is at our door, judgment cannot be far off.

"Men may be angry for God's sake, and "Now this being the disease, I will briefly kill people too. Christ said it, and too many offer two things for the cure of it. The first have practised it. But what sort of Chris-is, David's clean heart and right spirit, which tians must they be, I pray, that can hate in his name, who bids us, love; and kill for his sake, that forbids killing; and commands love, even to enemies?

he asked and had of God. Without this we must be a chaos still; for the distemper is within; and our Lord said, All evil comes from thence. Set the inward man right, and "Let not men or parties think to shift it the outward man cannot be wrong. That is off from themselves. It is not this principle, the helm that governs the human vessel. or that form, to which so great a defection is And this nothing can do but an inward prinowing, but a degeneracy of mind from God. ciple, the light and grace that came by Christ, Christianity is not at heart, no fear of God in who the Scriptures tell us, enlightens every the inward parts. No awe of his Divine om- one, and hath appeared to all men. It is prenipresence. Self prevails and breaks out posterous to think, that he who made the more or less, through all forms, but too plain-world, should show least care of the best part ly, (pride, wrath, lust, avarice) so that though of it, our souls; no, he that gave us an outpeople say to God, Thy will be done, they do their own; which shows them to be true heathens, under a mask of Christianity, that believe without works, and repent without forsaking, busy for forms and the temporal benefits of them, while true religion, which is to visit the fatherless and the widow, and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, goes barefoot, and like Lazarus is despised. Yet this was the definition the Holy Ghost gave of religion before synods and councils had the meddling with it and modelling of it. In those days bowels were a good part of reli

ward luminary for our bodies, hath given us an inward one for our minds to act by. We have it; and it is our condemnation that we do not love it and bring our deeds to it. It is by this we see our sins, are made sensible of them, sorry for them, and finally forsake them. And he that thinks to go to heaven a nearer way, will, I fear, belate his soul, and be irreparably mistaken. There are but goats and sheep at last, whatever shapes we wear here. Let us not therefore, dear friend, deceive ourselves. Our souls are at stake, God will not be mocked, what we sow we must

It must be admitted, that a more full, clear and manly defence of his conduct and principles, than this letter contains, could not have been written. Whether it was then published, or retained among the friends of the receiver, does not appear. Nor do I find any account how far the suspicion of popery was allayed by this unequivocal denial of it. Certain it is, however, that his intimacy at court, and acknowledged friendship for James, subjected him to great inconvenience in the ensuing reign, and that some writers of established reputation have given to posterity an unfavourable representation of his conduct. will appear in the sequel that none of those charges were supported by substantial or even probable evidence.

expect to reap. There is no repentance in the grave; which shows, that if none there, then no where else. To sum up this divinity of mine; it is the light of Jesus in our souls, that gives us a true sight of ourselves, and that sight that leads us to repentance, which repentance begets humility, and humility that true charity, that covers a multitude of faults, which I call God's expedient against man's infirmity. The second remedy to our present distemper is this; since all of all parties profess to believe in God, Christ, the Spirit and Scripture, that the soul is immortal, that there are eternal rewards and punishments, and that the virtuous shall receive the one, and the wicked suffer the other; I say, since this is the common faith of Christendom, let us all resolve in the strength of God to live up to A few days after the date of William Penn's what we agree in, before we fall out so miser-letter, the Prince of Orange landed at Torbay, ably about the rest in which we differ. I am and being joined by most of the leading men persuaded, the change and comfort which that in the nation, King James fled into France, pious course would bring us to, would go very and thus left the way open for the accession far to dispose our natures to compound easily of the Prince and Princess of Orange. A confor all the rest, and we might hope yet to see vention being called, they were declared King happy days in poor England; for there I and Queen of England. would have so good a work begun. And The effect of this change in the governhow it is possible for the eminent men of ment was soon felt by William Penn; for on every religious persuasion, epecially the pre- the 10th of the tenth month, as he was walksent ministers of the parishes of England, to ing in Whitehall, he was sent for by the lords think of giving an account to God at the last of the council, who were then sitting, when day, without using the utmost of their endea- he underwent an examination. We have no vours to moderate the members of their re- account what charge, if any, was exhibited spective communions, towards those that differ against him.* In reply to some questions from them, is a mystery to me. But this I which were put to him, he assured them that know and must lay it at their doors, I charge he had done nothing but what he could analso my own soul with it, God requires mode-swer before God, and all the princes in the ration and humility from us; for he is at world; that he loved his country and the Prohand, who will not spare to judge our impa-testant religion above his life, and had never tience, if we have no patience for one an- acted against either; that all he ever aimed other. The eternal God rebuke, I beseech him, the wrath of man, and humble all under the sense of the evil of this day: and yet, unworthy as we are, give us peace, for his holy name's sake.

at, in his public endeavours, was no other than what the prince had declared for; that King James was always his friend and his father's friend, and in gratitude he was the king's friend; and did always, as much as in "It is now time to end this letter, and I him lay, influence him to his true interest. will do it without saying any more than this. Notwithstanding this manly and open declaThou seest my defence against popular cal-ration, and that nothing appeared against him, umny; thou seest what my thoughts are of he was required to give security for his apour condition and the way to better it, and pearance on the first day of next term, which thou seest my hearty and humble prayer to Almighty God, to incline us to be wise, if it were but for our own sakes. I shall only add, that I am extremely sensible of the kindness and justice intended me by my friends on this occasion, and that I am for that and many more reasons,

"Thy obliged and affectionate friend,
"WILLIAM PENN.

"Teddington, October

the 24th, 1688."

he did. Upon his appearance in court he was continued on the same security to the Easter term following. On the last day of that term his case was brought before the court; when,

*From what Clarkson has told us on the subject, I should infer that this examination was based upon a suspicion that he was a papist, or perhaps a jesuit, and had aided King James in his attempt to establish popery and arbitrary power. But it is not clearly stated.

no charge of any kind appearing against him, he was publicly discharged.

ploy others is to profane an ordinance of God." "Rule the meek meekly; and those that will not The convention which placed William and be ruled, rule with authority; and God AlmighMary upon the throne of Great Britain, hav-ty prosper all honest and prudent endeavours." ing in the year 1689 been converted into a The appointment of Deputy-governor Blackparliament, proceeded to enact such laws as well did not answer the expectations of the were judged requisite to secure the objects of proprietary. He did not harmonize with the the revolution. A bill abolishing the test act inhabitants there; and William Penn was inwas passed by the commons, thus preparing duced in a short time to revoke his commisthe way for the admission of dissenting Pro- sion. Although he expressed an apprehentestants into the offices of government. But sion that Friends were not altogether free this bill was rejected by the house of lords. from blame in the controversies which arose The next measure in favour of dissenters between them and his deputy, his letters were was more successful. A bill was introduced still expressive of his tender attachment to and passed into a law, usually styled the act them, and fervent desires for their temporal of toleration. By this act all dissenters were and spiritual welfare. The inhabitants of the exempted from certain penalties, provided province being exempt from the commotions they would take the oaths to government-which then agitated their native land, were and as Friends could not conscientiously take making rapid advances in the accumulation an oath, they were allowed the benefit of the of estates; and the watchful eye of William act upon subscribing a declaration of a prescribed form. Dissenters were allowed to hold their meetings without molestation, provided the doors were not bolted during the time.

Penn did not fail to discover the danger attendant upon the sudden increase of wealth. In one of his letters written about this time, he seriously admonished his friends in Pennsylvania to beware lest the things of the world should occupy too much place in their minds;

From the works which William Penn had produced in defence of toleration, and the clearness and force of his arguments, we" For," says he "it is a blessed state to enjoy may safely consider him as one of the agents in the production of this great event. The repeal of the penal laws will no doubt be attributed, by many, to the growing liberality of the age. But that liberality itself may be justly ascribed to the labours and sufferings of those enlightened men whom that and the preceding ages produced; among whom he and his friends held a conspicuous place.

and use the world, in the dominion of his life and power, who has quickened us by his light and spirit. In this stands all our peace and blessedness, that God be eyed in the first place; that we set him continually before our eyes; and that our eye be directed toward him in all things; as the eye of a handmaid to her mistress; that we may be able to say in truth and righteousness, that we have none in heaven but him; nor on the earth besides him."

During the time that William Penn was employed as we have seen in England, the The year 1689 gave rise to Friends' pubwant of his presence in Pennsylvania was lic school in Philadelphia; which was incorfelt and lamented by the inhabitants there. porated in 1697 by a charter from William The burden of government had rested prin- Penn's deputy. This was subsequently concipally upon Thomas Lloyd, a valuable mem-firmed, by a fresh charter from William Penn ber and minister of the Society of Friends; himself in 1701, and a second in 1708. By but as he was desirous of being released from this charter the corporation was "for ever the care and responsibility of his public sta- thereafter to consist of fifteen discreet and retion, William Penn reluctantly granted his ligious persons, of the people called Quakers, request, and nominated John Blackwell, who by the name of the Overseers of the Public was not a Friend, as his deputy. Among the School, founded in Philadelphia, at the request, instructions, accompanying the commission cost and charges of the people called Quasent to this officer, I find the following: "That kers." A third and final one was granted in the widow, orphan, and absent may be parti- 1711, confirming the preceding charters, and cularly regarded in their rights; for their cry extending the privileges of the corporation. will be loudest in all ears; but by absent, I Fifteen individuals were named in this charmean such as are so of necessity." "To ter, several of whom are known to have been have a special care that sheriffs and clerks of eminent for literary and scientific attainments, the peace impose not upon the people; and as well as for religious worth. Vacancies that the magistrates live peaceably and sober-occurring in this body, are supplied by their ly; for I could not endure one loose or liti-own election. By this charter the corporate gious person in authority. Let them be men title was changed to "The Overseers of the having some fear of God, and hating covet-Public School founded by charter in the town ousness, whatever be their persuasion: to em- and county of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania.”

An extract from the preamble to this charter will show the design of its founders:"Whereas, the prosperity and welfare of any people depend, in great measure, upon the good education of youth, and their early instruction in the principles of true religion and virtue, and qualifying them to serve their country and themselves, by breeding them in reading, writing and learning of languages, and useful arts and sciences, suitable to their "Though nothing of an interest of my own sex, age and degree; which cannot be effect- was the reason of the ancient esteem I have ed in any manner, so well as by erecting pub- had for thee, yet that only is the motive at this lic schools for the purposes aforesaid; there-time to this freedom; for being informed by fore," &c.