A

JOURNAL

OF THE

LIFE AND TRAVELS

OF

JOB SCOTT.

CHAP. I.

His Birth and Parentage.—The early impressions of Truth on his Mind.—On Children in general. -Adam's situation -A Series of Visitations of Divine Love.-His frequent Transgression.Trials about Water-Baptism, Predestination, &c.

NORASMUCH as it hath pleased Divine wis

FOR

dom to lead and conduct my soul through many, various, and afflictive dispensations, as well as through some very comfortable enjoyments; giving me to partake largely of afflictions; bearing up my mind through them; bringing me forth again and again rejoicing, after scenes of deep distress; and wonderfully preserving me through some very deep, and perhaps somewhat unusual, probations, in my travel towards the land of rest;

A

I feel, and often have felt, an engagement of mind to leave behind me some memorandums, in commemoration of his gracious dealings with me from my youth.

I was born, according to the best account I could obtain, and according to the present or new style, on the 18th day of the Tenth month, 1751, in the township of Providence, now North Providence, in the Colony (now State) of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England. My parents' names were John and Lydia Scott; who were accounted honest people, though my father made but little profession of religion. My mother was more zealous, and attended Friends' meetings when she conveniently could, taking me divers times with her, and I think a few times another or two of the children, though we were all but young; for I being the eldest was but ten years old when she died. I can well remember the serious impressions and contemplations which, at that early period of life, and for some years before my mother's decease, attended my mind as I sat in meeting with her, and on the way home. I even had longing desires to become truly rẹ, ligious, and to serve and fear God, as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did, and others that I read or heard of. My mother endeavoured much to restrain us from being in the company of rude and vicious children; and would sometimes call us together, and labour to have us sit in silence with her which we did, and though I then understood

but little of the intent of it, it has since afforded me a degree of solid satisfaction; in believing the Lord had given her to know and partake of the sublime enjoyments and substantial benefits of true, inward, Christian silence, and waiting upon God; and that she was desirous we her children might, in our tender years, be made acquainted with at least some secret touches of that divine favour, which I doubt not she felt and experienced in such seasons of retirement: and though, as I observed, I understood but little about it then; yet I have since had reason to believe it was a real advantage to me; and that it has often been remembered since to my benefit.

I am fully persuaded of the great advantage, and spiritual usefulness to children and others, resulting from frequent silent waiting on the Lord. I have seen lively and convincing evidence of it, even in children very young in years; and fully believe the impressions of Divinė goodness have been such to their minds at some such seasons, even when there has not been a word uttered vocally, as have lastingly remained, and powerfully tended to beget the true fear and love of God in their young and tender hearts. And O! that parents were more generally concerned to do all they could towards leading their tender offspring into an early acquaintance with, and relish of divine things; best learned, and most livingly, and experimentally sealed upon the soul, in a state of silent introversion, and feeling after God.

I was told by some of my kindred who were present at my mother's death, (for it being night I was not present myself), that her departure was joyful and glorious; and that very nearly her last breath was spent in fervent supplications to the Lord her God.

And, not at all doubting but her immortal spirit is at rest in Jesus, I now leave her, and proceed to a further relation of the exercise of my own mind; having this testimony to bear, that almost as early as I can remember any thing, I can well remember the Lord's secret workings in my heart, by his grace or Holy Spirit; very sensibly bringing me under condemnation for my evil thoughts and actions; as rudeness and bad words, though I was not frequent in the use of the latter; for disobedience to parents; for inwardly wishing, in moments of anger, some evil to such as offended me; and such like childish and corrupt dispositions and practices, which, over and beyond all outward instruction, I was made sensible were eyil, and sprang from a real root of evil in me, And Į am in a full belief, that in every quarter of the globe, children, at an early age, have good and evil set before them, in the shinings of the lightof Christ in their hearts, with clearness and evidence sufficient to discover to them their duty, if they honestly attend to it. And though I am deeply sensible of the necessity and utility of much careful guardianship, cultivation, and instruction, in order to guard children against the corrupting