1689. more effectually to fix and confirm that bond of love and affection, between him and his people,

upon

your comfort and profperity in outward things; about which have a
care, that they grow not too faft upon you, nor too many for you; I
mean, as to the care and concerns, that attend them, in the exercife of
your fpirits: for it is a bleffed ftate, to enjoy and ufe of the world, in
the dominion of his life and power, that has quickened us, by his light
and spirit a people to himself: for, in this stands all our peace and bleffed-
nefs, that God be eyed, in the firft place, that we fet him on our right
hand; that we fet him continually before our eyes; and that our eye be
directed towards him, in all things, as the eye of a handmaid to her mif-
trefs; that we may be able to say, in truth and righteoufnefs, we have
none in Heaven, but him, nor any on earth, befides him. This it is,
that keeps God's people every where; for hereby they put on Chrift, in
all his bleffed teachings and leadings, and make no provifion for the flesh,
to fulfil the lufts ther of: Friends, they are deep words, and deeper things.-
I know you understand me, and I hope you feel me, who have your eyes
to the mark, and look to the joy before you, that is above all things, in
this momentary, troublefome and bufy world.-And, now, friends, I
have a word more to you; and that is this, that faith, hope and charity
are the great helps and marks of true Chriftians; but above all charity is
the love of God, or divine love;-bleffed are they, that are come to it
and hold the truth in it, and work and act in it; for they, poor indeed
in fpirit, of their own, but rich in God's;-they are meek;-they inhe-
rit;-all other ftates are a brangle, in comparison; but this enjoys;-this
poffeffes; this reigns! O, come into this love more and more; for to this
fhall all gifts and operations give place; and they do fo, in the hearts of
thofe, that are come to know Charity greatest in them. It will preserve
peace in the church;-peace in the ftate;-peace in families, aye, and peace
in particular bofoms. God Almighty draw, I befeech him, all your hearts
into this heavenly love more and more, and that the work of it may shine
out, to God's glory and your comfort.

"For matters here;-as to myself, I am well and free;-and for the
church of God, liberty continues. But, in the nations of Europe, great
wars, and rumours of wars, fuch as have not been almost from the begin
ning. Suns are turning into darkness, and moons into blood; for the noteable
day is at the door. It could not he born for fome of you, when you
went for America, that fuch a day fhould come; but coming it is; for
almost every eye fees it, and tongue fays it; fome thousands, alas! have
already felt it. Sanctify, therefore, the Lord, in your hearts; be satis-
fied in him, in your lot; and walk worthy of his daily mercy and attend-
ance upon you, and care over you, and the Lord keep you to the end.
I am, in truth, that makes us near to God, and one to another,
"Your faithful friend and brother,
"WILLIAM PENN."

In this year likewife I find the following copy of a letter from the Proprietor, faid to be read in Council, dated, London, the 12th. of the Jixth-month, 1689, viz.

"Friends,

"I heartily wish you all well, and befeech God to guide you in the ways of righteoufnefs and peace. I have thought fit upon my further ftop, in thefe parts, to throw all into your hands; that you may all fee the confidence I have in you, and the defire I have to give you all poffible contentment. I do earnestly prefs your conftant attendance upon

the

affection.

upon the most certain and lafting foundation; 1689. which is the best preservative against all diforders: He treated them as beloved children; while W. Penn's they regarded him as a tender father: This, in part, appears, by his various epiftles of this nature, befides thofe refpecting the more temporal concerns of the province; which, from time to time, he writ to them, during his life; and in a language more pathetic and endearing, it is impoffible for the most affectionate parent to address his beloved offspring; of these that are yet extant, I find feveral this year; a fpecimen of which appears below, in the notes.

Friends'

The year 1689 gave rife to the Friends' public Rife of the fchool, in Philadelphia; which afterwards, in the School in year 1697, upon the petition of Samuel Carpenter, Philadel Edward Shippen, Anthony Morris, James Fox, Da- phia, &c. vid Lloyd, William Southby and John Jones, in behalf of themselves and others, to Deputy Markham, was first incorporated by charter; and, after that, confirmed by a fresh patent from William Penn, dated the 25th. of October 1701; and alfo by another, dated the 22d. of the Fifth-month 1708; whereby the corporation was, "For ever thereafter to confist of fifteen discreet and religious

perfons,

the government, and the diligent purfuit of peace and virtue; and God Almighty ftrengthen your hands, in fo good a work. I alfo recommend to you the particular difcipline of that town you meet in: that fobriety and gravity be maintained, and authority kept in respect.-As it comes in your way, countenance my officers in collecting my fmall revenue.Let the laws, you pass, hold fo long only as 1 fhall not declare my dif fent; that fo my fhare may not lye excluded, or finally concluded, without my notice; in fine, let them be confirmable by me, as you will fee by the commiffion I left, when I left the province.And if you defire a Deputy Governor, rather name three, or five, and I shall name one of them;fo as you confider of a comfortable fubfiftence; that the government may not go a begging.-I do not do this, to lye a binding precedent, but to give you, and the people you reprefent. the fulleft pledges I am able, at this distance, of my regard to them. Whatever you do, I defire, beseech and charge you all to avoid factions and parties, whisperings and reportings, and all animofities; that, putting your common fhoulders to the public work, you may have the reward of good men and patriots; and fo I bid you heartily farewell.

"WILLIAM PENN.

"Given at London, this 12th. of the Sixth-month, 1689.”

1689. perfons, of the people called Quakers, by the name of, The Overfeers of the public fchool, found in PhiladelOf Friends phia, at the request, coft and charges of the people

School.

Its defign.

called Quakers" but its laft and prefent charter, from William Penn, confirming all the preceding charters, and further extending the corporation, with larger powers and privileges, &c. is dated the 29th. of November, 1711; wherein the Overfeers, nominated and appointed, were Samuel Carpenter, the elder, Edward Shippen, Griffith Owen, Thomas Story, Anthony Morris, Richard Hill, Ifaac Norris, Samuel Preston, Jonathan Dickifon, Nathan Stanbury, Thomas Mafters, Nicholas Waln, Caleb Pufey, Rowland Ellis and James Logan; by which charter the Overfeers were afterwards to be chofen by the corporation.

This was the first inftitution of the kind, in Pennfylvania, intended not only to facilitate the acquifition of the more generally ufed parts of learning, among all ranks, or degrees, of the people, (the poorer fort being taught gratis, and the rich, or more wealthy, ftill paying a proportion for their children's inftruction) but also the better, and more extenfively to promote a virtuous and learned education, than could be affected by any other manner, was the end of the defign: Which, in the preamble to the faid prefent charter, is thus expreffed, viz.

"Whereas, the profperity and welfare of any people depend, in great measure, upon the good education of youth, and their early introduction in the principles of true religion and virtue, and qualifying them to ferve their country and themfelves, by breeding them in reading, writing, and learning of languages, and useful arts and fciences, fuitable to their fex, age and degree; which cannot be affected, in any manner, fo well as by erecting public schools, for the purposes aforefaid." &c.

For

For these laudable purposes, therefore, a num- 1689. ber of the principal inhabitants of Philadelphia, being Quakers, in the Fifth-month this year, agreed with George Keith, who then refided at Freehold (now called Monmouth) in New Jersey, to undertake the charge. He accordingly removed to Philadelphia, and was the first master of that school; but continued only about one year.*

* "George Keith was a native of Aberdeen, in Scotland, a man of learning, and had been of note among the Quakers, &c. (of which see more hereafter.) He came to Eaf Ferfey divers years before this time; was afterwards Surveyor general of that division; and, in 1687, he ascertained and marked the line of divifion between East and West Jersey. His falary for officiating in this fchool, was fifty pounds per annum, with a houfe for his family to live in, a school-house provided, and the profits of the fchool befide, for one year. For two years more his school was to be made worth one hundred and twenty pounds per annum, if he thought fit to ftay fo long; he was to teach the poor gratis. He continued in this station about one year, and then his ufher, Thomas Makin, was, at his defire, appointed to fucceed him, &c.

Note. The terms for teaching, &c. here, in early time, appear by the following extract from the journals of Council, viz.

"Tenth-month 26th. 1683, Enoch Flower undertakes to teach school in the town of Philadelphia, on the following terms, viz.

"To learn to read English, four fhillings by the quarter; to write, fix fhillings by ditto; to read, write and caft accounts, eight fhillings by the quarter: boarding a scholar, that is to fay, diet, lodging, washing and Schooling, ten pounds for one whole year."

Note.-Enoch Flower is faid to have come from Corfham in Wiltshire.

[44]

CHAPTER

W. Penn's

the time of

CHAPTER X.

William Penn's troubles and difficulties after the revolution in England.-He is prevented by his enemies from vifiting and affifting the province in a time of its greatest need.—Extract from his letter to Thomas Lloyd.-His epifle to his friends in London.-Difagreement between the province and territories.-Declaration of the Council, and other proceedings relating to the difference.-Names of the members of Affembly, in 1690.-Two Deputy Governors.-The Proprietor's concern at this difference.-Extract from one of his letters, respecting it.-Further proceedings of the province.—A promulgated bill.-Names of fome members of Council.-A letter of the two Deputies and their Councils to the Proprietary, &c.

IT has already been obferved, that, during most

affairsabout of the time fince the Proprietary's return to Enthe revolu- gland, in 1684, much of his public action and tion in 1688 fervice were in that nation; and that his intimacy

&c.

at court, and friendship with King James the Second, which his great obligation to that royal family, and the fituation of his own affairs may, both from gratitude and intereft, eafily account for, expofed him to many unjust cenfures; but in the year 1688, upon the change of government, the ftate of his affairs there began to have a very different, and more unfavourable aspect:-For the attempts which had been made by the King, in favour of popery and arbitrary power, had occafioned the meafures of the revolution, which now began to take place in the government there, by

means