but now he feared they were about to be deprived of that privilege.  Before the Friends left Berlenburg, he called at their inn with several more of his society; he appeared to be a truly pious man, and looked, they say, exactly like a good old Friend.  He declared himself to be fully convinced of the value of silent worship, but said that their people in general were not prepared to adopt it; however they rejected outward baptism, and the use of the bread and wine, and refused to bear arms.  He had been many times summoned before the magistrates to be examined upon his religious belief.  On one of these occasions the Landrath asked why he did not take the bread and wine, and why he did not have his children baptised.  He answered that if he was to conform to these ceremonies it would be as though he had received a sealed letter in which nothing was written.  He and his people were solicitous with the Friends to have a meeting with them; but the minds of John Yeardley and his companions were pre-occupied with a desire first to see the New Separatists, who were then under persecution, and they did not think it proper to accede to the request.

In reply to a message which they sent to some of the new society, they received, through a young woman (for the men were afraid to come to the inn), a pressing invitation to visit some of them who lived in a retired spot called Schellershammer, not far distant.  They immediately accepted the invitation.  The road, which was impassable for a carriage, was covered with mud and water.  They were received into a very humble dwelling by a pious young man and his family, with whom also they found some of the New Separatists from Schwartzenau.  On. sitting down with this company the restraining presence of the Lord was felt, under which they remained for some time in silence.  Then the poor people opened to them their situation with humility and freedom.  The young man above-mentioned had just drawn up a statement of their religious principles, which had been sent to the authorities.  This statement he showed to the Friends, as also a letter to the King of Prussia, which had been prepared by one of their ministers, but which, from its lofty assumption of prophetic authority, they could not approve.  These people called their ministers, Instruments; and they had fallen into the specious error of attributing to their effusions, whether spoken or written, equal authority with the Holy-Scriptures.  On other points their principles resembled those of Friends; as the disuse of outward ceremonies and of oaths, and their testimony against war.  It was on these accounts that they were persecuted.  They appeared to dwell under the cross of Christ, and to live in much quietness of spirit.  Under the existing circumstances the Friends did not feel bound to appoint a general religious meeting with these people.  They contented themselves, therefore, with unfolding their sentiments in conversation, giving them books, and before they left Berlenburg, addressing them by letter, in which they enlarged particularly on the subject of the ministry.  They also left some copies of their Friends’ books with the old society; and both parties declared their belief that the visit they had received was in the order of Divine Providence, and took leave of them in love and confidence.