Journal of the Life and Travels of that Faithful Servant and Minister of Christ JobJob ScottScott (1751-1793) FORMATTING & MODERNIZED SPELLING BY JASON HENDERSON * * * "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”—Luke 14:26-27 --------------------------------------------------------- Chapter I. His birth and parentage. The early impressions of truth on his mind. On children in general. A series of visitations of divine love. His frequent transgression, trials about water-baptism, pre- destination, etc. FORASMUCH as it has pleased divine wisdom to lead and conduct my soul through many, various and afflictive dispensations; as well as through some very comfortable enjoyments; giv- ing 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: I 1 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 10th month 1751 in the township of Providence, now North- Providence, in the colony (now state) of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations in New-Eng- land. 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 several 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 contem- plations 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 religious, and to serve and fear God as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, did and oth- ers that I read or heard of. My mother endeavored much to restrain us from being in the com- pany of rude and vicious children, and would sometimes call us together, and labor 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 favor which I doubt not she felt and experienced in such seasons of retirement: and though, as I observed, I under- stood 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, res- ulting 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 divine 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 con- cerned 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 near her last breath was spent in fervent supplication to the Lord her God. 2 And now, not at all doubting but her immortal spirit is at rest in Jesus, I 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 not frequent in the use of them) dis- obedience to parents; 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 evil, and sprang from a real root of evil in me. And I 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 light of Christ in their hearts, with clearness and evidence sufficient to ascertain 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 influence of example, invitation, and perverse inclination, which abundantly and prevalently surround them; yet I fear a great part of the tuition, which too many children receive, tends rather to blunt the true sense and evidence of divine truths upon the mind, and to substitute notions and systems instead thereof, than to encourage an honest attention to the teachings which lead into all truth. I am satisfied, if the teachings of men were never to thwart the teachings of the Holy Spirit, many things would fix on the minds of children to be evils which they are now instructed and persuaded are inno- cent and commendable. Indeed it is mournful to observe how many of them are bolstered up in pride, vanity and revenge; taught to plume themselves upon their supposed superiority of parts and attainments; nursed up in the ideas of grandeur and worldly honor; yes, inspired with exal- ted notions of the merit of valor, heroism, and human slaughter.—Thus the very image of God, which more or less shines in the countenance, and in the tender sensibilities and compassionate commiserating feelings of an innocent child, is defaced or obscured. Observe an innocent child attentively, and though anger, passion and revenge, are very obvious features of the first nature, and show plainly that there is much to be subdued in them; yet it will be found, they feel nearly and tenderly for the distress of others; their little bosoms beat with compassion; and if they see cruelty exercised, by one upon another, they will often, in the best manner they can, manifest their abhorrence of the cruelty, and dislike of the cruel. There is in them that which, as attended to, will restrain the violence of nature, and by degrees bind the strong man, and cast him out, spoiling all his goods. It is no substantial objection to the discern- ment given to children by the holy light which shines in all, either that they evidently know but very little, for they have to act in but few and very small matters, and their discernment is pro- portionate; or that the seeds of evil, and propensities to evil actions, are some of the first things evident in them. 3 I am not insensible of the volumes of controversy about necessity and free will, fate and choice; but I have no mind now to meddle with any of the common arguments pro or con respecting them. Men muffle and blind their own understandings by running into abstruse and metaphys- ical inquiries, wherein they are scarce ever the better satisfied for their nicest investigations, or keenest discussions. God has made mankind universally sensible (in degrees sufficient for their various circumstances and allotments in life) of their duty, and enabled them to perform it, so far as they improve the means afforded them. Adam was as certainly (so it stands in my mind) made able to obey or conform to the divine will, so far as revealed to him, as God is perfect goodness; and so I am persuaded are all his offspring. I have no more belief that God's revealed will required any thing of our first parents, beyond ability to perform, than I have that God is cruel or perverse; and as little do I believe that any infant on earth comes into the world under a moral impossibility of conformity to the divine will, so far as by any means whatever made manifest, which I call revealed. Man is here, upon practical principles: nothing is or can be a law to him, further than it is some way or other discovered; and that which ultimately assures and seals it to him as God's law, whatever out- ward manifestation may be made, is the Holy Spirit, that bears witness with his spirit, settling and satisfying his mind sufficiently what is good, and what is evil.