A True Hero | Page 5

down with
somewhat impatient steps. "I am writing to my dear father to tell him
the cause of my absence," said young Penn, stopping for a moment. "I
fear that his sickness is very serious, and deep is my regret to be kept
away from him; yet do I glory in thus suffering for the great and noble
principles for which we are striving,--liberty of conscience, liberty of
action. What is life worth to man without these? And yet our infatuated
countrymen run a great risk of losing both, if they refuse to listen to the
voice of warning, and to prepare in time for the threatened danger." Just
then a turnkey opened the door, and in an impudent tone of voice said,
"Here's a man and a lad come to see Master Mead. There, go in and sit
as long as you please, till the hour arrives when all visitors must be
turned out."
"Ah! friend Christison and thy fine boy, thou art welcome to this our
somewhat sorry abode," said Mead. "I would rather have seen thee at
my family board this evening, as I had proposed; but we must submit to

the powers that be. I will now make thee known to our friend Master
William Penn, whose father thou and I served under in days gone by."
"Ay, marry, I remember him well!" exclaimed Christison. "We were
with him when he chased that piratical, malignant Rupert, and
well-nigh caught him. Many a rich argosy would have been preserved
to the Commonwealth had we succeeded; but the devil favours his
children, and the rover got off."
"We will not now speak of those times," said Mead. "I am not surprised
to hear thee, old comrade, allude to them thus; but I, now taught better,
have laid aside the use of carnal weapons."
"Well, well, I know you will always do as your conscience dictates,"
said Christison; "and gladly do I shake hands with the son of my old
commander."
William Penn rose, and courteously welcomed the visitor, giving a kind
smile and a touch on the shoulder to young Wenlock. "Let my presence
not interfere with you, friend," he said; "but as thou seest I am busily
engaged in writing on matters of importance; thou mayst talk state
secrets to each other, and I shall not hear them; so, pray thee, Master
Christison, make thyself at home with thy old friend." Saying this, he
resumed his seat and continued writing, completely absorbed in his
work. Captain Mead warmly thanked his old friend for coming to see
him.
"And what is it I hear of you," asked Christison; "that you have joined
the followers of George Fox?"
"Verily, I have deserted all worldly systems, and have united with those
who believe that the guidance of the Spirit is sufficient to lead us into
all truth: the Holy Scriptures being the only fit and outward rule
whereby to judge of the truth. I pray thee, old friend, do not strive
against that Holy Spirit, a measure of which has surely been given to
thee. That is the light and life of the Holy Word which `in the
beginning was with God, and was God.' That it is which will enlighten
thy mind, if thou strivest not to quench it."

In a similar strain Mead continued putting forth and explaining to his
old friend the doctrine held by the Quakers. He spoke to him of the
unity of the Godhead. "We believe," he added, "that their light is one,
their life one, their wisdom one, their power one; and that he that
knoweth and seeth any one of them knoweth and seeth them all, as our
blessed Lord says, `He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.' We
believe, too, though most wrongfully accused of the contrary, that God
the Son is both God and man in wonderful union; that He suffered for
our salvation, was raised again for our justification, and ever liveth to
make intercession for us. He is that Divine Word that lighteth the souls
of all men that come into the world with a spiritual and saving light, as
none but the Creator of souls can do. With regard to our worship, we
hold that `God is a Spirit, and desires to be worshipped in spirit and in
truth,' not only on one day, but on all days of the week; not only when
meeting together, but in the daily concerns of life; and the man who
worships not then, will render poor worship when he assembles with
his fellow-men at the time he may think fit to set apart for that purpose.
As we acknowledge no other Mediator than the Son of God, who came
on earth and died for our sins, and, having risen from