away from the cares of business to be enabled to write with profit either to
myself or others.

I am glad thou hast found that the doctrines taught by Elias Hicks
corroborate the impressions made upon thy own mind by the inspiring
power of the Divine Spirit, for I believe that when we meet with those
whom we have reason to believe are or have been devoted to the cause
of truth and find that their experience runs parallel with our own we feel
strengthened and encouraged to pursue that path which has hitherto been
productive of peace to our own minds, though at the present moment
objects that seem almost insurmountable lie in our way.

It is not strange that thou finds thyself in the mist, or that questions
may arise in the mind thou canst not satisfactorily answer, or that things
and views are presented which thou cannot reconcile with each other or
comprehend their full bearing or significance, for such has been and still
is the case with even the most highly gifted and deeply experienced.

I presume it needs no effort of mine to show thee that man is, by
nature of his relationship to the Divinity, a finite creature and that his
capacity for the acquirement of knowledge is necessarily limited, and inas-
much as there is but one great power that created all things, so only that
power can be omniscient and hence man with the most gigantic power of
intellect he may possess, comes very far short of that attribute of Deity.
And then it follows as a consequence, this being his allotment, he will be
continually meeting with that he cannot unfold or demonstrate and there-
fore cannot comprehend, and then if not wilfully blind he will discover
how much he is dependent upon the Great Creator, and as he is disposed
to profit by what he has already known and experienced, he will learn the
necessity of waiting in patience with faith until that which is best for
him to know will be unfolded at such lime as it is best for him to receive
it, so that, however diligently he may seek among the things of earth for



Letters from 185S to 1861 85

a solution of the difficulties under which he is laboring, it is only as he
is afforded an evidence which he cannot controvert by the most subtle
reasoning he can command (which evidence is furnished by the Most
High) that he will find the obstacle to his progress removed and the
cloud with which his mind has been shrouded to clear away. Therefore,
while I feel at liberty to give thee such views as have been opened to
my mind in relation to the queries thou hast proposed for me to answer,
I would first advise a patient waiting and watching for the unfoldings
of the light of truth upon thy own mind, and judging from my own ex-
perience, as far as thou art capacitated to bear them, the mysteries of the
Kingdom of Heaven will be opened to thy understanding and thou wilt
have the satisfaction of beholding one dark cloud after another roll
away and thy pathway open up clearly before thee.

In regard to the subject of conscience, thou remarks, "Conscience is
a matter of education." Now this is partly true, but not wholly so, as I
understand it. That there is a conscience that is the result of education
I readily admit, but I am also fully persuaded that there is a conscience
which is founded on the knowledge received from the revealings of the
Divine Spirit to that mind that has become willing to take up the cross
to the promptings of the human will, and has advanced step by step in
this path under submission to the laws thus revCaled and thereby witnessed
a new birth brought forth in the heart. That is, all the powers of the man
become subservient to and directed by His revealed will, instead of being
led alone by the reasoning powers of the human life, acting from the evi-
dence furnished through the medium of the outward senses, it is governed
by the light of His divine revelation, and hence walks by faith and not by
outward sight. This is what I understand to be a regeneration or being
born again, whereby we become new creatures, and our conscience is
the result of what is thus revealed by the inner light, and not of the edu-
cation Ave have received from our contact with our fellow-men. As it is
common when we affirm anything to be the settled conviction of our
minds to seek for some proof to demonstrate the truth of our position, I
will take the liberty to make a reference to the history and experience
of the Apostle Paul as furnishing a striking example of the truth to
which I have alluded. We find from the Bible account that he was edu-
cated in the forms and rituals of the Mosaic or Jewish law, and that,
too, by one of the most eminent men of the age, and so much was he
bound up by the bias of his education that he could not tolerate anything
which was opposed to his notions of religion, and he says he thought
he was doing God service by persecuting the Christians, but while in the
very act of such persecution, and on his way to carry out these ideas of
his conscience .which he had imbibed from his education, he was met with.



86 AuxoBioGRAriiY of John J. Cornell

the operation of the revealing power of the inward light showed him
clearly what he was engaged in and where he stood, and also whence came
certain misgivings or uneasiness of mind which he described as " kicking
against the pricks," and which was hard for him to withstand, so loth
was he to give up his traditional ideas, and hence he became blind, not-
outwardly so, but spiritually; that is, all that he had learned of men
became obscured and he could not see any way to go as respects his spiritual
path, and while in this condition an instrument was made use of to convince
him more fully that this Light which had revealed to him his true state
was indeed from God, and then the eye of his mind was gradually opened at
first to see things but dimly or out of their true proportion, and then as
they really were, and as he was attentive and obedient to the further reveal-
ings of this Light he walked no more after the dictates of his educational
conscience, but after the revelations of the Spirit of Truth as immediately
made known to him in the secret of his own heart.

I might bring more testimony of a similar character of a later date which
has come under my notice, but deem this sufficient to elucidate my views
and to draw thereform the conclusion that if we, in the exercise of our free
agency, do not turn a deaf ear to the voice of the Inward Teacher, we will
find that however we may be educated it will not justify us in the com-
mission of an act which is radically wrong.

I believe that it is universally the case where we rely on the conscience
we have received from our education or tradition in regard to matters of
religion, we are apt to become bigoted and intolerant towards those who
differ from us in opinion, but when we come to act from those higher
conscientious principles, which are the result of obedience to the immediate
revelation of the Divine will to men we discover that the Infinite Eternal
and All-wise Jehovah is omnipresent, and hence all men are equally objects
of his cognizance, and that we have no reason to believe that because He
has revealed Himself to us, He has not also revealed Himself to another
who may be placed in different circumstances from ourselves, or because
we find His laws adapted to our state that they would also suit the condi-
tions of another, and this brings me to the consideration of thy query,
" Were our Pilgrim Fathers justified in whipping the Baptists and hanging
the Quakers? "

If thou hast understood me thus far I think thou must see that my
answer will be, " I think not. - ' Though I would not by any means accuse
them of wrong intentions, but from the position from which I view them
they appear to have been in the condition of Paul while under the influence
of his educational conscience. They, like him, had become so wedded to
their traditions and were ready to condemn all as heretics who differed
from them, and verily thought they were doing God service by ridding



Letters i i«>m [858 to 1861 87

•their territory of them, but I cannot sec as this would be accepted in the
Divine sight as an excuse any more than in the case of Paul, and I fully
believe that when the excitement under which these acts were committed
had passed away, and they came to coolly reflect upon what they had done,
they felt uneasy and lacked a justification in their own minds, but I would
not by any means be understood that they had committed an unpardonable
sin, but as they saw their condition and were really sorry for what they
had done they were forgiven.

The question in relation to our mode of existence in a future state,
and whether we enjoy the same conjugal relationship there as here, is
one upon which we may form many conjectures and endeavor to satisfy
the mind by the ideal we have created, but yet it must ever be shrouded
in mystery while we remain here. I have found but little liberty to
meditate much upon the subject, for when my mind is turned in that direc-
tion my spiritual ear is saluted with the language, " It is sufficient for thee
to attend and be obedient to what is already revealed to thee, and to per-
form what is required of thee, resting in a faith that whatsoever situation
is best for thee in another world (if thou art obedient in this) will be
allotted thee." I may, however, remark that T am not without some views
on this subject, and though I do not claim any particular revelation for
them I will pen them for thee.

I have no idea that we shall enjoy the same conjugal relationship there
as here, and I have come to this conclusion from my conviction, that the
nearer the soul of man approaches that state of perfection to which the
Blessed Jesus alluded when He uttered the language, " He ye perfect
as your Father in Heaven s perfect," by which I understand a fulfilling of
the obligations resting upon us of whatsoever kind or nature, the more
we approach to a likeness of the Divine mind. And I trust it will not
require any elaborate argument to convince thee that in His dealings with
11 is creature man He is entirely unselfish; that whatsoever we receive from
His hand, He being the embodiment of goodness, is for our good, and not
for any thing which will accrue to Himself, for as the Scripture language is,
and which I fully believe, " He is replete and complete without us." Then
as we become likened unto Him in our spiritual life so as to become fitted
to enjoy a communion with Him throughout eternity, the soul becomes
unselfish, and that love of which it is the partaker and which it receives
from the fountain of Love God Himself flows forth to all the redeemed
alike. Now is it not clear that the love which binds us in the conjugal
relation is purely and necessarily selfish, we are unwilling and ought not
to share it with any other, and this is necessary to the preservation of har-
mony and order among men, but with the perishing and passing away of
these animal bodies, passes away the earthly affinities and there remains



88 Autobiography of John J. Cornell

only the affection for the spirit bound to ours by the ties immortal and
derived from God.

If, dear friend, these reflections shall correspond with the evidence
afforded thee by the Inward Light I trust thou may be encouraged thereby
to persevere in following its directions, and if thou art not furnished with
any such evidence I hope thou will not be discouraged, for I would that
in thy search for a resting place among the professors of religion in the
earth that thou be more attentive to what thou finds revealed in thy own
heart, and then wherever thou may settle or whatever views seem right
for thee to adopt I can bid thee sincerely and affectionately God speed, with
desires that we may both be preserved, so that when done with things
terrestrial we may join the angelic host around the throne of our God in
the eternal world.

Truly thy friend,

John J. Cornell.

Mendon Centre, Eleventh month 22, 1859.
John H. Andrews :

Much Esteemed Friend. — As quietly seated by our own fireside and the
mind takes in a retrospective view of our late journey, I am reminded that
some of those kind friends from whom we received so cordial a welcome
would at least desire to know if we had been permitted to return to our
home in safety, and believing that there has been some such desire on thy
part, I have made thee the first upon whom to inflict my letters. We re-
turned in safety last Fourth day and found our friends usually well and ap-
parently glad to see us home and filling our accustomed posts of duty. Our
visit has been one of deep instruction and encouragement to me, having
notwithstanding the little value of my labors have yet found many who
could give me the right hand of fellowship and were made sensible whence
came the offering. O how oft while there, as well as since, has every feel-
ing bowed in humble prostration before the throne of Jehovah in aspira-
tions of thankfulness for the many unmerited favors which were so abund-
antly lavished upon me, surely have been my secret ejaculations "There is
no sacrifice too great to be made that I may do all that He requires since He
is pleased so amply to reward me therefor."

I do not know but that my experience differs from almost all others
of whom I have had any knowledge, since I as yet have known but
little of the severe sufferings they relate of having undergone before they
were willing to give up. After the severe trial and proving season in which
the path of duty was clearly opened to my vision, and I was clearly con-
vinced first of the existence of a God then that He revealed Himself to



Letters from L858 to 1861 89

man, and then His will concerning man, and 1 was made to see that no
secondary medium could reveal that will, it was opened to my understand-
ing that if I would enjoy to the full the hlessings designed for me I
must be a willing as well as an obedient servant. That I must go and per-
form my Master's bidding when and where and how it pleased Him to send
me, and that, as soon as I clearly understood what that mission was and not
wait till the woe was pronounced upon me if I did not go, or in other
words not wait till compelled to go for fear of His displeasure. This
condition has appeared, and still does appear to me to be calculated to
abridge much of the happiness which would result from a cheerful sur-
render and a willing obedience. We may, perhaps, both of us recall the days
of our childhood and bring to recollection some incidents in our own
experience, when under the care and control of our earthly parents, and
remember how much more worthy we have felt of the smile or kind word
bestowed when we had obeyed their directions willingly than when our
obedience was given because we feared they would chastise us. I do not
know why I am writing thus, for I had no thought of anything like this
when I commenced, but thus my pen is inclined to run. It may be to
bring to view something in which thy more mature age and experience
may be led to counsel or reprove, if so 1 desire thou may be faithful.

I have been more strongly convinced than ever, during our late journey,
that our only safe abiding place is in humility of heart, and that as we are
careful to keep in this humble lowly state of mind we shall witness that
our Heavenly Father will preserve us in every hour of danger, coming
as we did (I say we, for my dear wife is indeed a companion to me in that
spiritual travail and warfare in which it is my lot to be engaged, and one
who has thus far been qualified to silently feel with me the stepping stones,
and to be a helpmeet indeed in the highest sense of the term), young and
inexperienced among so many highly gifted and deeply experienced, and
feeling too a dread lest our offering might be despised, and then meeting
that, if possible, more than cordial reception and everywhere greeted by
words of encouragement, and feeling too all fear and dread removed,
is it any wonder, when we look back over all this, that our hearts are filled
with thankfulness, that we have been preserved from everything like an ex-
altation of the creature, and that tears of gratitude have coursed down our
cheeks for so many favors.

Before leaving home I felt and heard the language, " Thou may have the
liberty to go and meet thy friends in Darby and Philadelphia if thou wilt
be faithful to do the work I shall give thee to do," but I little anticipated
the feast which was spread before me, and I believe I can bear testimony
to the truth that " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered



90 Autobiography of John J. Cornell

into the heart of man to conceive of the things the Lord hath in store for
them that love Him."

With desires that we may be remembered in much affection to those
who may inquire after our welfare and particularly to thy wife and chil-
dren, and to Joseph and Martha Dodgson, I remain thy sincerely attached
young friend,

John J. Cornell.

A letter from thee is always gladly welcomed.



Mendon, Twelfth month 18, 1859.
G. and E. H. :

Much Endeared Cousins. — It is what is called by the professed Christian
world generally the Sabbath evening, and a Sabbath evening it is to me at
this time, for I understand by the use of this term, that it denotes a season
of rest to the soul and not any particular day or time, as one on which we
voluntarily abstain from labor or care in relation to our temporal concerns,
a day or time that may be found and observed alike by the devoted, thought-
ful mind or by the scoffer at the invitation of the Holy Spirit, but a time
wherein the soul feels after it has worn its armor and battled fiercely under
the direction of the inwardly revealed will of God against the enemies of
its own household or against those dispositions of the human heart which
as they are given way to, incite it to rebel against the laws of God, but
which when obeyed lead it to the attainment of the highest happiness it is
capable of enjoying. I say I understand by the term Sabbath that after
the soul has undergone this conflict it is permitted to enjoy a period of
relaxation, and, as it were, bathe in the sweet stream of love, joy and
peace, a state in which all fear is removed, save the fear of displeasing
Jehovah, and thus be deprived of these blissful seasons of repose.

This, dear cousins, is the happy experience of the writer of this, while
seated in our little sitting room, with no companion save her whom I have
chosen and in whom I have found that near unity of spirit which sur-
passes all those feelings of affection which the world calls love, and en-
ables us to tread not only the courts of care in temporal concerns unitedly
but together walk in those beautiful halls of peace I have described as my
view of the Sabbath of rest.

And here we may behold a lesson of the infinitude of the blessings and
mercies our Gracious Creator bestows on those who through an obedience
to His directions are permitted to enjoy this great attainment, that in this
condition there is no desire to enjoy it selfishly, but there is begotten in
the heart an earnest hope that every other human being might experience its
benign effects, and thus while the mind beholds many still harrassed by



Letters from [858 ro [861 91

doubts and temptations, no feeling of superiority arises, but it is led to
sympathize with and feel for those who are not brought under its cog-
nizance. In short, love and nothing but love pervades the heart, and flows
from it in a continual stream of thankfulness to the Eternal, the Infinite,
with desires for the advancement of the whole human family.

Oh, dear cousins, you have taken as it were the first step in that great
highway that leads to peaee, a highway which the vulture's eye hath not
seen, which I understand to be a simile representing the keen-eyed reason-
ing of man by which he undertakes to comprehend the laws of God and
their adaptation to the human mind, a path in which the lion's whelp hath
never trod, which represents the strong unsubdued will of man, which
would prey upon and destroy those little impressions, by which the
Divine Spirit leads His little children in their first setting out to obtain this
great prize.

I desire that you may not take your rest here and think now, that you
have made a public profession of the name of Christ, you are safe,
and that all you have to do is to keep up the profession, for if you do, you
will find it to be one of those false heavens which must pass away, but con-
tinue to seek at that fountain of knowledge (which first made you sensible
that you stood in need of a power higher than your own in order that you
might be saved), for further instruction so that you may be enabled to
perform every duty and be preserved in every hour of temptation that
you may so live in, yet aloof from the world, prepared to enter into an
eternal blissful state when it shall please the All-wise Ruler to give forth
the fiat, that time to you shall be no longer.

It seems right for me to pen some reflections upon what is unfolded to
my understanding constitutes salvation by Christ.

I know it is the popular doctrine that, by the crucifixion of Jesus upon
the cross, all those who believe in His name are to experience salvation.
And I do not know but these are your views, if so do not judge me as
seeking to condemn them, or as desiring to convert you to my faith, but
as I sometimes feel called upon to pen these revelations which I have
received, independent, as I believe, of any man or anything that has been
written by men — be they prophets or apostles, I always feel to pen them
for their candid consideration and if they are furnished an evidence that
they are true they cannot do otherwise than believe them, but if no such
evidence is furnished they cannot believe them, and must remain satisfied
with the light they have, be it greater or less than mine. And it is in this
feeling that I am led to write to you this evening upon these subjects of
a religious nature.

Now I find in my spiritual travail that the first intimation that 1 have
committed a wrong act is in my own heart, and not only when 1 have



92 Autobiography of John J. Cornell

committed it, but before its commission, tbcrc is an impression that what I
am about to do is wrong, and if T heed the impression I am preserved
from the commission of that which is thus shown me is wrong and hence,
for that time, I am saved from the commisson of sin. This I intend to be
understood to apply to my temporal actions.

Then, as relates to my spiritual experience, although I cannot now give
you a detailed account of my gradual progress for want of space as well
as time, I may say I found a principle or impression which first withheld
me from the commission of things all men agree to be wrong. Then, as 1
continued to attend to those impressions I found I could more easily
(then than at first and that by them I was required to) leave off the indul-
gence of one thing after another that stood in my way as a hindrance to a
sufficient humiliation wherein I could be taught of God, and this prin-
ciple or impression of mind plainly showed me that if I did not yield up
those things that were required I would disobey the laws of my God and
then commit sin, and though doubts arose thickly to tempt me not to give
up, yet as I attended to these impressions, I was preserved.

There came a season in which I was required to do something in a
public manner, to give to others the benefit of my experience, and then
came the reasoning nature, with many objections, yet there was ever before
my mental vision the impression that if I withheld I should commit sin
and thereby lose all I had gained. Thus, as I listened to them, I was pre-
served and have witnessed a growth until I can bear testimony of at times
being permitted to enjoy a Sabbath of rest.

Now what think you were the nature of those impressions, and whence
came they? And by what name shall we denominate them? For, in this
brief description, you have the heads of what has made me what I am,
and you have an account of that by which I profess to be actuated and the
authority by which I believe I am endowed with a gift in the ministry. I
call it the Spirit of God manifested in me, an offspring of Jehovah and
hence a Son of God, and therefore the Christ, the true Savior, because I
have found it to be a Savior in every hour of trial and temptation, a pre-
server indeed, and a power by which I have been led to drink at the in-
exhaustible fountain of love and if I am not deceived in this, what. I ask you