Woolman did many things in his life, varying from merchant, to tailor, to Quaker preacher. Along this path he decided that his wealth and prosperity were hurting him and his relationship with God: "the increase became my burden".[2] He turned away from all his merchandise and placed his focus somewhere else, no longer even desiring it.
This aspect of Woolman's writing moves beyond Quaker ideals. It is something that contains aspects of Americanism, also portrayed in later authors like Henry Thoreau as well as Walt Whitman. He in some ways precedes transcendentalism.
Woolman seems to believe in the importance of anti-mercantilism, as following his decision to forgo his wealth he becomes much more visionary and believes to become closer to God.
The 1971 version of The Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman [4] includes his Plea for the Poor, or a Word of Remembrance and Caution to the Rich, originally published posthumously in 1793, but believed to have been written around 1763-64.[5]
