mm^^ '^/smmw ^oxmmw "vm ,^WEUNIVERS-/A niVD-JO'^ '^(yOJITVD-JO^ ^/5a3AINn-3WV ^tllBRARYO^- .^•OFCALIFO/?^ mmo/: ^ ^lllBRARYQ^^ nvDJO"^ ^WEl)NIVER%. JO^ ^OFCAllF0ff/(^ ^^•lIBRARYQr^ ^OFCAIIFOff,^ ^^Aiivaan-^^ "^^^AavjiaiH^ AWEUNIVERJ/a ^ v7ia3AINa-3WV ^ so \WEUNIVERS/A e night come up^.n us before the day of l>eauty ainl reformation would again revive in fplendour. And therefore fhe was fervently engaged that the faithful every where might ftand upon their watch, and dif- charge themfelves as w;atchmenand watchwo- men upon tl;e walls of Zion, having their ar- mour on and their lights burning, to be able to difcover, as well as oppofe,.the approach of tfie enemy. The latter part of her time fhe was attend- ed with much bodily weaknefs and indifpoli- tion, which often rendered her unfit for tra- vdling, thcfe flie called vifitations of the mercy of God to her foul, in order to pre— lerve her to Himfelf, and flain the beauty and glory of this world in her view, that her affec- tions might be weaned from terreftrial objefts, and fixed upon thofe things that are above, permanent and enduring to all eternity. f V ) That the penifal of the following experi- ciices may be blefled, and that the footfteps of this handmaid of the Lord may excite and encourage all to prefs into the path of felf- denial, the fure way to fanftification, and the reft of the righteous in which Ihe delighted is, rcitdcr, the fervent defire of Thy well wifhing friend Samuel N£ale» .ARY NEiVLE otherwife Peifley, daugh-- ter of Peter and Rachel Peifley was born in, i;iie year 1717 at Ballymore in the county of Kildare in Ireland, and educated in the fociety of the people called Quakers ; but a difpo- fition to keep coxnpany unreftrained by the erofs of Chrift, led her from truth's limplici- ty in manners and behaviour, whereof fhe thus exprefles herfelf, " I count it an infinite mercy and high fa- " vour, tliat the omnipotent God fuffered not ** the thread of my life to be cut, during tho ** many years that I lived in difobedience to ** his holy will, and tho' often by the opera- " tion of his grace inwardly touch'd and con- " vi£led of my errors, and the vail fo far rent " from ofFmy underftanding, as to let me fee •' that I Hood on the brink of ruin, yet did I ** as often fuffer the enemy and adverfary of " my foul again to darken my underftanding, *' and benumb my fpiritual feeling ; and the- ( 8 ) "*' tumultuous noifes, pleafures an<3 allurements *' of this world flifled tlie intelligence of the ** flill fmall voice, which would have direfted ** me, faying, this is the way walk in it. Our ** meeting alfo was favoured witli a Uy- *' ing and powerful miniftry, which I often *' flighted ; thus have I, with my hard andim- ** penitent heart, ftoned his prophets, and by " my unbelief and uncircumcifed fpirit, perfe- •' cuted them that were fent to declare and *' proclaim the glad tidings of the gofpel ; ta " invite and call to thofe who were in capti- *' vity, held by the chains of fin, to come *' away to the glorious liberty of the Truth ; ** 1 have to remember, as an inexpreffible *' favour and mercy to ray foul, that in the " height of all my vanity and ftupidity, I was *' not fuffered to run into the grofs enormi- " ties of the world, I w^as kept from thofe *' loud, crying, hardening, black crimes which, " had I run into, might fo highly provoke my " creator, as to have caufed him to fay in his "wrath," "Thou Ihalt not enter into my reft." " A fhort time before my converfion I had " a fall from my horfe, by which I was ap- " parently in danger of having my neck dif- '♦ jointed, and a fudden end put to my life ; as ( 9 ) " foon as I arofc on my feet and recovered " my fenfes, the Lord by his grace and good " Spirit fhewed me clearly that I was not in a- *' fit, condition to meet him the jufl and holy ** judge of heaven and earth, and caufed me " folidly to confider the difmaf confequence *' of being hurried off the flage of mortality, " in an unprepared flate, the imprcflion of *' which never left my mind 'till God, by his •' grace, had made me more fit for his king- " dom, the glory of which; be given to his " everlafting name." About tills time two friends in the fervice of truth appointed ameeting, within the com-- pafs of that in which fhe refided. Their aw- ful, reverent fitting before the Lord, waiting upon him for his prefence and aid, flruck her in an unufual maimer, railing in her mind a; fervent enquiry after the revelation of the Fa~ ther, through his Son. She had often heard' tell of the comforts of the holy Spirit, the in- flruftion of the: light that comes by Jefusi Chrift, and the way of fpiritual worfhip : but flill remained a ftranger to the true manner of feeking and breathing after it, in her own • experience. She has exprcfled how deeply her mind was afFeded, by the filent and hum- ble waiting of the before mentioned friends, A 5 and by the operation of the tiniverfai prin- ciple of grace flied in her heart, that fhe was aroufed to enquire for herfelf; and as Ihe prefled to wifdom's gate her feeking mind was Jatisfied. , jDuring this difpenfation of inward enquiry Ihe was helped forward to diligence by the miniflry of fomc of the Lord's meffengersy who fpoke comfortably to her ftate, and en- couraged her in perfeverance and well doing,- fpeaking prophetically, that the Lord would raife up in that meeting fome that fliould bear his name among the Gentiles, and be the meflenger of peace and glad tidings to the people, if obedience and faithfulnefs to the . heavenly manifcftatioiis were kept to By an humble refignation to the divine wilt to form the veffel in what manner the heaven-* ly potter pleafed, the work went forward profperoully, and ihe appears to have been an inftance of great fervency and devotednefs to whatever the divine influence didated, watch- ful to hear the voice, and obedient to fulfill the command, tho' it was in giving up that which might b« as a right hand or aright eye. ( II ) Her entrance into the work of the miniftry was about the beginning of the year 1744, near which time Ihe had unexpedled domeflic trials which, brought her very low in mind, from a fenfe of the lingularity of her fltua- tion, but her truft being in the Lord, flie was eminently fupported, and writes thus to a friend. " I doubt not but thou art touched in fome " degree with a fenfe of my deep and heavy •* afflidtions wliich are of various kinds ; ma- *.'iny are the probations which I have pafled' ** througli and Hill am under, I can by no • *f means fet fortli tlie wife, prudent and merci- *' fui manner, that my tender and heavenly *• Father has dealt with me; by fortifying my " mind beforehand, and likewifc fupporting* " and upliolding me under my trials ; was it •t-not in the iniinitenefs of his wifdom, and '^ boundlefs mercy that he ftained the beauty " of this world in my eyes, wiped off the var- •' nifh and gilding, and let me fee before they " were fnatched from me, that they were but ** momentary, fading enjoyments, and the *' greateft and beft of them were but fhort " lived bleflings, and fhadows that would va- *' nilh away? neither did his kindnefs end *' tliere, for he likewife Ihewed me what was ( 12 ) ** fubflance, a pearl of ineftimable value ; at ** the fight of which my foul was fo tranfport- *' ed that I. crkd out in an extacy of joy.'* *' Caufe me, Lord, to poflefs this treafure, and *' in lieu of it diveft me of whatever feems ** good in thy fight ;" this was my covenant *' with the King of Kings. So great was *' the goodnefs of my God, difpcnfed and pro- *' portioned in wifdom, that he did not at that *' time reveal himfelf to me in fo full a man- *' ner as he has.fince done ; at a time when I «' moft of all wanted it : in my deepeft plung- *' ings, he has caufed my foul to tafte of joys " and confolations which I was before, aftran- ** ger to ; nor would 1 have prefumed to aik *< for the favours of patience and refignation *♦ and fortitude of mind, which he has unde- *' fervedly beftowed on me, an unworthy *' creature. " An opportunity prefented for her to re- fide in the family of a friend, within the compafs of Mountmelick meeting, of whofe daughter fhe had the care ; in this flation- fhe continued for fome time, vtntil fhe apprehend- ed herfelf thereby deprived, in fome degree of a full liberty to exercife the gift received, and to live to him alone that had quickened her anew in Chrift Jefus ; at which . time fhe writes thus to a relation. *' I am refolved, by ( T3 ) •*^^the bleffed affiftance of Ifrael's God, not to *■' bury, that talent that he has given me in the ** earth, nor to quit the occupyit^g of it for "any outward occupation; better would '* it be for me to wander as the pro- ** phets formerly did ; deftitute, diftrefled " and naked, than to fell an unfading inhert- *' tance, for any profpe£l of advantage here-; "for I am fure to drudge for the fuftenance " of the body, as do the beads, and to live for ** no nobler ends, than to eat, drink and fleep, •* fuch a life is not worth living for ; not>liiat "I am againfV moderate honeft induftry, for ** I am convinced it is good for both body *' and mind." About this time a concern attended her mind, to vifit friends of the three provinoesj wlvich fhe pretty generally performed in com- pany with Elizabeth Tomey of Limerick, in fwect unity and concord. They met with low times and feafons, deep baptifm of fpirit, and travailed for and with the feed, and at times were fet at liberty, in th« amhority and power of tru'h, to minifter unto the va- rious clafles of the peopk. Of the quarterly meeting of Ulfter province held in Lurgan, Ihe gives the following account. *' We at- •* tended the meeting of minifters ai\d elders, [ I^^ ) «♦ wHerc we Had clofe work, but the power of ** the Lord upheld us above the fear of man. •* Next day had fome encouragement to tlie " faithful and well-minded, but could not' " that day reach the libertine fpirit, but waited " for renewed ftrength from the Lord, to en- " gage againft the Goliahs, who defy the ar* *' mies of the living God. The day after be-^ ♦' ing firft day, we fat in a low humble de- " pending Hate, until the Lord gave the fpirit " of fupplication, after which his power was " fet over all, and teftimony borne to his " name, and tranfgreifors were Ihewed their " errors in the demonftration of the Lord's " fpiiit and power." After this journey fhe went to refide with a relation in Borris, from whence Ihe writes as follows. *' I am at times concerned for the *' whole bulk of mankind, but in a more par- " ticular manner for my kindred according \o " the fielh, and efpecially thofe who were my ^ companions in my former vanities, as well " knowing what the life I then led would have ** ended in, had not my God, in his infinite " mercy, opened my eyes, and flopped my race *' to ruin ; and tho' 1 was in the broad way *♦ that leads to dellrudion, yet was I innocent ** of, and free from the grofs ^aormities that are^ ( IS ) '• In the world, and becaule thereof the enemy '* perfuaded me, that I was I'afe enough*- " but alas ! I found I was living as without ♦* God in the world, in forgctfulnefs of " him ; a ftranger and unregenerate ; in •* Ihort that I was an enemy to God, and un- " der his juft wrath and difpleafure ; and now " I may fay that I am jealous with a godly ** jealoufy, that thou art yet in that unrege- ** nerate ftate and condition: thou wilt fay " perhapSr.thou art not called to the fame *♦ work that I have been called to, viz. the " work of the miniftry, and have no need to " know what I have experienced. If this *' fliauU be fuggefted to thy mind, it is of the ■" enemy, for if thou haft not beeil called to f*^ to bear a public teftimony,thou haft 1 doubt *♦ not been called to holinefs, without whidi •* we are told, " no man (hall fee the Lord.'* *' Thou haft the fame pure holy God to fcar> *' the fame fubtil unwearied enemy to wat *' againft, afoul as precious, and that mtfft *' abide as long as mine, either in happinefsor ** mifcry, therefore it behoves tlice to be as " ftri£l in thy life, and as holy >n thy <:Onver- •' fation as any other, that fo thou may eft be " a terror te evil doeffi, and a praife and en- " courager of them that do well. For I am •* fure if W9 be lovers and true followers of ( 1^ ) " Jefus, we cannot take pleafure in hearing *' his great naijie profaned, and taken in vain : " and their company that are guilty of fuch " things we fhould carefully avoid, as we " would an infe£tious perfon. ** It is 1 think, impoflible to be frequent in ** ill company, without being fomewhat lea- ** vened into the fame fpirit,exccpt we keep ** a llrift watch, and have our minds armed, *' with the pure armour of light an4 righte- •' oufnefs. This alone can make us proof •' againft the fiery darts of the wicked, which " infenfibly pierce and wound the. unwary- *' loul. k is our intereft and duty, all in- ** our power, carefully to avoid temptations, *' for thofe that we mull inevitably meet with ** are enough for us, poor weak creatures, to • *' grapple with. Take care of poifoning thy *' mind with vain and idle books, for I " know them, by experience, to be very per- ** nicious ; let thy leifure hours be fpent in *' retirement, and reading the holy fcriptures, " with other good books. Remember thou ** art the head of a family, and it behoves "thee to have a fuperadded care, for if thy ♦' example be not good, thou wilt have much *' to anfwer for. Watch over thy lifters in- ** love, and be not an inftiument of bringing ( 17 ) •* evil company in their way : there is an evil ** that thou art guilty of that is vilible to more ♦* than me, and that is thy flighting and neg- ♦* lefting week-day meetings^: If thou had ap- ** pointed a day to meet any of thofe ftyled •* noblemen of the earth, and thou flighted ** and neglefted the appointments^ for weeks, *' yea months together, would it not be a great *• affront and indignity to them ? yea, and 1"^ ** am peifuaded thou would not do it, for fear ** of offending them ; and is the King of ** Kings and Lord- of he^en and earth, lefs •* noble, lefs difcerning, when he is flighted '* and neglefted ? I obferve thou haft time ** and leifure to ride many miles to fports and •* diverfions, fuch as hunting, horfe-racing and ** other fights ; does not this fhew thou art a ** lover of pleafurc more than a lover of God^ " fuch as the apoftle declares are " dead while " they live." Dear coufin, bear with my deal«- " ing thus plainly ; I have no vi«w in it, but ♦* the good of thy immortal foul, and the eafe ** of my own mind, and 1 fincerely wifh that ♦* thou and I may be prepared for our great ** and final change. ** We have daily inflanccs of young and " flrong being fnatch'd away in their bloom ''^ as with their bones full of marrow: and ( i8 ) "why may it not be our cafe? we cannot *♦ promife ourfelves one hour to come, the ** prefent time is only ours, and Oh ! its '* a difmal confequence to latinch into eterni* " ty unprepared, where the worm never dieth, •* nor is the fire quenched ; If we are fo fond ** of a few tranfitory pleafures in this world» " how can we bear to be fhut out from eternal '* felicity, and doomed to everlafting mifery ? " I befeech thee folidly to conlider thefe •* things, and I pray the God of love and mer* " cy to give thee % wife and underllanding "heart." About the 8th month 174/, Ihe returned to Mountmelick, to the houfe of her friend where Ihe before refided. Her continuance here was for a few months, during which time ihe was attacked with a diforder in her ftomach, which occalioned great weaknels, and brought her very low. in a letter to a friend fhe thus cxpreiles herfelf. *' I gratefully acknowledge *' thy unmerited kindnefs in the concern thou " Ihews for my health ; I am fenlible it is our *' indifpenlible duty ta endeavour to prefcrve^ ** life and health, by all lawful means that ** providence is pleafed to afford ; were it not ** fo, I often think, that mine is not worth ** caring for, inftead. of being ufeful to any, I ( rg ) " fear I fhall be a burden to the creation, ** and mifs the end of my being ; furely none •' wiiom he has fent into life, and vifited witiv •* his matchlefs love and kindnefs^ is more •* weak and unworthy tlian I am ; and were ** it fo that he, by his divine power, was ** pleafed to make ufe of me, in any good " work, it was all his own, ^f and from him " alone, I could have no part in it, but as ** paflive clay in his hand ; and blelTed be his " name, he is not limited, nor his power con- *' fined to any inllruments; he that found me *' in a polluted flate, can raife up and fanfti* *• fy many more for his work and fervice, and " that he may in tliefe dark and perilous days, ** is the travail of my afflidted foul." During tliis difpenfation fhe wrote as follows to her brother, who liad frequently occaiioned muclt anxiety and difquietude to her mind ; " Dear " brother, for fo thou art by nature to mc,^ "would to God tliou wert fo in a two fold' ** fenfe, viz. by adoption or new creation iiv " Chrift, which far exceeds all the ties of af- " finity or confanguinity, and will lafl beyond ** the grave, never, never to be diffolved ; may ♦*^thou happily experience this, before time to ** thee here be no more, for which end provr- ** dence has in matchlefs love and condefcen- " lion, wonderfully prolonged thy days, amidft ( 20. )- •* fmminenf dangers and difficulties : may this " be deeply pondered and wifely laid to heart *^ by thee ; otherwife it will add weight in the " balance againft thee, in the great and notable ** day of account, that hallens on us both. ^ Thou knows, dear brother, it has often been «♦ my concern thus to remind, and call thee to *' the important bufinefs of life, and thy neg- *♦ left of it has almoll difcouraged me from " further attempts ; this may perhaps be the '* laft ; and Tdo with all the ardency my foul " is capable of, joined with natural afFec- ** tion, earneftly defire it may have the wifhed ** for effeft. I am in a very poor Hate of health ** and little human probability of my being " reftored. My diforder is attended with acute •* pain, but blefled for ever be the name of ** my God, patience equivaleflt thereto has- '* been adminiflered. How it may be with- " me as to life or death I cannot fay; but <• this is my greateft confolation, and fuch a ** one as is beyond thepower of my tongue *' to exprefs, or pen to fet forth, viz. that I' *' have not fpent my health and ftrength in *• the gratification of my paffions, or fenfual " appetites, but in fome degree in the purfuit ** of that which now flands by me, and will *"* go with me beyond time, a good confcience **' towards God, whofe love I feel to flow in T 2T ) my {oul, In fuch a manner as to admit of no doubt, that he is my friend, or in other words, tliat he is in me, and I in him, and will be fo to all etetnity, if I forfaLe him not : Believe me, brother, when I tell taee, at a time when diHimulatlon muft vanifh, at a feafon when we are bed capable of knowing ourfelves, and judging of all things in the clearefl manner, when the mills of the world are removed from before our eyes, and eternity prefented to our view ; at fuch a time as this I may tell thecL, I am not afraid to die ; nor is the found of mortality and eternity frightful to my ears.; no, I cannot look on death as a king of terrors, but as a welcome meflenger, who comes with a happy releafe, from all my trials, temptations and affliftions, to fummon me to an eternity of unmixed fe- licity, to that which I have moft loved and delighted in for years part, though favoured with but a glimpfc and foretafte of it, whilH my foul is loaded with it's companion, Hefti, but what will it be when .the face of the Divinity will be for ever unvailed, faith turned into villon, and the full fruition come to ? Thefe are words of truth and fo- bernefs. I know there is a kingdom of heaven, bccaufc 1 already feel it within ( ". ) •*' me, Chrift in me, as faid the "apoftle, the ** hope of glory ; and becaufe he lives, I live *« alfo ; not merely an animal life vi'hich muft *' perifh ; but a life hid with Chriil in God. *' With out a new creation in Chrift it is im- *♦ poflible for us to enjoy God, or in the *♦ words of his fon Chrift Jefus, fee or enter *' the kingdom of heaven ; had we not bodies ** taken from the earth it would be impoflible ** we Ihould enjoy or live by the fame ; and if " we have not a new "birth begotten or form- ** ed of God in us, it is likewiie impoffible •" we fhould live to or in him ; more I might "*' fay to illuftrate this important truth to ** thy underftanding, if bodily ftrength would ^* admit, but unlefs thou centre's down in -** true fincerity and humility, to the pure '* light of Chrift in thyfelf, by which alone *' what is to be known of God is manifeft irj *^ man, thefe things, with all the other truths ** of the gofpel, will for ever remain a myf- ■** tcry to thee, as it has done to ages and ge- ^* nerations, and the wife and prudent of this *' world ; but is revealed unto the babes that *' are begotten and born of the incorruptible *' feed and word, of God : I conclude thy ** afFe£tionate fifter in the hope, and Oh ! that *' I could fay fellowlhip of the gofpel." M. P. ( 23 ) About this time fhc felt a weighty concern to vifit the churches in England ; and having ob- tained the concurrence of her friends, accom- panied by Elizabeth Hutchinfon,lhe fet forward from Mountmelick in the 7th month 1748. They attended the province meeting held at Carlow, and went from thence to Baltibois, where they had a blefled helping meeting. The teftimony went forth to thofe of other focieties. They had a meeting at Timahoc, and went thence to Dublin, where they had "refrefhing and comfortable meetings, the Lords eternal truth being over all ; " We ** were," flie expreffes in a journal kept of this journey, " comforted one in anotlier, ** and enabled renewedly to blefs the name of *' the Lord. The 27th of 7mo.wetook Ihip for *' Whitehaven, and landed there the 28th; the ** 30th went to Pardfhaw, wlicre was held the ** quarterly meeting for Cumberland, the *• public meeting proved a glorious one, and " was a time of folid worlhip : the teftimony of •♦ truth was exalted over all, and the everlaft- ** ing gofpel freely preached. After this mect- ** ing 1 had great confolation of foul, and we *' fpent the evening in company with fcveral •* friends, in agreeable edifying converfation, *' and in much freedom and openiicfs of ** fplrit. Next day, being the firft of the " week, we went to their general meeting at *' Cockermouth, the 3rd to Whitehaven, low " and deprefled in fpirit. Next day had a *' meeting there, in which I cleared myfelf j *' was led therein to fet forth the call and qua- ** lification of a true gofpei minifter ; left it in " peace of mind, but much Ipent in body " with the fervice thereof-. The 5tli had a " meeting in Broughton, where we were " led to fpeak clofely to fome who had been . *' vifited in their young years, and were now " grown lukewarm and indifferent. The 6th *' had a good meeting at Ifell, tho' fmall. •* Next day weje atKefwick, the fervice chiefly '* to thofe not of our fociety ; had fome clofe ** things to deliver to thofe that were. The " 9th at Allonby, whither came many friends ** from other meetings, to whom truth was ** freely declared. From hence to Holme, *♦ where we had a filent meeting, and under- ** flood they feldom fat free from dillurbers. *' The loth had a low feafon at Kirkbride, the ♦' nth at Bolton, the 12th at Wigton, which *' was large, but low as to the dominion of *♦ life ; next uay had a meeting at Moorehoufe, <* things dole and hard to deliver ; at Carlifle, <' we had a good open meeting, my mind be- ♦' ing much enlarged amongft tliem, yet felt ( 25 ) ** a concern reft with me to have another " meeting in that city, which friends readily " agreed to. The 15th had a meeting at ' Kirklington, which was large and fatisfadlo- *ry; and another at Carlille in the evening, * in confquencc of the concern already men- ' tioned, there came a great number of the ' town's folk ; when I got there 1 found myfelf * fo weak in body and poor in fpirit, and the * people fo unfettled in their minds, that I * almoft feared I Ihould not be able to anfwer ** the fervice of the meeting, I earneftly defired * that the caufe and teftimony of truth might * not fufFer, let mc fufFer what I might ; I had ' not long fat, 'till I found a flow of doftrine * open in my mind ; 1 ftood up in the fear of * the Lord, and the people foon became * quiet and folid ; I was ftrengthcncd beyond * my cxpeftation, and the meeting ended * well ; and bleflcd be the name of the Lord, * I had great peace and fatisfadion after it *^ was o%xr. Went hence to Scotby, and had ■* a meeting ; fo to Ann Greenup's, and was at the monthly meeting in that quarter, *'wher« my mind was under much fuffcring;' ' but as I waited, the power of truth aroic, *and. I found cafe and liberty of mind; .*.waslcd.in a very clofc -manner ; the feed B ( 26 ) " had dominion, and the authority of truth was *' overall. Went next day to Mofedale, and had " a travailing feafon in that meeting ; thence *' to Terrill, and had a poor meeting there, •' thence to Ifaac Thomplbn's, being very " poor in fpirit and low in mind. Next day, ** we refted, fpending the day much in retire- .^< ment ; which proved very lielpful to me ; •' «nd as I waited on the Lord to h-ave my *' fpiritual ftrength renewed, felt a concern to " have a meeting with the inhabitants, and " one in the afternoon at Penrith on firft ** day. After I had well confidered and ♦* weigh'd thefe things, the friend with ** whom wjc lodged faid, they were a peo- ^* pie of no religion ; which did not dif- *' courage me, for it immediately arofe in my " mind, that, they had the more need ©f *' help, and that, perhaps, they might more " readily receive the truth, than thofe who *' were more biggotted to ceremonies. Wc *' went to Penrith next morning, the friends ** aiked me if I would have an afternoon ** meeting, I replied that, I could better tell at «* the conclufion of the firft meeting. We ** went to meeting, and it proved a good one, *' for truth had dominion and was over all ; " then 1 felt ftrength to have an afternoon «' meeting appointed, which was large aad to ( 27 ) " great fatisfaftion, fome of the town's folks. *' being at the forenoon meeting, and the town *' pretty large, the report fpread and the people " came 'till the houfe could hold no more, '* with convenience ; after this I fpokc of *' the meeting which my mind was drawn to ** propofe at Amenbridge, where a friend faid " there had been none before ; friends feemcd *' willing, but knew of no place to hold it in, " except the houfe where we lodged, which *' was large enough, and would have done well " for the purpofe, but the friend faid he could ** not admit of it, for fear of his landlord, *• who was a prieft ; I faid, I could not forpe " their hearts nor houfcs, but hoped, as I had *' laid it before them, I ihould be made cafy ; ** and if not, I did not doubt that if I went to " fome of thcfe who profeflcd not with us, I *' Ihould be accommodated ; he faid, there ** was a town a mile off, that he thought ** would anfwer better for a meeting, and *' that their town's people would go thither; ** I told him I dare not go in my own will to ** have meetings where I pleafed, but where *' truth led mc ; he replied, if the folks of Pen- ** rith heard of the meeting, the ftreets, much *< Icfs the houfe would not hold them ; then, " faid I, we may go to the fields. This, I be- *• lieve ftirred him up — he went away, and In B 2 ( 23 ) <" fliort time returned, and told me, not to "be uneafy, I lliould have a meeting; and " accordingly it was appointed to begin " at 6 o'clock next evening at another " friend's houfe in the town, which proved *' quite too fmall. They made all the room " they could in two apartments and a hall, " but many were at the windows who could " not get in. We had a meeting at Strick- *' land in the forenoon, which had before " been appointed. When I came to fee and *' fit amongft the people at Amenbridge, they " jTeemed io ignorant of our manner of wor- <' fhip and principles, tliat my faith almoll *' failed of doing any fervice, or adminillering ** help to them. After fome time of waiting " for divine aid, I flood up, and they appear.^ " ed to me, as flill and attentive while I was " fpeaking, as ever I obferved any afTembly. *' I laboured amongfl them 'till my natural " flrcngth failed, and after meeting was over, ♦' I had great inward peace and comfort. . " Next day we waited for their monthly . "• meeting at Aldflone, and paid a vifit to a •' friends family, where we had a fweet con- •* folatory opportunity ; and fame evening " went towards Northumberland. The 25th ** v:e continued our journey, a very difficult ''and dangerous road; m.uch of it moun- ( i9 ) " tainous, and tho' reckoned but 14 miles, it " took from 9 in the morning 'till 6 in the *' evening, fave that we (lopped a little to re- *♦ fielh ourfelves, my mind was prefcrved " tranquil and eafy. Next day we had a " hard laborious meeting but I was merciful- ** ly helped through to the eafe of my own •' mind. The following day weht to Corn- •' wood, where had a meeting. 7he 27th *' rode to Allendale, and the way being rough •* and mountainou?, it was dangerous, Aly ♦* companion was thrown from her horfe, and ** I feemed in imminent danger, the way be- ■•' ing narrow, and a confiderable precipice juft " by where my horfe ftood, which being in- ♦* terrupted by my companion's falling, was •* very uneafy ; but at length, through the *• merciful intcrpofition of Providence, fhe " was taken up, very little hurt ; and they ** got me fafe off my horfe. We arrived weari- " ed with fright and fatigue. In a fhort time ** friends got together, and we had a comfort- " able good meeting, which amply made *' amends for atl we went through. The aStJi ♦' had a large meeting. My Spirit was undef ** deep fuffering befoic I went to it, and for *' fome time after, but, through divine aid, «* 1 fully cleared myfelf. When I came to my •' lodging, I was under a baptifm of fpirit^and. ♦'• could not tell the caule. 1 examined my ■ { 30 ) ** felf, and brought things to the clofeft fcru- *' tiny, to know whether I had dofte or omitt- ** ed any thing contrary to troth, but could •* find no condemnation. At dinner, 1 felt '•the fpirit of fupplication, which I gave way "to, and found my mind free and eafy. *' Next morning the 29th fet out for Benfield > *Vit was fuch hard weather, friends wouldhave *' had us Hay, but as the meeting was appoifit- ** ed, I could not be eafy fo to do. It blew filch ** a violent florm, ihat it was with difficulty *' we could fit our horfes, or they keep their " feet, being feveral times blown out of the " path. It wds 14 miles over a black moor, *' where ther^ was no fhelter; our guides mifT- *' ed the way twice, once on the open moor. *' My companion, who was a young traveller, *' was difcouragVd, Hopped feveral times, wept *' and faid, fhe thought flie could hold it no *' longer. I encouraged her to hold out to the *' end, and told her, there was no abiding there. *' By tlie Lord'^ mercy^ my mind was kept ** quiet and ftill, and about 7 at night we got " fafe to our quarters, where we had an hearty ** welcome. The meeting was appointed to be- ** gin at 9 next morning ; it was fmall, but *' greatly to my fatisfaftion. I was led in par- ** ticular to fome perfon who was under a *' temptation to join in marriage with one of ** another fociety, and likewifc to declare that ( 31 ) •• I had no outward information. After meet- ** ing, an elderly friend told me, that I had ♦* hit the mark to an hair's breadth, for there •' was a young man, who he knew was under ** fuch a temptation, and had been advifed ** againfl it. Went that night to Newcaftle, ** upon Tyne, 1 1 miles, ftaid there leveral ** days, had a good meeting on 5th day, being *♦ 3rd of 9th mo. tho' fome ilaites hard to •* fpcak to, jrhere being fomc deiftical prin- ♦• ciples I believe cberifhed amongft them : ♦* and fo clofe was the teftimony, that they ♦• could fcarcely bear to fit. After this meet- ♦♦ ing, a friend told me I had fpokcn by reve- ** lation, but was fo prudent as to fay no ** more, as we were to flay until after the next ** firft day, to equip ourfelves for continuing " our journey. In the interim vifited the aged, *♦ who were confined with weaknefs. Firft day ** truth eminently helped with its ancient ** beauty and brightnefs^ difpelling all mifts " and clouds ; a glorious time it was to tlic ** comfort and edification of the church ; the ** afternoon meeting was very foil of friends, ♦• and thofe of other focieties. It proved to ** me a fweet confolating time ; the fpring of *' life being opened for my own help and fur- *♦ therance in beft things ; but had not any " thing to communicate to the people. T he " 6th went to Shields, and had a fmall meet- ( 32 ) *♦ ing. In the evening went to Sunderland. •' The 7th had a meeting in the forenoon, to '* an increafe of comfort, and praife to him " that exalts his own teftimony in the hearts *' of his children, and gives tongue and utter- " ance to magnify his name and power ; Had *• a refreihing feafon in the family where we *♦ lodged, the Lord breaking to us the bread ** of life for the nourilhment of our fouls, *' and after had an evening meeting appointed " which was large and to good fatisfadlion» *• The 8th had a meeting at Shotton. The " 9th at Durham, the loth at Auckland^ *' which was a good meeting, and I felt a con- ** cern to have another there in the afternoon, ** of which I acquainted the friend with whom ** we lodged; he pleaded many excufes, I told *' him, 1 apprehended it was not the bufi- *' nefs of a minifter, to proceed contrary to " the minds of friends, efpecially one fo ** young as I J and that, as I had told ray con- ** cern I hoped I Ihould be eafy ; and if not, ** I could but come back again. My mind i' was foon relieved of its burden ; as the *' Lord my God knew my willingnefs to " obey him, he required no impoflibility of " me. Next day went 6 miles to Raby ; had " a large meeting there ; feveral friends com- •* ing from divers places to meet us, but that ** fpirit was araongft tkem, that obfl:ru6ts the ( 31 ) ** fpriiig of the miniftry, and made it hard to ** fpeak ; but by divine alliftance, I was ena- *' bled to clear myfelf, and came away with *' peace of mind. My companion v;as fo ill *' that fhe was detained from meeting two ♦' days. The 13th, went to Lartington *' to meetings and returned in the afternoon. ♦* Next day to Darlington, and had a meet- *' ing there the 15th ; it ended well tho' hard ♦' in the beginning. The day following went " to Stockton, had a full meeting and came " away in peace. The 17th had a meeting ** at Yarme, it was fmall, feveral young peo- " pie came from Stockton, ajid it proved on " tlie whol"e to good fatisfadtion. Ne;tt day, ** was at a fmaJl meeting, where fat a pretty " while in lilence, and a flate of mourning ** for the caufe of truth. I eafed my mind " amongft them, and came away in peace. " The 2 ill had a meeting at Gifborougb, and ♦* 23rd at Moorefome. The 24th was at tlte " monthly meeting held at Caflletown, where ♦* were many plain, honeft, fincere friends, ** and we were comforted in the Lord and ** one in another. Next evening at Hindej;- " well and Roxby. The 26th went to Whit- " by and that evening had meeting with ieve- " ral friends, who came to fee us. Next dav, " attended a large meeting ; iiiy fpirit was uiv- " der great fufFcring, and continued fo until BS ( 34 ) ** the afternoon, the' I had delivered in the ♦' forenoon meeting, what appeared to be *' given me, but in the afternoon the power *' of truth was in dominion, and every oppo- ** lite fpirit made fubjedt ; things were fpoken ** to clofely and clearly, and Eabylon threfhed *' as with a fharp inftrumcnt, that fhe could *' not get from under. Then was my fpirit ** made eafy, and my foul rejoiced in the *' Lord, who is worthy ; and prayer, praifes ** and thankfgiving, afcended unto him that *' lives forever. Had the company of feveral •* friends this evening, which was fpent in, I •• hope, profitable converfation. The 28th *' liad a meeting at Stentondale. The friends *< in this -quarter are but few, I think eight ♦' families compofed the meeting ; it was with *« thefe few a memorable feafon of humbling *' gladnefs. Came to Scarborough in the *^V evening, and next day, had a large and fa- " t^isfk^tory meeting. In a friends family *< where Wc fpent the evening, had a reach- *' ing affefting feafon, manifefted by much *' brokenefsof fpirit. The ill of loth month *' had a meeting at Pickerington, aud the 2nd " at Kirkbynioorlide, which vi^as large, at- •' tended with the going forth, of fome fea- " foning inftruftion. Went after meeting to ♦♦ John Richard ion's, near 84 years of age ; ** a man very remarkable for fweetncfs and ( 35 > " Tivelinefs of fpirit ; full of love, clear m ** his underftanding, and his memory llrong. " He lat up till late with us, relating the •* wonderful dealings of the Lord with him, ** which was truly edifying, and fuch as I had *' never heard before. He was quite open " with us, which I looked upon as a favour •' from the Lord -, I wept much at parting *' with him, and when we took leave, he do- *' fired the Lord might blefs us. Next day " -went to Malton. The day following, had ** a large meeting, and pafled through a la- *' borious exercife amongil them. The even- •* ing was fpent to fpiritual profit, in waiting *' for a renewal of ftrength, and imparting *' fome of the bread handed to my foul ta ** others, whom I vifited in then families ; ** left this place with peace of mind. The ** 6th was at a monthly meeting at Bridling- " ton it was a feafon of fufFering, my mind *♦ very low after it ; which caufed an exami- " nation ; but finding nothing to accufe my- *♦ felf of, was made eafy. The 7th we weri? ** al Hornfea meeting ; the Lord's eternal •* power broke in upon us, to the comfort and ♦* refrelhment of our fouls, and it was a time *• of lolemn worfhrp. Next day we were at *• a meeting at Ouftwick, to our great com- •* fort, and folid rcfrefhment. The 9th at ** Eaflend. The loth had an evening meet- ( 3^ ) •* >ng at Hull, to profit and edification, through " the aboundings of that life which enlight- *' ens and faadlifies. The i ith went to Be- *' verly, a town where no friend lives, having " felt a particular draft to have a meeting *' there ; feveral friends from Hull attended, " and the people flocked in until the houfe ** was near filled -y. I flood up and began to *' fpeak ; but people rufhed in fo, that I was *' under the necelfity of flopping, until they "were fettled; I then proceeded, and a glo- *' rious meeting it was, tlie divine power and .*' authority of trr\th commanding filence *' throughout the multitude. Next day we *' went to vifit a few at Skitby that were late- ** ]y convinced,, with whom we had a good *' meeting, and fome open, profitable conver- •* fation. The 13th we went to Northcave, .*' friends from feveral parts adjacent came ]*' thither-: which made the meeting large, but .** not open and lively ; we had hard labour, .** yet ended pretty well. The 14th had a " meeting at Howdon, there were but few ** friends, and fome of the town's people, '* who being in the lihmalitilh, mocking fph- '* rit, the true feed did not reign amongrt .*.* them. The icth were at RatcliiF. The iStk :^r at Thorn. The 17th at Braithwaite, and " the 1 8th again at Thorn. Thefe meetings *' were generally fmall, and low as to the life ( 37 ) " of religion, which caui'ed laborious work tot " get down to the feed, lb as to mi^iiiler to *' the ftates of the people. The 20th had a *' meeting at Beltoft, which proved fatisfafto- " ry i forae who were not of our focicty at- ** tended, that were very folid and attentive ; " fome were tendered, and feveral came ki "the evening, with a delire of having "a " meeting with us ^ but feeling no concer-ii " for it, I could not encourage it. 2^nd vifit- " ed the meeting of Blyth, in Nottingham- " ihire, which began at two o'Clock, I was •* led very clofely in it, had ta remind them ** of the practice of our elders ; and told " them, if they would fearch from whence ♦* that cuilom of deferring meetings until af- " ternoon, had it's origin, they would find it ** was not in the truth. It ended well, in the " fwcet confolatiwg love of the Lord my God ; ** the friend we lodged with, not being at " meeting, but engaged in his fhop, I had •* feme clofe difcourfe with him, concerning '♦^ his duty to God ; at firll he feemed to pat ** it off, but was brought to acquiefce with " what I faid. Next day had a fmall, bat *• good meeting at Warafworth ; had a loofc, " libertine fpirit to fpcak. to ; which the a»- ** thority of truth helped me through with, ** to the enlargement of peace in my own " bofom, and the exaltation of that power, ( 38 ) * which, when it rules, canfes the righteous to * rejoice. The 25th being iirft day, was at ' Pontefraft meeting, which feemed very ' weak and dwarfifh, as to the life of religion ; * their undue liberty in externals, maniferting * that their dwellings were not with the hum- ble feed, that crucifies to the world, and tarnifhes it's beauty. Had little to commu- nicate, yet felt a revival of ^ght and ftrength to my own ftate. I had a concern to have a meeting with thofe not of our [6~ ciety, a great number attended, many of whom were light and vain, but while I was^ * exercifed in fpeaking, they were moftly * quiet and attentive, and 1 hope the oppor- * tunity was to edification. The 26th had a * meeting at Sclby, which was but fmall. * That evening went to York, and attended ' the quarterly meeting, which began at 5 * o'clock, it was a feafon of travail and ex- * ercife to a living remnant. Next morning * at 9, the meeting of minifters and elders ' began, when the baptizing power of the * Lord, was witneiTed by the faithful, and ' through the fucceeding meetings, help was * gracioufly aiForded, and the church was edi- * fied." Her written memoirs contained particular accounts of the meetings vifited throughout (39) England, which were omitted for brevity fake, (having given the above fpecimen of her tra^ vels and baptifms), except one particular liie mentions on her vifit to Yorklhire. The following letter was written to a friend from Bradford, in Yorklhire, 2nd of iirh month 1748. ** A few days ago thy acceptable letter reach- ** ed me at the city of York, which I read ** with a mixture of fatisfaftion, and forrow ;. *' fatisfaftion to find, that thou dill retains ** thy love to the eternal excellency; and lor- *• row, that the powers of darknefs fhould ftill ** fo far prevail, as to caufe inch ftruggles of ** foul, and fore confli hear from thee, how it fares with thee, " for I long to hear of thy profperity in the ** truth, which would be a great comfort to *' my poor foul, that oft goes mourning *' as between the porch and the altar, for the " defolation of fpiritual Jerufalem. Let us *' fo run as not uncertainly ; fo fight, not *' as beating the air ; but keep under the bo- ** dy of fin and death, as well as the mortal " body, bringing all into pure fubjeftion, " and obedience to the holy crofs of Chrift.'* The following letter was to a relation. ■" ** The one thing needful is only worth our " care, and conftant purfuit, and furely there *' are many impediments, and hinderances in ♦* this dangerous deluding world, that are of- *' ten ready to turn us out of that narrow *' path, which leads to life: This has my foul " experienced, by being drawn afide through *' unwatchfulnefs, and the prevalence ot ♦♦ temptations, and I have found it hard work ** to return into the right path. 1 have many *♦ times thought, a foul rightly influenced, " and affed^ed with the love of God, is like *fithe needle touched with the load-rtone,that *o which ever way it be turned, refts not, nor ■«: fettles, 'till it comes to it's true centre, that C 2 i 5^ ) * is, while it retains the virtue of the load- * ftone. Thus it fs with the lb ul, that has ' been quickened and renewed, by that effi- ' cacious power, which has been extended, to ' draw our fouls from earth to heaven ; for ' certain it is, they have a natural tendency, ' to fink into the eartli, or eartlily enjoy- ' ments, but unlefs we renewedly witnefs the ' vifitaiiojis ^f ihat warming, heart melting ' love of God, which ke^ps the foul alive to ' him, and brings into that holy fellowfliip, ' virhich is with the F'atherjand his fon Chrift ' Jefus, by iivingly feelinj him to be in us, ' and we in him, all religion is but dead ' form and empty ihew ; «s th€ branch can- ' not bring forth fruit of itfclf, except it ' abide in the vine, .no more can we, except ' we abide in him, and draw {ap and nourilh- ' ment, from .the pure root, bring forth fruit ' acceptable in His fight, who looks at the ' pvirity and iineejity of evej-y heart and foul. • He fees nothmg in us, pure, amiable or ' lovely, but as his own work of grace, is ' ijuifeued to he carried on, that fo Chrift 'may be made of God to us, wifdom, • righteo.ufnefs, fanftification and redemp- ' tion ; and to do all in our power, to facili- 'tare and help forward, this great and glo> '. rious woik, is tlic important bulincfs of our ' lives. C S3 ) The following letter was written to j: friend in the miniftry. " Since we parted thou haft been fo mucl> " in my thoughts, witli ftrong delires for thy " prefervatlon and growth in the ever blclied " truth, that I could not avoid faluting thee *' by a few lines^, in that love which feeks the *' peace and welfare of Zion, with the en- " largement of her borders, which a remnant " are at times deeply concerned for. And " ah ! faith my foul, may no other concern ** whatfoever, erafe the remembrance of it " from our minds, fo as to hinder us from " preferring it before our chiefeft joy. This ** is what will make for our peace here; and '* eternal falvation hereafter, which it is our ** bufinefs and intereft to purfue, with the *' utmoft vigilance our frail nature is capable " of, feeiiig our adverfary goes about like a ** roaring lionyfeeking whom he may devour; " and not only fo> but as a fubtle ferpent, *' working in a myftery of darknefs, by which " he has drawn down to the earth, many '* bright ftars, caufmg them to contend for '• the glory, honour and friendlhip of this- " wicked world, inftead of the precious faith ** delivered to the faints, whicii powerfully i' works by love^ to the purifying of the foul, ( 54 ) ** and making them pure and holy, as he that J* 'hath called them is holy. Oh ! may my '*'foul fear always, left I, or any of my dear *' brethren and iifters in tlie truth, Ihould fall " ihort of an admittance in the great and " notable day that draws near apace. When ** I confider the very few bright fhining ex- ** amples that this age affords, who have dif- *' intereftedly devoted themfelves to the fer- " vice of truth, and been kept unfpotted of *' the world, having on the white linen which *• is the righteoufnefs of faints ; my fears are *' augmented, and my cries to the God of my ** life increafed, not only for my own prefer- *' vation, but that of his heritage in general. *♦ In a peculiar mannef, am I concerned for " thofe whom he hath called to the weighty ** work of the miniftry, that the eyes of our '* fouls may be kept fo fingle to the honour of ** God, as that we may minifter fuitably, " from the divine fpirit, to the ftates and con- " ditions of the people, without partiality, or " refpeft to perfons, for in this cafe (as faith " the apoftle) if we have refpeft for perfons *♦ we commit fin. In order to avoid this hei^ *• nous, dangerous crime, we had need to take *' notice of the wife caution frequently men- *■* tioned in the writings of our worthy elders " and faithful minifters, in the morning of " this latter dav i not to be taken by the af- ( 55 ) " feftionate part with aay, left it ftiould pre- " vent feeing rightly the iituation of the low-. *♦ ly feed of immortal life, and hinder minif- " tering fuitably to it, but minifter life and *' ftrength to that which Ihauld be flain, fa- " millied and brought to the death of the crofs. " Oh ! may we fulfil our minillry fo as to be " p«re from the blood of all men, in the tre- '* mcndous day of account, fbudying to fhew ♦' ourfclves approved unto God, as labourers <• that need not be afliamed, rightly dividing " the word of truth." A letter written to two friends fhe was Dearly united to in fpirit, runs thus. '* I received your acceptable letter at Lon- •* don, and would have anfwered it ere now, ** but for want of leifure, and fometimes a fit ♦' frame of mind, being many times deeply ** bowed, and dipped into fuffering with, and *' for my fellow members, and the feed of ** God, which lies loaded and opprelTcd in the ' *' minds of very many, even the profeflbrs of *' the blelTed truth, ni a cart under fheaves ; *' this makes the true minifters of Chrift go *♦ heavily mourning on their way, often ftrew- *' ing their tears in folitary places, for the flain " of the daughter of this people ; yea, ♦* for his fake we are killed all the day ( S6 ) ' long, and accounted as llieep to the llaugli- ' ter ; and furely, of all perils we meet with ' by fea and land, there are none io danger- ' o us or hard to bear, as by falfe brethren: * fuch are they who have loft the fpirit and ' power of godlincfs, but retain the forra, ' being cloathcd with a pharifaical righteouf- * nefs, they as our Saviour faid, lit in Mofes's 'feat; what they bid, we may do, but their * exanjple is to be fhunned : inftead of * coming up in their footfteps, we may * juftiy cry, my foul come not into their * fecret; unto their aflembly mine honour, ' be not thou united, for their fteps tend to ' the chambers of death, and their ways to ' the gates of deftrudlion. * Oh ! the great ' lofs we that are young have, for want of '-fteady elders, to go before us, who might ' take us by the hand with this amiable Ian- * guage, " follow us, as we follow Chrift." ' As this is the lot of our day, we muft ftrive * to keep to our great Pilot, who is tlic ' alone fafe conductor of his followers, ' through all the ftorms, difficulties and ' dangers that attend this pilgrimage and vala * of tears. Tho' he may fometimes fuffer us ' to walk by faith and not by light, yet, as * our eye is fteadily looking unto him, lie ' will be found near at hand to help and di- ' reft, whofe holy life (while in that prepar- C 57 ) « ed body,) remains to he, an unerring pal- ** tern, he, in whom there was no fin, neither " was guile found in his mouthy who was u *' man of forrows and acquainted with grief. " Alas ! how hard a lefTon is this to our cor- " rupt nature, poor, frail, weak creatures ! " ah ! wliat need we have of boundlisfs- nieV- ** cv, and the mediation of a tender compaf- •* lionate Savjour, an holy high prieft, that " was tempted in alt points^ as we are, '* and well knows how tt> fuccour all the " tempted ; whofe care is caft upon him, the " government of whofe hearts is upon his f* fhoulders, who have furrendered their wills •* to his. Thefc, and only thefe, are made *' truly free, from the thraldom of lin and ** death : know an overcoming themfelves, " the world and the devil, the only conquell *< worth our labour and conftant purfuit. " May we ever keep fo near, that holy, an- " imating feraph love, as that we may wit- " nefs it, to fill us with aigenerous indiffereii- " cy to earthly and tranfitory obje6ls ; that lb " we may in reality, count all things here, as " Tofs and drofs^ in comparilon of that excel- " lent treafure, which we have in our earthen " veflels ; the efficacy of which has at times *' given a difrelifh to every thing that would " impede it's pure arifing in the foul. It is C5 ( 58 } " the conftant care and work of our advcrfa- " ry, to flrive to blind the eye of the mind, " which can difcern, the tranfcendent excel- " lency of the eternal truth." She mentions, « At the city of Cambridge, ♦* had a meeting with a few profeflbrs, the " number about 5, in which place was greatly " favoured in ray mind with the living pre- ** fence of God, in whole light I faw, and " was made to believe, that there would " be a people raifed up in that place who ♦* fhould ftand for the honour of his name, ** and to be valiant for tiuth on earth. This *' I was led to declare to the few prefent, tho' *' at this" time, a place noted for contrary *' fruits. At Burford had a large and precious *' evening meeting, tho' in the early part it *' was a very fuffering time, there being di- *' vers priefts, juftices of the peace, fo called, - *' and rude people in whom the prince of the "air had dominion ; but the Lord whofe *' power is above every power, manifelled his " own arm and made it bare, for the help of <' his depending children, who have none in ♦' heaven but him, nor in the whole earth in " comparifon of him. His teflimony was fet *' over the heads of tranfgreilbrs, and evil fpirits '* were made fubjeft to his power, everlafting ** praifes be given to his excellent name ! At { 59 ) " another place where I had a meeting, the •' profeflbrs of Truth had heard of my being " (ilent at feveral meetings, and were afraid of *' the crofs and reproach of men; fo took me *' a back way to the meeting for fear, (as I *' apprehended) their neighbours that were *' not of our fociety fhould fee us, and come " there, yet Providence fo ordered it, that a " large number came to tlic afternoon meet- " ing, to whom Truth was declared, in the " wifdom and demonllration of the fpirit of " Go4> after which I had to fpeak clofely to " the profeflbrs. ;**Jiithe latter part of this journey, I was •♦ feized with a violent intermitting fever. " which illnefs detained me feveral weeks, ** and caufed me to travel in great bodily " weaknefs, yet tlie Lord was gracioufly *• pleafed at times to Hrengthen me for the ♦' fervice he had called me to, beyond my •' own and others expedlation. I waited near " a month for a palFage, which feemed tedi- " ous to me, fome of the time at a public " houfe at Parkgate, deftitute of friends or *' acquaintance, but dared not repine at the ;' will of Providence. In this journey I rode " about five thoufand miles, and attended five " hundred and twenty five meetings, I land- *' ed at Dublin the 9th month 1750, being ( 6o )• *• about about two years and nine months ab» " fent ; had the company of my efteemeJ •' friend, Samuel Fothergill. Wc had a rough, ** but fwift paflagc, and were in danger of *' driving upon the Welch coaft, but the Lord **-was our preferver. My Irieiids rejoiced to " fee me, as I dhd them, fome were concerned *' at the llatc of my vifibly impaired health. '* la this city I felt great weaknefsof body " and mi-nd, being ftripped, eaipticd and tried " as before the great Judge, by whom I was " willing. to be examined, and to bring my ** deeds to his divine light, where my own " weakncfs and manifold infirmities, might be " more fuHy manifefted ; it was fcveral days ** before I was able to go o^it to meetings^ " Tho' my life was defpaired of by fsveral, •' when I repaired to my father's cottage, " w^here all the wants of nature were fully *' fupplied, that which would gratify the luft " of the eye, the luft of the tielh and pride •' of life, much excluded, I mended in '' my health fafter than 1 expeded, and con- *' trary to the opinion of divers, who were ** againft my coming, fearing ths journey " would be too much for me, and the accora- ** modation not fuitable to my weak, condi- *' tion y but I blefs the name of my God, who '*^ never fuffered me to want any good thing, " fiace my iiifl knowledge of him. I ha,d ( 6I ) **• great peace in coming to my aged father, " who much defired my company : invita- " tions I had ter ftations of great affluence : '■'■ but denied them, and found the Lord my " God defcrts not the poor and mean of this " world, but vilits them in their lonely litua- *' tions and humble retirements before him^ " This I am a witnefa of, for he was of- *' ten with my fyn'tt iiv this tifne of weak- " nefs ; fpeaking peace and comf&rC to my " fouU that could not live without him. Oner ^ day in particular, as I rode to meeting, bc- " ing much better in health, his living word,. " ran fweetly through my miiid, thus, ** Foe " this purpofe have 1 raifed thee- up, to (hew " forth in thee my power, of prefervation. *' and mercy," which greatly rejoiced my. " foul, and caufed me to praife his excellent *' name, (who is everlaftingly worthy) for all " his merciesJ' She kept pretty much at home during her weak ftate of health, and about this time, w^rote to a friend. " By the mercy of Providence, I am now ♦'^ much recovered, ah ! faith my foul, may ** I anfwer the end for which I am continued " longer among dreams and Ihadows, mingl- " ed with deceit, ah ! what foul that rightly ( 62 ) *♦ knew Its true centre, would defire to con- *' tinue here longer than 'till it had perform- " ed the will of Him that fent it into life. " This is a ftate of infirmity and dependency, " envrronned by the moft fubtle, potent un- *' wearied enemies, which loudly calls for the " greateft vigilance, fear, humility and watch- *' fulnefs that our nature is capable of j let us *' therefore, link down in our minds, to the <* lowly, humble feed of everlafling renown, *' where the vifions of life and light are feen, " and the voice of the great Oracle heard " diftin£t from every other found, in the fi- " lence of all fiefh, freed from the noife of *' archers where none can make us afraid." In another letter fhe fays. " I often wonder why the Lord and his " people, fhould fhew fo much regard to a " poor and unworthy creature, who am '* the leaft and laft of his family, if meet to " be efteemed of that happy number. My *' foul finks low under the weight of obliga- " tions to him, to whom I can make no re- " turns, but of his own begetting, who mea- *' fures not his mercies by our merit, for then " would they be a fcanty portion ; but they " are proportiond to his matchlefs love and " kindnefs." ( ^3 ) The fummer following flie accompanied Catherine Payton, who came to this nation on a religious vifit, finding a draft to join her to Muniler and Ulfter. She fet forward on this journey in the 5th month 1751, and they joined as companions at Wateiford. They had many meetings amongft thofe of other focieties. They vilited the towns people of Sligo in Conaught, and felt much fatisfadion, fhe thought they were well worth viliting, and faid tliere feemed much more opennefs to declare the truth amongft thofc of other fo- cieties, than amongft them that go under our name. After this journey, ihe ftaid moft of the winter with her father. To a friend fhe wrote as follows. " I falute thee in that love, which nearly *< united our fpirits, at our firft feeing each " other ; yea, before I beheld thee with my " natural eyes, a prayer was begotten in my *' foul, that thou might be made an inftrn- *' ment of good to me, which petition, I ♦* have caufc to believe, was heard and ac- *' cepted by the great 1 am. For thou waft *♦ dipped into a fenfe of my ftate, and fym- *' pathy with me, by which thou waft made " the mcflenger of glad tidings and confo- ( «4 )' " latlon to my diftrcfTed Ipirit, and refoltitions *' ha^e been' formed, (Avhieh I truft, by the " favour of heaven will be fupporte^) to " praftice greater degrees of mortification *' and felf denial than I have yet done ; for 1 *' fee great occaiion for it I write not this '* to exalt the creatvire or flatter my friend, " but to magnify that grace, by which thou *' art, what thou art ; and to contribute my " mite to thf ftrenghtening of thy hands, in " the way of well doing, as I believe the " flrongeft fometimes have need of it ; but " perhaps, I only judge by myfelf, who am " at times ready to faint in my mind, from a " fear that I ihall never be made a conqueror, " over thofe potent enemies which oppofe m.y " happinefs, I have compared my mortal fpi- " rit,. to a kind of immaterial fire, that is " continually catching at, or faftening on " fomething celeftial or terreftrial, and which- " ever it centres in, it may juftly be called an " inhabitant of; as natural a tendency it has " to fix on earthly objedts, that are continu- " ally allailing it, conveyed thereto by the " organs of my fenfe?,. as iron cafl into the " water, has to link ; which my foul is ready " to do, when I w^ait not carefully for the " renewing of that power, by which we are " tranllated from the kingdom of darknefs, " to tiiat of light.. But fo frequent and painr- ( 65 ) ♦* fnl are the operations, of the fword of the " fpirit, when it conies to fever my foul from " the fpirit of the world, and to divide afun- " der between the joints and the marrow, " that it makes me weary of this imbodied " ftate of imperfeftion, wherein I am torn as *' between tw^o, heaven and earth, fo that I " often long to he diifolved and to be with '' Chrift. Tho' this defire feems to carry in " it fomething laudable, inafmuch as it Ihews *' my union with the eternal excellency, to '* be ftronger than all the ties of nature, yet " I am ready to fear, that in part this longing " takes its rife from (elf love, which would *' lead me to feek an exemption from pain *• and trials, before I had filled up in my " body, that which is behind of the fufFerings " of Chrift, I hope it is excufeable, as our ** holy pattern has fet us the example ; ** when about to partake of fufFerings- he " prayed earneftly, that if it were pof- " fible, the cup might pafs from him ; but " came to this noble refuk, which all his " followers, that are fo in reality, muft be ** brought to, viz. Not my wilU but thine " be done." What could be grievous that " he did not fuffer. Rejoice O my foul then *' in thy tribulations, and count it all joy, " when thou falls into divers temptations, for " the trial of thv faith in Chrift." ( 66 > The following advice was communicated by letter, to a young man, then under the baptizing power of truth. " There is one caution that has dwelt for ' fometime on my fpirit to give thee, in pure ' love and good will, that is, that thou may ' be particularly nice in the choice of thy ' friends, now in thy fetting out in a new ' and fpiritual life, which is a point of great ' wifdom, take fpecial care of being too ' readily taken with ftrangers, and of giving * thy fentiments in word or writing of pcr- ' fons or things, not well known. This ' thou wilt find, when duly confidered, to be ' a hint of fingular fervice. Wait for the ' freedom and direftion of truth, before thou * enters into converfe, or familiarity with * any, tho' it may be on religious fubjefts, for ' there are many more talkers of the truth, ' than walkers in it. This thou wilt find (as ' i have done) to tend greatly, to the health ' and well being of thy precious foul ; for ' there is a fet of mortals, whofe very breatti * difFufes poifon, and infeftion to the mind, ' their throats are as an open fe-pulchre, the * poifon of afps is under their tongues, they ' flatter- with their lips : I might enlarge on ' this fubje£t, but a watch word is enough." A 67 ) She wrote to another of her friends, thus. "It is not forgetfulncfs of my near and " dear friends, that makes me flow in my an- " fwers to them, nor yet, becaufe 1 have not " a jSngular pleafure in hearing from them ; " their converfe by letters or otherwife, is, " next to the divine good in myfelf, the " grcateft fatisfadion in this life ; but thou ^' knoweft, that even all of this kind, muft ♦' be, through him, who is the fource of *' all good, and can command the clouds, " that they Ihall or fliall not rain ; he can flop " both the upper and the nether fprings, and " caufe a famine in the land, and who Ihall " fay, what doeft thou ? It is the Lord that " worketh in and for his people, and who *' fhall let or hinder him, from doing it his *' own way, and after the manner that he fees " bell ? He is about to try his people every " way, even as he did Ifrael of old, by fa- " mine, captivity and fore diftredes, beCaufe •' of the hardnefs of their hearts, and ftifthefs *• of their necks, refufing to return to him, *' who had done fuch great tilings for them ♦' and their fathers. This is the cafe, my ** friend, of people in this our day, who arc *' gone irtto captivity, and refufe to return, at " tl»e comraaad of the Lord, who has long ( 68 ) waited, and loudly called, immediatelv and inftrumentally, to them to return. And for this real'on, a little remnant, who like Da- vid, prefer Jerufatem above the chiefeft joy, have hung their harps as upon the willows, and dare not fing the fongs of Siwn, neither can they in a ilrange land, for fuch as de- fire it from them ; who are of the number of thofe that fpoil them, and yet require of them a fong, or mirthv May all do as Da- niel did, in their private chambers, fet their faces towards Jerufalem, oftner than the morning, and not be afraid to fuffer for the law of their God. It has been my lot, fince my return from England, to be much fhut up as to word and doftrine, and to fit in great emptinefs and poverty of fpirit, amongft a people big with expefVation of words, and too much departed from the light and life of the pure word in them- felves. And of late fince this expeftaticn has been difappointed, and their hopes fruftrated, the Lord has often made ufe of me in his hand, as a fharp threfhing inftru- ment, and put fuch words in my mouth for them, as they could hardly bear ; fo that on all fides, the poor creature is greatly defpifed and rejected, by the high and lofty pro- feflbrs, and pharifaical righteous, who can fpeak their own words, and work their cv/n ( h ) *' works ; and indeed I am well content fo to *' be, and expeft no better treatment, than " our blelled Lord and his difciples, have met " with ill all ages ; we are not greater than *' our Mailer, it they perfecuted him they will " alfo profecute us. I only wilh wc may be ** found building on the fame foundation, " and then the gates of hell will n»t prevail *' againft us." She writes thus to a perfon under religious impreflions, whom Ihe was made inftrumental to help. " Docs it not behove me to ftudy thy pre- '• fervation, as I am unavoidably led in tiie " wifdom of truth to do ? It was for this end " that I was chofen of tlfC Lord at this time " for thy friend, 1 fee it clearly, and feel it " perfe "When my foul was firft tlicrcby " awakened to a life of righteoufnefs ; 1 faw " fuch beauty and excellency ill. the truth ( 70 ) ** and the followers of it, that I thought no " temptation would ever prevail upon me to " turn alide in the lead degree from what I " knew to be my duty and intereft in the " truth (not in the world, which I faw clear- " ly lay in wickednefs) and all my paffions *' leemed fo fubjefted and engrofled in admi- " ration and contemplation of the one great *' and good objeft, and his wonderful works " in me and the whole creation, that I fcem- " ed to have no life in, nor relifh for any " other employ. Nor could I hear,with plea- " lure any converfe that did not favour more " or lefs of the fpirit of truth, and even fuch *' as did, I delighted more in the feeling fenle " of it in my own heart, than the hearing of it " from any mortal. And to hear any '* fpeak of it, that were not in- the life and *' power of it, was the greateft pain to my *' fpirit that it could be tried with. All the *' wifdom of men, feemed foolifhnefs to *' me, without this, and it is really fo in the •^ light of God and all good men. Alas ! this '' ftate lafted not long 'till my trials came on *' apace, and all my fortitude "was proved ; " ti6T will I, or dare I, afcribe my preferva- '♦-tionto tay own watchfulnefs, ftability, pru- " dehce or \vrld<>m ; ho, it rtitifr be forever •< itttributed to the Witchful eye of the Shep- *'' herd of Ifrael, who flecps not by day nor ( 71 ) *' lluiAbers by night. The enemy of ray " happinefs ftrove to draw me from the true " light, and fet me upon ading by imitation, " rather than the fenfe and judgement of the ♦' truth in myfelf ; and here felf began to plead *' what need is there for me to be more mor- " tified in this, or that particular, than others *' of my fellow labourers, that are greater ** minifters, and have feen farther into tiie *' liberty which truth allows of, they being *' perlbns of far greater abilities tlian I, and " fome other weak perfons who make fcruples " of fmall matters? and what is there in this, *' that or the otlier trifle of drefs or behavi- " our ? Thus did the enemy work as in a " myftery, to deceive my poor proud heart; " that liked well this doen." N©r is there any mortal, *' that rightly and truly favours the things of *' God, longer than they are xmder the im- *' mediate influence of his own divine grace, *' and that in a greater or fmaller degree as *' they partake of it ; let us therefore caft this " part in all the difciples, behind our backs, *' and look to him, with a fingle eye, that " was never overcome in battle H« it was, *' who let me fee, that no mortal could be a " perfeft pattern to mc, in all things ; and *' that he would lead me in a manner, dilier- " «nt from moft others, both as to my gift and " conduft, and tlio' the manner in which " truth led me, was often mifconftrued, and " wrongfully cenfured, as the obje£l of pride, " lingularity, temper, &c. my God knew it *' was in obedience to him, and refined love *' and charity to my fellow mortals, which " would not, nor dare not, draw the heaits " of the people from their true King, as Ab- " falom did, who perifiied for the lame ; and " thofe innocent practices in converfe and be- " haviour, which I law ufed by others of my ( 73 ) •' fex and condition, whom I preferred before ** myfelf, were to me forbidden, tho' they *' might be to them lawful, and for what I ** know allowable ; efpecially towards the *♦ oth^r fex, I found it my duty, to aft with ** the utmoll caution ; if I found no danger *' on my fide, yet faw it needful to confult the •' good of thofe with whom I converfcd : and ** had I not been obedient in this particular* *' I am fare I fhould not have been prcferved *' 'till this time, to have been thy friend in the *♦ truth, as I am this day. My ovjrn aifcftions ** and the affeftions of others, would long ** finC'C have ftolen me out of his hands, who *♦ has an abfolute right to difpofc of my body :♦' and fpirit, '* which are his," Such was the ** prevalcncy of the general love and cfteem, **!that I met with for a time, which naturally ■**.drew my mind, and the prevalency of th(- ♦-Qovc of Crod, which powerfully attrafled '**' m;y foul towards himfelf from all fading ob- *f jetls, that between thcfe two powers, my •* mind was, at times, in that pofition that Ab- ♦' falom's body was, when he hung in a dying " condition iii the boughs of a tree, as be- ** twecn heaven and earth, fcarce knowing " which power would have me ; but as there ** was a faithful obedience to the voice of the •"true Ihcpherd, I found the power of Saul ■ ** grow weaker, and that of David flronger." D ( 74 ) About this time flie wrote thus to, a friend. *' Tho' I ;im poor, low, dilhefled and af- " fiidted, having more need to be minirtcred ** unto, than to miniflcr to .any, yet as thou -" haft repeatedly defired to hear from me " by word or writing, I now feel .a fecret draft *' to let tliee know a little how it fares with *' me, tho' the fource .or caufc of my forrow " mull foFever be concealed from all mortals, •" and penned within the narrow confines of " this troubled brcaft, fave when admitted to " pour out its complaints in the bofom of my " never failing friend and blelled redeemer, *' all other counfellors are denied ; may h? •" coixd.efcend to direft my Heps in righteouf- ** nefs, i^nd then all will be well.. Let it fuf- " fice to fay that I have juft been in filent and *' folid retirement, confidering my awful call- *' ing, and comparing my life to that of the " captain of my falvation, who was made per- •' fe£l thro' fuffering, and fhall I dare to fay *' my life has fome faint refemblance to his ? *' yea furely, as well indeed it may who am "called to be his minilter. He was a man of " forrow and acquainted with grief. So am I *' a woman of a forrowful fpirit, that have " m.oved my lips in prayer, when my tongue " could not fet forth the anguifh of my foul, ( 75 ) ^ pouring it forth in broken accents, fighs » •' and groans, not for riches, honour, name " or fame, nor yet a mortal earthly love, or ** a firil born fon after the flefh ; but, Oh ! " for divine wifdom, heavenly inflruftions •♦ and ability, to bring forth fruits of righte- <* oufnefs to the praifc and honour of him " who has called me to glory and virtue. " Was my Lord dcfpifed and rejedledof men ? '' So am I. Hannah like, I have been mifun- ** dcrilood even by the high prieft, but not '♦ by the great one of our profeffion, who " knows and regards his own, gently whifper- ** ing in the ears of their fouls, " Fear not <* worm, Jacob I am with thee, &c." My *' Lord was betrayed : fo have I been by a *' profcfled difciple. He was left alone in cx- " treme agonies, none to aid him, or to make ** his complaint to, but the Father alone. So " have L Let me not longer dwell on this ** copious fubjeft, than I find the llrength of *' his love to comfort my mind, and then I " might for ever dwell on it, and find new " wonders in it. O the length, the breadth *' ind the unfathomable depth, of it. I ob- *' ferve thy complaints of poverty, which was *' no incitement in me to do the fame, had *' it not been my Hate, and I thought it might ** not be difcouraging to thee, to know that D z ( 76 ) " tliou ihares the fame lot with thy brethren ♦' aiul fiflers. Seekeil thou great things for *Vthylelf? Seek them not, for the Lord has ♦' faid, that he would bring evil upon all flefh, ♦' but if we have that promife which was "given to Barach, "thy life fliall be given '<* thee for a prey wherefoever thou goeft," «* may this be our happy experience to fave *' our fpiritual lives, this feems to he the ulti- " mate of my wilh, expedation or defire, in <« this calamitous day and time we live in, as •' to religion. I'he priefts, the Lord's minif- *' ters mourn, the virgin daughters of Sion ^' are in bitternefs, faying with,Barach, " the *' Lord has added grief to my forrow," Well *' let me not dwell longer on this theme, *' but hope for beauty for allies, the oil of *' joy for mpurning and the garments of *' praife for the fpir,it of heavinefs, how does *' this holy anchor keep my troubled fouj. ^' from fourxdering on the quickfands of de- •V fpair." A concern, which at times for years, had relied on her mind, to pay a religious vifit to tlie churches in America, appears about this time tp have impreffed her with additional weight, the baptifms Ihe palTed through, to fit her for this w'ork, llie thus defcribes. ( 77 ) " The Lord waspleafed to bring me txceed- " ingly low, both in mind and body, the latter ** fo much foi that my life was dcfpaired ot *• by myfelf and others ; and fuch was my «* cxercile of mind and pain of body, that ** life feemed a burden, yea, I was ready of- »' ten to wiih my body diflblved, that I might «« be with Chrift. Yet when death looked me »* in the face unaccompanied by that which «» alone can it render it fupportable to human ** nature, viz. an inconteftible evidence of *< eternal reft to my immortal fpirit, it ap- «« peared to me a gloomy profpedt, and the ♦* caufe of its being fo I believe was, that my ** time was not yet come. « For I knew not that I had willfully *^ offended the divine Being, that fhould caufe " him to withdraw his life giving prefence, ♦' and fufFer my mind to be clothed with a " thick cloud of darknefs. During this time ♦* of trial and deep exerciie of body and mind, " the Lord ray God was pleafed to extend his *' mighty arm of power, and reduce my fpi- *' rit to a calm, fo as to make his holy voice ** intelligible to my weary diftiefled foul, and *' to inform me that he would raife me from " that low and dark ftate, and caufe me, in *' his love, to vifit the churches in Amcrici ** the next year. And altho' this feemed to { 78 ) ** clafh with my temporal interefl, as well as ** natural inclination, there was at the fame " time when I heard the call, an entire relig- ♦' nation wrought in my mind, fo that I could *' fay indeed and in truth, " Thy will be *' done in all things," which was to me a *' confirmation that the thing was of the " Lord, verifying that faying of David, when *• addrefling the Almighty, «' In the day of *' thy power, thy people fhall be willing," " and fuch was the prevalcncy of it, " that it removed thofe things which had *' been like mountains in my way, and cauf- •* ed them to be call into the fea of aanihila * *' tion. " This journey had been before me, by *' diftant views, from a fhort time after my ** receiving a gift in the minirtry. There ** were manv difficulties feemingly infur- ** mountable in my way, which the Lord in ** his own time was pleafed to remove ; fo ** that I may fay of a truth, 1 was brought *• through the furnace of afflidlion to perform *• this journey." She correfponded with lier friend Cathe- line Pay ton, who felt a like concern to vifit the churches in America, and great was the fympatliy they had witli each other. She left ( 79 ) home the 22nd of the 3rd montli 1753, ^^* tended the quaj^crly meeting at Edcnderry, and went thence to Dublin, where Ihe met with confiderable trials by oppoling fpirits of which ihe fays, flie had a previous fight, and thus writes. " I ft^lt the power of darknefs at work fo as *' grievoufly to opprefs my fpirit, but by de- ** grees it was caft down, and the pure light *' prevailed. The defign of the enemy was *' to prevent my intended journey by raifing *' contention, which blefled be the name of ** God, he was not able to do. I left Dublin " in the 5th month, in love and unity with " my friends, and good deiires for my enemies, ** if any fuch I had, and landing at Liverpool, ** got fafe to London. After attending the year- *' ly meeting at London, I went to the yearly *' meetings of Colchefter, Bury, Wood-bridge "and Norwich: all whicli were attended' ** with a good degree of the life and power of •' truth, and an honed labour for the good of *' the people. Before my leaving Ireland, I " had a fight of Charleftown, in South Caro- <* Una, being the port for me to land at, " which continued until I returned to Lon- *' don, when I loft fight of it ; which made " me willingly conclude I might go with *' fome friends I was nearly united to, for ( 8o ) ** Philadelphia, and went on board fome vef- *' fels bound for tliat port, but could not fee *' my way in any of them. On more deeply *♦ centring to the root of life, in humble re- " fignation to the divine will, 1 found it my " duty to continue fome weeks at London, '* and not being clear of that city was, I bc- *' lieve, the cuufe of my not feeing my way '* clear to Charleftown, 1 therefore conclud~ ** ed to flay the Lord's time, and when I *' found my fpirit clear, took my paffage with *' my dear companion Catherine Payton for ** that port. Before my leaving London, I had *' a large and comfortable farewell meeting *' at the Peel, for which my foul, with many •' more, had renewed caufe to blefs and praife ** the name of the Lord ; feveral friends ac- *' companied us from London to Portfmouth, •* where we took fhipping and landed at ** Charlellown. We had a favourable pailage ** fave hard weather towards the latter part ** of the voyage ; but by the infinite mer- *' cy of Almighty God, were preferved from ** any terror or amazement, and our health ** continued beyond expe(Elation, fave the " ficknefs occafioned by the fea and heat, ♦' We had meetings on board every firll day>- ** when ability of body and the weather " would permit, which the paflengers and ♦' fhip's crew attended, to whom the way of ( 8i ) " life and falvation was declared ; but many of. *' their hearts being hardened through the de« " ccitfulnefs of fin, the word had not that en- *' trance, which could have been defired. " In Charleftown the difcipline was quite *' let fall, and I found it my duty to endeav- *' our to revive it. Herein 1 met with open *' oppolition and evil treatment, efpecialiy " from one of my own countrymen, who was •' of a libertine fpirit, and had been under *' the cenfure of friends in his native land. " But the Lord was pleafed to manifefl his " fpirit, fo that he could not fruftrate our en- " deavours. In this province we met with *' many difficulties both of body and mind> ** the former by long journeys, in a very thin- ** ly inhabited country, through unbeaten *' paths in the woods, dangerous creeks and *' fwamps, with wild and venemous creatures ** around us, and with fuch food and lodging " as we had never been accuftomed to ; yet *' the Lord our God was pleafed to make it up " to us by his comfortable prefence and good *' fpirit, and to afford us the blelfing of health, ** at a time when the greateft part of the in- *♦ habitants, fuflered deeply with fevers and *' agues. For which unmerited mercy, my " foul at this time bows, in humble thankf- ( 82 ) ** giving, and returns him the praife of his •* works, who is everlaftingly worthy. The following is part of a letter written to her uncle. *' It has dwelt on my heart for fome days, *' to give thee a fliort hiflory of a long travel, *' and firft may acquaint thee that through the "the matchlefs mercy of a never failing God, " to his poor depending children, we have *' been preferved in a good degree of health* ** at a time when moft faces gathered palenefs, *' through indifpofition of body, I do not re- *' member that we have been in a houfe or *' family fince we left Charleftown, but one or *' more were ill of a fever or ague, fo that it *' feems like an univerfal contagion which *' has overfpread the inhabitants of this quar- *' ter. We came hither from Charleftown, *' taking no meetings in the way, except in the " families where wc lodged, the diftance be- " ing 150 miles, through woods and fwamps, " where our lives fecmed in jeopardy every *' hour, yet through mercy our minds were fo " fupported above fear, as to go on with a ♦* good degree of cheerfulnefs of fpirit, truft- '* ing in that holy arm of power, which has '* hitherto wrought deliverance for us. I have *' fat down by a brook in the woods, eat my ( 83 ) " Indian-corn- bread, and drank water out of *' a calabafh, with more content and peace of •' mind than many who were ferved in plate, *' &;c. and at night have flept contentedly in " my riding clothes, on a bed hard enough to <' make my bones ach, and the houfe fo open *' on every lide as to admit plenty of light and " air. I have compared my palTage through *' thefc woods, to my pilgrimage through the " world, and indeed in fome things it bears a •' juft refemblance ; the path we rode through *' was exceeding narrow, and fometimes fo " clofed as not to fee a footflep before me, " caught by boughs on one hand, and buflies ** on the other, obliged to (loop very low, lell " my head fhould be hurt or eyes pulled out ; *' this I compare to the entangling things of " the prefent world, which are ready to catch •* the affections on every fide, and blind the " eyes of the foul ; my clothes are a little " ragged by thefe pulls, but through care not ** quite torn off. Oh ! faith my foul, may " it not be wholly ftripped of the white robe *' which is the righteoufnefs of faints; for «' furely I have never been in more d anger *' than now ; the fenfe of which leads me ** earneftly to defire, that I may have a place " in the remembrance of thofe, whofe prayers ** afcend with acceptance to the throne of " grajce. I have not given the foregoing uc- ( H ) *' count of my bodily hardship, by way of " complaint or murmuring, no, when I con- ** fider how much more, Very many much *' better than 1 have suffered for the cause *' of religion, aiid efpecially the good Shep- *' herd who laid down his life for his fheep, ** every caufe of complaint is removed, re- *' membering that the difciple Is not above *' his mafler, nor the fervant above his Lord. *' Yea, it is caufe of rejoicing to my foul, " when I can find my feet in the footfteps of *' the tribulated flocks, who trod this narrow *' path, and tried way to eternal blelTcdnefs. *' In this way of life I am exempt from many *' dangerous temptations, which eafe and fu- *' pinenefs are inlets to. On my hard bed, I .*' am free from the fault of wafling too much *' of my time in a flate of death and inaftivi- ♦» ty. At my plain meals, I am freed from ** many of the temptations and evils, which ♦' attend high and voluptuovis living; and am *' often made to remember, that excellent *' advice of a great apoflle to his fon in tlie t< faith, " endure hardnefs, as a good foldier " of Jcfus Chrirt." And furely fuch as are *' fent out to war before the face of their ene- " mies, may expert it in an cfpecial manner. *♦ But what above all other confiderations, *' reconciles me to every difpenfation of pro- " videjice, is, the fight and fenfe wliich truth ( 8-5 ) ** gives me, of my own unworthincfs, of th« *' lead of all the mercies I receive, cither fpir- ** ritual or temporal ; for indeed 1 fee myfelf *' to be fo exceedingly weak, and capable of *' fo little fervice, as not to merit the meaneft *' food that is fet before me, yet have never *' been fuffered to doubt, but that I am in my " place, in coming here. 1 tbi^k. very '• long to hear from my friends ?ind family, *' having been of late a little toiled, efpecially *' m the night by dreams about my father's ** family and fome otliers, whether it be the *' work, of the enemy to perplex my mind,, or " a foreljght of the worll of trials (except the *' lofs of the favour of heaven) I cannot tell : ** but when I am aflifted to look beyond this ** tranfitory fcene of uncertainty, I can wel- •' come tribulations, asid rejoice in fuch adver- ** fities, as have the leaft tendency to draw my *' mind nearer unto God ; which I well know ** mufl be by being weaned aJid redeemed ** from earth and earthly fatisfadions. Alas, " while I carry about with me this frail taber- •' nacle, its afFeftions and defires will bend to- *' wijrds its original duft, when from under ** the immediate influence of that holy power, *' which alone can redeem it from the thral- *' dom of fin and fatan. What need then *' have I and all who have been made par- •* takers of the powers of the world to come, ( 86 ) ^ humbly, diligently and chaftelv to wait for *' the enlightening and enlivening incomes " thereof to our fouls, that fo we may go on ♦' to perfection. " I have hitherto pafled over our exercifes ♦* in Charleftown, It feems like a city of refuge *' for the disjointed members of our fociety, '< where they may walk in the fight of their *' own eyes, and the imagination of their own *' hearts, without being accountable to any " for their conduft, and yet be called by the "name of Quaker, to take 'away their re- *' proach. We lodged at the houfe of one <' that had married out of the fociety, which «' we went to with fear and reluftance, having *' firft tried all means to avoid it. Here we *' were greatly flraitened, but I think we were " providentially call there for his wife's fake, *' who is under convincement, a tender heart- *' ed, good natured woman, and exceedingly *' kind to us, and he well efteemed for a fair *' reputable trader. He received us with much *' civility and hofpitality, which yet did not ** blind our eyes, or prevent our telling him "the truth; I have gone fo far as to ac- *' quaint him, that 1 was alham.ed to walk " the llreets witii one under our name *' who deviated fo much from our principles *' as he did, which he always took weJJ, and ( 87 ) " would acknowledge his faults.. We were " often vifited by thofc of other focieties, and »' had much kindnefs Ihewed by them. We *' had freedom to make a few vifits amonglt " them, and had fervice forourmafter in fome " of their families. ,We likewife paid a re- " ligious vilit to every family profefling with *' U3, in that place, and had very clofe work^ *' but with the mofl authority of any fervice " we have entered on ; and by this and fuch. " like labour, I undcrftand we have driven *' feveral from the meeting, who could not " bear found doftrine, tho' ever fo private^ «* Whether there be any found members add- ** ed, by our labour, muft at prefent be left: ** however that be, I lay, amen to thefe leaving *' the profeffion, whofe lives and conduft are " fcandal to it, and I wifh to be made more " and more inftrumental, in the hand of my «* God, for divifion in the fociety, between *' the precious and the vile ; let me as a crea- ** ture fuffer what I may, by evil report and " falfe brethren, which I have had, and ftill ♦♦ expe£l a large fhare of, in the way my maf- " ter leads me ; for of a truth it was his fpirit, *• if ever I knew it, and not my own, that led *♦ me to this clofe work. One appeared in " open oppofition, at a meeting appointed for •' conference, in order to take fteps for reviv- *' ing ihc difcipline amongft them ; he attack- ( 88 ) ** ed me in particular, but I had then little " to fay to him, and what I did fay, was in " great mildnefs, he arofe in a violent paffion ** and left the room ; lince which we have ** feen no more of him at meeting or elfe- " where. M. P.'* Her account thus continues. " At Nuce in North Carolina, we had a large " and comfortable meeting, in which I thought «' it might be truly faid the Lord's power *' was over all, and that even devilifh fpirits *' were made fubje£l to that power, by which *« we were affilled to fpeak. In this province *' likewife, we met with abundant hardlhips ** and fufFerings of body, as we were drawn *' in the love of God, to vifit many of the *' back inhabitants, where I fuppofe, no Eu- *' ropean had ever been on the like errand, ** by lodging in the woods'in cold frofty wea- " ther, on damp ground with bad firing. I *' got a rheumatic pain in my jaws and head, '* by which I fufFered much, and often loft ** my reft after hard travelling, yet thro' it " all, the Lord was pleafcd to fupport my fpi- *' rit in a good degree of cheerfulnefs, without *' murmuring or repining, tho' my weak con- ** ftitution often deeply felt the effeds of thole ( 89 ) *' bodily hardfhips, yet by the goodnefs and " healing virtue of the Lord, 1 was often made •' to forget my bodily infirmities, and to fee *' and feci that His ftrengtU was made perfect " in weaknefs. ■ ** Between Pedee and Newgarden, where is " a large tra£l of country, we rode two days *' and an half, and lay two nights in the " woods, without being under tlie roof of a ** houfe. In thefe parts 1 feemed to have a. ^' hope that truth might yet fpread, becaufe *' many of the people fhcwed a love and " efleem for friends, and a. diflike to the *' priefls. We were often kindly entertained, " according to their ability, at the houfes of *' thefe not of our fociety, tho' fometimes at " our firft entrance they would look llrangely " at us, becaufe they underftood not the law- " fulnefs of women's preaching, having never ** heard any, thus did we pafs for a fign and " wonder, fome would fay, when invited to " meeting, that we were women who ran from" ** our own country, for fome ill aft, not be- " ing acquainted with the fupernatural power " of love, which had ii\fluenced our hearts, " nor the rules and discipline of friends. ** Thro' divine favour I have not heard of any ** of them who went away diflatisfied, from " meeting j may the praifc of all the Lord' ( 90 ) " works, be rendered to himreff, who alone *' is worthy. In the upper part of this pro- *' vince (North Carolina) there is a large body " of profeflbrs, and I hope fome valuable ** friends, but too many I fear, (yea, I think- '* I fenfibly felt,) are trufling in a profeilion* ** without a poileffion, of the living virtue of " truth. We were a4: their quarterly meeting, " which was large ; but the power of truth " fome what low,, at 1 call in me, who fuffered " much under a loofe unfandlified fpirit. My " companion had the chief fervice in the pub- ** lie meetings, and was led I believe, to fpeak *^ pretty much to the ftate of the fociety, my *' chief labour was in tlie meeting of minifters ** and elders, in which we endeavoured to ** flrive for fome regulation in the dircij)liney ** particularly that they might have their ** meetings for bu£nefs feleft, aJid not {et ** open for the people, which they were then *^ in the practice of. The weighty part of *' friends, joijied us, and feemed to conclude *■' they would ftrive for an amendment. 1 alio ** propofed their holding a meeting for the '* elders to confer in, before the minifters " joined them, in order to their hearing a " more full and perfect account of the ilate ** of the minijftry in each meeting, and to ** have them both held before the quarterly *^ineeting. This was agreed to, and the •( 91 ) ** meeting ended in a feeling fenle of divine " love, which makes true unity and concord " amongft brethren, for which my foul was ** thankful. I laboured witli conliderable " opennefs at fcveral of the particular meet- ** ings, before the quarterly meeting ; my ** companion being gone on a vilit, fouth- *' ward of thefe parts as far as Bath-town. In " this journey (he had the trial of having a ♦' woman friend, who accompanied her from *' Perquimans, removed by death,^ her remains *• were brought to her hufband and children* ** in eleven days from the time Ihc left home, ** being then well to all appearance. We at- *' tended at her funeral, which was on the ** whole folid and fatisfaftory, tho' fomewhat *' interrupted by one, who as he thought " would preach the burial fermon. From. *' thence we pafTed to Virginia, and found " things in the fouth fide exceedingly weak and " low, the meetings very fmall, and in many **- places the difcipline fadly let fall ; friends *'^ were very kind and hofpitable, but from ** the poor feafons we had in fpirit, their hof- ' •^' pitality fometimes loft it's true relilh, yet " there is a feed in thefe parts, with whom my *' fpirit had true unity. We fpent near twa "^ months in this colony, in much inward fuf- '■'^fering, and under fome bodily hardfliips, " their way of living differing from what we ( 92 r " had been accullomed to. One tiling which " friends here, as well as in North Carolina, " Maryland and fome other paits of America, "were in the pradlice of, gave us confider- ^ able pain, and we apprehended was in part *' tlie caufe, of truths not profperiiig amongfl " them, as otherwifc it would, that is buying " and keeping of flaves, which we could not ** reconcile with the golden rule of doing un- ** to all men as we would they Ihould do unto "us. ** At Weft- river Maryland, I was concern-' ** ed to write an epiftle to the yearly meet- " ing to be held at Curies in Virginia, which " had been on my mind for fome time, my '* companion united therewith, and fubfcrib- " ed her name to faid epiftle, which was as *' follows. ** To the li'vi-ng, folid remnant of friends, *' at the yearly meetiog to be held at Curies, " for the colony of Virginia, in the 6th mo. " 1754, and efpecially fuch as conllitute the " feleft meeting. ♦' Dear Friends. " In a good degree of that univerfal, un- *' changeable, enlarging love, which drew us *' from our native land, and near enjoyments, ( 93 ) ** to make you a religious viiit, do we at this ** time tenderly falute you, and hereby in- *' form you, (as we have done fome of you "heretofore verbally) that our hearts have *' been pained, on account of the ftate of the " Church in your colony. And tho' we can- ** not accufe ourfelves, of witliholding any *' thing from you, either in public or private, *' whicii was given us to deliver, we appre- '* hend it our duty to ftir up in your remem- " brance, fome truths already known, and " hope weightly fe.lt by fomje of you. " Firft, we recommend to your folid con- " fideration, when folemnly aflembled, the "exceeding low ftate of the mimllry and dif- *• cipline, in moft, if not all the montlily *' meetings in your colony. Sink dawn to the *' pure gift of God in yourfelves. Afk of " Him with a fincere delxre to be infonned^ '* Loxdy what is die caufe that we flee be- " fore our enemies, and are takjen captive by ** them ? for thus we believe it is with fome., *' whether they are fenfible of it or not, and *' as this is the cafe, we hope and believe, the *' Lord will let fome of you fee, and fe.el, ** that the Ihortnefs h^s not been on his lide, ** atid that he has not forfaken his people, but " they him : and willalfo give power to amend *' youx ways ^nd your doings, for we can- ( 94 ■^ not, we dare not fuppofe (let our fpirits be ** clothed with never fo much chriflian chari- " ty,) that all who have been called, and " even initiated into the true church, have " Hood faithful, and kept a lingle eye to the *' glory of God, no, no, if that had been the ** cafe, what a bright fhining people w^ould " you have been ere this day, yea, as a city ** fet upon an hill, whofe light would have *' diffufed itfelf to thofe who were without, *' and have caufed many to flock to our Zion, *' for reft and fafety, as doves to the win- " dowS4 and not as birds of prey, to tear and ♦' devour, as is now too much the cafe, many *' we fear coming in amongft you with un- *' fanftilied fpirits ; i. e. to make a profeifion ♦' of the truth which is now eafy without a " polTeilion or fure inheritance in it, in which *' incrcafe of number, fome have feemed to *' glory, when in truth they have but increaf- " ed ungodlinefs in the church, by adding ♦•^hafF inftead of the folid, weighty wheat, *' which alone will be gathered into the ^ Lord's garner ; but the chaff" of all kinds, ** will be burnt with unquenchable fire. "Where then will thefe light, chaffy^ unfanc- " tified profefibrs appear, or what will they *' add to you, except it be an incumberance *' and clog, to the fmall handful of folid *' friends amongft you, who we believ are < 95 ) " too much opprelTed and bojne down,' " yea, lie as hid and buried, under this light *' wiindy fpirit. Arife, we beleech you, in ** the name and power of your God, aud ex- *' ert yourl'elves, in his pure wildom and " ftrengtli, for liis caufc and truth on earth. ♦' Viftory is on the Lord's lide, and will be *' your's, if you faithfully follow liim, in the " way of his requirings, not fearing th^ faces " of men, but flridly regarding the flilJ' *' fmali voice and gentle motions of the hleiT- " ed fpirit of truth. As this is the cafe, one " fhall chafe a thoufand of thefe light frothy " fpirits, and two ptut ten thouiand to flighf, *■' tho' you may, yea, raoft be littie and low " in your own eyes. And we earneflly defirc, " that fucii as iiave been called to, and m " fome mealure qualified for the work of the ♦' Lord, and through a defire of fome kind or " other, of 61thy lucre, of which there are " many, are become formal, blind and *' unfaithful, xnay repent, and do their " firil works, feeing from whence they are " fallen, left the Lord come to them quickly, *' and jemove fuch candleftick out of its " place, whofc candles are already put out '• by the baneful breath of the fpirif of this *' world ; with which they have uniyerfally " i^ingled, and in which they are held cap- *' tive. Arife from tliis ftate, if pofllblc, and ( 96 ) -*♦ fhake yourfelves from the duft of the earth, *< with which forae of you are laden, as with *' thick clay ; but if you are fo benumbed, *' hardened and ftupified, through the deceit- " fulnefs of fin^ that this cannot be, yet ceafe "" at leaft, to pervert the right way of the *' Lord, by meddling in things with which *^< you have no bufinefs, that is, putting your- " felves forth in the miniftry or difcipline, ♦' when Chrilt the true fliiepherd, has not put *' forth therein. Remember what befel him, " who ftretched forth .a hand to the ark, even, " when it tottered and feemed in danger of " falling; the fame event will happen to the ** fpiritual lives of all thofe, who continue ^' for a feries of time, to mock and deceive *' themfelves and people with a found of " words without life or power, which how- *' ever found in themfelves and well conneft- *' ed, are but as a dead letter, wliich kills in- " flead of quickening the foul. Let this *' certain lelf-evident truth be weightily con- *' iidered by you, viz. that nothing but life *' and light, Ihould move to aft in the church *' of Chrill ; not pity for the people, nor in- '•^clination to gratify their longing delire after " words, nor any other human pailion or con- ^^ fideration, Ihould m^ove us thus to tempt the ♦' Lord, and tiike his holy name in vain, in ■*f the word fenfe of the expreffion, for which ( VI ) <' as do fo, he has declared he vcill not hold ** them guiltlefs. And dear friends, we ap- *' prehend that a great part of the weaknefs ** and unfruitfulnefs, which appears in the *' miniftry amongft you proceeds from a want *' of a right found difcipline, eftabli(hed and *' conduced, in the wifdom of truth, which " difcipline is certainly not only as a wall " of defence, againft the encroachments ** of many dangerous enemies, but as a hedge ■*' to fhelter from tlie various baneful blafls, ** deftrudive to young and tender plants, " which fhould be fhelt^red as well as water- *• ed, pruned and dug about, by wife judicious ** elders or fathers and mothers in the church « *' But alas ' how do the few of thofe who *' are on the right foundation, ftand as alone, ♦♦ expofed to the darts of their enemies, and *' piercing blafls from every fide, unpruncd, *' unadvifed in a great degree ; can fuch be " expected to bring forth plentiful crops, of " full ripe, well flavoured fruit ; nay, rather *' tlie favour of the wild grape is to be feared, " becaufe the trees are left in a great meafure ** without cultivation. Now as tlie hedge is " thus fadly taken away, the wall greatly *' broken down, we are fenfibl-e the repara- *' tion muft be by gradual fleps ; yea, by lay- ** ing a fingle flone at a time, and planting a E ( 98 ) ** tender twig. And thofe who are engaged ** in this necefTary work, will find as Nelie- ** miah did, before he went to repair the walls " of Jerufalem, fadnefs of countenance, erfe *' they can intreat the Almighty for liberty to " engage in the work. Nothing iliort of a *' heart truly touched with love and zeal for *' the good of the church of Chrift, can adopt *' this language, " Here am I, fend me," or *' Qualify me and let me go." May it be *' yours. Oh ! ye, beloved tender plants of **' the Lord's right hand planting, and whea " it is, flifle it not, but go on in the ftrength " of the Lord, not faying, «' Here am I, and " I will go in the flr.ength of my own fpirit, " will or wifdom." No, we give our tefii- *' mony for our Lord and mafter, that thefe *' forward unfavory fp.irits, will never profit *' the people, nor bring glory to God. But *' you who are of the former rank, tho' you ** may meet with many difcouragements as *' Nehemiah did, yet if ye trufl in the Lord *' with all your hearts, and iingly eye his light *' in yourfelves, not conferring with flefh and ** blood, nor feeking your ovv n honour, but *' the honour of him that fent you into life, *' it is our teftimony to you, for encouragt- " ment, that the Lord will blefs his work in *' your hands, and richly reward you for it, " tho' you may have a long and painful tra- ( 99 ) *• vail, and fometlmes as in the night feafon, ** before you come at the right place for build- " ing ; and when you come there, you will *♦ find much rubbilh to be removed. *♦ This we apprehend muft be the firft work ^* before our ftone can be properly laid on the " right foundation, /. e. to have all unfanfti- *' fied fpiritS, both of your own and other foci- ^* eties, excluded the privekge of fitting in your *' meetings for bufmefs ; otherwife we believe " it will be building with the rubbilh, which •* will never Hand to the honour of God and *' the good of his people. *' Our minds are fo fenfibly afFefted with " the pernicious tendency of that evil cuftom, ■" of fuiFering your meetings for the difcipline " of the church to be thus mixed, that we *' cannot help adviiing (believing it to be " the mind of truth) that you ufe your chrif. *' tian endeavours for an alteration, by mak- *' ing a minute againft this diforderly pradice, ** and flrongly recommending the putting of *' it in force in the feveral monthly meetings **■ throughout the colony, for whicli you have ** authority from the univerfal praflice of •' friends where the difcipline is rightly con- ** dufted, as well as from the original inftitu- *' tion of fuch meetings. E 2 { IGO ) , *' And now having in.a good degree eoiei .** our fpirits of what feemed to reft upon :*' tliem, on your account, we conclude in that *' love which feeks the prefervatlon.and gQO«l " of the heritage of God, with faying, be fober, ♦' be vigilant and of one mind, and defiring ,*' the God of peace may be with you, in this .*' your annual aflembly, we remain your "friends in the truth. JVeJi-r'iver in Maryland^ M. P. the 4.ih of the ^th mo. Q. V. " At this meeting of friends at Wefl-river, ^' we were falfly accufed of fpeaking from out- " ward information, when in truth it was .^' from the opening of the word of life, ?*, this we were frequently fufpe£ted of, and J* charged with, by unbelievers, who knew .*' not the intelligence of the fpirit, tho' they ." made profeffion of it. \ M W€ palled through the weftern fide of .^' Maryland called Saffifrax bay, and took ♦* meetings in our way ; but after we entered ^' Pennfylvania had no opennefs yhich *' our mailer was with us, by his fpirit arul ** power, and I was made fcn^fible that there- *' was in that place, a people lincere hi their *' fearches and endeavours after religion, which *' the Lord regarded, tlio' under many dehi- *' fions and miftakes. In this quarter (New ** England) clofe and hard work fell to our ** lots, amongft thofe who called themlelves •' of our fociety, which was difficult to be ac- ♦* complifhed, becaufe many thought them- •• felves whole, while in reality they needed •♦ a phylician, manifefting an unlawful fa- ** miliarity with the world. Unbounded cu- *' riolity in the people, caufed meetings to be •* thronged, that in hot weather it was exceed- ♦' ing hard to lit them, and much more trving *' to fpeak in them ; but he who fearches the *♦ hearts of all, and knows tteir intentions, *' difappointed thefe wrong fpiiits, by doling *' our mouths in filencc one meeting after *' another ; which greatly difpleafed the peo- ^' pie, and drew upon us great reproach, lies *' and llander, all which we were enabled to " bear patiently and rejoice in for our Maf- *' ter's fake. We were led to endcaA'Our to " feparate thofe under our name from others, ( 107 ) ** and at times fome of the ruling members *' from the reft, to whom we had very clofe ** things to offer, feeling that the decleufion *' which fo glaringly appeared in the fociety, ** had reached many of their borders. This *' feemed a verv hard ralk to get accomplifhed *' becaufc of their being fo conne£led in mar- *' riage, &c. and the dilcipline being fo fadly *' let fall, they knew not who were, or who *' were not proper members. *' In fome places we had to vifit particular *' families, before we could caft off our bur- *' dens, as in Bofton ; where 1 was led to find •* out fome hidden works of darknefs, the '• workers whereof ought to be cut of from *' the name and fociety of friends, in order to ♦' clear it and them from the fcandal they *' brought on it ;^ one young man in particu- ** lar, with wliom we had to treat on his be- ** ing likely to marry with one of another fo- " ciety. It arofe in. my heart while we talk- *♦ cd with him, that he was deeply tindtured *' with deifm, a dill^elief of the fcriptures, the " coming of Chrift in the fiefh, and his fe« •♦ cond appearance by his fpirit; 1 told him ** my opinion of him which he acknowledged *• to be true, and fpoke in defence of it, f *• told him the ground whence his unbelief " fprung, viz. leaning to his own underfland- ( loS ) " Ing ; and departing from the light, which ** alone can convince of God and godlinefs. *' I left fome parts of this country not quite- •* clear in my fpirit, but under a weight, and " particularly Newport, I was given up in- " my mind to return to it, but could not then *' find my way open, I was advifed by a *' friend to leave it for the prefent ; I did fo, *' and travelled under great exercife of fpirit *' through Connedlicut, but without condem- " nation. At Oblong I had a light that my " dear companion C. P. and I were to fepa- *' rate, for the works fake, I had been at *' times much ftraitened in my fervice by pre- ** ferring her and her gift, for I was greatly •• afraid and jealous over my own heart, left " felf lliould have any part in our feparation, '* from a defiie of appearing greater than with •' a companion; another thing which appear- ** ed to me with confiderable weight, was her ** youth, and the many dangers that might at- " tend if not rightly fuited with a companion. *' Thefe and many other confiderations, " would I believe have prevailed, had not *• the Lord laid his hand upon me, in a re- " markable manner, on this wife. My mind *' was ftripped of ability for fervice, and deepi <* ly bowed to the centre of all ftrength, for ** inftruftion, in which ftate I had a delire »♦ given me, to be at Philadelphia, and to_ go " thither pretty dire6l without appointing ( 109 ^ " many meetings ; accordingly I deiircd that *' not more than two meetings, which lay in *' the way, might be appointed, but my com- *' panion and Ibme other friends, encouraged " the appointing more. I became paflive, *' tho' I found mv exercife for meetings iii " thofe parts, was at that time taken away : ♦' which aftewards more clearly appeared, ** having beea lilent in all, except one 1 found ** freedom to have appointed, neither was ** my companion capacitated for the fervice, " in the laft meeting which was at Longreach " on the Main." She appears by a very concife acccounp kept of hergofpel labours, to have been clofely ex- ercifed in vifiting meetings moflly in the pro- vince of Pennfylvaniafrom the lOth mo. 1754,. to the fpring of 1756. She and her companion having with the concurrence of friends fepa- rated for the works fake. Within which period, Ihc wrote as follows to a friend. Philadelphia, 13th of nth mo. 1755. " Thy acceptable letter, perhaps miglit ♦* have been acknowledged fooner, had 1 not a " liof e or expedation of feeing thee ere now ; *' hope did 1 fay ? alas ! I Ihould have none* *' but doing and fuffcring the will of God ; " all other feems forbidden, and are through «* divine favour, pretty much reflrained. My " flay being prolonged in this country, has ( no ) " been altogether unexpefted to myfelf, and " I have been held in fuch uncertainty for *' feme months paft, as not to be able td give * my friends any information refpeding fu- " ture movements. I have Hood as a foldier '* waiting for the word of command, to *' march whkherfoever mv holy leader may *' be pleafed to direft ; and may fay to the ♦* praife of his great name, that he is not an *' hard mailer, but good and bountiful every *' way, for tho' I have, (as recited) been kept •♦ as a day fervant in a kind of undetermined *' Hate in regard to our ftay ; yet may fay of a *' truth, that 1 do not remember ever to have " had fuch a degree of ftcady peace, and holy *' unmixed quietude of mind, fo long toge- *' ther, amidft many clofe deep trials and ex- *' ercifes in religious duties, fome of fuch av *\ a nature, as 1 had not been tried with be- *' fore, and which required the utmoft forti- *' tude, wifdom and patience There is here *« the old pharifaical fpirit, which I have liere- " tofore had to war wnth, and it feems to love " me no better than ufual. 1 fhall now pro- *< ceed to give thee a narrative of the manner *• of my {lay, which to do, I muft begin with *« an unlocked for profpedl fet before me the *' fummer after our landing, and hath rarely,- *' if ever, wholly difappeared. How it may '* be, I cannot at prefent forefee : but this I *' know, that it has proved as ballail to my ( nr ) •* mind, with refpedl to going homewards *' this fall, as alfo a means to (eparate me and ** my dear companion, which 1 believe was *' in the wifdom of truth. It was prefented " before lall fall, with a draft to this city, fo " that I was ready to conclude I mufl have " gone before my vilit to this continent was *' ended, I mean to one or moie of the Weft " India iflands, but after waiting fome " weeks in this city, wrapped as in a thick " cloud, as to any light which way I fliould ♦♦ turn, whether home or elfewhere ; (for to *' appoint meetings any where on this conti- ♦' nent I dared not till the light went before ** me, having attended fome that were for- ** wardly appointed without my directions, " till I was become as a flgn and wonder to *' myfelf and others) my way opened, toiinilh " my journey on this continent feparate from *• my former companion, which I was aflifted ** to perform with fome dtg'ee of fatisfaition *♦ to myfelf, and, I hope fome little edifica- " tion to the churches. In the latter part of " this journey, it pleafcd my good mafler, to ♦' bring me under the moft levere baptifm and •' crucifixion, that I ever knew in the courfe •' of my religious experience, partly on my ♦' own account, and en the account of fome, *' to whom 1 had been made a minifter and ** inftrumental to help into the way of life and " falvation, who, looking at the creaiuTc» ( "2 ) " more than the Creator, who is worthy for " ever, became entangled, as a lamb caught ♦' in a thicket, it was then that I felt the ♦' depth, and true meaning of that emphati- •* cai faying of the holy apoftle, my little " children, for whom I travail in birth 'till " Chrift be formed in you." And Oh ! the " pangs and throes^ the lighs and groans, *' which a mother in Ifrael has to pafs thro' *' and put up, it is fomething like the fufFer- •' ing, which the captain of our falvatiort *' palled through, in bringing many fons and *' daughters to glory; "it is with Uie utmoft ' *' reverence and fear that I make the compa- *' rifon, between him and his miniflers, who- "are to iill up in their bodies that which " is behind of his fufFerings. But 1 feemed- " to myfelf, and was as one nailed to the ** crofs, day and night, for weeks together, *' with this defire or prayer fixed in my heart ; *' Let me not come down from the crofs, 'till' " the glorious defign be fully accompiilhed,' *' that fo thy will may be done by me, in me- '* and upon me, in time and in eternity," and " truly the baptifm was not removed until- •* this became the happy fituation of my ** mind, that to live or die, to be in health or •' licknefs, in profperity or adverfity, in Eu • *' rope or America, in France or Spain, to. ** pafs through good or evil report, in the will. " of God, feemed juft the fame to me. L ( 11-3^ ) ** write tiot thcfe tilings boaftingly, but to •* the glory of Qod. Thou and. others kno'^ " what I am by tiature, that in me, (that, is; " in my flefh,) dwells no good thing. ThrJ " was the necefTary preparative for the fore- ♦* named ftate of peaceful ferenrty of con- " fcicnce, in a fituation to which nature is " above all things moft averfc, to wit, daily " dependance and uncertainty, being indebted " or obligated to others for fupport, having ♦* nothfng that it can call its own, fave weak- ** nefs and infirmity, and this is that glorious " myftery, and feeming contradi£tion, which " the holy apoflle fpeaks of, in having no. " thing, and yet poflefling all things- Irr ** this fituation of mind 1 entered this city, *' having looked round me every way, witlr " refignation to turn as I might be drawn by ** the power of matchlefs love, and hoped "from the loofnefs which I then felt from all' ♦' parts of this continent, that I might be per- ** mitted to return home with my brother " (who I had heard was in town, and likely ** to fail foon) even if my companion could' " not go with mc : but it was with this pro- •', fpe£^,. that I might probably return to this- " country if lite was fpared, and I knew not " how fooM. On coming iiithcr, found that " my brother was gone, and my companion- " not clear of this continent, fo concluded to ( "4 ) *' to wait for her a few weeks, or if it iniglif *' be, months, Ihe expreffing uncommon con-* ** cern at the thoughts of being left behind* *• During the time I waited for her, fom# *' friends propofed to accompany me in vifit* ** ing part of the families of friends in this ** city, a. fervice which had divers times been ** prefented t© my mind in the courfe of my ** journey, yea, before I left London, and ** when the propofal was made, I found a *• perfed freedom to join with it, it being with *' the concurrence of the monthly meeting, ** little fuppoiing I fhould be held to it in rhe ♦* manner I have been ; but it is a fervice •* which the Lord hath been pleafed to blefs ** in a remarkable manner. I have been in ♦* 160 iamilics, and attended fix meet- " ings every week whilft in town, as " health permits, beildes viiiting the fick, and " afflided, and taking fome excurlions to the ** country. My companion when fhe came ♦* to town,, being fometimes poorly in " health, proceeded but fiowly ; we now go " together, having tired moll 6f our compa- " nions, beiides a couple of men friends, who •* go to fhew us the doors, and be witnefs to *' our labours; tlierc is nearly as many yet to " vifit, as I have been with. Whether I fhall " go this winter, or ever to any of the Iflands *' mentioned, is at prefent hidden from mc ; " but had not the profpedl afrcfh opened after •' I had been here feme time, I think 1 dare •' not have admitted the thoughts of ftayiiig ** this winter; but have been blefl'ed with fce^ ~*^ iog, yea, have been made inftrumental to "help back fome of the before mentioned *' lambs to the fold, one, in particular in thij " city who I hope may be made a ferviceable ** inftrument. " I have now given up expe£lation of fee- *• ing my native land before the fpring; at " which time 1 hope to have the company of «* our beloved friend Samuel Fothergill on " fhip board. He is now in this city, alfo " John Churchman and divers other friends " on the affairs of the fociety. It is a difficult " time to friends in thofe parts, who are con- " cerned to keep up their chriflian teflimony ** againft wars and bloodlhed : and efpecially " to fuch as are concerned in flate affairs. I ** have had my health better than common in *' this city, for which bleffmg with all others '> that I am an unworthy partaker of, I delire ** to be humbly thankful." She wrote about this time as follows to a friend in Penfylvania on tlie fubje(5t of pay- ing taxes for the fupport of war. " Without the leafl defign to lefTen paren- V tal authority, or filial obedience, lb far as ( m6- ) "they are either lawful or expedient, 1 would* " remark to thee, that divers parents of this' " age have bent their thoughts and defires too' " much to earth, to ha^.^ a clear diilinft dif- " cerning of the times and feafons in a fpiri-' " tual fenfe, and the facred purpofes of himf *' whofe widom is unfearchable, and his ways' ** paft finding out, by ail the penetration of' " finite underflanding, uninfluenced by his* " own eternal light, and even then we fee " and know but in part whilft here, but fome. " of us have believed and feen in the vilions- ** of light, that the day of gofpel light which^ *' has dawn'd will rife higher and higher ;- ** notwithflanding that fome clouds may at " times intercept its beauty and brightnefs, a* •* hath been forrowfully the cafe amongft us> " as a people who have been highly favoured. *< And tho' I have not the leaft defign to de- " rogate from the real worth of thofe honour- " able fons of the morning, who were made- *' inftrumental in a great degree to break down- " the partiti(jn M'all, which carnal felfifh man- *' had erefted between the people and the fun- ** righteoufnefs, 1 am not afraid to fay, and " give it under my hand, that it was and is ** the defign of God that his people in future " ages fhould carry on the reformation everr "further than they did ; and notwithflanding « that a night of apoflacy lias come o\^r us« ( 111 ) '^ as d pcbplc (as day and night fuccced each ** other in their fcafon and God keeps his co- •" venant with both) I am of the judgment *' that that, day has begun to dawn, in which '*' the fun of righteoufnefs will rift; higher •' and with greater luftre than heretofore, and *' if thofe who are called of God to be the ■*' fons of this morning, look back to the night, ,** and to them who have flept and been ." drunken in the night, by fipping of the ■" golden cup of abomination, as even to the "latter day, they will fruftrate the defigns f>i -*' Providence refpefting tliemfelves, tho' not .*' refpe .5J\EUNIVEB% .^WEUNIVERi/A ~ui."v'-ni