he had experienced the fame himfelf: he anfwered them fo exactly, as he could not have done, if he had not spoken by experience.

Other fufferings he had from the Prince of Darkness; who knowing faith to be the foundation of all good graces, was continually ftriving to throw doubts or blafphemous thoughts into his foul but his lowlinefs and firm confidence in God, as often as they returned, put them to flight.

8. And he was no less eminent in denying himself, than in taking up and bearing his cross: from his firft retiring, he resolved to eat nothing to please his tafte, but only to fuflain life. And this he obferved very religioufly, even to his death, that when he was preffed to eat even fome melow, or raifins, or figs, he only smelt the melow, and faid, "This is enough for this year."

On my telling him once, "You take no reft, and you can take none in the way you go;" he replied with a calm and chearful countenance, "It is true, I cannot take any reft, while my brethren are engaged in fo many labours and dangers; because it is not just, that I should think of rest, as long as they are expofed to thofe hazards. God keep me from giving way to fuch floth. If but one of them is in danger, that is enough for me to continue to pray without ceafing for him."

9. But what coft him the most pains of any thing in his whole life, was, always to follow the grace of God; as none can follow this without renouncing himself, grace fo often demanding just the contrary to nature. Accordingly it was his continual endeavour to die to all created things, and to combat nature, which loves to enjoy them, to live in pleasure, and cafe, and honour. He defired to be defpifed, like his mafter. He ftudied to forget all temporal things, and thought only of feeking God, and ferving him. He received with conftant patience, all that could befal him, without feeking any fatisfaction, or finding any, even in his virtues, but as

they

they contributed to the glory of God, to whom alone his heart was attached, forgetting all things elfe. He had fo great a hunger and thirst for God, that no creature could fatisfy him. After this fovereign good he ran without ceafing, in fpite of all his inclinations: and this agonizing after God, is a greater cross, and a heavier felf-denial, than any who have not felt it can conceive.

[To be concluded in our next.]

Some Account of the Life and Death of Mrs. SARAH Brough, by BARNABAS BROUGH, of Clinton, near Whitehaven.

OR the comfort and encouragement of thofe who are

FOR

ftruggling on heavenward, through the help of my loving God, I would write down his gracious dealings with my dear deceased wife: especially when fhe was to face Death, who is the King of Terrors to such as are strangers to the precious name of Jefus.

But it was not fo with Sarah Brough. She bore the yoke in her youth. Her father died, when fhe was only eight or nine months old. After feven years fhe was forced to leave her mother, and go to live with her uncle. At that time he had the form of religion, and was feeking the power. All the family was called together, every Sunday night: a pfalm was fung, and a good prayer read. But afterwards he was deeply convinced of fin, which made him caft off all truft in his own works, and cry aloud for mercy, to the great aftonishment of his family and friends.

This made fuch an impreffion on her mind, as never wore off while fhe lived.

wherever he went.

But the continued in the fear of God,
She durft no more follow the practice

of

RO

ROBE

RTS

GEDA

1

of those of her age; but retired daily to prayer and meditation. She had often very deep thoughts of the day of judgment, and loved the company of fober, ferious people.

When the was fit for fervice, and had her lot in an evil world, though fhe was expofed to the common infection, through fin and wicked perfons, yet the fear of God which fhe ftill retained made her flee from evil, as from the face of a ferpent. While her fellow-fervants took their pleasure on the Sabbath-Day, fhe fhut herself in her room, or retired into the woods or fields, not regarding the fcoffs of her neighbours, no more than fhe rues it now. And he has often expressed her thankfulness to God, for preserving her in the flippery paths of youth.

Many made fuit to her, and she had many good offers as to temporal things. But a concern for her foul made her very cautious, as fhe had often obferved the dreadful confequences of being unequally yoked. And when she had purposed more than once to change her condition, she was till disappointed. For what end this was, the knew not then: but she knew afterwards: he made her humble and thankful, and filled her with praife to her loving Saviour. How much more reason have I to be loft in wonder, praise, and love, to him that willeth not the death of a finner? My lot was caft, to build a fire-engine, near the gentleman's houfe where she lived. But we were utter ftrangers to each other. As to myself, I had no thoughts of changing my condition; nay, I was refolved against it. I faw many wherever I went, weighed down with the weight of a large family. Nay, I often faw war in the house, worse than that of fword and gun. This made me abhor the very thought of changing my life. So I roved away with my jovial companions, and thought, how much better it was with us, than with those that were tied to a wife and children.

But one night, after we had been taking our pleasure as afual, I went to bed, and fell asleep. In a few moments I VOL. III.

awoke,