"David had is a fine Thing: If the Guardian Angel of his Prefence do but conduct us through it, all will be well; and this I "think I may fay, I have a fixed and com"fortable Hope in. I have no certain Senfe, "whether I fhall at this time be removed, or not that I leave to infinite Wisdom, and hope I can truly fay, I am entirely refigned "to the divine Will. My greatest Concern. <c on my own Account is, left I should not "bear the Sharpness of my Pain with such a Degree of Submiffion and Patience, as I "have defired to do; and am afraid it should unhinge my Thoughts from looking so stedfastly to the divine Object, as I hope I have "done of late. It is a fine Thing for those "that are young, to remember their Creator "in the Days of their Youth, before the evil Day come, and the Time in which the Soul "knows no Pleasure: The evil Day, I take "to be the Time of Affliction or Pain of Body; Health and profperous Circumstances in Life, feem like Days of Sun-fhine, wherein

cr

we are too apt not properly to confider our "latter End; but a Day will come, when all "will find the World to be a Cheat, a meer "Shadow, a Delufion, and not to be trusted in, or relied upon.

"I remember the laft time I had any Con"cern to speak in a publick Meeting, I had to mention this Expreffion, which was then very much illuftrated in my View,

The

Righteous

Righteous hath Hope in his Death; little apprehending, at that time, it would fo foon "be my Lot, to think fo much about it; however, I find it to be a comfortable Truth. "I have laboured, I think I may say, honestly "amongst my Friends in this Meeting, according to the Understanding given; and "can truly fay, with one formerly, I have "coveted no Man's Silver or Gold, but, if poffible, that I might be inftrumental to gather Souls to God."

СС

At another time he said, "Our worthy "Friends might well recommend it, that All might endeavour to keep the true Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace ; and we who "fometimes are concerned to advise others, "what Need have we to be careful to main"tain this pure Unity, and to be watchful left any Thing of Self get up, that would appear fomething, and be thought well of by Man, "and would boaft itself, and be thought to "exceed others? If this be given way to, it "will confequently lead to infinuate Things to "hurt and leffen the Service of others. All "this I have feen to be meer Chaff that must "be winnowed away, if ever we be approved "of by the Almighty.

186

"I have of late been very much united in "Love to my Friends, and have looked with great Compaffion and Tenderness towards "those who have been drawn afide; and earnestly defire that thofe, who are con"cerned

Q3

"cerned to labour with fuch, may do it in "the Spirit of Love and Tenderness, which

only can gain upon them, in order that they may be restored into the Unity of the Body, "wherein is received that Nourishment which preferves alive the Members thereof; and "that none may look at the Weakness of others, with an Eye that would feek and "fish for Faults. I have feen fo much of my own Weakness, and the great Need I have "had of the compaffionate Regard of the Almighty, that I have been induced to look "with great Pity and Tenderness, even to"wards Tranfgreffors; and I believe, if we "be truly fenfible of our own Weakness, it " will lead us to look after this manner one "towards another and if we hear or obferve "little Faults, we fhall not delight to expofe " or aggravate them, but rather feek to help " and watch over one another for Good.

"I have often obferved with Grief, and fo "have fome of you, the great Lofs which our "Society hath fuffered, by a too anxious Pursuit "and grafping after the World and the Things

of it, in many, in order to appear great, and "that their Pofterity might have large Pof"feffions. Some who have even tafted of the "Love of God, by fuffering their Minds to be "enfnared and entangled, have infenfibly loft.

•

ground in Religion, and gone on, by degrees, "till they have almoft loft the Relifh of it. Į very much defire that this may never be the

"unhappy

unhappy Circumftance of any of us; for we have tafted of this divine Sweetnefs, and it has at times been far more precious than, of these fading tranfitory Things."

any

And having been still for some time, he said, "In the Lord's Prefence there is Quiet indeed! "I could fcarcely have thought, that such a "Foretaste of divine Favour could have been enjoyed whilst in thefe Bodies, and I could "have been glad to have gone in it; but not be my Will, but thine O Lord be done."

At another time he faid, "I have often "confidered the great Advantage that those

have had, who have been religiously educated "in our Society; and happy will it be for fuch, "who make a right Ufe of it. Many and

great Favours we receive, by the Ministry of "those whom divine Providence hath qualified "to labour amongst us; and, in a particular "Manner, we in this Meeting have been eminently favoured of late; notwithstanding "which, if any fhould be fatisfied with hearing and profeffing, and with having the "Name of Religion, and appearing orderly "amongst Men, and yet be Strangers to the "Life and Virtue thereof in their own Hearts, they will find themselves miferably difap

r

pointed at laft. Oh! it is a fine Thing to "have Religion fo near us, as to have our "Hearts rooted and grounded in the Fear of "God: I have, through Mercy, found the "Comfort and Advantage of it, in this Time

Q 4

"of

"of Bodily Affliction: It hath administered "more Relief than all my Friends could do. "What could it avail me now, if I had a "Houfe full of Silver or Gold to look at ? It "could not afford the leaft degree of that "Comfort and Peace of Mind I now enjoy. "I have many times thought, that I am more "at liberty, and my Mind more compofed and easy, to leave the World, than if I had "a great deal in it. I have wanted nothing, "but have had every Thing neceffary and fuitable for me, and am much more free "from Cumber than if I had abundance to "leave behind me.

1

"When I have at times, for fome Days paft, been concerned to speak a little to my Friends, by way of Advice, I have been "much refreshed both in Body and Mind. It seems to alleviate my Pain and Affliction of

Body; and if it please divine Providence to "number me to my Grave, nothing seems to lay in my Way; I have nothing but Peace

of Mind, and doubt not but his merciful "Care will be extended, and be my Conductor "through the fhadowy Profpect of Death; and I have a fixed Hope, that divine Good"nefs will vifit this Meeting in an extraordinary Manner. And though there may be "fome whofe Views are much confined, and "their Pursuits ftrongly after the Things of this Life; a Time will come, when fuch will be fhaken, and have a clear Sight of

"the