charity and patience, in the ministers of the Gospel.

meeting at Oldham next day; in which silent labour seemed to me to be my proper busi ness.

On first-day, the 25th of tenth month, I went to Crawshawbooth in Rossendale, which was a pretty large meeting; but I was in so weak a state of body, being much spent with

rits were greatly exhausted. Finding my mind engaged in that meeting, I stood up in order to deliver what seemed to be required, but was obliged soon to sit down again, being so weak that I could not raise my voice so as to be heard. I then concluded it was time to take some rest, in order to recover strength,

"The diversities of gifts, operations and administrations, from the one Spirit, are beautiful and serviceable; as the stars in the firmament are not all of one magnitude, have not all one station or degree of lustre, but each is ornamental and serviceable in its re-travelling and deep close labour, that my spispective places and season. The Lord bless thee, and be thy shield and exceeding great reward in time here and in eternity hereafter. Now as the apostle, in a paternal way, advised his son Timothy to drink no longer water, but use a little wine for his stomach's sake and his often infirmities; I desire, as thou servest not an austere man or hard master, if it was the Lord's will, which I did not then but the most merciful and bountiful King of kings and Lord of lords, thou wilt take due care of thyself, and rightly consider thy constitution. Do not drive on too fast in this cold climate and season of the year; consider, nets are not always to be spread and cast into the sea, but sometimes to be mended and repaired. Thou finds the good Seed lies low in many bosoms and many meetings. Experience teaches, that where and when our Master suffers; who said, where I am, there shall my servant be; we ought to be content to suffer with him; that when he reigns, we may also reign with him. Shall the servant think to reign, when and where his Lord and Master suffereth? There are, my dear friend, thou knowest, times of sitting at the King's gate; a safe, honourable and profitable situation, previous to advancement. They that are faithful in this low, safe sitting, in due time receive a call from the King to put on his royal robes, mount his horse and ride around, which is a high dignity and a high day; yet those so favoured, must not expect always to sit in that saddle, nor always to be clothed with that royal apparel, but as certainly to dismount, as ever they mounted; and must by no means forget the road to the King's gate, and their honourable seat there. We should be glad to see thee here once more. Pray write to us. My wife joins with me in dear love to thee, and those above-mentioned.

much expect, thinking myself far gone; nor indeed did I desire it, for my afflictions, several ways, were very heavy, which made me weary of this world, and had it been the Lord's will, should have been glad to embrace death rather than life; yet I endeavoured to be resigned to the divine will. Great care was taken of me, with affectionate kindness, by my worthy friends Jonathan Raine, his wife, and her sister Ann, who then lived with them; having often the company of that valuable family, the Ecroyds' of Edgend. I was brought very near to these two families, in that love that thinketh no evil; being by illness, or rather weakness, detained there about nine or ten weeks. It was an exceedingly wet season, being also the middle of winter, yet I got mostly out to their meeting, which was near; and went several times to Marsden-Height, about four miles off; and once to Skipton and Lothersdale, about eight or ten miles off: in most of which meetings the Lord was with me to my great comfort, enlarging my heart in service for him and his people, to my satisfaction and encouragement.

As soon as I was pretty well recovered and the weather more fit to travel, I set out for Lancashire, my kind friend Jonathan Raine bearing me company; and attended both their meetings on first-day; which were painful and laborious. I had nothing given me to deliver by way of public testimony; many Friends there appeared to me then, and more since, lively and sensible of the work of true religion; yet I apprehend the expectations of too many were after words that dar were to be disappointed. really turned to the might never h day at thei

After this meeting I went home with my companion Jonathan Raine, to Trawden, and next day to Todmorden, and had a laborious exercising meeting; yet through the extending which was of heavenly help, I was enabled to discharge minion t the service required, to my own ease and had a comfort in a good degree. I had a small poor Lanc

which was chiefly in feeling the distressing weight of death and darkness that covers the holy Seed sown in the hearts of mankind, and which is pressed down by their superstition, idolatry and wickedness, "as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves." It as surely groans for deliverance as Israel did under Egyptian bondage. In sympathy therewith, my soul was mostly in deep anxiety; being, as it were, dumb with silence, and closed up in painful death and darkness; ready at times to say, Surely I am in the same spirit with them. But the material difference was this; it was their element, wherein they lived pleasantly and delighted to breathe; whereas I could neither live nor breathe therein; so far from it, that I often looked upon myself in a man ner quite dead. But let everlasting praise ascend to the God of the living, world without end! He was pleased to bring me through this horrible death and darkness, to enjoy the glorious day of his salvation again, and to be one of those, though unworthy, who have "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," for their light and leader. Then I saw that even in that day of uncommon trials, both within and without, my life was sure, though not discerned by me, being hid with Christ in God.

deavour to find a meeting of Friends. Next day some of the company signifying their intention of going about midnight, that being the time when I suppose the tide would serve best; we therefore requested they would call us, which they did. The ship lay a consider. able distance from the town of Bricksham, where we intended to land. We had been in the boat but a little while, when a great storm of wind and rain beat furiously against us, so that the men at the oars found it hard to keep the boat up against it. We encouraged them all in our power to work for their own lives and ours, letting them know, if they would bring us safely to land, they should be well rewarded for their pains. The danger of being driven back to sea was very appa. rent, and I believe much feared by all in the boat. The poor men exerted their utmost endeavour, which, through the good providence of God, proved successful.

This I looked upon as a merciful preservation, having seldom, if ever, in the course of my life, apprehended greater danger. We were exceedingly wet with the rain, but having good fires made for us, and other necessary accommodations, we did not suf fer much thereby. By inquiry, we found there was a meeting of our Friends held near It was some time after my arrival in Eng- a place called Newton-Bushel, about ten miles land before the thick darkness before-men-off, to which we went, being truly thankful tioned quite wore off my mind; yet I was for the great favour of a safe arrival in Engfavoured at times, with the shining of the Sun land, and the opportunity of sitting down in of righteousness, as it were breaking through a meeting of Friends again; though we held a thick cloud, to my unspeakable joy and meetings amongst ourselves in our captivity, comfort, and in the work of the Gospel, on first-days, when it appeared practicable. I believe, to the great satisfaction of many This meeting was but small, and the life of others, to whom I was, through deep suffer- religion seemed to me at a low ebb. I had ing, in some degree qualified to speak, even nothing to deliver by way of testimony. as deep calleth unto deep. Friends were very loving to us. On secondday we proceeded towards London, as far as Exeter, where Friends entertained us kindly that night. Next day Thomas Gawthrop, Isaac Greenleaf and myself, leaving our ancient friend Peter Davis with Friends there, hired horses as far as Honiton. There I bought a serviceable mare, that carried me safely and well through most of my travels in this journey in England and Wales. We took Bridport in our way, and lodged with our worthy friend Samuel Bownas, who, with his house-keeper, entertained us with affec tionate kindness. Now did we begin to enjoy the sweetness of brotherly love again. The Quarterly Meeting for Dorsetshire was held next day at that place, to which we went. It was very small, and the power of Truth, which is the crown of all our religious meet ings, as I thought, was very low therein. We must live in that power at other times, if we expect its gracious assistance in the weighty

We arrived in England, and came to anchor in Torbay, the 26th of the first month, 1748, after a passage of five days. The ship was bound for Plymouth, but the sailors who had been prisoners in France, being in fear of another confinement by being pressed on board of the men-of-war, took the command of her from the captain, by something, in appearance at least, like force. He told them he had a safe protection from the government, whereby they would be secured from what they feared by going to Plymouth. But they did not regard that, neither was he, as we thought, averse to going into Torbay, as he had the sailors to lay it on; for we had reason to apprehend he did not keep us waiting in Spain so long for nothing; so that the bay might suit his purpose better also. It being the first-day of the week, in the evening, when we came to anchor, Thomas Gawthrop and I had a mind to go on shore, that we might en

to their several states, and the blessed Truth low ebb in this county, and the discipline in was in great dominion that day. |the main but poorly managed, and the conThe next meeting was at Godalming, where duct of divers professors administers cause I had very close heavy service, being made of offence; yet we were, through the extendsensible of much indifference and lukewarm-ings of merciful goodness, favoured with conness in some professors. It was often my siderable openness and pretty thorough service lot to labour for the stirring up and reviving for their help, and to our own ease in a good of such : but alas! it is hard work, yet suffi- degree. My companion and I proceeded on ciently rewarded by the comfortable returns our journey towards York, taking Leeds' firstof true peace, in a faithful discharge of duty. day meetings in our way, which were large, The meeting at Staines was pretty open and very heavy and laborious. My proper busatisfactory; being livingly engaged to admin-siness was to wade under a great weight, ister suitably to the several states of those occasioned by the indolent spirits of those present. I went from thence to Uxbridge, who were unwilling to labour and bear their where I had open thorough service, to good own burdens, in an example of silence. Next satisfaction; after which I went to High morning was held their Monthly Meeting of Wickham, and had a heavy laborious meeting. The same day I had an evening meeting at Amersham, in which I had some service, though things were very low. Next day I had a meeting at Jordans, where the blessed Truth had great dominion, and the testimony thereof flowed forth freely, in doctrine and counsel, for the help and comfort of those present. After this I went to London, where I staid the first-day meetings. I attended Grace-church street in the morning, where I had good service, and the testimony of Truth had great dominion. I went to Devonshire-house in the afternoon, where I had also a good open time to declare the Truth; finding much ease and peace of mind. The service of this small journey being over, I returned home the next day, having been out about four weeks, at twenty-eight meetings, and travelled about three hundred and fifty

miles.

ministers and elders, where I had close service; and the same day that for discipline, which was exceedingly large, our Society being very numerous thereabout. The testimony of Truth was greatly exalted therein, in treating concerning Christ, the everlasting rock upon which the church is built, whereupon only it can stand firm, against all the attempts of a potent adversary and his emissaries. Next day we went to York, where the same evening was held the Quarterly Meeting of ministers and elders. I had some open service therein, particularly to ministers. We were divinely favoured in the succeeding meetings, both for worship and discipline, to our edification and comfort.

From York I went towards Kendal, and was, in my way, at a Yearly Meeting held on a first-day, in a large barn near Bingley; where, it was thought, were very nearly a thousand people of other religious persua The next journey I have any account of, sions, besides many of our own Society. I was chiefly in order to visit the Quarterly was largely opened therein to preach the Meetings of Lincoln, York, Lancaster and everlasting Gospel, in the authority and deKendal. I set out the 16th of the sixth monstration thereof. The people generally month, 1758, and by appointment, met Joseph | behaved in a sober becoming manner, ap Taylor at Cambridge, who was to be my pearing well satisfied, which is too often the companion as far as York. It being first- most we can say in our day concerning such day, we went to their meeting in the morn- | memorable opportunities; whereas, our preing, which was very small, and things exceed. | decessors might have added, perhaps, that ingly low as to the life of religion. We went several hundreds were convinced. However, in the afternoon about ten miles to a general we must content ourselves with the state or meeting at a place called Over, and I was condition of the fields of the world, in our largely opened therein, in close awakening day: and although we cannot lift up our eyes service, tending to arouse careless professors, as they could, to behold the fields white unto of whom there seemed to be many at that harvest, yet let there be honest endeavours to meeting. We proceeded as far as Erith, and contribute all in our power, for the bringing next day got to Spalding, in Lincolnshire, them forward in this respect, and leave the where we met our worthy friend Mordecai rest to the Lord, in whose hands alone are Yarnall, from America, who was then on a times and seasons. I had a meeting at Skipreligious visit in this nation, and Samuel ton that evening to good satisfaction; then to Neale from Ireland. The 20th in the morn- | Settle, and was at their Monthly Meeting, ing, we set out for Lincoln Quarterly Meet- where I had good service, and so proceeded ing, which began the next day about noon, to Kendal, accompanied by divers Friends. and ended the day following. Truth is at a The same day was held the meeting of min

boat. The poor men exerted their utmost endeavour, which, through the good providence of God, proved successful.

which was chiefly in feeling the distressing deavour to find a meeting of Friends. Next weight of death and darkness that covers the day some of the company signifying their holy Seed sown in the hearts of mankind, and intention of going about midnight, that being which is pressed down by their superstition, the time when I suppose the tide would serve idolatry and wickedness," as a cart is pressed best; we therefore requested they would call that is full of sheaves." It as surely groans us, which they did. The ship lay a consider. for deliverance as Israel did under Egyptian able distance from the town of Bricksham, bondage. In sympathy therewith, my soul where we intended to land. We had been in was mostly in deep anxiety; being, as it were, the boat but a little while, when a great storm dumb with silence, and closed up in painful of wind and rain beat furiously against us, death and darkness; ready at times to say, so that the men at the oars found it hard to Surely I am in the same spirit with them. keep the boat up against it. We encouraged But the material difference was this; it was them all in our power to work for their own their element, wherein they lived pleasantly lives and ours, letting them know, if they and delighted to breathe; whereas I could would bring us safely to land, they should be neither live nor breathe therein; so far from well rewarded for their pains. The danger it, that I often looked upon myself in a man of being driven back to sea was very appa. ner quite dead. But let everlasting praise as-rent, and I believe much feared by all in the cend to the God of the living, world without end! He was pleased to bring me through this horrible death and darkness, to enjoy the glorious day of his salvation again, and to be This I looked upon as a merciful preone of those, though unworthy, who have servation, having seldom, if ever, in the "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the course of my life, apprehended greater danworld," for their light and leader. Then Iger. We were exceedingly wet with the rain, saw that even in that day of uncommon trials, but having good fires made for us, and other both within and without, my life was sure, necessary accommodations, we did not suf though not discerned by me, being hid with fer much thereby. By inquiry, we found Christ in God. there was a meeting of our Friends held near It was some time after my arrival in Eng- a place called Newton-Bushel, about ten miles land before the thick darkness before-men-off, to which we went, being truly thankful tioned quite wore off my mind; yet I was for the great favour of a safe arrival in Engfavoured at times, with the shining of the Sun land, and the opportunity of sitting down in of righteousness, as it were breaking through a meeting of Friends again; though we held a thick cloud, to my unspeakable joy and meetings amongst ourselves in our captivity, comfort, and in the work of the Gospel, on first-days, when it appeared practicable. I believe, to the great satisfaction of many This meeting was but small, and the life of others, to whom I was, through deep suffer- religion seemed to me at a low ebb. I had ing, in some degree qualified to speak, even nothing to deliver by way of testimony. as deep calleth unto deep. Friends were very loving to us. On secondWe arrived in England, and came to an- day we proceeded towards London, as far as chor in Torbay, the 26th of the first month, Exeter, where Friends entertained us kindly 1748, after a passage of five days. The ship that night. Next day Thomas Gawthrop, was bound for Plymouth, but the sailors who Isaac Greenleaf and myself, leaving our anhad been prisoners in France, being in fear cient friend Peter Davis with Friends there, of another confinement by being pressed on hired horses as far as Honiton. There I board of the men-of-war, took the command bought a serviceable mare, that carried me of her from the captain, by something, in ap- safely and well through most of my travels pearance at least, like force. He told them in this journey in England and Wales. We he had a safe protection from the government, took Bridport in our way, and lodged with whereby they would be secured from what our worthy friend Samuel Bownas, who, with they feared by going to Plymouth. But they his house-keeper, entertained us with affec did not regard that, neither was he, as we tionate kindness. Now did we begin to enjoy thought, averse to going into Torbay, as he the sweetness of brotherly love again. The had the sailors to lay it on; for we had rea- Quarterly Meeting for Dorsetshire was held son to apprehend he did not keep us waiting next day at that place, to which we went. It in Spain so long for nothing; so that the bay was very small, and the power of Truth, might suit his purpose better also. It being which is the crown of all our religious meet the first-day of the week, in the evening, when ings, as I thought, was very low therein. We we came to anchor, Thomas Gawthrop and I must live in that power at other times, if we had a mind to go on shore, that we might en-expect its gracious assistance in the weighty