well as can be expected, considering their a number as might supply every family with great age, and bravely strong in the root of several. One hundred of them will be sent living virtue. O, desirable state indeed, to to Tortola....... have run a bright and glorious race, and be enriched with treasure, ancient and new; green in old age, monuments of Almighty power and goodness, descending to the grave, as much of them as the grave can hold, but the immortal part renewed in holy ardour, and happy in the evident foretaste of everlasting felicity. I have not seen Joseph White for several months; his service in this land is truly acceptable and useful; his Master is eminently with him, and I trust will keep him in the simplicity and power of the gospel. Assure thyself of my most cordial affection being ever warm to thee and thine, in which I wish you all happiness, in this; in the salutation of near love, my wife joins with thy sincere friend, SAMUEL FOTHERGILL. My time hath been pretty much employed, in one little service or another, during the past winter; and I have got peace of mind, and that is very great riches. I am obliged to thee for the yearly epistle from Philadelphia. It contains profitable truths, and will, I doubt not, be of service. I think the artless simplicity of the gospel, unlaboured in point of diction, is most likely to add weight to these epistles; and perhaps, if you judge it necessary to continue the practice of printing yearly epistles, you may study simplicity and plainness of address. Though I suppose you will hardly judge it necessary to print every year, lest the wheels be clogged, and the frequency of instruction destroy its use. I most sincerely wish thee every degree of essential happiness, and that peace and satisfaction which alone soothes the sorrows, and SAMUEL FOTHERGILL TO JOHN PEMBERTON. alleviates the distress of our probationary SAMUEL FOTHERGILL. Warrington, Fourth month 10th, 1760. ..... As I tenderly love you, I rejoice in whatever attends you that is prosperous, particularly that our gracious Lord and Lawgiver overshadows your meetings, when the body is collectively assembled for his service. He hath often limited the turbulent waves which contentious spirits have raised, and for his own name's sake made evidently bare his holy arm. I have often remarked it with admiration and worship of heart, and learned from it, that if we do the Lord's work in his spirit, no weapon formed against us shall prosper. I am thankful for the proofs repeatedly afforded, that we are brethren, and are in that spiritual fellowship which is not straitened by distance of place, and therein are capable of adapting matter suitable to your states in our annual assembly. Those epistles have required a vigilant eye, to prevent their being prejudicial instead of helpful; for there are too many amongst us, as well as you, who consider the approbation of men, more than the conformity to the pattern God clearly showed to the living amongst us in his holy mount. ...... I have just now received from London, the enclosed printed epistle. I thought for some time I had a concern to send Friends of Tortola a few hints, and I, therefore, threw together a few sentiments. I sent it up to my brother for his consideration; he laid it before the Morning meeting, who, with some little immaterial alteration in the words, directed it to the press, as it was considered that the transient reading of an epistle once in a meeting, might be of less use than printing such pilgrimage. The following is the epistle mentioned in the foregoing letter:— TO FRIENDS OF THE ISLAND OF TORTOLA. Warrington, Third month 17th, 1760. Dear friends, Though I am personally a stranger, and unknown to most of you, yet ye have been, of late time especially, so frequently the subject of close thoughtfulness to me, and with so much warmth as to engage my mind to visit you in a collective capacity with this epistle, from some apprehension of duty, and with a heart replenished with sincere good will, in which, I wish you the possession of that happiness which is everlasting. It was tidings of great joy to the living body of Friends in this land, to hear that the Lord Almighty was at work in your island, to beget children to himself; and that the same substanstial virtue which wrought upon many, in this and other nations, to redeem and purify them a people to the praise of his great Name, had also visited you with a day-spring from on high, and produced the same blessed fruits in measure, even a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness; and by the baptism of the Holy Ghost, brought them into the one spiritual body, whereof Christ is head. Oh the tenderness, the fear, and watchfulness, which attended some of your souls in that day!-a precious day of visitation, which ought for ever to be remembered; a day wherein the Lord allured some of you, and brought you into the wilderness, speaking comfortably to you, and in his own time gave general decay of lively zeal and care, through you vineyards from thence: some of you, I their own declension and lukewarmness; for believe, have in remembrance those times of it is most certain, the faithfulness or unfaithdivine betrothing, and cannot but acknow-fulness, of this rank, hath a very great influledge it was the Lord's doing. Then the ence over young and tender minds, as well as mind was humbled as in the dust, and a of those who may be more advanced in years living concern arose, to walk in white, and to and experience, and yet not void of a secret enter into covenant with the Lord your God; relish for heavenly matters. Return therea covenant you then hoped would never be fore, I beseech you, oh ye chiefs amongst the broken. In this simplicity of heart, the Lord's people, to your first love, and do your first children are ever safest, Almighty power works, lest greater desolation ensue, and He, watching over them for good, and regarding who walketh in the midst of the seven golden with a Father's care. As individuals amongst candlesticks, come unto you quickly, and reyou were thus engaged, the sympathy and move yours out of its place; for why should fellowship of the one body spread over sea the candlestick remain, when the light and and land, and we became as epistles written in lustre of the candle is extinguished? And one another's hearts, and were baptized by dearly beloved friends of the rising genera. the one Spirit into the one body, wherein is tion, and ye in the prime of life, suffer and the bond of peace and unity of the saints. receive the word of exhortation from one who In this stood our rejoicing on your account; tenderly loves you; remember your Creator for it is not the accession of numbers to our and your Judge; let not the foolish amusements, name, but the gathering of souls to the ever-or vain conversation, of this world prevail to lasting Shepherd, which gives joy to the Lord's family in heaven and earth. turn you aside from your great and everlasting interest; remember there is not any thing of this world can lay the foundation of eternal peace; it is an earnest, humble seeking after the sanctifying Hand, and submission to its virtue, which can alone fashion you as vessels of honour, and fit you for the heavenly kingdom. Cherish the secret drawings of divine love; be not ashamed of its tendering, restraining effects; why should you sell your souls for a thing of naught? for such will be that is hastily approaching. Let not, therefore, the evil example of others, nor the reproach of the scornful, prevail to your hurt, but retain the fear of God, which will keep the heart clean, and be an excellent enduring treasure, when every thing else shall vanish as a vapour. Now, dear Friends, is not the dew of your morning at times brought to recollection, and its heavenly relish remembered? Yet, hath not a loss sensibly attended you, and the once promising plantation amongst you become less fruitful and beautiful? If so, where shall we inquire for the cause? We shall not find any deficiency in Divine compassion; but the loss hath been occasioned by a neglect to follow on to know the Lord in his own the smiles and frowns of this world in a day way and leading, and a departure in heart from him hath ensued, whereby the work hath been marred, and that goodness, wherein the holy, unchangeable One would have established you, and rendered a permanent blessing and beauty to you, hath been to too many as a morning cloud, and as the early dew, it hath soon passed away. Such ever And it most certainly behooves you, friends, was the consequence of unfaithfulness to the who were natives of this land, and have had discoveries of the pure light; weakness, re- your education amongst us as a people, and volt, and backsliding have ensued-and when been frequently directed to the heavenly Monipeople have forsaken the Fountain of living tor, to walk with great circumspection; ye are waters, which is open for sanctification and amongst a people who have been made parrefreshment, all their labour and inventions takers of the like precious faith with us, prinhave been as broken cisterns, that can hold cipally through the immediate reach of a no water; and the latter end of such, unless Divine Hand. Will not their eyes be turned they return and repent, will be worse than to look at your conduct, and to observe the their former unenlightened state. Bear with fruits of your faith, by its prevalence in your me, dear friends, in this freedom; my soul lives and conversation? And if, instead of longs for your help and restoration, that by the blessed fruits of righteousness, the conand through you the great Name may be ex-trary should appear, and your conduct be the alted in those islands, and that part of the means of stumbling to any, and evil liberties Lord's footstool may become glorious. Let, I beseech you, the seeming foremost rank amongst you look closely to their own steps, and consider carefully, whether they have not by some means contributed to the pursued by you, to your own and others' hurt; to such I testify, in the name and under an awful sense of the authority of the Most High, it had been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness. Heavy, very heavy, will be the weight of the complicat- I most sincerely wish thee a good journey; ed guilt of their own transgressions, and the good to thyself and so to others. I cannot transgressions of others made worse by their doubt of the propriety of thy mission to that example. Wo, from a righteous and dreadful part of the Lord's vineyard; I had an eviGod, to those by whom such offences come. dence in myself, in solemn silence, that thou I make no doubt but there are amongst you wast under the Master's appointment for that an honest seed, an afflicted and poor people, service, and I earnestly desire the wisdom some of the Lord's poor, who retain in some and power of Truth may seal its own evidence good degree, their first love, and bewail the on all thy labours; and dear friend, though I hurt of Zion. I beseech such, stand fast in apprehend myself a younger brother, and their own lots; abide in the faith and pa- now addressing myself to one who was in tience; be sober, and hope to the end: though Christ before me, yet permit me to offer to the times are gloomy, the out-goings of the thy thoughts a few sentiments, which have morning are of God, and he can, and will in been sealed usefully on my heart. his own time, cause the wilderness to become a fruitful field. Look not too much at the declension of others, lest your faith should fail; but steadfastly look to, and follow on to know the Lord Almighty, who remains for ever, and the defection of multitudes can by no means impair his unchangeable truth and righteousness. In a sense of the fresh extending of ancient, all-sufficient Help, I most tenderly and affectionately salute you. May the scattered amongst you be brought home, and the negligent be roused to diligence, whilst yet a little day continues; let the tender breathings still remaining be cherished, that they may gather strength, and enter with holy prevalence the ear of the Lord and Father of his people: this is the sincere prayer of one concerned at heart for your restoration and stability in righteousness and peace for ever. SAMUEL FOTHERGILL. SAMUEL FOTHERGILL TO SUSANNA HATTON. In some sense of that sympathy and union which renders the church of Christ a compact body, I tenderly and affectionately salute thee. First. It is a most solemn and awful thing to assume the name of the Lord's ambassador; I believe thou considers it so. Thence ought we also to consider the high obligations we are under to receive from him, not only his instructions, but our credentials. Secondly. These will not be withheld, if we wait our Master's time; his sound will be certain, and his discoveries clear. We shall not say, like Ahimaaz, When I ran, there was a tumult; but distinctly receive and deliver our Master's message, in his own wisdom and spirit. Thirdly. In all our service, let us remember our Lord's dignity, and endeavour to maintain it according to the proportion of strength vouchsafed, both in purity of life, and singleness to him, in our ministerial capacity, being empty without him, and only filled with his fulness. Fourthly. Let us learn to try the spirits, whether they are of God. I have seen a *danger, especially in your sex, of being taken by the passions; the passionate preacher hath affected the passionate hearer; both have been in raptures, and neither of them profited. This is a place I would endeavour to guard thee in, my dear friend, as I am apprehensive the emoanimated. Mistake not the warmth of pastions of thy mind are sometimes strong and sion for the gospel authority; the first is like the rattling thunder, which frights, but never hurts; the last is like the lightning from the east, which illuminates, and at times breaks through all opposition, and melts down every obstruction. I know the integrity of thy heart, and what is infinitely better, our Father * This Friend was born at Grange, in the north of Ireland, in 1720. Very early in life, her mind was brought under the tender visitations of Divine love, and such was her zeal and her love for the Truth, that she generally went many miles on foot to attend meetings, and laboured hard in the service of her employer to make up for the time thus occupied. In the seventeenth year of her age, she received a gift in the ministry, and as one planted by the Master's hand, so rapid was her growth therein, that, with the unity of her friends, she paid a general visit, before she was eighteen years of age, to Friends on the continent of America, in company with Ruth Courtney. She was married in 1742, and for many years had to pass through many outward difficulties, as well as inward exercises and trials, for the cause and testimony she had espoused, and she was favoured to hold fast her integrity to the Truth. She travelled much as a minister in several parts of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1760, being then a years. widow, she embarked on a second visit to America. She afterwards married Thomas Lightfoot, and they settled in Pennsylvania, where she continued to be a faithful labourer in the cause and service of Truth. She was a living and powerful minister, awful and weighty in prayer, careful to wait for the fresh anointing for right qualification. She departed this life on the 8th of fifth month, 1781, aged sixty-one, a minister forty-five dren, that they may be so wisely conducted in all things, as to know the returns of peace, and feel the unity of the spirit and of the body. If we are little enough in our own eyes, we shall know divine strength in our weakness; but when any apprehension of our strength and wisdom possesses the mind, weakness and loss in every respect ensue. Thou hast my good wishes in thy present concern;* it is, indeed, a weighty undertaking, and requires who is in heaven also knows it, and will not forget to be gracious; and, therefore, with the most unreserved freedom, I remind thee of these things. May thy Urim and Thummim be with thy Holy One, whom thou didst prove at Massah, which implies the hour of temptation, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah, or strife. Look carefully to him in all thy goings, so shalt thou dip thy foot in oil, when thou treadest on high places, and the arms of thy hands will be strengthened by the mighty God of a double portion of the Spirit to go through. Jacob. If deep poverty be thy lot, be not disquieted, neither pour forth thy complaints to any mortal; have no confidant, but eternal Help. I never knew deeper poverty, nor more glorious riches, than in that land, but I found it safe to wear my sackcloth on my loins, and put on my best garments honestly and sparingly. Receive no obligation from that quarter, which thou can avoid, lest they say, "I have requited her labour," or make vain the purport of thy testimony. In the course of thy passage, be courteous to all, unless restricted by secret direction with respect to any particular, which I have found my peculiar duty in some parts. Let not affability enervate thy mind, nor lead from the steady stability attending the faithful minister; and yet guard against a spirit which leads zealous people sometimes to say, "There is none righteous, no not one," and therein to overlook the hidden, suffering seed. Let thy eye be in thy head, so shall thy goings be ordered of the Lord, and be attended with peace to thyself, comfort to the living, and general usefulness to the church. Be not hasty to embrace the offer of any companion in service; try their spirits, and feel the liberty of Truth in it. I should rather choose to take one occasionally, as way might open, than engage for any considerable journey. I think it is still more necessary to press thy declining any companion from England or Europe, who might have a concern for themselves to discharge their own duty, without regard to thine, and so might another be oppressed by thee. Farewell, and may the Lord of all consolation be with thee in every trial, and support thee by his arm, enrich thee by his grace, replenish thee by his wisdom, and comfort thee by his rod and staff. SAMUEL FOTHERGILL. SAMUEL FOTHERGILL TO JANE CROSFIELD. I am concerned that it so falls out I cannot be at home personally to bid thee farewell and wish thee a good journey. However, the travail of my soul is for the help, strength, and safety of all our heavenly Father's chilVOL. IX.-No. 6. Let thy dependence be upon the renewings of divine help, and all thy movements in the gospel spirit. Seek after the simplicity of Truth, and its littleness. Thou art going amongst a people, many of whom have understanding hearts, and can discern wisely between spirit and spirit, between sound and substance; this I mention for thy encouragement, if thou art single hearted. May best wisdom direct thee in all thy steps, preserve thee solid in thy spirit, lively in thy ministry, wise and discerning in thy conduct towards all, and upright and exemplary in thy conversation! SAMUEL FOTHERGILL. Jane Crosfield was the daughter of James Rowlandson, and wife of George Crosfield, of Preston Patrick, in Westmoreland. The following notice of her occurs in the journal of James Gough, date 1740:-"After meeting (at Height) I went with James Rowlandson's family to his house at Frith. His daughter Jane had, for a little while past, appeared at times in the public ministry, in our meetings. So much of tenderness and of inward fervency toward Christ, the beloved of her soul, prevailed in her as to make deep and and lively impressions on my mind." ........... She received a gift in the ministry when about twenty-six years of age; and in the Christian exercise of it visited Scotland, North America, Ireland three times, and many parts of England several times; "She was enabled to labour honestly in the line of the gospel ministry, and made instrumental to the help and encouragement of many. She was often engaged in visiting the families of Friends, and had considerable service therein, being qualified to administer close and pertinent counsel and advice to their various states and conditions. In much tenderness and af fection she was anxiously concerned to labour with the rising generation, that they might devote their early days to the Lord's service, and come up steadily, and at all times and in all places, in that plainness and sim * A visit to Friends in America. 30 plicity of dress and address, into which Truth were fastened to great rings in the earth, ever leads its faithful followers; and not yield and held you so fast as to prevent any of a temporizing conformity to the prevalent you ascending to those who had taken wing fashions and manners of the world, which and risen on high. Here I awaked in great expose to many dangers, and tend to alienate concern of mind, and found an engagement the mind from its best interests." to impart it immediately to thyself and sisters; none other knows the least tittle of it, nor shall, from your most affectionate SAMUEL FOTHERGILL. "Her conduct and conversation amongst mankind well corresponded with the doctrines which, as a minister of Christ, she was concerned to deliver; being an exemplary pattern of self-denial, moderation, and Christian sim- SAMUEL FOTHERGILL TO ISRAEL AND MARY plicity, and much distinguished for her hospitality and openness of heart." PEMBERTON. Warrington, Ninth month 8th, 1760. She departed this life on the 2nd of the Though the channel of personal and epissecond month, 1784, aged about seventy-one, tolary conversation with you may be at times a minister forty-four years. interrupted by other occasions, which abund This honourable woman, the editor's grand-antly present themselves in the course of my mother, is also mentioned by John Woolman, labours in the heritage, yet the best springs of in his journal; he says, "Being now at George that love are often opened in my heart toCrosfield's in the county of Westmoreland, wards you and yours, in which I travail for I feel a concern to commit to writing that your preservation in the way of righteousness, which to me hath been a case uncommon." and increase in the saving knowledge of God, And again, "I rested a few days, and his dear Son, the redemption of his famiboth in body and mind, with our friend Jane ly and people. Crosfield, who was once in America." (Seventh month, 1772.) SAMUEL FOTHERGILL TO GILBERT THOMPSON. Warrington, Sixth month 29th, 1760. Dear Cousin, Dear friends, this generation, and we with it, are passing away fast; let us be careful to leave good footsteps to the next, that our memory may be sweet, and our peace flow as a river. We have our several probations to pass through, and our warfare to accomplish; various are the trials and besetments, some constitutional and some adventitious, so as to occasion a query, Who is sufficient for these things? I beheld a state to which salvation is ever extended; and that is true poverty: "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." Oh, the excellence of this state of poverty, and being stripped of every human dependence, when all flesh is silent before God, and confusion covers its face; then, indeed, the Lord arises in his holy habitation, made so by his refining Spirit. The longer I live, the more clearly I see, in emptiness is fulness, and that our capacity of service is in our deep submission; then will the Lord's arm awake, and lay hold on strength, and fill the bow with Ephraim. I believe I should be out of the way of my duty, if I did not impart to thee and thy sisters a dream or vision that was represented to me the last night, and perhaps the interpretation of it may be brought home to your own hearts. I thought the great day of account was come, and all nations gathered to receive the irreversible sentence; I beheld a variety of states, and many clothed in different colours, many in white, which, nevertheless, was of different degrees of lustre and beauty. I saw many whom I knew, and amongst others thyself and sisters; I thought your garments appeared more white than many; and whilst I mused on the tremendous, yet glorious day, the trumpet sounded with a distinguishing energy, and seemed to say, Come, ye blessed. I beheld multitudes arise, as from the eminence of a mountain, and ascend triumphantly. My My soul is humblingly relieved in the fresh eye descended to the mountain whence many and feeling sense of His precious love and had risen, and in whose company I had seen life, who is the strength and hope of his chilthee and thy sisters. I thought I clearly saw dren; let yours be broken down before him, you remain on the earth, clothed in garments to be searched and then bound up, and the measurably white. I queried in my heart, fresh renewing of covenant and holy zeal for alas! how happens it that these are left be- his Truth become the girdle of your loins. hind? Immediately the white garments fell So be it, O Father of all the living, amen. off, and each of you appeared in the com- And, dear children, beloved and longed mon dress in which you usually appear. But for, my prayers are for you, and my wishes, I beheld chains which seemed fastened about as for my own soul, that you may acquaint your necks, and bound every limb and part yourselves with the power of an endless life, of the body but the head, and these chains and be mindful of your privilege in being |