grace given unto you. I am not without fear, "May all my children learn the fear of the lest some of my dear children, who are Lord, is often my earnest cry and prayer to grown to years of understanding, should the Lord for them. Then would they be through unwatchfulness and carelessness, be preserved out of the evils that are in the drawn away into hurtful things. It drops as world, for they are many, and lie close to a watch word for you to take notice of, which, their youthful inclinations, and if they give if you do, and walk agreeably unto the blessed way to them, will draw their hearts from the principle of truth, which you have heard, and Lord, and out of his holy fear into a loose, I trust, believed in, the Lord hath blessings in wanton, and libertine spirit, which I caution store for you, which will make you truly rich, and warn them to watch against and beware and add no sorrow with it. I should have of, lest they lose the blessing, as Esau did, no greater comfort at my return, than to see and the time come they may carefully seek it was your care and chiefest concern to be it with tears, and cannot obtain it. Time faithful to the Lord, according to the best of is very precious, and ought to be prized by your understandings. This would be more all. Some very young in years, when on a to my comfort and solid satisfaction, than for dying bed, have bemoaned themselves, and you to have abundance of this world; for lamented their mispent time, the sense of they that first seek the kingdom of God and which causes me almost to tremble, lest it his righteousness, the promise is, that all other should be the state of any that see or hear things shall be added. I often breathe to the these lines read. Therefore I entreat there Lord, that he, above all things, may be pleased may be a turning to the Lord with the whole to sanctify and cleanse your hearts from all heart; and make no reserves or excuses, but sin, that so he who hath hitherto been the yield obedience to his holy will in all things, help, strength, preservation and deliverance according to the best of your understandings, of your poor father in his exercises and trou- though through a great cross to your inclinables, may in mercy bless you all, and take tions. It is the way to obtain mercy with God, delight in you, so as to tender your hearts, and admittance into his everlasting kingdom and favour you often with his power and liv-of rest and peace, when time in this world of ing presence, is the sincere prayer of yours, troubles shall terminate. in that love that neither distance nor length of time can separate. WILLIAM RECKITT." "Newport, in Rhode Island, the 5th of "My dear wife, "My time of stay in this land, at present, seems uncertain; yet I am ready to conclude it will be until another year; if sooner, I believe it will be acceptable both to you and me: if we be willing to wait in patience the Lord's time he will be well pleased with us, and undoubtedly his blessing will follow, which will make truly rich, and add no sorrow with it. "I have received two letters from you, in which I had an account of your welfare, in a good degree, for which I am truly thankful to Him that hath hitherto helped us and preserved us. May he have the praise, who is worthy! His ways are all ways of pleasantness, and his paths are indeed paths of true peace, and his mercies and loving-kindness are towards all them that daily live and dwell in his holy fear. "I dearly salute thee and our children in the love of the Father of all our mercies, desiring you may all dwell in his love, that so you may feel me to be near you in spirit, though outwardly far separated. The dead cannot praise the Lord, but the living; the sense of it at this time, for his unspeakable favours to us, with many more of his dear children, whom he hath begotten into a lively hope, bows my spirit. May we all be preserved under a living sense of this life, that when under a degree of divine favour, we may be enabled to draw near to Him, who knows all our wants, and put up our prayers and supplications for each other, in a manner that will find acceptance, is the pathetic breathing of thine in that love that changeth not, including our dear children. Health of body is in a good degree still continued, and true peace of mind; for which I am made, at times, to bless that great and everlasting Name, who is over all, worthy for ever! I see I cannot enlarge, only recommend thee to that which hath hitherto kept and preserved, and still will, I am sensible, as we put our trust and dependence upon it. I desire neither thou, nor any of you, will think me long. I shall, as soon as I am clear, hasten home; shall not conclude for myself, for I am not at my own disposal; yet seem to think I shall look homeward in a little time. My dear love to thee and the children, sympathizing with you in great nearness, I dearly salute thee and them, in that which never changeth. Thine in the Lord. "WILLIAM RECKITT." "Philadelphia, the 15th of the "Dear wife and children, "These are to inform you, and all inquiring friends and relations, that I have great and good satisfaction since I arrived at this part of the world, in the discharge of what I have thought to be my duty, notwithstanding I have been exposed to some hardships, and have likewise been out of health about four weeks, but am now as well as usual, can travel, and have a good appetite. Yesterday I came from an island called Nevis, where I have had several meetings; and though I have thoughts of visiting another island or two, I shall not, I trust, stay long in these parts, except I am detained longer than I expect. “ "My dear wife and children, "I am in the perfect enjoyment of health, except some pain in my breast, which is now much better. It hath been a long time since I had a letter from England, but here have been but few ships from London this summer. I cannot conclude of fixing my return, I having had drawings in my mind to visit Barbadoes, and purpose taking the first suitable opportunity to embark for that place. There are only a few meetings in Barbadoes, so that my stay is not likely to be long, except I have to visit any other islands. I may thus conclude at present, but leave it to that great and "I have you all nearly and dearly in my regood Disposer of all things, that hath been membrance, though I have been already longmy support. I may with gratitude and thank-er from you, or am likely to be longer than fulness say, he hath been my present helper I expected; yet I trust we shall find it hath in every needful time. Oh! may our eye be all been the Lord's doings, and as we patientsingle to Him; he is good indeed unto all that ly wait on him, shall find his ways to be ways put their trust in Him; though great storms of pleasantness, and his paths to be paths of may rise, and clouds of thick darkness may true peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, and appear, I am strong in the faith, the Lord that his time is always the best time. I still will be on our side, as we are concerned would that none might be too anxious and to be faithful unto him; and if he be on our thoughtful concerning me, seeing the same side, who can be against us? I cannot en- hand that drew me forth is as able, if he sees large much, but desire that you and I may meet, to return with me, and bring again to be enabled to commit ourselves to his care you in safety; and if not, let us not murmur and protection; for assuredly, a sparrow can- or repine, if it may but be with us as it was not fall to the ground without his permission, with the apostle, who said, "To me to live is and if we be faithful to him, we are of more Christ, but to die is gain." I cannot write value than many sparrows; for, saith he, the much for want of time; the ship is near sailhairs of your head are all numbered. My ing, as I am informed, but commend you to earnest cries and supplications have often been the Lord, as into the hand of a merciful Creafor your souls' welfare. I would not have any tor and tender Father, tender in mercy to all of you think too much about me, though I that faithfully serve, worship and obey him. trust we love one another by the nearest "My spirit salutes thee and dear children, bonds and ties of nature; yet when the love WILLIAM RECKITT." of Truth prevails, we should give up one another for the sake thereof; then in this world shall we be entitled to the hundred fold, which VOL. IX.-No. 3. &c. Our friend having left no further account of his travels after this voyage, until his se 11 cond embarkation for America, there is reason from him, he expressed himself thus: "The to suppose he travelled but little, except at- sap of life lies very deep in the root, and that tending the yearly meeting in London, or must be waited for in those pinching times I some short distances near home. But about have met with; and yet I have a comfortable the year 1764, he again found a concern to hope raised in me of late, that all will be visit friends in America. For this purpose well in the end, the prospect of which to me, he embarked in company with Thomas Good- hath seemed exceedingly pleasant, and, if safe, win and William Horne, who were returning should much desire it might be hastened; but home from a religious visit to this nation, and that is not my proper business to look for, or arrived safe at Philadelphia, and proceeded to desire the reward before the day's work is through most of the provinces; but his wife finished. I have served a good master, but dying during his absence, he, on account of have ever looked on myself as one of the his family, rather hastened his return, and weakest of his servants; yet have endeaembarked in a vessel bound for Ireland; from voured to come up in faithful obedience to whence he came to London about the fourth his will made manifest in me, and in this now month, 1766, and soon after returned to I have great peace and an assurance of an Wainfleet, the place of his residence. inheritance that will never fade away, if I Of this voyage, he kept only minutes of continue in the way of well-doing to the end the meetings he visited; so that we are de- of the race. prived of a particular account thereof. His illness was very short; he was taken After his return, he visited divers parts of with a fit of the ague at night, and next mornthis nation, and in particular the city of Lon-ing, about four, departed this life, the 6th of don, which he often hinted he thought might the fourth month, 1769, and was interred in be the last time; but his love to the cause of friends' burial-ground the 9th of the same, at Truth continued, and it was evident the fervency of his mind was as strong as ever. He was a man of great integrity of heart, a lover of peace, and sought the promotion thereof, and had often a word of counsel to drop tending to edification. Not only at particular opportunities, but often, when absent, has he imparted of the goodness and mercy of the Lord to his soul, and also been helpful in counsel by letters. In one of the last I had Wainfleet, aged about sixty-three years. The long and intimate acquaintance I had with our deceased friend, hath induced me to prepare these accounts for more general service, in which I have had real satisfaction and comfort; and if they afford the same to the reader, my end is answered. THOMAS Wagstaffe. London, 29th of the Seventh MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND GOSPEL LABOURS OF SAMUEL FOTHERGILL, WITH SELECTIONS FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE. ALSO AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND TRAVELS OF HIS FATHER, JOHN FOTHERGILL; AND NOTICES OF SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS. BY GEORGE CROSFIELD. PREFACE. them to her children as a valuable record of their honourable relative. A few original documents, belonging to some other branches of the family, also several letters and papers, long in the possession of my friend Croudson Tunstall, of Nantwich, have been kindly supplied to me. MORE than seventy years have now elapsed since the decease of SAMUEL FOTHERGILL. It has often, during that period, been wished that some account of his life and gospel labours should be written, and that his letters should be published; that thus the example, the sentiments, and the experience of one, who, in In the present volume, the address and conhis youth, was so remarkably visited by Di-clusion of the letters are, except in a few vine Grace, and in more mature life was so instances, left out, and in many of them the eminently gifted for religious service, might introductory sentence is also omitted, which not be lost, but serve for the benefit and in- may give them an appearance of abruptness. struction of others. It is this feeling which In order to make the account of some of the has led to the present publication, with a desire events during the life of John Fothergill more that such may be its fruits. clear, the order of time is a little departed from in the narration of them, and in the arrangement of a few of the earlier letters. Doctor Fothergill contemplated the publication of such a work, and made some progress in collecting materials for it, soon after the decease of his brother; but, whether from his numerous engagements, whether from the diminished energy which is generally the attendant upon advancing years, or from whatever cause it might be, he never carried his intention into execution. By much the larger portion of the letters contained in the present work, have been long in the possession of my wife's family, her mother, the daughter of Joseph Fothergill, having carefully preserved them, from the time of her uncle Samuel's decease, and transmitted It will evidently appear that the letters were written in the full freedom of affectionate and familiar intercourse; but as those who wrote, and those to whom they were addressed, have all long since passed away from this life, most of them without any surviving descendants, I feel a liberty to insert names, and to retain the expression of sentiments and the mention of circumstances, which otherwise it would have been proper to withhold. GEO. CROSFIELD. Liverpool, Fifth month 20th, 1843. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND GOSPEL LABOURS OF SAMUEL FOTHERGILL. CHAPTER I. Truth, whereby they were both instructed and enabled to be exemplary in life, and in a religious concern to attend meetings for the worship of God, and in a humble, steady, diligent waiting upon him for the appearance of his enlivening presence and power, to enable them to worship acceptably. This also led them into a godly care to train up their children in the fear of the Lord, and to take them to religious meetings, both on firstdays and other days of the week, which they seldom failed to attend; especially my mother, whose care herein, and her spiritual, reverent travail of soul in meetings, (often [held] in silence,) for the sacrifice of a broken heart to IN contemplating the characters and services of those chosen servants of the Lord, whom, in his Divine Providence, he does, from time to time, raise up in his church, as monuments of his mercy and instruments in his hand, we often feel desires raised, that some record of their labours should be preserved, and that their memories may be handed down to succeeding generations; that thus, though being dead, they may still speak, and that their lives may tell of the goodness, and proclaim the praise of Him by whom they were so eminently qualified-who had called them out of darkness into his marvel- be prepared in her by the Lord, had very lous light-who had sustained them through early a deep, affecting impression on my conlife, and in the end mercifully granted an en-sideration." trance into his everlasting kingdom; so fulfilling the declaration, that they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. Amongst these may be numbered JOHN FOTHERGILL, Of Wensleydale, and his son SAMUEL FOTHERGILL, of Warrington, members of the Society of Friends, and both faithful and eminently qualified ministers of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In one of those small sequestered dales which are contiguous to, and in some measure form branches of, the larger valley of Wensleydale, in the north-west of Yorkshire, stands Carr-End, a respectable looking mansion, on the banks of the small and quiet lake of Semer-water. Here John Fothergill was born, in the first month of 1676; and this was for many years his residence, as it had been that of his ancestors. From a very early age, great was his care and inward fear lest he should offend the Lord. "This," he says, "with some heavenly touches of the life of truth, enabled me to live more self-denyingly and gravely than some others of like years, which my mother particularly noted to herself, with some comfortable hope for the future." The death of his tender, careful mother, which took place in 1689, when he was about thirteen years old, proved a great loss to him. Soon after this event he became for a time less watchful and less thoughtful for his soul's everlasting welfare, and the heavenly desire and looking towards God, which had previously been his care, became stifled and neglected. He was very young at this time, but these declensions were often a burthen to him, and occasion of much secret sorrow: strong desires after repentance ensued, and by renewed convictions and visitations, he was brought to see and consider his weakness and unfaithfulness, and to mourn over them with secret lamentation. He was the son of Alexander and Ann Fothergill, of whom he has left this testimony. My parents [were] not only convinced of the blessed Gospel dispensation of God to mankind in sending the Spirit of Christ to "Yet," he says, "as I was kept for a time enlighten and reprove for sin, and to lead the thus low and watchful to this heavenly prinbelievers in it into truth and righteousness ciple of Truth, which let me see my sin and as testified unto by the people called Quakers, the danger of it, I was favoured with springbut [they] also endeavoured carefully to feelings of hope for mercy and salvation, and after, and live up to, this powerful principle of then my cry was frequent and strong, to be |