word to his followers, throughout all generations. Many of our society have suffered loss by hastily engaging in supposed services, both in the ministry and discipline, at the instigation of others, without duly waiting to feel their own way.

29. I went to the forenoon meeting at Hartford, in lowness of mind and pain of body; after some time of waiting, the nature of that charity, so emphatically described by the Apostle, I Cor. chap. 13. fell very unexpectedly on my mind, and a short testimony was delivered respecting it. S. R. and S. W. afterwards appeared in a line somewhat similar; it was measurably a favored

season.

ELEVENTH MONTH, 1780.

I. A day of treading down in the valley of vision; "the heavens being as brass, and the earth as iron."

2 and 3.

There is no journeying for Israel while the cloud remains upon the tabernacle; these have been days of clouds and thick dark

ness.

4. This day I was favored with some glances towards that city, where neither sorrows exist, nor pains annoy.

9. I walked by the Grange to Shad Thames, with some desires after those comforts which are in love, and those consolations which are in Christ. May "the beloved of souls come into his garden,

and eat his pleasant fruits." "The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, gentleness, meekness, temperance and faith." They indeed are not profitable to God, nor meritorious in man; but the most minute or inconsiderable movements either in mind or body, even to the giving a cup of cold water, when performed by the leadings of divine life, are accepted; and the creature receives an answer of well done, through him, "who gave himself to God for us, as an offering and a sacrifice, for a sweet-smelling savour."

II. The simple and sublime are admirably blended in the prayer of Manasses, king of Judah, when he was holden captive in Babylon. I read it with some application to my own state.

18. Under pain of body and in distress of mind, I was favored with some sense of those everlasting healings which are in the High Priest of our profession. "The leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations."

22. I was visited by my friend Thomas Hartley, who was just setting out for East Malling; peradventure, we may never more meet in mutability; a final adieu, in respect to time, may have this day been taken. The Park evening meeting was a solid and satisfactory season; some motions were presented for a public ministry, but this consideration crossing my mind-perhaps silence may be attended with a degree of firmness and propriety, but in speaking there may be folly and

weakness-I readily received the intimation, and my exercise was continued in silence.

TWELFTH MONTH, 1780.

1. In the monthly meeting, the quarterly meeting's queries were answered, and those present reminded of" the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen." The low estate of our society was lamented, and the manifold deviations which appear in a conformity to the world, in speech, behaviour and apparel, and in respect to the antichristian yoke of tythes, were in much love and tenderness reproved.

20. The week-day meeting was held in silence: this expression occurred, "Their spot is not the spot of his children." Variance, wrath and strife are the spots of an enemy, and his children, on whom his diabolical features are impressed. May I, in the multitude of the Lord's mercies, be fully. purged from them! I afterwards received a letter from a minister in our Society, expressing a fear of being a castaway. "Thus deep calleth to deep."

22. We possess many privileges; a considerable one is the cloud of witnesses who, however diversified in character and sentiment, have united in testifying, "that the Lord is good to them who wait upon him, and to the soul that feeketh him."

28. In the Park evening meeting, some inward exercise and labor of spirit was experienced; in it consists the essence of prayer. "God is a spirit;" he needs not the medium of words. "There is only one Mediator, who was manifest in the flesh, and offered himself a ransom for all;" but remains an everlasting High Priest in the sanctuary within.

1.

FIRST MONTH, 1781.

Since the commencement of the former year, the messenger on the pale horse has arrested many who, respecting age, were nearly my equals; their lot is for ever fixed; I still remain "in a land of pits and drought." "Without are fightings, within are fears." I may reasonably expect, from my age and various infirmities, that the days remaining will be few and evil. O! may not the spirit of prayer depart from me, but that the travail of my soul may be increased, until death is swallowed up in victory. Amen. I attended the monthly meeting of ministers and elders at Gracechurch-street; some exercise of spirit was maintained; our worthy ancient friend, Isaac Sharples, had an acceptable time in testimony.

4. The meeting this day was chiefly held in silence; I experienced some enlargement in silent prayer.

5. I pressed through the crouds, internally,

to attend the week-day meeting at Gracechurchstreet; a lion was in the way: upon the whole it was a favored season.

8. I attended the quarterly meeting at Devonshire-house, and seven meetings in the week preceding a necessary inquiry occurs ;-what improvement hath been experienced in the peaceable fruits of righteousness?

14. I had an inclination this day to sit with my friends at Devonshire-house meeting, where some inward exercise was experienced, and openings were attendant in both meetings; but it seemed my proper business, rather inwardly to adhere to the inward exercise and the Great Opener, than to minister in those assemblies. Between the meetings, at J. R's, some time was spent in retirement, and I had unity with my friends in the exercise. The vision of the Holy One is not wholly suspended, "nor the glory departed from Israel," but dispensed as a seed sown in weakness. We see at times darkly, as through a glass; we know but in part, and prophecy but in part.

23. During a time of retirement in a friend's family, a watch-word was imparted, but nothing expressed; if the opening had been retained, it might have been the means of preserving me from some unnecessary discourse, which left me naked and wounded, and caused me to lie down in sor

row.

24. This day I read some of J. W's early journals, being before acquainted with those of a