partake with him, and thought it his duty to endeavour to inform and help those whom he apprehended were backward or ignorant in

no other view than to encourage those ministers who are called forth to visit the churches, diligently and innocently to attend to the motion of truth, which the more we are humbled the performance of their duty; and he said and inwardly quiet, the clearer it is understood and felt; but as this is instruction for ourselves, it is safer for us to treasure it up in our own hearts, than to make it too cheap by talking thereof to others. This quarterly meeting, both in respect to public worship and transacting the affairs of truth, was held to satisfaction, through the Lord's favour, who will be near to them that diligently seek him, blessed be his name for ever!

Then taking Ellingham meeting, we went to Thetford, and had a meeting with Friends there, both which were distressing, from a sense of the prevalence of a ranting spirit. Here it appeared expedient to lay out meetings for the ensuing week, in order that suitable notice might be given; and as they were named to me in course by Friends, I felt a remarkable desire to see the Friends of one certain meeting by themselves, at or near the eleventh hour of the day, although quite a stranger to their situation, numbers, or state; and a Friend being present belonging to that meeting, I requested her care about it, and then went to Edmondsbury, and attended the meetings there on the first-day morning and afternoon, which were in the main satisfactory; and in the evening had a meeting with a sick Friend. In this town there is a considerable number of hopeful Friends.

that the end and intent of ministers going forth was to publish the gospel, and he thought, to the more the better. I let him know that it was necessary for those who were called to the work of the ministry, to know also to whom they were called, or otherwise they might be mistaken, and go north instead of south, or to a different nation or country; he answered, that he believed if they were rightly called, the spirit would inform them where they were to go. I replied very well, and when they are come to the right place, the spirit would let them know what they have to do; he said, I believe so too. Whereupon I told him, if I knew the language of that spirit that called me from my native land to Old England, it was the same that inclined me to see the Friends of that town by themselves, and afterwards if I felt an enlargement of mind, could have proposed a public meeting with the town's people in the evening; and why not one opportunity for both? he queried, adding, "for I should be willing that all the town might hear what thou canst have to say to us." I then said to him, "if a certain great person on whom thy prosperity in all things temporal did absolutely depend, should in singular kindness to thee, send a messenger to acquaint or advise thee of some matter relating to thyself in thy own We then went to Ratlesden, Bardwell, and particular conduct, in which thy prosperity, through Livermore to Brand, the place where peace and interest would, without thy immediI had the desire to see Friends by themselves, ate care, be nearly affected, wouldst thou judge as before mentioned, and coming to the Friend's it prudent to say to the ambassador of such a house whose wife had been intrusted with the friend, deliver not thy message to me, until I notice, I asked her if it was not time to go to call my neighbours and the people of the town the meeting, she said, thou must ask my hus- to hear it, and so expose thy own weakness to band, appearing to be distressed. I asked thy disadvantage, without benefit to thy neighwhere he was, she replied in his warehouse, bours? Consider it carefully, my heart yearns and sent for him; he coming after a while, I to the professors of truth in this town, and it suppose about twelve o'clock, I asked him the seems to me that my business at present was time of the meeting, he answered at six in the only with them, and as I can not have an opevening, to be sure. I told him that I had portunity according to my freedom and desire, informed his wife of my desire that it should I shall hold myself excused." He answered, be at eleven; he replied, she said so, but I if nothing but a meeting with Friends will do, thought it would be dishonourable, for few we must send them word to come together as only would attend it at that time, for the peo- soon as they can; I told him that would now ple of that town were chiefly such as were by no means do; for he was at present so obliged to do their day's work, which would chafed in his mind, that he could not hear to be finished at six o'clock in the evening, when much advantage. He then asked me what end the house would be nearly full. I told him, I would be answered by my coming there? I did desire to see Friends by themselves, and told him to detect such heady unsound memsupposed they could meet at any hour; he bers as he was, that thought it dishonourable granted that they could have met at the time for a few Friends to meet together to worship proposed; but said he was a man of a more God, though their number was more than two liberal spirit than to want to eat his morsel or three, to whom the promise was. He said, alone, but was desirous his neighbours should then what will become of the meeting? I let

him know he must look to that, who had without orders appointed it, and so left him and went to Mildenhall, where a Friend told me he was at the meeting aforesaid, when public notice was given, and it was on this wise; "Friends and neighbours! please to take notice, that a Friend from America desires a public meeting here on wednesday next, at six o'clock in the evening;" which circumstance I did not know when I was at his house. On the whole I had inward peace in my observations and conduct to this man, and many Friends rejoiced; for several had been overborne by him to their grief; and I was since informed, that he laid the matter to heart, and was often heard to say, that he would not serve any Friend so again.

month, and although the fever had not left me, I was enabled to attend every sitting of it, which was a large and solid meeting throughout, and friends were refreshed together; praised be the Lord! whose mercy is great to his people. My companion, John Pemberton, went with my brother to some adjacent meetings, but I staid the week-day meeting in this town, which was through divine favour satisfactory. We met again at the yearly meeting at Norwich, in a few days, which concluded to satisfaction, and Friends were made truly thankful to the Lord for this additional favour; we spent a few days longer at this city, and attended their monthly meeting; after which, having a desire to visit a few meetings in company with my brother, We had many meetings in this county, and William Brown, where ranterism seemed to passing into Cambridgeshire, had eight meet-prevail, he having the like concern, we took ings therein, and I thought the life of religion a monthly meeting at Wimondham, also the was low in general, though there are a few meetings at Matssil and Ellingham, in which tender Friends in several places; we then we were concerned to use great plainness to went to meetings in Huntingdonshire, North-clear ourselves on account of that ranting spiamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, rit. Then went to Wareham, and had a prein which it was mostly my lot to point out to Friends the danger they were in of losing the pure savour of truth, for want of humbly attending to the dictates thereof in their own hearts, which had already occasioned a dwarfishness among the professors in those parts. Several Friends met us at Waltham Abbey, from London, with whom we went to that city, in order to attend the yearly meeting, which began on the 26th, and ended on the sixth-day of the week, the 31st of the third month, 1751, and in the several sittings thereof, both for public worship and the transaction of the affairs of truth, was thought, by many, to be the most weighty and solid meeting that had been known for many years; which was cause of humble rejoicing and deep thankful- Then parting with William Brown, we went ness to many Friends, in that the Lord had to Wisbich and Thorny fenn, in Cambridgevouchsafed his heavenly presence in wisdom shire, and taking meetings in Lincolnshire, and power, to the praise of his sacred name. we passed into the East-riding of Yorkshire, Several Friends staying in the city after the in which we had twenty-four meetings, and meeting was over, we had a large and satis- taking eight in the county of Durham, we factory one on the seventh-day of the week, came to Shields, in Northumberland, New and I tarried, attending divers meetings until Castle and Alnwick Abbey, and reached Kelso, the 6th of the fourth month; then went to in Scotland, on the 1st of the seventh month, Chelmsford, and sat with Friends in their where we met Susanna Fothergill, on her remorning and afternoon meetings on first-day; turn home. We attended the morning and and from thence to the yearly meeting at Col-afternoon meetings at Kelso, on first-day. chester; but being taken ill of a fever, was Alas! truth is here at a low ebb, and feeling prevented attending more than one sitting of my mind not to be clear of Friends in this that meeting; yet through mercy was resigned, place, I desired to have a select meeting with and had peace. Staid their meeting in that them, which Susanna and her companion attown on the fifth-day of the week, and the next day set forward with my brother, William Brown, John Griffith and my companion, in order to attend Woodbridge yearly meeting, which began on the 17th of the

cious meeting with the few Friends of that place, and to a very large general meeting at Downham, many of other societies being there; and it became my concern to recite the words of our blessed Lord, "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me, and ye will not come to me that ye might have life;" from whence I had to show them the danger of trusting to information and knowledge, whether by reading the Scriptures, or hearing them preached, and neglecting to attend to the inspeaking voice of Christ immediately in the heart, which is the only sure interpreter of the Scriptures, leading those who attend to his instruction, in the sure way to life eternal.

tended, and we had an opportunity of clearing ourselves of Friends there, who had much fallen from the simplicity of the pure truth, into the modes, fashions and customs of the world, in their dress, language and manners;

truth, but had for a long time left it off, as he worded it, and now his men servants must not approach him with their heads covered. “If the light in you become darkness, how great is that darkness." From thence we went to Ury, the seat of Robert Barclay, grandson to the Apologist; but had no meeting until we came to the Old-town, near a mile north of Aberdeen, which was through the goodness of the Lord, somewhat strengthening. From thence went to John Elmslie's, at Old Meldrum, and on first-day morning attended Killmuck meeting, and in the evening one at Old Meldrum, to which many people came, and through divine favour, these meetings were satisfactory. The next day we had a select meeting with Friends, of whom there are several here who are tender and valuable, and we parted in love. Going to Kingswells, had a meeting there with many Friends and others, truth owning the service, which was cause of humble rejoicing. Continuing at and near Aberdeen, we had a large meeting on first-day at Robert Barclay's. Although the descendants and children of Friends who were as bright stars in their day, may value themselves on the worthiness of their parents, yet if they do not love and serve the God of their fathers with a perfect heart and an upright mind, he will not own them with his heavenly presence, but they will be as unsavoury salt.

and truth owned our service with a degree of his people, or servants no good, and as for its divine authority; blessed be the Lord, the himself, he thought he knew as much of the God of truth! We then went to a meeting at truth as we could inform him. Indeed he the house of John Cristy, at Ormston, to seemed so whole and self-righteous, I thought which many people came and behaved quietly, it would not avail to say much to him. We and the doctrine of truth opened pretty freely were informed by a person who accompanied to them. From thence to a meeting at Edin-us a few miles, that this man, in his younger burgh, in which I had a sense that silence years, had a public testimony to bear for the was best, apprehending the people had been too much fed with words. After sometime one stood up, and spoke of the excellence of resignation in ministers to speak, or contentedly to be silent; to be anything, or nothing, as the Lord was pleased to order. A secret distressing fear attended my mind, that he was not enough inwardly engaged to distinguish the order and motion of the Spirit of Truth, from the busy imagination and will of the creature, unsubjected to the Divine Spirit. I found a concern to show the nature of true resignation, and the low humble quiet that attended the minds of ministers, or hearers, who had come to the real knowledge of it; the desire of such was turned unto the Lord only for heavenly instruction and an inward evidence of the life and motion of truth; for want of which, true gospel ministry was sometimes obstructed, and the reason of silence not fully understood. After I sat down, the same person again stood up, and in a flow of words and a zealous tone, said that weakness, or the want of experience, led people to mistake both their own and the condition of others; as he appeared to me to be actuated by a confident, ranting spirit, my mind was greatly exercised after the meeting. I remained at this place the two following days, being detained by rainy weather, and attended the meeting in the morning of first-day, at which I sat silent; but the same person spoke some time in words very encouraging to the auditory, as if all was well with them, which tended to increase the exercise of my mind, having a very different sense of the state of the meeting. I again attended their meeting in the afternoon, when the same person seemed as if he intended soon to stand up; but feeling the testimony of truth strong against that forward ranting spirit, and the sense thereof being weighty upon me, I endeavoured to keep under it in patience, and soon the concern of that person began to diminish, and he to be drowsy, after which I had a favourable open time to clear my mind of the exercise that had been upon me.

Next day we passed over the Frith about seven miles broad, landed at Kinghorn, and rode to a town called Cowper, and the day following reached the house of one who esteemed himself a Friend, near Montross, where we endeavoured to have a meeting, but he would not allow it, alledging, that it would do

We set forward on our return towards England, taking two meetings in our way to Glasgow, where, on first-day, we had also two which were large, open and satisfactory. Many tender inquiring people came, who behaved well, and in the evening of the same day, we had another with those called Friends, by themselves, having a concern to lay before them the need they had to look to their ways and conversation, that they might be as lights and good examples among the people in that place, who were seekers after the truth, and not give them occasion of stumbling through an evil conduct. We went to Carlisle, in Cumberland, Morehouse, Scoby, Solport and Kirklington, in most of which meetings truth seemed to be professed, but too few had the life thereof in possession, which occasions hard dry meetings. We rode to Cornwood, in Northumberland, and lodged at the house of a man who had been for several years of a disorderly conduct, and much given to the

deeply inward in all their meetings, humbly waiting to be admitted into the heavenly presence, to know their place of feeding to be out of the reach of such ranting spirits; for if they suffered their own spirits to rise or resist their ill usage, the meeting would be the more disquieted. Our next meetings were at Allonby and Broughton, from whence I went home with our friend Christopher Wilson, to his house at Graysothen, and the next day

excessive use of strong drink, until he had very much impaired his constitution. But it pleased the Lord to open his understanding, and make him acquainted with his blessed truth, whereby he was made free from that evil, and received strength to forsake his old companions. His joining with Friends was a great grief to his wife, who informed me, that through prejudice for a time, she would rather he had continued his former course of living, than to become a Quaker, until observ-attended the burial of a young man at Parding the sweetness of his temper and the recovery of his health in some degree, with a solid and sober conduct, she was made to believe in the power by which he had known such a victory, and joined herself in the same religious profession; they appeared to be steady Friends. I would to God that all tipplers and drunkards would turn to that great Prophet who is in Israel, that they might by him be cleansed from that leprosy of sin! We had a comfortable meeting the next day in his house, with his neighbours and some Friends; and on first-day were at Allondale meeting, where are some solid Friends, though others much tainted with a spirit of ranterism, which is a confident, self-righteous spirit, and very hard to be won upon. After having a meeting at Aldstinmoor, we passed to the meetings at Penrith, in Cumberland, Terril and Strickland, which is in a corner of Westmoreland. It was with some difficulty we had the meeting at Terril, a man of that place saying, he thought it needless, or questioned whether it would be to advantage, as most of their members had been at Penrith meeting. But after the meeting, he desired I would not think hardly of him for endeavouring to discourage me, owning that he was mistaken. I cautioned him to be more careful in future, how he discouraged such who had come so many thousand miles to visit them.

say Hall, and the day following, the burial of a young woman at the same place, both of which meetings were very large and solid, and I hope through Divine goodness profitable to many. The first-day of the following week, we were at two meetings at Whitehaven, in both which I had some service under the influence and owning of truth. We put up our horses at a Friend's house, who had been used to lodge public Friends, but I was not free to tarry there, being burthened with the manner of his entertainment, which was with a superfluity and grandeur, no way becoming the simplicity of truth. After showing my dislike therewith, I went to the house of John Harris, at Highfield, his wife being with us, and rested there a day, the weather being exceedingly rainy. Then going to the meetings at Cockermouth, Isel and Graysothen, we returned to Cockermouth and had a meeting with Friends by themselves, that is, without giving public notice, which was through divine favour to good satisfaction. Resting another day with our friend John Harris, we went to meetings at Pardsay Hall and at Keswick, at which last I was concerned to exhort the few Friends there to keep up their week-day meeting, having a fear they were very slack on that account. We lodged at an inn, where we had the company of some of those Friends, and in particular one who was a public Friend. Having meetings at divers places in the Some of them said if he would attend the week following, I travelled in great pain and week-day meeting, they believed the rest of anguish of mind, from a sense of the preva- them would; which gave me occasion to oblence of a dark, deistical spirit over many of serve to him, that he did not example well, the professors of truth, of which concern the and ought to be more careful, as he had a Lord was pleased to give me strength and public testimony to bear for truth. He reunderstanding to clear myself both in public plied that he was obliged to be industrious to and private; there is no power but his, that support his family; but at last confessed, that can enable his servants to do his work, and is "He did not like to sit with so few Friends, over all the powers of satan. On the next for none else would come on a week-day, and first-day we were at Holme meeting; in the it was very dull and poor sitting, and he liked forenoon I sat silent, one of the stock of the to sit in meetings where there were many asold ranters was there and very troublesome, sembled, for then he had something to say, so accusing many Friends, no doubt falsely; and life did arise and all were comforted and ediin the afternoon meeting I had not much to fied." It appeared that he had greater satissay, believing that ranting spirit is rather fed faction in preaching, than in humble silent with words, and delights in contention. I waiting to experience the worship which is found it my place to exhort Friends to retire performed in spirit and truth, to edification

and comfort. I told him that I feared he was too much a stranger to pure religion and the nature of divine worship.

prompt man to rush on too fast, it is needful that he should wait in humble reverence to feel the love of God, and the influence of that knowledge and wisdom which is from above, and experienced by those who are spiritual, that the end of all their labour may be in the spirit of meekness to restore those who are overtaken in error. In order that men may dwell in that which gives ability to labour with success in the church of Christ, it is needful that their minds should be enclosed in the bosom of truth, in humble retirement, to be preserved from the various tumults, cumbers, cares and temptations of the world, which would otherwise clog their minds and deprive them of their true spiritual sense and motion. So in a watch it is needful that all the inward parts, which are so curious, should be enclosed from damps, vapours, motes and dust, otherwise it would thereby be deprived of its motion and become useless for keeping time.

My intent in this relation is to show the infinite condescension of Him whose mercy is over all his works, to instruct the children of men, cach as it were, in his own tongue or language, suitable to his understanding; the man being by trade a watch-maker. He seemed to be tenderly reached, and we parted in a degree of sweetness; it was the Lord's doing and marvellous to me, praised be his holy name for ever!

From thence we went to Hawkshead, in Lancashire, and had an evening meeting there in a Friend's house, and next day were at the Hight meeting, and then at Swarthmore, where George Fox formerly lived. Though it had been famous for the prosperity of truth, it is now at a low state there. We went to Kendal, in Westmoreland, where we attended their two meetings on the first-day of the week; and after taking some other meetings in the neighbourhood, returned to that town, in and about which we tarried several days, and visited more than twenty families and attended ten public meetings, many of which opportunities were made precious through the goodness and great condescension of our Lord and Saviour. In the school of our friend Thomas Rebanks, I had an extraordinary meeting; where many young folks not of our Society were reached by the power of Truth, which was comfortably over all, praised be the Lord for ever. In the course of our visiting families here, during our silent sitting in one of them, my mind was much taken up in thinking of a watch, and the several wheels and movements thereof, until I was grieved at such trifling thoughts, as I esteemed them, when suddenly there appeared something instructive therein, and I had a freedom to say, the several parts thereof seemed to represent Being clear of Kendal, we took leave of the excellent faculties and gifts bestowed on Friends in much affection and went to a geneman. Though the wheels, &c., of a watch ral meeting at Brigflatts, in Yorkshire, and to were truly made, and placed in their proper visit our friend Alice Alderson, who had been order, yet there must be a main-spring to give on a religious visit in our country with Marthem motion; so the gifts and faculties of men garet Cowpland, whom we had before seen at must have their main-spring and cause of mo-Kendal, where she lives. Alice was glad to tion to every good work, a zeal to the honour see us, and we found her tender in spirit and of the Lord their Creator, and a fervent holy strong in her love to Friends. After attenddesire to answer the end of their creation; and ing meetings at Ravenstonedale and Griseas there is a regulating spring to a watch, so dale, we rode to our friend John Burton's, also there should be the true knowledge of who with his companion William Backhouse, God and of themselves experienced in his had also been in our country on a religious light, to preserve from going too fast, know-visit; we rejoiced to see him, and were coming by his heavenly instruction, that no wis-forted by his grave conversation and conduct. dom, zeal, strength or ability, will enable to We then went to a meeting at Dent, which do the Lord's work to his honour and the was large and favoured by the overshadowing good of man, but that which God giveth. In of truth, through the loving kindness of our order that a watch may answer the end intended by its maker, there is a visible face and hands to discover the inward motion, thereby showing time; so it is needful that a man should be a co-worker with the spirit and gift of grace in his heart, that others beholding the light thereof might be taught to glorify God, and in his light so to number his days and walk in his fear, as to die in his favour. As a zeal for the cause of truth and a fear of falling short of duty, may at times

Lord, who is worthy of all praise for ever! Taking several meetings in Lancashire, and tarrying two days with our friend William Backhouse, which was an acceptable rest to us, the weather being very cold, the ways bad and we weary, we came to Lancaster, and had an opportunity of visiting our friend Lydia Lancaster, who several years past had visited our country; her faculties of mind and love to Friends appeared fresh and strong. From thence attending some other meetings