I have known poverty of late; and been graciously fupported to keep in the patience: and am thankful, under a fenfe of the goodpefs of the Lord toward those that are of a contrite spirit. Isst 300 The fixth day of the ninth month, and first of the week. Was this day at Counterfide; a large meeting-houfe, and very full and, through the opening, of pure love, it was a Arengthening time to me and (I believe): to many morem en steltyse d The thirteenth day of the month. Was this day at Richmond, a small meeting; but, the town's people coming in, the house was. frowded; it was a time of heavy labour; and: (I believe) was a profitable meeting.

At this place I heard that my kinsman William Hunt, from North Carolina, who was on a religious vifit to friends in England, departed this life on the ninth day of the ninth month, inftant, of the small-pox, at Newcastle. He appeared in the miniftry when a youth; and his labours therein were of good favour. He travelled much in that work in America. I once heard him fay, in public teftimony, that his concern was (in that vifit) to be devoted to the service of Chrift fo fully, that he might not fpend one minute in pleafing himself which words, joined with his example, were a means of stirring up the pure mind in me.

On this vifit to England I have felt fome instructions sealed on my mind, which I am concerned to leave in writing, for the use of

fuch

fuch as are called to the station of a minister of Chrift.

Chrift being the Prince of Peace, and we being no more than minifters, I find it neceffary for us, not only to feel a concern in our first going forth, but to experience the renewing thereof, in the appointment of meetings.

I felt a concern, in America, to prepare for this voyage; and being, through the mercy of God, brought fafe here, my heart was like a veffel that wanted vent; and for feveral weeks, at first, when my mouth was opened in meetings, it often felt like the raifing of a gate in a water course, where a weight of water lay upon it; and in these labours there appeared a fresh vifitation to many, efpecially the youth; but fometimes, after this, I felt empty and poor, and yet felt a neceffity to appoint meetings.

In this ftate I was exercifed to abide in the pure life of truth, and in all my labours to watch diligently against the motions of felf in my own mind.

I have frequently felt a neceffity to stand up, when the spring of the miniftry was low; and to fpeak from the neceffity, in that which fubjecteth the will of the creature, and herein I was united with the fuffering feed, and found inward sweetness in thefe mortifying

labours.

As I have been preserved in a watchful attention to the divine Leader, under these difpenfations, enlargement at times hath fol0 4

lowed,

lowed, and the power of truth hath rifen higher, in fome meetings, than I ever knew it before through me.beaut

Thus I have been more and more inftructed, as to the neceflity of depending, not upon a concern which I felt in America, to come on a vilie to England but upon the fresh inftructions of Chrift, the Prince of peace, from day to days golfrumbur k

Now, of late, I felt a ftop in the appointment of meetings, not wholly, but in part l and I do not feel liberty to appoint them fo quick one after another as I have heretofore.

The work of the miniftry being a work of divine love, I feel that the openings thereof are to be waited for, in all our appoint

ments. t

Oh how deep is divine wifdom! Chrift puts forth his minifters, and goeth before them: and oh! how great is the danger of departing from the pure feeling of that which leadeth fafely!

b. Chrift knoweth the ftate of the people; and, in the pure feeling of the gofpel-miniftry, their ftates are opened to his fervants.

Chrift knoweth when the fruit-bearing branches themselves have need of purging,

Oh that these leffons may be remembered by me and that all who appoint meetings may proceed in the pure feeling of duty!

I have fometimes felt a neceflity to stand up; but that fpirit which is of the world hath fo -much prevailed in many, and the pure life of truth been fo preffed down, that I have gone forward,

forward, not as one travelling in a road caft up and well prepared, but as a man walking through a miry place, in which are ftones, here and there, fafe to step on, but fo fituated, that, one step being taken, time is neceffary to fee where to step next.

Now I find that, in the pure obedience, the mind learns contentment, in appearing weak and foolish to that wisdom which is of the world; and, in thefe lowly labours, they who stand in a low place, rightly exercised under the cross, will find nourishment.

is

We re

The gift is pure; and, while the eye fingle in attending thereto, the understanding is preserved clear: felf is kept out. joice in filling up that which remains of the afflictions of Chrift, for his body's fake, which is the church.

The natural man loveth eloquence, and many love to hear eloquent orations; and, if there is not a careful attention to the gift, men who have once laboured in the pure gospelminiftry, growing weary of fuffering, and ashamed of appearing weak, may kindle a fire, compass themselves about with fparks, and walk in the light; not of Christ who is under fuffering; but of that fire which they, going from the gift, have kindled; and that in hearers, which is gone from the meek suffering ftate, into the worldly wisdom, may be warmed with this fire, and fpeak highly of thefe labours. That which is of God gathers 'to God; and that which is of the world is owned by the world,

*

$

In this journey a labour hath attended my mind, that the ministers amongst us may be preferved in the meek feeling life of truth, where we may have no defire but to follow Chrift and be with him; that, when he is under fuffering, we may fuffer with him, and neyer defire to rise up in dominion, but as hebby the virtue of his own fpirit, may raise us! 30 a gates, hom afla nt an

A few days after writing thefe confiderations, pur dear friend, in the course of his religious wifits, came to the city of York, and attended most of the fittings of the quarterly-meeting there; but, before it was over, was taken ill of the small-pox. Our friend, Thomas Prieftman, and others who attended him, preserved the following minutes of his expreffions in the time of his fickness and of his decease.

ift day, the 27th of the 9th month, 1772. His diforder appeared to be the fmall-pox,

..2

2d day. He faid he felt the disorder to affect his head, fo that he could think little, and but as a child,

Third day he uttered the following prayer.O Lord my God, the amazing horrors of darkness were gathered around me and covered me all over, and I faw no way to go forths I felt the depth and extent of the misery of my fellow-creatures feparated from the divine harmony, and it was heavier than I could bear, and I was crushed down under it; I lifted up my hand, I ftretched out, my arm, but there

was