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be entire and unreserved, and our allegiance ever true to Thee. In meeting, such was the ascendency of Divine power that all things appeared possible.

"9th mo. 6th. At our last Monthly-meeting, such was the pressure on my mind of the necessity of the offering of an undivided heart, that I apprehended it required of me openly to testify the feeling; and the cause was afterwards pleaded by a highly favoured instrument and advocate, whose testimony opened with the expression I had last uttered,' an undivided heart.'

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25th. For most of the last five years my natural strength has been less than before, from the effect of long indisposition in the winter of 1808-9. In looking back, I believe there is cause thankfully to acknowledge that the hand of Divine goodness has been extended, in causing the frequent feelings of weakness and inability for much exertion to be a means of calling my attention to things of a more essential and sustaining nature. During the last spring and summer my health has much improved. Oh, let me not forget the hand that has supported in days and years that are past, when every other help failed! Let me not forget that I have partaken of soul-sustaining enjoyment, when no earthly object, nor any advantage cf an outward nature appeared to have any share in causing such enjoyment! Teach me, O Father of mercies, to feel, to think, and act in Thy heavenly will, and to leave all the rest to Thee!

"12th mo. 26th. Fifteen years have now passed since I was left in a state of widowhood, and nearly twelve since I lost my beloved infant. There has been much to combat since that time,

from within and from without; yet a hand of mercy and goodness has led thus far through all, and fixed my faith and hope in increasing stability. I look back, not without grateful feeling, in remembrance of that power and goodness by which my spirit has been upheld in the dark and gloomy days of deep disappointment and heavy suffering, when every earthly prospect seemed to fail. What my future lot may be is wholly unknown, unseen. Oh, that my only object may ever be to choose that path (as far as anything is left me to choose) in which I may act most to the glory of my Creator!

"27th. In reading one of the Religious Tract Society's publications, No. 20, a precious calm overspread my spirit, and a confirmed acknowledgment was excited that, however various in profession, those who are truly religious are of one spirit, being all taught of Him who came to seek and save that which was lost.' And these, as they give up their spirits to His redeeming power, will ever be preserved in true humility, as well as in true love, knowing the feeling that in Him, and not in themselves, is the fountain of life.

"I believe that true religion may lead its votaries to unite the diligence in business of the most industrious with the most disinterested benevolence.

"28th. Two days of indisposition, in which I was favoured to enjoy a peaceful retirement. Read with much satisfaction and pleasure, some of the Religious Tract Society's books, and a few of the Cheap Repository tracts; and selected about twenty for lending-libraries. Concluded to send some of the Scripture Selections to various schools. It is a privilege I hope gratefully to enjoy to ap

propriate every year some of the first-fruits of the increase of my school to the dispersing of religious books, especially to children and young persons. It is delightful to read some of these publications, which are so evidently written under that religious feeling which we are convinced was given from the one source of goodness. While reading, I thought I felt a confirmed conviction that our truest happiness, even here, depends not on outward situation, any further than in being so placed as we may best fulfil the will of our Father' who is in heaven; and my hope is that this is the first object of my heart!

"1st mo. 23rd, 1814. And now as to the melody of sweet sounds, or what is called music, I do not feel that for myself I need them in meetings for worship; but it may yet be that in some states, and to some classes, even of truly sincere Christians, they may be helpful, and therefore right to be used. But in our intercourse with one another we need them not; we can communicate and sympathize, and indulge in the pleasurable enjoyments of interesting and improving conversation, and want no sounds but the natural and accustomed tones of the human voice to convey our sentiments and feelings, and to receive those of the friends with whom we converse. And, ah! does not my heart acknowledge that much of the most interesting intercourse of friendship and affection I have ever enjoyed has been in the society of a class who renounce the pursuit of musical acquirements, whether vocal or instru'mental! And, since we need not the practice in our intercourse with one another, why consider it as a necessary medium for communication with

the Father of spirits, with Him who must be worshipped in spirit and in truth? Again, though not a necessary medium to us, yet if the state of a large part of mankind be such as to make this outward melody helpful to devotional feeling, and therefore desirable, be it so ;-let them continue to use it, only not in the violation of truth, by putting words into the mouths of a congregation which are inconsistent with their experience; and even where a supplication is expressed which might suit the states of all, if feelingly uttered, let the people be, in general terms, advised against expressing it, unless their hearts go along with it.

“2 mo. 5th. Oh! my Father! thanks be to Thy goodness, for the degree of peace enjoyed this day, and for the degree of victory over some conflicting emotions, which yesterday distressed me. I was enabled to turn to thee with a sigh of supplication, and thy goodness was extended to enable me to conquer: yet let me not speak as having attained. Keep me from evil,-keep me from any disposition contrary to the meekness and gentleness which is due, from one who professes to be a follower of Christ. The prompt display of resentful feeling hurries people sometimes as into a vortex, and makes only work for repentance.

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11th. I consider the attendance of meetings for public worship a solemn duty, and a high, invaluable privilege. My heart has often felt it to be so when gathering together in the name of Christ, to wait together for the prevalence of His power over us. In the dominion of that power in us over every opposing thing is our strength and victory; and it is also a testimony we owe to the world that we are the worshippers of the one true God,

and depending upon Him for all our present and eternal welfare.

"12th mo. 5th. Are not Friends peculiarly called upon to act as school-missionaries, since they might do this in conformity with their best principles? and might they not in each place or station have meetings for religious worship?

"7th. Should I not return from the journey on which I am setting out, let it be remembered as my request, that those whom I have loved, or that have affectionately regarded me, would feel that the cause of religion and benevolence, in its genuine fruits, is worthy to be pursued with the whole heart, and let them unite in promoting a Missionary School and Tract Society-at home and abroad -including in its plans a regard to the wants of the poor, and an endeavour to relieve them. But I think my race is not yet run, nor my mind so matured for heaven as I hope it will be before I die. I love the religious, I believe, more than any others in this world-those who are evidently and devotedly religious; and, oh, that their number might increase! for to love the Lord with all the heart, and our neighbour as ourselves, according to our Redeemer's precept, this is the happiness of the present life.

[During her residence at Sheffield the attention of Hannah Kilham was particularly directed to relieving the wants of the poor and distressed, and endeavouring to promote their moral and religious welfare. We believe it was in this year (1815,) that she took so active and conspicuous a part in the formation and establishment of the Society for Bettering the Condition of the Poor in Sheffield, which originated with her, and has proved a model

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