were forgiven me, yet now I had committed "I see your wife's a Quaker, but, if you'll an unpardonable sin, and hell would inevitably be my portion, and my torments greater than if I had hanged myself at first. In the night, under this painful distress of mind, I could not sleep, and if my husband perceived me weeping, he would revile me for it. At length, when he and his friend thought themselves too weak to overset me, he went to the priest at Chester, to inquire what he could do with me. This man knew I was a member of the church, for I had shown him my certificate. His advice was, to take me out of Pennsylvania, and settle in some place where there were no Quakers. My husband replied, he did not care where we went, if he could but restore me to my natural liveliness of temper. As for me, I had no resolution to oppose their proposals, nor much cared where I went. I seemed to have nothing to hope for. I daily expected to be made a victim of Divine wrath, and was possessed with the idea that this would be by thunder. take my advice you need not go so far as you intend; come and live with us; we'll soon cure her of her Quakerism, and we want a school-master and school-mistress too." He consented, and a happy turn it was for me, as will shortly be seen. The answer of peace was afforded me, for refusing to dance; I rejoiced more than if I had been made mistress of much riches, and with tears, prayed, "Lord, I dread to ask, and yet without thy gracious pardon, I am miserable. I therefore fall down before thy throne, imploring mercy at thy hand. O Lord, once more, I beseech thee, try my obedience, and then, in whatsoever thou commandest, I will obey thee, and not fear to confess thee before men." My cries were heard, and it was shown to me, that he delights not in the death of a sinner. My soul was again set at liberty, and I could praise him. In our way to Freehold, we visited the kind Dutchman, whom I have mentioned in a forWhen the time of removal came, I was not mer part of this narrative. He made us welpermitted to bid my relations farewell; and, come, and invited us to pass a day or two as my husband was poor, and kept no horse, with him. During our stay, we went to a I was obliged to travel on foot. We came to large meeting of Presbyterians, held not only Wilmington, fifteen miles, and from thence to for worship, but business; and the trial of one Philadelphia by water. Here we stopped at of their priests, who had been charged with a tavern, where I became the spectacle and drunkenness, was to come on. I perceived discourse of the company. My husband told such great divisions among the people, rethem his wife had become a Quaker, and he specting who should be their shepherd, that I designed, if possible, to find out a place where pitied them. Some insisted on having the old there were none. I thought I was once in a offender restored; others wished to have a condition to deserve that name, but now it is young man they had had on trial for some over with me. O that I might, from a true weeks; others, again, were for sending to New hope, once more have an opportunity to con- England for a minister. In reply, one who adfess the truth; though I was sure of all man- dressed himself to the chief speaker observed, ner of cruelties, I would not regard them. "Sir, when we have been at the expense, Such were my concerns, while he was enter- which will not be trifling, of fetching this gentaining the company with my story, in which tleman from New England, perhaps he'll not he told them that I had been a good dancer, stay with us." "Don't you know how to but now he could get me neither to dance nor make him stay?" said another. "No sir." sing. One of the company then started up," I'll tell you; give him a large salary, and and said, "I'll fetch a fiddle, and we'll have I'll engage he'll stay." I listened attentively a good dance;" a proposal with which my to the debate, and it plainly appeared to me, husband was pleased. When the fiddle was that these mercenary preachers were actuated brought, my husband came and said to me, by one motive, which was, not the regard for "My dear, shake off that gloom, and let us souls, but the love of money. One of these have a civil dance; you would, now and then, men, called a reverend divine, whom these when you were a good churchwoman, and people almost adored, had, to my knowledge, that's better than a stiff Quaker." I had left his flock in Long Island, and removed to taken up the resolution not to comply with Philadelphia, where he could get more money. his request, whatever might be the conse-I have myself heard some on the island say quence; this I let him know, though I durst that they had almost impoverished themselves say but little, for fear of his choleric temper. in order to keep him; but, being unable to He pulled me round the room, till the tears fell equal what he was offered at Philadelphia, he from my eyes, at the sight of which the mu- left them. Surely these are the shepherds sician stopped, and said "I'll play no more; let your wife alone." A person in company, who came from Freehold, in East Jersey, said, who regard the fleece more than the flock, and in whose mouths are lies, when they say that they are the ambassadors of Christ, whose command it is, "Freely ye have received, freely give." In our way to Freehold, as we came to Stony Brook, my husband turned towards me and tauntingly said, "Here's one of satan's synagogues, don't you long to be in it; I hope to see you cured of your new religion." A little further on we came to a large run of water, over which there was no bridge, and being strangers we knew no way to avoid passing through it. He carried over our clothes, which we had in bundles; and taking off my shoes, I walked through in my stockings. It was in the twelfth month; the weather was very cold and a fall of snow lay on the ground. It was the concern of my heart, that the Lord would sanctify all my afflictions to me and give me patience to bear them. After walking nearly a mile we came to a house, which proved to be a sort of tavern. My husband called for some spirituous liquors, and I got some weakened cider mulled, which rendered me extremely sick; so that after we were a little past the house, being too faint to proceed I fell down. "What's the matter now?" said my husband, "what, are you drunk? Where's your religion now?" He knew I was not drunk, and at that time I believe he pitied me, although he spoke in this manner. After I was a little recovered, we went on and came to another tavern, where we lodged. The next day as we journeyed, a young man driving an empty cart, overtook us. We asked him to let us ride, and he readily granted the request. I had known the time when I would not have been seen in a cart, but my proud heart was humbled, and I did not now regard the look of it. This cart belonged to a man in Shrewsbury, and was to go through the place of our destination. We soon had the care of the team to ourselves, through a failure of the driver, and arrived with it at Freehold. My husband would have had me stay here, while he went to see the team safe home; I told him, no; since he had led me through the country like a vagabond, I would not stay behind him. We therefore went together, and lodged that night at the house of the owner of the cart. The next day on our return to Freehold, we met a man who said to my husband, "Sir, are you a schoolmaster?" He answered, "Yes." "I am come,” replied the stranger, "to tell you of two new school-houses, two miles apart, at each of which a master is wanted." How this person came to hear of us, who arrived but the night before, I never knew. I was glad he was not a Quaker, lest it should have been thought a plot by my husband, to whom I turned and said,-"My dear, look on me with pity, if thou hast any affection left for me, which I hope thou hast, for I am not conscious of having done any thing to alienate it. Here is an opportunity to settle us both, and I am willing to do all in my power, towards getting an honest livelihood." After a short pause, he consented to go with the young man. In our way, we came to the house of a worthy Friend, who was a preacher, though we did not know it. I was surprised to see the people so kind to us. We had not been long in the house, till we were invited to lodge there for the night, being the last of the week. My husband accepted the invitation, saying, "My wife has had a tedious travel, and I pity her." These kind expressions affected me, for I heard them very seldom. The Friend's kindness could not proceed from my appearing like a Quaker, because I had not yet altered my dress. The woman of the house, after we had concluded to stay, fixed her eyes upon me, and said, "I believe thou hast met with a deal of trouble," to which I made but little answer. My husband observing they were of that sort of people whom he had so much endeavoured to shun, gave us no opportunity for discourse that night; but the next morning, I let my friend know a little of my situation. The When meeting time came I longed to go, but dared not to ask my husband's leave. As the Friends were getting ready themselves, they asked him if he would accompany them, observing, that they knew those who were to be his employers, and if they were at meeting, would speak to them. He consented. woman Friend then said, " And wilt thou let thy wife go too;" which request he denied ; but she answered his objections so prudently that he could not be angry, and at last consented. I went with joy, and a heavenly meeting it was. My spirit did rejoice in the God of my salvation. May I ever in humility, preserve the remembrance of his tender mercies to me. By the end of the week, we got settled in our new situation. We took a room in a Friend's house, one mile from each school, and eight from the meeting-house. I now deemed it proper to let my husband see I was determined to join with Friends. When firstday came, I directed myself to him in this manner; "My dear, art thou willing to let me go to meeting?" He flew into a rage, and replied, "No you shan't." Speaking firmly, I told him, "That as a dutiful wife, I was ready to obey all his lawful commands; but when they imposed upon my conscience, I could not obey him. I had already wronged myself, in having done it too long; and though he was near to me, and as a wife ought, I loved him, yet God, who was nearer than all the world to me, had made me sen- was. I felt myself called to give up to prayer sible that this was the way in which I ought to go. I added, that this was no small cross to my own will; but I had given up my heart, and I trusted that He who called for it would enable me for the remainder of my life, to keep it steadily devoted to his service; and I hoped I should not on this account, make the worse wife." I spoke however, to no purpose; he continued inflexible. I had now put my hand to the plough, and resolved not to draw back; I therefore went without leave. I expected he would immediately follow and force me back, but he did I called at the house of one of the neighbours, and getting a girl to show me the way, I went on rejoicing and praising God in my heart. not. Thus for some time, I had to go eight miles on foot to meeting, which I never thought hard. My husband had a horse, but he would not suffer me to ride on it; nor when my shoes were worn out, would he let me have a new pair; but though he hoped on this account to keep me from meeting, it did not hinder me: I have tied them round with strings to keep them on. in meeting. I trembled, and would freely have given up my life to be excused. What rendered the required service harder was, that I was not yet taken under the care of Friends; and was kept from requesting to be so, for fear I should bring a scandal on the Society. I begged to be excused till I had joined, and then I would give up freely. The answer was, "I am a covenant-keeping God, and the word that I spake to thee when I found thee in distress, even that I would never forsake thee if thou wouldst be obedient to what I should make known unto thee, I will assuredly make good. If thou refusest, my spirit shall not always strive. Fear not, I will make way for thee through all thy difficulties, which shall be many for my name's sake; but be faithful, and I will give thee a crown of life." To this language I answered, "Thy will, O God, be done; I am in thy hand, do with me according to thy word;" and I then prayed. This day as usual, I had gone to meeting on foot. While my husband, as he afterwards told me, was lying on the bed, these words crossed his mind: "Lord, where shall I fly to shun thee," &c.; upon which he arose, and seeing it rain, got the horse and set off to fetch me, arriving just as the meeting broke up. I got on horseback as quickly as possible, lest he should hear I had been speaking; he did hear of it nevertheless, and as soon as we were in the woods, began with saying, Finding that all the means he had yet used could not alter my resolutions, he several times struck me severe blows. I endeavoured to bear all with patience, believing that the time would come when he would see I was in the right. Once he came up to me, took out his penknife and said, "If you offer to go to meeting to-morrow, with this knife I'll cripple" Why do you mean thus to make my life unyou, for you shall not be a Quaker." I made happy? What, could you not be a Quaker, him no answer. In the morning I set out as without turning fool in this manner?" I anusual; and he did not attempt to harm me.- swered in tears, "My dear, look on me with Having despaired of recovering me himself, he pity if thou hast any; canst thou think that fled for help to the priest, whom he told that I, in the bloom of my days, would bear all I had been a very religious woman, in the that thou knowest of and much that thou way of the Church of England; of which I knowest not of, if I did not feel it my duty ?" was a member and had a good certificate from These words touched him, and he said, "Well, Long Island; that I was now bewitched and I'll e'en give you up; I see it won't avail to had turned Quaker, which almost broke his strive; if it be of God I cannot overthrow it; heart; and therefore, he desired that as he and if of yourself, it will soon fall." I saw was one who had the care of souls, he would the tears stand in his eyes, at which I was come and pay me a visit and use his endea-overcome with joy, and began already to reap vours to reclaim me, which he hoped by the the fruits of my obedience. But my trials blessing of God, would be done. The priest were not yet over. The time appointed for consented and fixed the time for his coming, which was that day two weeks, as he said he I could not come sooner. My husband came home extremely pleased, and told me of it. I replied with a smile, I trusted I should be enabled to give a reason for the hope within me; yet I believed at the same time, that the priest My faith was now assaulted in another way would never trouble himself about me, which so strongly, that all my former trials were but proved to be the case. Before the day he ap-trifling to it. This exercise came upon me pointed came, it was required of me in a more unexpectedly, by hearing a woman speak of Dublic manner, to confess to the world what I a book she had read, in which it was asserted the priest to visit me arrived, but no priest appeared. My husband went to fetch him, but he refused, saying he was busy, which so displeased my husband that he never went to hear him again, and for some time went to no place of worship. that Christ was not the Son of God. A voice blessed with the reformation of my husband. within me seemed to answer, "No more is he, He was connected with a set of men whom it's all a fancy, and the contrivance of men.' ." | he feared would make game of him, which Thus again was I filled with inexpressible indeed they already did; asking him when he trouble, which continued three weeks; and designed to commence preacher, for they saw again did I seek desolate places, where I he intended to turn Quaker, and seemed to might make my moan. I have laid whole love his wife better since she became one than nights without sleep. I thought myself de- before. They used to come to our house, and serted of God, but did not let go my trust in provoked him to sit up and drink with them, him. I kept alive a hope, that He who had sometimes till near day, while I have been delivered me as it were out of the paw of the sorrowing in a stable. Once as I sat in this bear, and the jaws of the lion, would in his condition, I heard him say to his company, own good time, deliver me from this tempta-"I can't bear any longer to afflict my poor tion also. This was at length my experience; wife in this manner; for whatever you may and I found the truth of his words, that all think of her, I do believe she's a good wothings shall work together for the good of man." He then came to me and said, "Come those who love and fear him. My present in my dear, God has given thee a deal of paexercises were to prepare me for further ser- tience: I'll put an end to this practice." This vices in his cause; and it is necessary for his was the last time they sat up at night. ministers to experience many baptisms, that they may thereby be more able to speak to the conditions of others. Ac My husband now thought that if he was in any place where it was not known he had been so bitter against Friends, he could do This happened just after my first appear- better. I objected to this, fearing it would ance as a minister, and Friends had not been not be for his benefit. Frequently in a broken to talk with me. They did not well know and affectionate manner, he condemned his ill what to do until I appeared again, which usage of me. I answered that I hoped it had was not for some time, when the Monthly been for my good, and therefore desired he Meeting appointed four Friends to pay me a would not be afflicted on that account. visit. They left me well satisfied with the cording to the measure of grace received, I conference, and I joined the Society. My | did what I could, both by example and prehusband still went to no place of worship. One day he said to me, "I would go to meeting, only I'm afraid I shall hear your clack, which I cannot bear." I used no persuasions. When meeting-time came he got the horse, took me behind him and went. For several months, if he saw me offer to rise he went out; till one day I rose before he was aware, and then as he afterwards owned, he was ashamed to do it. cept, for his good. My advice was to stay where he was, as I was afraid he would grow weaker in his good resolutions, if he removed. All I could say would not avail. Hearing of a place at Bordentown he went thither, but was not suited. He next removed to Mount Holly, where he settled. We had each of us a good school; we soon got our house pretty well furnished, and might have done very well. Nothing seemed wanting to complete. From this time he left off the practice, and my happiness, except the reformation of my never hindered me from going to meeting. husband, which I had much reason to fear that Though he did not take up the cross, yet I should not soon see. It fell out according to his judgment was convinced; and sometimes my fears. He addicted himself much to melting into tears, he would say to me, “ My | drinking, and grew worse than before. Sordear, I have seen the beauty there is in the row was again my lot, I prayed for patience Truth, and that thou hast followed the right to bear my afflictions, and to submit to the way, in which I pray God to preserve thee." dispensations of Providence. I murmured I told him that I hoped He who had given me not; nor do I recollect that I ever uttered any strength would also favour him. "O," said he, harsh expressions except on one occasion. "I cannot bear the reproach thou dost, to be My husband coming home a little intoxicated, called turn-coat, and become a laughing-stock a state in which he was very fractious, and to the world; but I'll no longer hinder thee." | finding me at work by a candle, he put it out, This I considered a favour, and a little hope fetching me at the same time, a box on the remained that my prayers on his account, ear, and saying, "You don't earn your light." would be heard. At this unkind usage, which I had not been We lived in a small house by ourselves, used to for the last two years, I was somewhich, though mean, and though we had little | what angry, and said, “Thou art a vile man." to put in it, our bed being no better than chaff, He struck me again; but my anger had cooled, I was truly content. The only desires I had and I received the blow without so much as a were for my own preservation, and to be word in return. This also displeased him, and he went on in a distracted like manner, Her husband had been gone two or three uttering such expressions of despair as, he be-years before she heard of his death. He left. lieved he was predestined to damnation, and her nearly eighty pounds in debt, which by he did not care how soon God struck him law she was not obliged to pay, for want of dead. I said very little, till at length in the effects; yet as several creditors complained, bitterness of my soul, I broke out into these and said they would not have trusted him if expressions: "Lord, look down on my afflic- it had not been for her sake, she engaged to tions, and deliver me by some means or satisfy them all as fast as she could. She setother." My prayer was granted, but in such tled steadily to the business of school-keeping, a manner that I thought it would have killed with which and her needle, she maintained me. He went to Burlington, where he got herself handsomely. She gradually paid off drunk, and enlisted to go as a common soldier the above debts, and had nearly discharged to Cuba, in the year 1740. I had drunk many them all during her widowhood, though she bitter cups, but this seemed the bitterest of travelled much in the mean time, as a minthem all. I blamed myself for making such ister. a request, which I was afraid had displeased God, who had in displeasure, granted it for my punishment. I have since had cause to believe that he was benefitted by his rash act, as in the army, he did what he could not at home; he suffered for the testimony of Truth. When they came to prepare for an engagement, he refused to fight; he was whipped and brought before the general, who asked him why he enlisted if he would not fight. "I did it," said he, "in a drunken frolic, when the devil had the better of me; but now my judgment is convinced I ought not to fight, neither will I, whatever I suffer. I have but one life, and you may take that if you please, for I'll never take up arms." He adhered to this resolution. By their cruel usage of him in consequence, he was so much disabled that the general sent him to Chelsea Hospital, near London. Within nine months afterwards he died at this place, and I hope made a good end. If I never thought him the worst of men. he had suffered religion to have its perfect work, I should have been happy in the lowest situation of life. I have had cause to bless God, for enabling me in the station of a wife, to do my duty, and now that I am a widow, I submit to his will. May I still be preserved by the arm of Divine Power; and never forget the tender mercies of my God, the remembrance of which often boweth my soul in humility before his throne. "Lord! what was I, that thou shouldst reveal to my soul the knowledge of thy truth, and have done so much for one who deserved thy displeasure? Mayest thou, O God, be glorified and I abased. It is thy own works that praise thee; and of a truth, to the humble soul thou makest every bitter thing sweet." The foregoing account was written by Elizabeth Ashbridge: the few particulars which follow, were written by her last husband and sent along with it. In the ninth month, 1746, we were married at Burlington, West Jersey. The company of each other was dear and delightful; but the time came when we must part. Sufficiently convinced that her Lord and Master called for her services abroad, my heart was willing to give up the darling object of its love. Though it has pleased the Divine Will to remove her without indulging my longing desire to see her again, yet fully satisfied that she is called from the troubles of time to a happy eternity, I am resigned and enjoy a grateful composure of mind. She left home the 11th of the fifth month, 1753, and died in Ireland, the 16th of the fifth month, 1755. AARON ASHbridge. Abstract of a Testimony from the National Meeting of Ireland, held in Dublin, concerning ELIZABETH ASHBRIDGE. In the year 1753, apprehending it required of her to visit the meetings of Friends, in England and Ireland, she left her habitation with the consent of her husband, and the unity and approbation of Friends as appears by her certificate, and performed a religious visit to many meetings in this nation, to the general satisfaction of Friends; wherein she endured so much bodily hardship in travelling and underwent so much spiritual exercise, that she fell dangerously ill at the city of Cork. After recovering strength so as to be able to proceed on her journey, she left Cork and came to Waterford, to the house of our friend John Hutchinson, where she remained very much indisposed for the most part of fourteen weeks; and in that interval, was at the province meeting at Clonmel, where she had extraordinary service. From thence she got to the county of Carlow, to the house of our friend Robert Lecky; whilst there, some expressions which she uttered in an affecting |