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a confirming assurance that if ever I intended to take up my lot with any religious people, this was the people. "W. T."

Under the influence of these feelings, he resolved, with the concurrence of those of his friends whom he had informed of it, to apply for admission as a member of the society: the request was made, but from particular circumstances, was not communicated to the monthly meeting until some time afterwards; it was then granted, and he has alluded to it in some of his subsequent letters.

During most of the early part of the year 1816, he felt considerable bodily weakness; and in the summer, several symptoms appeared which induced a fear that he would fall a victim to consumption; he had a bad cough, and a pain in his side, with other attendants of that disease. He however continued to attend the school, for some time under great weakness and difficulty; but in the early part of the 8th month, increasing bodily indisposition compelled him to relinquish it. This was a severe trial to him, and he did it with great reluctance; but he earnestly sought for resignation, and in many of his letters, written about that time, he mentions the circumstance with much Christian meekness.

To J. A.

Penketh, 9th mo. 1st, 1816.

"How am I lost in a contemplation of what the Lord hath done for me, in awakening me for some time back to a greater concern for His truth! and now that sickness hath come, and my prospect of eternity grows nearer, I bless the

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Lord, it also grows brighter. All my desire is after holiness, and a mind formed from the model of the blessed Jesus. Oh! for the meekness, the resignation, the love which characterized his living and dying moments! But I feel a fear, lest in disclosing thus much of my mind, I may speak improperly, and exalt the fleshly selfish part. For every spiritual benefit received, our language ought to be: Not unto us, O Lord, but unto thee, be the praise!'

"Notwithstanding the desire I have to possess the most precious of all treasures, yet I find many obstacles in the way, arising principally from the hardness and insensibility of my own heart. I sometimes feel myself a poor creature, but at such low seasons, I have frequently been favoured with a renewed manifestation of love, and a comfortable assurance, that the Lord would still extend his fatherly care over me.

Some little have I known of the purging and fanning mentioned by John the Baptist; but much, very much, remains to be done. Oh, it is a great thing to be made meet for an inheritance with the saints in light! Great as such a preparation may seem, I anxiously long it may be the object of my desires, wishes, and endeavours; so that if it should please the Lord to restore me to health, I may have benefited by his chastisement; and if not, a blessed eternity opens to my view.

"I have many visiters, kind and obliging to the utmost; but how few speak to me in a manner that sympathizes with the state of my mind! How few speak of my beloved, or seem to have their minds resting under the shadow of his pavilion! I have been a little grieved at this; but the Lord hath shown me, that He alone is sufficient, and that I might be led to lean on an arm of

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flesh. Two dear friends from America called to see me; they spoke in much sweetness, and I may say, told me the secret of my heart. The language of my soul, as I now write, is that of praise. Oh, that we may both be finally conducted to that city, whose walls are salvation, and whose gates are praise!

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“ W. T."

To his Sister Mary Thompson,

(Since deceased.)

"Penketh, 9th mo. 1st, 1816. Anxiously expecting to hear how thou wert, we are much rejoiced to learn that thou art recovered. God has once more raised thee from a bed of sickness: to Him be all the glory, and may thy gratitude be shewn forth by striving to live in a nearer conformity to His blessed will.

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Every bodily affliction is a warning, and we may consider it as a voice speaking from Heaven, though too often forgotten and unheeded when health returns. Do not let this be thy case; but begin in good earnest to make thy salvation and election sure. Seek the Lord and he will be found of thee, and will shed abroad His love in thy heart. But observe, the Lord will be sought unto, and that diligently. He delighteth to manifest himself to the humble and the contrite, to those who maintain a holy fear constantly in their minds. But the idle and the careless who do not think his blessed favour worth seeking after, shall take their portion with the hypocrite. Endeavour to be watchful. Sin is not conquered without striving with all our might.

"Every evening devote a few minutes to an examination of the errors of the past day and to

making resolutions of amendment. If thou dost so, God will bless thee and will preserve thee in the influence of His dear love, which is more precious to me than life itself, and to which I commend thee.

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"The sweets of religion are only known to those who have been favoured with its enjoyment. It is beyond the power of words: no language, however replete with energy and expression, can tell the triumphs of virtue through the love of JESUS. O ye favoured few, who, toiling up the steep ascent that leadeth to celestial regions, hold on your course rejoicing! and when nature is at some seasons ready to faint, when the burden seems too heavy for the heat of the day, fix an eye of faith and prayer on your Saviour. He hath promised to ease the weary and heavy laden; and his word is truth.

"I have been much comforted and supported by that love which is stronger than death, and in this feel content to submit to the Lord's will.. Oh! there is nothing like a precious sense of the love and fear of God dwelling in the mind: to this I commend thee. Farewell.

To. G. C.

W. T."

"Penketh, 9th mo. 28, 1816.

"I am gratified by enquiries after my bodily health, but much more so by a feeling attention being evinced to the situation and support of my mind. Few, I am afraid, make this an object in

their visits to the sick; yet I am sensible I need not really suffer from the lightness or forgetfulness of others, since my dependance ought to be placed higher than on man. Though not always watchful after my best interests, yet I have been. much favoured with a peaceful, thankful state of mind. Nor is the prospect of an awful change to immortality gloomy; on the contrary, it has been to me a source of consolation, and at times, of rejoicing. Thus far hath the Lord helped me, and marvellous is his name.

"W. T."

In many of his letters he has alluded to the Bible Society in terms of commendation. It was natural, that an institution of so benevolent a nature, should receive the decided approbation of his philanthropic mind, and in the next letter he has expressed his sentiments on the subject at some length.

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To J. K.

"Penketh, 10th mo. 7th, 1816. The Society has been tried as by fire, and has emerged from the ordeal like pure gold. All the arguments that ingenuity could devise, or sophistry recommend, have been employed to depreciate the worth of the institution, but opposed by the aegis of Christianity, the shafts of envy and malevolence have fallen harmless to the ground. If persecution is a uniform attendant on the professors of religion in its purest form, the friends of the Society may rejoice,. since no new thing has befallen them. The same weak mode of reasoning which would now prevent the extension of truth, was formerly directed, against

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