among us may hold on their way, or fall short and give back, the Lord will raise up a band of faithful followers, who, preferring Jerusalem's welfare to their chiefest joys, will press through the crowd of reasonings, and follow the Lamb whithersoever he leadeth them. They shall be supported by the power of an endless life, that shall be quickened and maintained in them. The heat and drought by day, shall not defeat them; nor shall they be dismayed at the frost and cold by night. Salvation shall the Lord appoint for walls and bulwarks round about them. Omnipotence shall be their shield; their lamp, the light of Jesus. They shall set sufferings and dangers at defiance, and disregard persecution: yet meekness and gentleness shall adorn them. False zeal and rashness they shall carefully shun. Though bold as lions in the Lamb's cause and combat, they shall be kind, loving, and not causelessly severe or provoking.

This is the people mine eyes have seen in prospect. In vision I have beheld this chosen heritage of God. As the apple of his eye he will keep them, and watch over them, and water them as a garden enclosed.

First-day, the 19th of 9th month, was a day to be remembered by me, with thankful acknowledgment to my God; who, after great wrestling of spirit, and deep inward travail, caused the powerful word of life to arise, as a light breaking out of darkness. I was drawn into vocal utterance, in an earnest call to faithfulness, circumspection, and true waiting upon God, in deep, inward retirement, and holy, awful silence before him. After which my soul was drawn forth in solemn supplication, and earnest intercession to the God who still answers by fire; bowingly pleading with him to strengthen the faint-hearted, and such as were ready to stumble and halt; and to bring many who were strangers to the enlivening influences of his love, shed abroad in the hearts of the faithful, into an heart-felt and animating acquaintance therewith. Great awfulness, humiliation, and reverence possessed my mind. I was greatly encouraged and strengthened in my inner man. Glory to him who only is able to help in every needful time. I am his debtor, for multiplied favours, and desire to be thankful through all his dealings and dispensations with me.

In those days I passed through many trials and exercises, unknown except to God and my own soul: but he knew my heart, and all my tribulations, and how to carry me through them; and, blessed be his holy name! he supported and bore up my drooping mind through every probation and besetment. At times I clearly saw he was refining me in the furnace of affliction: then why should I murmur or repine? Or why dost thou murmur, O afflicted soul, whoever thou art? for unless thou endure the chastening of the Lord, thou art a bastard and not a son. By his fatherly chastisements, he brings into the obedience and filial attachment of sons, he enables to sing of mercy and of judg ment, and confirms his children in a steadfast reliance upon himself, through every storm and tempest. Oh! bless his holy name for ever, exalt and praise him, even for the turning of his hand in probation-for the exercise of his rod in chastisement. It is all for good, and will surely work good to all who rightly abide the trial. Indeed, every trial ought to be received with thankfulness, as intended and working for our good. And seeing afflictions are oft the most substantial blessings to a true Christian traveller, let us in true resignation of heart, under each painful stroke, ascribe goodness to our God, and, in the pathetic language of Young, render him the tribute of thanksgiving, and say,

"For all I bless thee, most for the severe."

In the twelfth month this year, in company with my dear friend Elisha Thornton, I visited several families of Friends at Dartmouth. It was a time of great trial: I was shut up in silence, pain, and poverty of spirit, in divers families. I felt like a wanderer through a trackless desert; yet, not being easy to quit the service, I went on, but still for some time found no relief, more than a consciousness of integrity to my God; but, magnified be his name for ever, in the depth of distress he heard my cry, and arose with healing in his wings; and was graciously pleased to command deliverance. My tongue again was loosed; and, with tenderness and contrition, I declared of his dealings; with gratitude, I sang of his salvation. He clothed me with the spirit of supplication: I drew near him with renewed confidence, and, after several seasons of relieving communication, returned home,

saying in my heart, "It is enough. O Lord my God, thou hast filled my soul with thy goodness."

The 31st of the 3d month, 1780, I went to see my much beloved friend Moses Farnum, at Uxbridge, in his last sickness. His disorder was paralytic. He could not speak so as to communicate much of his mind by words; but the lively sensibility of his mind, and the tenderness and brokenness of his spirit, were refreshing to my soul. Divers Friends were present, and nearly all were melted into tears and heart-felt tenderness. He was just able to make us sensible of his great peace of mind in his late religious travels; and that the seal and evidence of divine approbation therein, was now impressed on his mind. Light and life appeared to triumph over all in him. He seemed resigned to every trial; he also manifested great gladness that in health he had settled and disposed of his outward affairs to satisfaction. On the 11th of the fifth month he was decently buried, having gradually declined until death removed him from works to rewards. I trust he now enjoys a mansion of undisturbed repose in the paradise of God. He was, in the latter part of his life, a pillar in the Lord's house, a faithful watchman on the walls of Sion. His memory is precious among the saints, and his removal will be felt in the congregation.

On the 1st day of the 6th month this year, at our meeting in Providence, I was married to Eunice Anthony, daughter of Daniel and Mary Anthony. The following I wrote her just after my first addresses to her on account of marriage, viz.

North-Providence, 22d of 1st month, 1780.

Most affectionately beloved,

After reading over several memorandums of the exercises my poor soul has passed through, in my pilgrimage through this vale of tears, my heart salutes thee in a fresh spring of that love which I feel increasing, and hope may never wax cold towards thee. And having felt thee abundantly near this evening, I am free to write what revives for thy perusal, hoping it may be useful towards our rightly stepping along through time together. And first, dearly beloved, let me tell thee, that however short I may be of strict adherence to the light of life, yet it is my

crown, my chiefest joy, to feel the holy, harmonious influences and inshinings of the love of Jesus my saviour, upon my soul; and I feel that without this I must be miserable indeed. I also believe, that the true enjoyment of the marriage-union consists eminently in both being engaged to draw near to the Lord, and act in his counsel; which I not only wish, but in a good degree expect, may be our happy case. If it should, though we have as it were a dry morsel to partake of, as to the things of this life, yet we may joy in the Lord, and rejoice in the God of our salvation. Thou knowest I have no great things to invite thee to. If we are joined together, (the which I trust we already measureably are,) we must not expect the paths of affluence; no, no. "This day be bread and peace our lot,

All else beneath the sun,

Thou knowest if best bestowed or not,
And let thy will be done."

This, my dear, our minds must come to, if we intend to be happy; yet this I know, that one who cannot lie, has promised to add all things necessary to those who seek first the kingdom of heaven, and in this I confide. Let us, therefore, unite in seeking this heavenly kingdom, and that in the first place. And may we, the remainder of our lives, earnestly press after resignation to the Lord's will; and, above all things, strive to please him who only can give peace in whatever circumstances we may be. Then, I trust, the guardian angel of his holy presence will encamp around, and his everlasting arms be underneath to support us. Farewell, my dear, farewell, says thy sure friend,

JOB SCOTT.

While I was from home at our Quarterly Meeting in the 7th month, I wrote as follows:

Lord! when I contemplate on thy wonderful condescension to me a poor worm of the dust; when I remember thy early and repeated calls and visitations; and how thou pluckedst my feet out of the mire, and led me into the green pastures of life, filling my heart with joy and gladness, after condemnation for evil, and chastisement therefor; my soul bows in reverence before thee; gratitude affects my heart. But, alas! when I take a view

of my steppings along since those times; my want of constant stavedness in covenant with thee; the weakness of my resolutions, and my manifold infirmities; mourning and lamentation fill my heart; sorrow and distress surround me. Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Were it not for thy mercies, I must often have been rejected; were it not for thy tender compassions, I must have been shut up in darkness and perplexity. But, blessed be thy holy name, through judgment and correction thou hast from time to time reduced me to that tenderness wherein the flowings of thy love are felt to be precious.

In the 12th month this year, our Monthly Meeting entered my name as one of a committee to visit families. My circumstances in life, and a prospect I had of visiting families on Rhode Island, brought some discouragement over my mind about this new appointment; but wishing well to the service at home, and trusting in the Lord, I gave up to it; and, passing on from time to time, I had some close exercise, and some seasons of solid satisfaction.

In the 1st month 1781, I went to Rhode Island, and, having suitable company, visited about forty-six families, and attended several meetings among Friends there. In the course of this visit, I passed through a time of painful stripping for a short season, yet it was a time of great openness and divine favour, through almost all the meetings and sittings. My mind was low, humble, and dependant, almost constantly looking for the way to shut up, as had been my experience at some other times: but now it pleased the Shepherd of Israel to fit and qualify for service. The holy anointing oil flowed livingly among us. Truth's testimony was again and again exalted, the Lord's name and goodness magnified and praised, and the hearts of the true worshippers rejoiced; and the careless sons and daughters of Sion were admonished and warned. I returned home with thankful acknowledgments to the Author of all consolation for this blessed season of heavenly enlargement and holy confirmation. I was greatly relieved from the exercise that had for a considerable time been impressed upon my spirit, constraining me into this little field of service.