At length, through the all-wise overturnings of Him who knew how to lead me on in safety, I was again reduced to want, and had to feel much inward leanness. In this state I scarcely had any: thing to rejoice in but infirmities; yet, relying on Him whose covenant is as sure, with the night as with the day, and who never forsakes those who do not forsake him, I felt, in the midst of my, strippings, and was therein stayed, that, patience in low times is an excellent anchor, and hope bears up the soul.'

6

Ninth month, 23d. In reading the occurrences of Abraham's life in Elwood's Sacred History, my heart was deeply affected.-Oh! his faith, how firm! his devotion, how lively! See him leave his father's house, his native land, and go forth at the call of the Lord, not knowing whither he went. See him erecting his altar to the Most High, and calling on the name of the Lord the ' everlasting God.' See him on Moriah's mount, resigning his beloved son! What heart, unmoved, can view the transactions of such a life; or read with indifference the dealings of the Almighty with this father of the faithful?-He was the friend of God; and God was his friend. O that we, who boast the light of gospel days, were true successors in the faith of Abraham! a living faith that wrought with his works; and, by his works of righteousness, devotion and true holiness, were made perfect.

In the Eleventh month, in company with other friends, I visited upwards of seventy families within the verge of our Monthly meeting; had great satisfaction in some places, and suffered deeply in others. The Author of all good was with us, and at times greatly refreshed our spirits. In the course of this visit I had to view with sadness those who were overcome by the god of this world. Others I viewed as rising above the world, and laying hold on eternal life. These felt near my spirit in the invisible relationship; and I rejoiced in their success in the Lamb's welfare.

CHAP. V.

His removal to Gloucester-His Sister Sarah's Death-On silent Waiting in Families-Visit to the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings-On strict Plainness and Simplicity of Living-Visits Families at Richmond-The true Light: Sun, Moon, and Stars, alluded to-On the six and seven Days-On the seven Seals.

N the 5th of the Fourth month, 1782, I moved with my

moved with my family to Gloucester, within the limits of the meeting of Uxbridge, a branch of our Monthly meeting; having for some time before believed, under divers considerations, and of different kinds, that it might be best for me to spend a portion of my time in that neighbourhood, about eighteen miles from my home in · North Providence. I fully expected to return again some time or other, but did not know when it might be. I remembered the movements of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and in the recollection thereof, a degree of solid satisfaction was afforded me. I had some outward prospects in removing; but I not only did not aim at wealth, nor expect an increase of outward substance, but I had other and, I trust, higher motives in it than related to my own temporal concerns.

Soon after I became settled there, I found a field of service opening before me in a religious

line, a sense whereof I had for some time had upon my mind previously to this removal. There were a few precious souls here, deeply and well engaged in the cause of truth; and with whose spirits I was often livingly united in travail for the welfare of Sion, and the building of her walls. We had times of deep probation; and, through holy help, many seasons of rejoicing together in the Lord. On the whole, I had frequent confirmations that my being here, was promotive at least of my own growth in the everlasting truth. Lord God of all the holy ancients! be with me I pray thee, and guide me in the way wherein thou wouldest have me to go: no matter where or when, so that thy never-failing presence goes with me in all my travels through the wilderness of this world, to a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Amen!

Very soon after my removal, my dear sister Sarah Hazard, died at her home in South Kingston. She was a religious woman. She improved much in true Christian resignation, and died in a fresh and living sense of heavenly joy. I attended her burial, enjoying, in the midst of my mourning, a satisfaction in a full belief that her removal from a world of anxieties and cares, was a removal to an inheritance in the mansions of bliss.

I have been renewedly confirmed in the great advantage to families, and even to small children, that results from sitting down in solemn silence,

and therein waiting upon God. I have seen the children much broken and tendered in such seasons; so that, even when there has not been a word spoken, the tears have rolled down their cheeks; and their looks have been evidently expressive of heart-felt sensations. This practice also learns them silence and subjection. It curbs their wills and habituates them to restraint, and a patient waiting for their parents permission, to engage in their little diversions. The habits of silence, subjection, and patient waiting for permission, are very useful to children from infancy' to mature age; and many suffer much for want of them.

I have also seen much advantage to children, and indeed to whole families, from the practice of a solemn pause at meals. It learns children stillness, decency, and reverence; and, where it is done in a feeling manner, with minds rightly turned to feel after God, and experience his blessing, and is not practised in a slight formal manner, it tends to season and solemnize the minds of young and old. I have seen it done in a very careless lifeless manner, with scarcely any reverence; divers of the family conversing not far from the table, and scarcely any sense of the Divine presence prevalent in the minds of those around it; and perhaps the pause scarcely long enough to allow of much solid sensibility or reverential acknowledgment of the favours received from the bounty of a gracious God, in the ample