Page images
PDF
EPUB

have done, yet he was frequently concerned, under the influence of gospel love, to visit his Friends in the neighbouring meetings, both in Lancashire and Cheshire, and he took some longer journeys on the same account. In the year 1784, accompanied by his friend Martha Routh, of Manchester, he paid a religious visit to the families of Friends of Penketh Meeting, and immediately after to the families of Friends in Warrington; Rebecca Wright, from America, joining them in the visit, and Sarah Reynolds, of Penketh, to part of the families. From Warrington he proceeded to visit the families of Langtree and Ashton Meetings, Martha Routh and Sarah Reynolds continuing with him. In the discharge of this service, it appears, from information received, that he was much favoured.

[ocr errors]

In 1787, in company with his ancient and beloved friend Sarah Taylor, he visited the families of Friends belonging to Liverpool Meeting. In 1789, he united with Deborah Darby and Rebecca Young in a similar visit to the families of Friends of Manchester Meeting.

In the 8th Month of 1792, died his highly valued friend Richard Shackleton, of Ballitore, in Ireland, in the sixty-sixth year of his age, between whom, and the subject of this memoir, a near friendship and valuable correspondence had subsisted for several years, and to whom several. letters in this volume are addressed.

1

RICHARD SHACKLETON was a man who possessed strong natural powers of understanding, improved by a liberal education, and these being sanctified and brought into subjection to the cross of Christ, he became qualified for distinguished usefulness in the church. He filled, for many years the station of an Elder with great propriety, being eminently furnished, by his Divine Master, with wisdom and ability to communicate encouragement and counsel to such as stood in need. The sense which John Thorp had of the church's and his own loss, from the decease of his friend, appears by a letter which he addressed soon after that event to Abraham Shackleton, and which, coming to the publisher's hands too late to be inserted in its proper place, may not unsuitably be introduced here:

1792.

In justice to thee and myself, I ought sooner to have acknowledged my gratitude for thy condescension, in writing to me the particulars of my dear friend thy father's decease. Looking at the church militant, his death is a loss to all but himself. I sympathize with you, I feel for the church, and regret my particular share in the general loss; his company was to me exceedingly pleasant and lovely. I felt, almost at all times when with him, a more than common union with him; as a man and Christian, I loved him dearly.

I rejoice in that I was much favoured with his company. At our last Yearly Meeting, he condescended to go with me, or take me with him often, in the evenings. I prized the opportunities, and treasure up his remarks as the fruit of experience and mature judgment. I am thankful for the share he allowed me in his friendship; for the instructive opportunities I have had of his conversation, and for the valuable letters I have received from him, by all which I desire to improve.

Give my dear love to thy mother; it is likely her separation from him will be but of short duration. I have no doubt she will soon be with him in the kingdom of Divine joy. With regard to the deceased, doubtless, our loss is his gain. I feel something like congratulation with him, as having arrived safe at the desired port, and entered into the fruition of the glorious reward of good labours. May a double portion of that Spirit which made him bright and useful, rest on all his children, that they may not only walk worthy of such a father, but of that high and holy vocation wherewith we are called, by our heavenly Father, to glory and virtue. To the guidance and protection of Israel's Shepherd, I recommend thee, and all thy father's house, desiring He may have you always in his keeping.

I am, with the salutation of love to thyself, thy family, and sisters, thy affectionate friend,

[merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

In the 8th Month of 1793, John Thorp attended the funeral of his friend Frances Dodshon, who died at Macclesfield, and was there interred. About the 11th Month of this year, he visited the families of Friends in Manchester Meeting, having Martha Routh, before-mentioned, and also his friend Mary Robinson, a minister of the same meeting, as companions in the service.

About the close of the year 1797, in company with Martha Routh, he again visited the families belonging to his own meeting; and soon after, they performed a similar visit to the families of Morley Monthly Meeting.

In the 8th Month, 1802, he left home for London. Whilst there, he sat with Friends in all the meetings in the metropolis, and was at several of those in the neighbourhood. He returned home by Coventry, Warwick, and Birmingham. This journey he mentions in a letter to Richard Reynolds, dated 12th Month 3d.

In the summer of 1806, he wholly declined business, having, through the good providence of God, a sufficiency for his future support. In the 8th Month of this year, he lost, in the sixty-first year of her age, his faithful and affectionate companion, to whom he had been united thirty-one years; she had been in a declining state of health for some months. This loss he very sensibly felt, and has feelingly described in a letter to Richard Reynolds, dated 8th Month 21, 1806.

[ocr errors]

In the year 1808, after attending the Yearly Meeting, he visited all the meetings in the metropolis, and several of those in the vicinity. He left London the 17th of 6th Month, arrived at Bristol the following day, and continued there until the 1st of 7th Month, attending meetings as they came in course. From Bristol he went to Worcester, where he was at the meetings on First day; and on the Third day following he went to Coalbrookdale; after attending several meetings at this place, he returned home, taking, in his way, the Monthly Meeting at Shrewsbury. In many of the meetings, on this journey, he was silent; but in others he was enabled, by his Lord and Master, to preach the gospel in the demonstration of the spirit, and with power, greatly to the comfort and rejoicing of many.

In the year 1812, he found his mind drawn, in gospel love, to unite with Priscilla Hannah Gurney and Susanna Naish, in a religious visit to the families of his own meeting. They had one hundred and nineteen sittings, and accomplished the work in twenty-nine days. At the conclusion of this visit, he accompanied the same friends in a similar one to the Friends of Morley Monthly Meeting. The last service, of this kind, in which he was engaged, was with John Bottomley and Elizabeth Bludwick, in the year 1813, when he accompanied them to most of the families of his own meeting. He was then in his seventy-first

« PreviousContinue »