PREFACE. ALTHOUGH they, who are departed hence in the Lord, can receive no addition to their happiness by any testimonial of their furviving friends, however juft; yet to the wife in heart, precious is the memory of the truly pious and upright, whofe humble walking in the fear of God has livingly witnessed against the appearance of evil in its various transformations; their conformity in fpirit and practice to the holy law of the Lord, evincing the delight and benefit to be found therein; for for "" Verily there is a reward for the "righteous, verily he is a God that judgeth " in the earth." Pfalm lviii. verfe 11. "What scene in this life more dignifies "humanity? what fchool is more profitably "instructive than the death-bed of the righteous, impreffing the understanding with a 66 convincing evidence, that they have not "followed cunningly devised fables, but folid "fubftantial truth; that there is a measure of "divine light and grace in man, which if duly "minded and obeyed, is fufficient to preserve 66 through all the viciffitudes in life, to give "him the victory over his fpiritual enemies, "and in the end over death, hell, and the "grave?"* *Life of James Gough, page 53. iv PREFA CA E. It is right, therefore, that the remembrance of those should be preferved, whofe lights have fo fhone before men, as to excite the beholders of their good works to glorify God, the original, and fource from whom all good is derived; and though being dead, the luftre of their pious example through life, and on the approach of death, may continue to speak the inviting language, “Follow us as we have 5 followed Christ." With this view our yearly-meeting, con fidering that many memorials of our departed friends lay dormant on the records, directed a Collection to be made of fuch of them as were moft likely to be of general benefit by publication, which the committee appointed for the service having performed to the best of their judgment, it is now prefented to the readers, fome of whom will be reminded of the fincere piety and virtue of their ancestors, who through the dangers and difficulties to which they were fubjected, in their removal from their native land, and forming a new fettlement in a wildernefs, were happily preferved in a steady attention to their religious duty, and many of them faithfully engaged in promoting the cause of truth and righteoufnefs among mankind, to whom others fucceeded, who through obedience to the powerful influence of divine grace, became alike eminent in their day, and ferviceable in the church. The following Collection is affectionately recommended to the defcendants of those worthies, to the readers in general, and particularly to the youth, who may derive profitable in ftruction ftruction by a serious.obfervation of the happy effects of an early devotion of heart, and the inexpreffible advantages of embracing the merciful vifitation of the Moft High, to fecure their true comfort in this life, and enduring felicity in that which is to come. Though the language and ftyle of these memorials may not be calculated to please such curious readers, who, in their eftimate of the value of a Book, are too much amused by the difplay of wit and literary accomplishments, in the compofition, to give due attention to the inftructive import of an artlefs account of the Chriftian experiences of thofe, who have not been fo folicitous for the approbation of men, as to be found humble followers of Chrift, their meek and lowly Pattern and Redeemer; but it is hoped, that there are many to whom the contents of this Collection will afford information, edification, and encouragement in the pursuit of their most fubftantial, intereft, a life of true, wisdom, piety, and virtue; and that the number of fuch may increase is the defign of the following publication. ytui |