EXTRACTS, &c.

I was blessed with tender parents [William and Lettice Knight] who watched over themselves and their families with religious care, endeavouring to keep us out of unsuitable company and to protect us from harm, taking us frequently to meetings; and were themselves very constant attenders, though residing at a distance of several miles, the weather or business seldom, if ever, preventing. My dear mother filled the station of elder: she was an upright hearted woman, remarkable for her integrity. My father was a minister, a man of an humble and contrite spirit, that feared God and hated covetousness; he was a good example to those about him, and much beloved by his friends.

In my early age, I was sensible of the tendering impressions of divine love. I well remember being in the garden by myself, and knew not what it was that so sweetened and affected my heart, that for a considerable time, I felt as though I could not leave the spot; and several times afterwards I took opportunities to retire, and had similar feelings.

As I grew older, I often felt the prevalence of an easy natural disposition, too much, far too much, giving way to indifference in things relating to my

best interest, so that I often desired something might befall me to arouse me from such a spirit of ease and unconcernedness; and after a while kind Providence, whose peculiar care is extended over us, whilst passing the slippery path of youth, inclined my heart to love Him, and permitted me to have an illness which continued some weeks, and in degree awakened me.

About the fifteenth year of my age, I was sent to school, to Martha Winter, (afterwards Routh) of Nottingham, whom I much esteemed. She was

concerned to example her family in the path of humility, and carefully watched over herself, lest any thing like passion should arise when cross occurrences happened. This striving against natural disposition and temper was a striking example in her, truly worthy of imitation, and caused those under her care to serve her from love rather than fear.

While (at school) I was beset with temptations to evil, the envier of my comfort, often drew my mind into carelessness and forgetfulness of that precious influence I had been favoured with, which would have gathered and kept me within the fold, had it been attended to. Tenderness of heart was, in mercy, sometimes granted; and I often repented in the night of the commissions of the day. Many hours I have been awake, pressed with painful feelings, whilst my companion has been asleep. Dear Martha, who always manifested a Christian care over us, was one evening, after reading, particularly led to supplicate for the preservation of the children of believing parents, in which these words were uttered, "Oh!

prepare them to appear before thee, clothed in white, that their parents may have to say, Here are we with those that thou hast given us'". '-which words sunk deep into my heart, knowing that I had religious parents. I often got alone, and begged for preservation. One day, hearing a boy in the street using grievous expressions and making use of the Sacred Name, I trembled, and breathed to my gracious Protector to preserve me from such hardness of heart.

The prospect of leaving school, which occurred about two years after, was a trial to me, believing that I should be exposed in various ways, some time after which I went to reside with my uncle, John Stanley, at a farm of my father's about three miles distance: he was a solid conscientious man, much given to retirement, often walking alone in solitary places, and justly merited the testimony borne of him at his funeral, "An Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile." He died the 22nd of 2nd mo. 1782. During my residence with him, I was much tossed with tempest and not comforted, and tried with temptations which were permitted almost to overwhelm me; yet being much alone my heart was often poured out in secret to a compassionate Saviour for preservation, and I was at times favoured to partake, in some degree, of those joys with which a stranger cannot intermeddle. My parents frequently came and spent a while with us. One day my father was sitting looking into the garden, and called me to him to shew me the bough of an

apple tree which was bent down by the weight of fruit that was upon it, very instructively remarking, that fruit bearing branches must bow to the root of life in themselves.

About this time, it pleased unerring wisdom to take to himself my dear uncle, who had a tender care over me, we often walked about four miles to meeting together, and he would sometimes enter into serious conversation by the way; and I believe would have loved me sincerely if I (like himself) had submitted to a self-denying life; but my spirit wanted much bringing down and humbling. In the day I was much employed; in the night I often felt sad, and watered my pillow with my tears: belief also fixed on my mind that it would be required of me to tell to others that "the Lord is good," for indeed I felt him so. I had many comforts as well as hidden exercises, which none knew but the Lord alone. The cry of my heart was, "Send by whom thou wilt send, send not by me."

In the year 1782, I married Stephen Hagger of Hertford, I saw difficulty and trouble in my way, and so did my affectionate father for me, yet he with myself believed, if I kept near the Fountain of Life I should be preserved, and I can truly say, that my heart was much humbled by the consideration that I did what I believed was my duty; and as I was about to leave my father's house outwardly, strong cries were raised, that my heavenly Father might be near, which in adorable mercy I experienced in proportion to my attention to the "still small voice."

It pleased providence to take my dear father, on the 30th of 11th mo. 1787, from a state of much bodily suffering to that of never-ending joy. I spent about six weeks with him during his last illness, which has afforded me many comfortable reflections. He had his servants called in as he found his strength would bear, and gave them advice suitable to their station, pressing upon them to persevere in a steady care, to act honestly, &c. For us, his children, he also felt an earnest solicitude, that we might be careful to live in the fear of the Lord, and be a help and comfort one to another and to our aged mother. He was favoured with a calm and peaceful mind, and had full assurance of eternal happiness, which he expressed in much tenderness to several Friends who came to see him. At one time, he said, he could adopt the language of the apostle, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

I felt the loss of my father much; few loved a parent better, and few were blessed with one more worthy. Soon after this, my dear mother began to decline, and died in about two years. She enjoyed a resigned mind, and there was every reason to believe she made a happy close.

I was now bereaved of both my parents, my family increased, and my trials also: I felt that I had none