of the garden roots of the poorest inhabitant, he lost the affections of his hearers, who were quite disgusted with his meanness and avarice. He fell into general disrepute, and many of his neighbors were accustomed to say, they should be glad if the Quakers would take him back again, so that they might be rid of so turbulent a spirit.

There is ground to hope, that near his latter end, he had some hours of serious reflection, wherein he was sensible of the peaceful state he had once enjoyed in fellowship with Friends, and felt remorse for its loss; for, paying a visit to Hurst-pierpoint, and a conversation arising concerning the Quakers, he owned before several persons, "that since he had left them, he had lost one qualification they had amongst them, that in their religious meetings they could stop all thoughts which hindered their devotions, which he very much admired he could never attain to since." And near the close of his life, a Friend paid him a visit; which he appeared to receive kindly, amongst other remarks expressing himself to this effect: "I wish I had died when I was a Quaker, for then I am sure it would have been well with my soul." His decease is supposed to have occurred about the year 1714.

This case of George Keith is one of deep instruction. A neglect of inward watchfulness and daily self-denial had left his mind exposed to the darkening cloud of speculative error; and the pride of a deceived heart prevented his accepting in meekness the labors of love extended for his recovery. "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." But the downfall of individuals is not the downfall of the church. This is founded on a rock, and the Lord can still "send the rod of his strength out of Zion, and rule in the midst of his enemies." Let therefore, the humble, careful traveller be encouraged to look to the great Head of the church, and endeavor to stand faitnful to His cause, watching over his own heart, lest at

any time the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it become unfruitful; "-"looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble" the church, "and thereby many be defiled."

CHAPTER XXXVI.

PETER GARDINER'S JOURNEY TO SCOTLAND, AND DEATH.

IND

N the year 1694, Peter Gardiner, a Friend who lived in Essex, England, had a religious concern to visit Scotland; but being low in circumstances, and having a wife and several children, was under discouragement about it. The Lord in mercy condescended to remove his doubts, by letting him know He would be with him; and though he had no horse to ride, and was but a weakly man, yet that He would give him strength to perform the journey, and sustain him so that he should not want for what was sufficient. Having faith in the Divine promise, he laid his concern before the Monthly Meeting to which he belonged, with innocent weight; and Friends concurring with him therein, he took his journey along the east side of the nation, through Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire; and coming to a meeting in Bridlington, where John Richardson then resided, he lodged at his house. In the evening, the doors being shut, Peter asked him "if any Friend lived that way," pointing with his finger. John told him he pointed towards the sea, which was not far distant. Peter said he believed he must go and see somebody that

way in the morning. John asking him if he should go with him, he replied that he believed it would not be best, and so went to bed.

and

In the morning, when John's wife had prepared breakfast, their guest not appearing, he thought he would go to his chamber and see if the Friend were well; but to his surprise, he found that he was gone. Soon afterwards Peter came in; to whom John said, "Thou hast taken a morning walk; come to breakfast." Before they had done eating, a Friend from the harbor, which lay in the direction to which Peter Gardiner had pointed overnight, came in, and said, "I wonder at thee, John, to send this man with such a message to my house;" and related as follows, viz.: "That he came to him as he was standing at the fishmarket-place, looking on the sea to observe the wind, he asked him if he would walk into his house? To which Peter answered, that he came for that purpose. This was in the twilight of the morning. When he went into the house, Peter inquired whether his wife were well; to which the man answered, that she was sick in bed, and invited him to go in and see her. He said, he came so to do. Being conducted into the chamber, he sat down by the sick woman; and after a short time told her, that the resignation of her mind was accepted instead of the deed, and that she was excused from the journey which had been before her mind, and should die in peace with God and Then turning to her husband, he said, 'Thy wife had a concern to visit the churches beyond the sea; but thou would'st not give her leave; so she shall be taken from thee;' adding, 'Thy wife will be happy; but behold, the Lord's hand is against thee, and thou shalt be blasted in whatsoever thou doest, and reduced to want thy bread.' The man seemed angry with John Richardson, who said to him, "Be still, and weigh the matter; for I knew not of the Friend's going to thy house, but thought he was in

man.

bed; and did not inform him about thee nor thy wife;' at which he went away.

Peter pursued his journey towards Scotland, John Richardson and another Friend going with him to Scarborough, on horseback, for he would not let them go on foot with him. He kept before them as fast as they chose to ride; and when they had gone about halfway, he gained on them, and John was filled with admiration, for he seemed to go with more lightness and ease than ever he had seen any man before. Riding fast to overtake him, he remarked, "thou dost travel very fast;" to which Peter replied, "My Master told me, before I left home, that He would give me hind's feet, and he hath performed his promise to me."

When they came in sight of Scarborough, Peter said, "Do take me to some Friend's house a Friend's indeed - for I am greatly distressed." John replied, “I will take thee to the place where I lodge, and if thou art not easy there, I will go until we find a place, if it may be." And just as they entered the door, they heard some one go up stairs; and the woman of the house coming down, invited them to be seated. In a little while, Peter appeared very uneasy, and said to John, "I cannot stay in this house: here is light and darkness-good and bad." After the woman had got them some refreshment, she came and asked John, "Who hast thou brought here?"—"A man of God," he replied; whereupon they went away. Peter had a meeting at Scarborough the next day, and had good service. He also went to several Friends' houses, and frequently spoke his sense of the state of the families; but as they were about entering one house, he stopped and said to John, "My Master is not there- I will not go in ; they turned away. When John was about leaving him to return home, Peter asked him "if the small-pox was in any town on his way?" John replied, "Why? Peter,

what hast thou to do with that?" To which he answered, "I am satisfied I shall die of that distemper; and my Master told me to make speed in this visit, for I had but a short time to do it in." John Richardson was much affected; and wishing to facilitate Peter's journey, who, he saw, bore the appearance of a poor man, asked him how he was prepared in money; telling him it was expensive travelling in Scotland, Friends were thinly scattered, and the journey was long. Peter answered, "I have enough my Master told me I should not want; and now a bit of bread or some water from a brook, refreshes me as much as a set meal at a table." John, however, insisting to see how much money he had, found it was but two half-crowns; and feeling an immediate impulse to tender him some money, he took from his pocket a number of small pieces. Peter modestly refused them, saying he doubted not his Master's provision; but John forced him to take it, telling him the Lord had put it into his heart; and so they parted.

In about two weeks afterwards, the man's wife at the sea-shore, before mentioned, died, as Peter had foretold. At that time, this man had three ships at sea; his oldest son was master of one, his second son was on board another; and in their voyages they were all wrecked or foundered, their cargoes chiefly lost, and his two sons and several of the hands were drowned. So that, from considerable affluence, he was soon after reduced so low as to be maintained by Friends. The woman at whose house Peter was so uneasy at Scarborough, had put her husband to bed in a state of intoxication; which John Richardson had not before known him to be guilty of.

Peter proceeded into Scotland, and paid a very acceptable visit among Friends of that nation. In the Eleventh month, he was at Aberdeen, Ury, Montrose, &c., where a remarkable out-pouring of the gift of the gospel ministry