places. I was moved to travel into Leinster, and went from place to place, as the Lord's good Spirit guided me."

"I went to Mullingar, and lodged there one night, where was a trooper that was convinced, who rode with me several miles the next day, and continued coming to meetings. I came that night to Finagh; but the inn-keepers refused me lodging, for they knew I was a 'Quaker.' It was winter, and cold weather; so I inquired for the constable, and told him he must provide me lodging, for I was a traveller, had money to pay for what I should have, and had been at the inns, where they refused me lodging. He kept an ale-house, and had also refused me; but after much discourse, he told me I must be content with such lodging as he had for me. I told him to let me have a room with a fire, and hay for my horse, and I would be content. So I alighted, went into the house, and there were troopers drinking. They soon perceived what I was, and began to scoff, and ask me many questions, which I answered n my freedom; but when I 'thee'd' and 'thou'd' them in our discourse, they were very angry; and one of them swore, if I 'thou'd' him again, he would cleave my head. But in our discourse, when it came in its place, I thou'd' him again; and he starting up in anger, drew his sword; but one of his corporals sitting by him stopped him, and commanded him to put up his sword, for there should be no cleaving of heads there; so caused the troopers to go to their quarters; but he stayed with me discoursing late in the night, and was convinced, being tender, received the Truth, and came to meetings.

"About this time we had a meeting at Belturbet, and the Lord's power and presence was with us; but the provost of the town was an envious man, who came with some rude people, broke up our meeting, and took us to prison, both men and women. We were all night in a very cold place, and the women mightily pinched with cold, it being frost

and snow. The next morning he set all the other Friends at liberty, but me he put in the stocks in the market-place; and people gathered about me, where I had an opportunity to preach the truth to them; which they heard with soberness, were tender, and reflected much upon the provost for abusing us.

"Robert Wardell then (being but a boy) told the provost, he had set a better man than himself in the stocks, and there was a time when such as he durst not have meddled with me: wherefore the provost took him, and set him in the stocks by me. But his father heard of it, and threatened the provost with the law; so Robert Wardell was soon taken out of the stocks; who being convinced, kept with Friends, and afterwards became a serviceable man for Truth, and a preacher of it.

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The people were much dissatisfied with the provost; so he sent his officer to let me loose; who opened the stocks, and bade me 'take out my leg, for I might go my way.' I told him, 'I had been grossly abused, and made a public spectacle to the people, as though I had done some great offence, but I was not convicted of the breach of any law; so let the provost come himself and take me out, for he put me in.' The provost came and opened the stocks, bidding me 'take out my leg.' I told him, 'No; for he had made me a spectacle to the people, and I knew no law that I had broken; but let him take out my leg, that put it in.' So he opened the stocks with one hand, and took my leg out with the other."

CHAPTER VIII.

CONVINCEMENT OF HUMPHREY BACHE.

HE conversion of Humphrey Bache, about the year 1655,

THE conversion ofs and religion of the world, to those

pure and undefiled principles of Truth under which many seeking souls were now gathering into a visible church, was a remarkable instance of the efficacy of the Light of Christ, received and cherished in the mind, not only to show forth sin in its true character in a manner widely different from the maxims of human policy, but also, in its cleansing operations on the heart, to constrain the subject of its power to righteous confession and compensation for wrongs or injuries committed.

He was brought up a goldsmith in the city of London; but the civil war breaking out between Charles the First and the Parliament, his business failed to afford him a maintenance, and he applied to the leaders of the popular party for some office. He was accordingly employed as an overseer of workmen engaged in building the fortifications about London. His allowance was three shillings a day, with which, for a time, he was well contented. He frequently observed that some of the other overseers would go with those they employed, and treat them to strong drink. Being told by one of the workmen, that the money so spent did not come out of the salaries of those officers, he inquired how that could be. "Do you not know," said his informant, "they can sometimes set down a man more than they employ; or if that cannot so well be, set down for some, two pence a-day more than they give." This was a new idea to Humphrey, who being off his guard, Satan worked therein with much subtilty to betray him. His honesty of

purpose at last gave way, and he began to covet more than his wages; and his heart becoming corrupt in its desires, he soon proved unfaithful to his trust, and acting on the hint he had received, he robbed the commonwealth of its dues. During the time he remained in this employment, the amount he took, more than his wages, was about six pounds.

Of course he had no peace of mind, and was often troubled at the thought of the wrong he was doing. But he had departed from his God, through the inward operations of whose Holy Spirit he might have found preservation from all evil; and he now had no will nor strength to resist the temptation. Encouraging himself in the deceitfulness of his heart, his spiritual eye became, for a time, so far blinded, that he did not see the evil to be so great as it first appeared. His heart was hardened through his continued violation of right, until at length he went on without much conviction or remorse.

When the fortifications around London were completed, Humphrey obtained a situation in the custom-house. Having yet some fear of his Heavenly Father remaining in him, he discharged his duty, for a season, with true fidelity. So long as he retained that fear, he was preserved from joining with those about him in robbing the public treasury. At this time he often felt bitterness of soul for what he had formerly done; and this assisted him, as he firmly resisted all bribes, withholding his lips from the proffered wine-his hand from the tempting silver.

His companions, who had departed from honesty and simplicity, into that serpentine wisdom which uses its plausible pretences to lead others astray, advanced many specious arguments to persuade him to act as they did. Listening from time to time to their beguiling words, he was at length staggered; for he had not as yet learned, that man's only safety from sin depends on his turning away

from the arguments, enticements and examples of unregenerate men, watching unto prayer, and seeking unto God for wisdom to know, and strength to execute His will. He saw that others were violating their oaths, regardless of their duty; and this strengthened the natural covetousness of his heart. Nothing that he heard or saw, had so great an influence on him, as the unfaithfulness of the members of the "Long Parliament," which was then sitting; and he had no hesitation in telling them afterwards, that it was through their evil example, he had been led to violate his trust.

He soon fell from his integrity, and again sought by unfair means to increase his wages. Yet the Lord, in love to his soul, followed him with reproofs and corrections; and in order to break his hard heart, judgment after judgment was administered to him. He continued, however, going on in the same course of iniquity, until through the inward rebukes of the Holy Spirit, he was filled with fear and terror. Being now devoid of comfort, he became very irritable. A small thing would ruffle his temper, and lead him to quarrel with his dearest friends. He who had been very loving and gentle towards his wife, was now so peevish, so fretful, and so froward, that he would often break out into fits of anger with her, even when she spoke mildly and pleasantly to him.

For a long time he felt the weight of condemnation upon him, and had many thoughts as to what he must do to find relief. Sometimes he thought of making restitution, confessing what he had done, and surrendering himself to the commissioners, to deal with him as they should think best. His heart, however, was not yet rightly subdued; and though for the last year he held the office he scrupulously refused to take more than his due, he still retained the gain of his former wickedness.

We have seen that Francis Howgill and Edward Bur