truly sensible of my own imperfections and nothingness without thee; that so my dependance may be altogether in thee alone. I never feel so easy and quiet in mind, after speaking, as when my attention has been closely kept to the Divine motion, delivering only those things that arise in the pure openings of Light and Life. In this watchful state, from very small beginnings, considerable enlargements have been known. All the operations of the Divine gift of gospel ministry are wonderful, and out of the reach of the carnally-minded man. Oh! that I may be wholly weaned from all self-sufficiency, that great enemy to the purity of gospel worship and ministry.

The 6th of the 12th month, I attended Concord monthly meeting, and thought there was a want of fathers in the church. Yet I am sometimes comforted in believing, that in most places there are some of the youth under the preparing hand. Next day, I was at Uwchlan monthly meeting, and had satisfaction in being there: after which, I made a visit to father Lightfoot's to our mutual joy and comfort, and returned home on seventh-day.

1st month 5th, 1787. I have often thought, that Friends render themselves less useful in the neighbourhoods where they reside, by neglecting small intimations of love or duty towards their friends and neighbours, than they otherwise would be, if they were honest and faithful. Were we all subject to that Power which has effected a reformation in ourselves, it would animate and quicken us with a lively concern for our fellow creatures, when we see them remiss in their duties. I have frequently, on missing a Friend from meeting, let him know my concern on his account. But alas! for want of obedience to little

manifestations of duty one towards another, we do not advance so as to become as pillars in the Lord's house. Hence, it is evident that fathers and mothers in the church are wanting; upright, honest-hearted, concerned Friends are much needed in most places. Yet there are a few, who go mourning on their way, on account of the low state of society. These are engaged often to weep as between the porch and the altar, and to intercede for those who are lukewarm and indifferent, that they may be quickened to more diligence.

In this month, Richard and Thomas Titus, from Long Island, being on a religious visit in these parts, were at our meeting on first-day, also had a meeting with the youth, to good satisfaction. I wish every such opportunity may be blest to them.

Friends who are engaged to labour in Truth's service, have need to be very careful they do not get baffled by taking in too many prospects at once; neither should they suffer themselves to be drawn aside by other Friends laying out work for them. Sometimes Friends may get bewildered for want of attending to the pattern showed them in the mount. We never get along with more solid satisfaction to our own minds, and to feeling, concerned Friends among whom our lots may be cast, than when we keep simply and singly to the openings of Truth. By this means, we are kept from burdening our friends, both at home and abroad. Oh! that these remarks may be treasured up by myself and all others concerned in the important work of the ministry.

20th. I attended the burial of my dearly beloved, and much esteemed friend, Edith Sharpless, wife of Joshua. Her removal, being sudden and unexpect

ed, deeply affected my mind. I mourned the church's great loss. I loved her as a sister, and respected her as a mother, whose example was very precious.When I met her in a distant part of the continent, hundreds of miles from our dear connexions and friends, how did our souls rejoice in seeing and feeling each other in the precious life of Truth! Dear Edith, I have known thee, when under the direction of Him who raised thee up, and whom thou delighted to serve, to stand as upon the holy mountain; from whence thou hast sounded forth a clear and certain sound, in the strength and power of Him who clothed thee with majesty and zeal. Thou wast bold and undaunted in his cause; thou regarded not the face of man. How have the stout-hearted been made to bow under the power of the Word that flowed thro thee! The hard and rocky heart has often been pierced, and obliged to confess that thou spake as one having authority. But to the tender babes and lambs of Christ, thy words dropped as the rain; yea, thy speech distilled as the dew,-as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass. Oh! how sweetly comforting, strengthening and reviving, hast thou been instructed to hand forth doctrine to those who were inquiring the way to Zion! Surely, thou wast a well-instructed scribe; thou hadst the tongue of the learned; thy bow abode in strength, and thou wast enabled skilfully to handle the bright sword, and the glittering spear of Divine Truth.

0 my dear friend, when I think of the loss sustained by thy removal from us, I weep, and my heart seems melted with sorrow;-but not on thy account; nay, verily. It is sealed upon my spirit, that the God whom thou didst serve, has taken thee to him

self, and that thou now enjoyest the blessed mansion of eternal glory. And though thou hast, as it were, stepped aside out of sight, yet I feel thy spirit near in the seed of life, and my spirit is as sensibly united with thine as ever it was when thou wast in the body. Had it been the will of God to have spared thee longer with us, how agreeable it would have been to have thy sweet and instructive company and service. But it is right for us poor worms in deep humility to say, Not mine, but thy will, O Father, be done.

She was justly ranked among the worthies in our Israel, and was worthy of double honour, for the work's sake in which she faithfully laboured. Surely, she will remain fresh on the minds of those who had an intimate knowledge of her, and were in some good degree acquainted with her worth: yea, as long as we remain here below, she will be present with us in endeared remembrance. David mourned over persons of less account in religious matters, and we may well mourn the loss of our dearly beloved friend. She is taken away from us in a low time in society; yet surely, He who has called her home to himself, knows best what is best for us. 'Twas his power that raised her up, and qualified her for usefulness in his church and family; and he can raise up others in her stead.

In the early part of the 2d month, I accompanied our beloved friend, John Townsend, of London, to Darby meeting; and the same afternoon we visited four families, to good satisfaction. Next day, we were at a meeting at Providence, and rode to Martha Sharpless's, where we had a favoured time with her family in the evening. The day following, were at the select Quarterly meeting at Concord, which was

small by reason of the wet weather. On first-day, we attended Chichester meeting; and in the evening, John Townsend had a meeting appointed at a Friend's house, between Concord and Chichester; to which a good many people came, considering the wetness of the evening, and John was favoured in testimony amongst them. He is an example of industry: the like I have not lately witnessed. On second and third-days, we attended the Quarterly and youth's meetings at Concord, which were solidly conducted. John Townsend came home with me, and next day was at our monthly meeting, where he had good service: Oh! that it may be blest to the people.

While I was from home, one of our children got badly burned; which had a humbling reach on my mind when I saw the dear, suffering babe. I was ready to think it was a lesson of reproof to me; for I had been for several days remarkably cheerful, and sometimes thought I carried it rather too far. There is a liberty in the Truth, and among the friends of it; yet I am very sensible at times, as Paul was, that there is need of care lest we abuse this liberty.

About this time, I wrote to my young friend, Thomas Byrnes, as follows:

Dear friend, Thou art still in my remembrance, and at times, I feel anxiously desirous that thou mayst be preserved out of the ways of folly. Thou seest, dear child, that many, yea, very many are walking in the broad way of libertinism; gratifying the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life; living as without the knowledge of God in the world, and neglecting the great concerns of the world to Oh! that thou may beware, lest through the power of persuasion thou shouldst be drawn aside in

come.