A TESTIMONY

FROM THE

MONTHLY MEETING OF PROVIDENCE,

CONCERNING

JOB SCOTT.

OUR beloved friend Job Scott was born in Providence, the 18th of 10th month, 1751, new style, in that part of it now North Providence. His parents were John and Lydia Scott, who gave him such opportunities as, through his turn for literary improvement, he acquired both a competent share of common school learning, and made some progress in some other branches of literature.

In his young years it appears, that by disregarding the reproofs of instruction, manifested in his own mind, he was drawn into vanity, dissipation, and folly. Repeated and great were his conflicts between his depraved propensities and the convictions of truth; but the latter humbling and melting his heart into contrition, he was graciously favoured to see the evil of his ways, and the destruction which awaited him if he did not reject the tempter, forsake his wicked companions, and turn to the Lord, in obedience to his holy law written in his heart; until at length he so learned obedience by the things which he suffered, that he gave up to the operations of the spirit of Christ upon him, in the faith of its divine, restraining, preserving, and sanctifying power, and therein experienced the consolation of his Heavenly Father's love.

Being thus humbled under the various turnings of the Lord's hand upon him, and clearly convinced of the power and effiVOL. I.-2

cacy of the distinguishing principle of our holy profession, viz. the light of Christ within man, as God's gift for his salvation, he requested the care, and became a member of the Monthly Meeting of Smithfield, then extending to Providence; and being of strong and ready abilities, and his mind improved and enlarged by the sanctifying power of Truth, he was enabled, and zealously and very usefully disposed for the promotion of the cause of righteousness in which he was engaged.

Having, in the school of Christ, measurably learned the mystery of the fall and restoration of man, and to understand the scriptures and pertinently to apply them, he was brought under the preparing hand of the Lord for the work of the ministry; under which dispensation his soul was deeply baptized and brought under great sympathy with seeking souls, who were travailing in birth that Christ might be formed in them, to whom he was at times and seasons enabled powerfully to administer encouragement and consolation. Thus for several years, as well as by letters and epistles, for which he was eminently gifted with instructive and edifying talents, he laboured for the promotion of the cause of truth, now become precious in his sight; and about the 23d year of his age he appeared in the ministry, at a public meeting in Providence, expressive of the desire of his soul, that "Sion might arise and shake herself from the dust of the earth, and put on her beautiful garments." The gravity in which he appeared, the sympathy which was felt, and the solemnity of that season, are refreshingly remembered by some to the present day.

At this time he taught a school in Providence, in which employ he continued for several years, and afterwards in Smithfield, much to the satisfaction of his employers, and the children and youth under his care, whose confidence and affections he very generally gained and preserved, to some of whom his memory is yet precious. In his attendance of all our religious meetings, and in the various duties of private life, as well as in the relations of son, husband, parent, and neighbour, he was truly exemplary. His appearance in the ministry was not very frequent when at home, and he was frequently led into an example of silence when abroad, circumspect not to minister with

out fresh anointing, and careful in attending closely to the turnings of the key of David; well knowing when that shuts none can open, and therefore, when he perceived his subject to close and the life withdraw, however clear his opening, and free the spring of life had been at his beginning, he would suddenly sit down, however in the cross; for he had a testimony to bear against all superficial and lifeless ministry, and very exemplarily avoided it.

His first visit abroad was to the northerly parts of the Yearly Meeting of New York, which proved a season of close probation and conflict of mind, yet endeavouring to attend to the pointings of duty from place to place, he was, as appears by his certificates, favoured to return with the approbation of those he visited; and by a prospect which it appears he had as he was returning home, not wholly unlike the apostle Paul's, 2 Cor. xii., he was strengthened to perseverance in a dedication of heart to the Lord: for, in this luminous and extatic prospect, it appeared to him, that all his corruptions and spots were made. clean before the Lamb, and he made to partake of the consolations and joys of the heavenly host. Yet, like the apostle, he had soon to experience a thorn in the flesh, lest he should be exalted above measure, and even the messenger of satan was permitted to buffet him; but he besought the Lord for his preservation, and received the consoling answer of " My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Thus buffeted, tried, and tempted, he had to tread in the steps of the great apostle, and his dear Lord and Master, and thereby became more perfected through sufferings.

He afterwards visited New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania twice, and once the Southern states as far as Georgia, returning certificates of the approbation of those he visited, among whom we have good reason to believe he has left many seals of his gospel ministry, and impressions of near and dear unity and fellowship with him as a brother beloved, as well in these as in other parts of our own Yearly Meeting. He also visited some part of the state of Connecticut, and had meetings among those not of our society. Soon after which a prospect, that for some years before had opened to his view, of visiting Great Britain

and Ireland, had so ripened on his mind, as to induce him to open the same to his friends, for their concurrence and certificate. In the ninth month, 1792, he received one from this Monthly Meeting, and also one in the tenth month from our Quarterly Meeting for Rhode Island. On the 26th of the 11th month he took a solemn leave of his family and friends at home, and sailed from Boston the 5th of the 12th month, for Dunkirk in France. On the passage the ship sprung a leak, and had a severe gale of wind; but it appears this our friend was preserved "resigned and stayed through all," while the mariners on board were tossed with amazement and terror; corresponding with a prospect which he received, and recorded in his Journal left at home, about twelve months before he sailed. On a view of which a striking evidence is thereby raised, that prophecy, or communication to the mind of future events, has not ceased; but that the Lord still continues graciously to open his visions of light to his devoted servants, by way of pointing to duty, forewarning of events, and guiding the mind through them, in confirmation of divine superintendence, and their faith in his gracious appearance.

He arrived at Dunkirk the 5th of the 1st month, and after tarrying there about ten days, much to his own and Friends' satisfaction, he proceeded to England, taking some meetings in Kent; went to London, attended the different meetings in that city; then into Wales, and attended the several monthly and quarterly meetings, and the Yearly Meeting at Carmathan; thence to Bristol, and, returning to London, attended the Yearly Meeting there, who, in their epistle to ours, speak of him in a very satisfactory manner. He then went to Liverpool, taking meetings in his way, and so passed over to Ireland, and visited all the meetings of Friends and some of other societies there; attended the national Half-year's Meeting in Dublin; and, while visiting a few meetings a second time, he was taken ill of the small-pox, at the house of our friend Elizabeth Shackleton, in Ballitore, from whence he dictated a letter, on the 14th of the 11th month, to his relations and friends; out of which, and an account taken by the Friends who attended him, we extract the following. He says, "I am now twenty-eight Irish miles

from Dublin, entered five days into the small-pox; I feel easiest to address you, principally that you may know my mind enjoys that which removes beyond all sorrow." Of his children he says, “I wish them to get a little more learning than some of them are at present in the way of; and although I do not wish much of the world's polish, yet it is, at this awful moment, my desire that they may not be brought up with much rusticity, for this I believe has not very often contributed either to civil or religious usefulness. My desire for my children's substantial growth in the truth, and strict adherence to all its discoveries to the close of their days, is by far my principal wish for them. Out of the enjoyment of a good degree of this precious inheritance, I know of nothing in this world worth living for. Ye that know it, suffer nothing, I most cordially beseech you, ever to divert your minds from an increasing and fervent pursuit after the fulness of it; even unto the measure and stature of the fulness of Christ." At another time he said, "My spirits are under little or no depression; perhaps I never saw a time before, when all things not criminal were so nearly alike to me in point of any disturbance to the mind. When I verge a little towards sleep, I am all afloat, from the state of my nerves, and forced immediately from beginning repose; but through all, the soul seems deeply anchored in God:"-adding, "My heart seems melted within me in retrospective view; all the former conflicts, however grievous in their time, are lighter now than vanity, except as they are clearly seen to have contributed largely to the sanctification of the soul; as they are remembered with awfulness and gratitude before Him who has not been wanting to preserve through them all; and as they seem likely to introduce, before long, an exceeding and eternal weight of glory." At another time he said, "It is the Lord that enables to coincide with his will, and say amen, to all the trials and conflicts he permits to attend us. My mind is centred in that which brings into perfect acquiescence. There is nothing in this world worth being enjoyed out of the divine will."

He gave directions, that if he should go hence, every thing about his interment should be plain and simple; expressed his entire resignation to divine disposal; and that he found nothing