Truth, always speaketh good, and for a good end, and that there is Divine life to the soul in this speaking; but the devil never speaks good, unless sometimes for a bad end, and then not good in reality, only coloured with a good or fair shew.

And keeping under this exercise, the Lord appeared to me again, and many times refreshed my heart with his goodness. And when I was in my business amongst men, I did witness the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, to be near me; which was more to me than all the world, or the riches, glory, and beauty of it; the love of God being so sweet to my soul and spirit, my breathings, prayers, and supplications, were to the Lord, that my neighbours, acquaintance, and relations, might also partake of the like precious faith and love which I enjoyed; and that the children of men might answer that great and good end for which the Lord did create them; which is, that glory, honour, and praise, might ascend and be given to him.

I had such a sense and fear of dishonouring God, that I often, with tears, cried, "Never let me live to dishonour thee. Oh! it had been better for me that I had never been born, or my mother's womb had been my grave, than that I should live to dishonour thee, or wilfully reproach the name of Christ, who, with the Father, is only worthy of Divine honour."

In this concern I felt the gospel power of our Lord Jesus Christ to work upon my soul, and the word of God was as a seed in my heart, growing and opening in me, speaking to me, and making my understanding fruitful in the things of His kingdom; and in that ability which was given me of God, through his grace and Holy Spirit, I exhorted people to repentance and amendment of life and I always humbly desired the help and divine influence of God's eternal Word therein. Oh! I did fervently pray, that I might minister the gospel in the power of Jesus; for I clearly discerned, in the light of the Son of God, that all ministering out of Christ's power, was neither edifying nor efficacious unto souls: therefore I did earnestly beseech God for the continuance of the gift of his Spirit, that I might be enabled to preach the gospel in the power of Christ Jesus. The concern that was upon me on this account at that time, is hard to be expressed in words.

The latter end of the year 1695, my father sent me into Essex, on some business, which when I had accomplished, I visited some meetings of friends there, and my mind being much affected with the apprehension of an impending storm, (the nation being about this time threatened with an invasion from France, in favour of the late king James, so that there was expectation of much bloodshed and confusion in the

land,) I wrote a letter to my parents, and anoher to friends of the evening meeting, (kept eekly at my father's house,) expressing my geat thankfulness to the Almighty, in remembrance of the many precious visitations of Divin love and favour we had been made partakers of, to the uniting our hearts to him, and to one another; and my earnest prayers and supplications, that we might be preserved in true love, and the unity of the Spirit, which is the bond of everlasting peace; and that the world might be made sensible of this true peace, which abounds in those who love and fear the Lord, and truly believe in the name of Jesus. Oh! surely they would then depart from sin, and abandon iniquity, by which they incur the wrath of the Lord, and provoke the Just One to anger; so that the line of confusion seems to be stretched over the city and nation, and the eye of the faithful seeth it to the grief of their souls. Yet the mercy of the Lord, even of the just God (who will render a just reward to every one according to his deeds done in the body) is still handed forth to the land. Oh! that the inhabitants thereof would consider their ways, and be wise, and turn to the Lord with unfeigned repentance, while the day of mercy lasteth, before it be said, "Now it is hid from thine eyes," for the Lord, even the God and father of spirits hath said, "My

Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh." Gen. vi. 3.

On the expiration of my apprenticeship, having served my father faithfully seven years I entered more strongly into covenant with ny heavenly Father and Master, to serve him all my days, through his assistance; and was soon after drawn forth, in the Spirit and love of Christ, to visit the meetings of Friends westward from London, viz. through Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Devonshire, and Corn. wall, to the Land's End; in which journey I was accompanied by William Hernould. At one of our meetings at Falmouth, in Cornwall, two men (called gentlemen) came from the inn to hear the strangers; and after meeting, they could take their oaths that I was a Jesuit, and that they had heard me preach in a Romish chapel in France; which was utterly false for I was never in France in my life. Besides, had I been a Papist, or popishly inclined, (which I was not) I was too young to be a Jesuit.

Indeed I thought I was mean for the work of the ministry, but the good Remembrancer brought those truths to my remembrance, which strengthened me in the work and service of God. The spirit breatheth where it listeth. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise, &c." We, having great

peace in our labours in this journey, and being elified therewith, returned to London, after about four months absence from home.

And after I had been two weeks at home, my dear mother departed this life in a sweet frame of spirit, praising the Lord. She was one who lived the life of the righteous, and whose latter end was like theirs, and left a good report behind her, being well beloved (I think I may safely say) by all our neighbours; not only by those of our own society, but others also, to whom she was often very helpful.

So I went to my calling, and got a little money, (a little being enough,) which I was made willing to spend freely, in the work and service of my great Master Christ Jesus. And about this time I was concerned to travel into the North of England, and part of Scotland, which I did in that ability God gave me; and that dispensation which I had freely received, I freely handed forth to the people, devoting my strength and time to serve Him, (that had done so much for me,) and I had the satisfaction to find divers confessing the truth, as it is in Jesus. In this journey I was from home about four months, being mostly alone as to any yoke-fellow in that work, travelling many hundreds of miles, being as far as Edinburgh in Scotland, where our meeting was in the street, we being locked out of our meeting-house by