at this season in a low and cold state. My path was strewed with many perplexities; and I was at a loss how or where to settle. Trade I much feared; and yet I

did not see how I could do without it. My family consisted of thirty persons, of whom some were rather unruly. I saw the need of taking the reins into my own hands, and supplying the place of my friend Ryan. But this determination was very difficult to execute; and I daily and hourly felt my insufficiency. While she was alive, I considered her as a mother, and, like the other young women, desired her to allot me my rules and employments; or at least to assist me in the choice of them. These were,-First, An attention to the spiritual affairs of the family. Secondly, Taking care for their sustenance, Thirdly, Instructing the children. Fourthly, Meeting each member of the family, one by one, at fixed times. Fifthly, Superintending, by turns, the more public meetings of the society. Sixthly, Attending my friend in her frequent illnesses; with the direction and manage. ment of the sick. But the care of the kitchen, buying in the stores, managing the needlework, with many other articles of direct housekeeping, I was quite unaccustomed to. While I lived in my father's house I saw very little of domestic affairs, because we lived rather high; so that I was quite a stranger to that kind of management needful for a great family, who had but little to live on. Besides, the manner of life here was entirely different from what I had been used to about London. Here wheat was to be bought to make flour; bread to be made; cows to be managed; men servants to be directed; with a variety of particulars in housekeeping quite new to me. Had my friend been spared, all this would have been a pleasure; but now my spirits were so depressed, every thing appeared a burden:-and when I had provided as well as I could, some persons in my family would despisingly say my victuals were not worth eating; and that I knew not how to order any thing. I had frequent letters from distant parts, some pitying, some upbraiding me; and informing me, at the same time, "The stories which we hear carried about concerning you, come all from the members of your family." O! said I, I have not abode in my Saviour as I ought; I have gone down to Egypt for

help, and therefore is all this come upon me: otherwise, I should still inherit that word, applied to me with power in the first gathering of my household, "Thou art my hope and my fortress, my castle and deliverer, my defender in whom I have trusted; who subdueth the people that are under me.' I mentioned before, that we had met with a large house, in part furnished, which was of great service, as my own furniture was not yet arrived. There was land to it, and though dear, I saw it a providence, and an asylum till we could fix better. In the ordering of the outdoor affairs, Mr. Taylor was very useful to me, and indeed had not he and his wife been with me, I do not think I should ever have got through some difficulties which I had to encounter. One day he brought me word of a farm very cheap, with a freehold estate adjoining thereto, on which were malt kilns, a small house, and many outbuildings. The farm was large; and he thought, if beside the farm house, we were to build one big enough for our family, it would be cheaper than to rent a house. I was very averse to the undertaking; but there was no time to lose, as many were seeking after it. I went to Leeds, to consult the most judicious of my friends, in particular Mr. R., a man well acquainted with business, and the most intimate friend I had in Yorkshire. He answered, "You may look on this, as Isaac did when he found a well, for which they did not strive." He said, "The Lord hath made room for us in the land.” added he, "may you say; for had you waited a dozen years, you might not have met with such an opportunity." I objected "that I did not understand it, and that perhaps it would sink, instead of increasing my income." He replied, "Richard Taylor knows well how to manage it, if you do not; and I have no doubt that it will clear you a hundred and fifty pounds a year, which will be good interest for your money." I now remembered the reflection cast on me at Laytonstone, viz., "If she wants to do good with her fortune, let her take up a little trade. She talks of the poverty of Jesus; let us see her work at a trade as he did." That thought had much weight with me. I prayed for light, and took the place; bought the estate, formed the plan for the house, and set about it. The first mark of the favour of God was, we had some

"So,"

of our work people converted, so that before half the house was built we had a good class. The desire after purity of heart was much revived among the neighbouring socie ties; and I found in many ways there was a wider field opened for doing good than I had ever before experienced. I had some among the members of my family also, who were very helpful in the work of God. By settling on a new plan, I found it more easy to draw things into my own hand. I removed some, and put others into their proper place.

The building I found no cheaper than in the south, or but little so it cost a good deal more than at first proposed. The farm took a great deal to stock, and bring into order; and as most of my capital lay in an estate, (or in that sum my dear father on his deathbed so lamented that he had tied up from me,) I had not suffi cient for all the expenses, with the purchase of the freehold; and was obliged to take up money on interest, which I hoped to pay off at fifty pounds per year. The malt kilns seemed to answer well, and cleared the first year fifty pounds above all expenses.

Our call was a good deal abroad in the work of God, and we had encouragement therein. A few (and at that time but a few) in that part had a desire after holiness. Some years before this, sister Crosby had spent a little time in Yorkshire. She told them what a wonderful work of sanctification God was carrying on in London. Many were affected with her words, and two or three in this place retained the light and power then given to them. These we agreed to meet once a fortnight; and unite our cry to the Lord, that he would pour out a spirit of conviction on his people, and that the neighbouring societies might be stirred up to seek for purity of heart. We had not met many times before the answer came; one and another begged to join in our Wednesday night meetings, and our number increased to about fifty, all of whom were ardently desiring, or sweetly brought into that liberty. When we grew too numerous, (for they began to come from many miles around,) I advised those who were able, to gather a meeting of the same kind, near their own homes. This was attended with many blessings. We sometimes visited those infant meetings, and they in

creased and spread as well as ours. It must be observed, none were admitted as members into our meeting, but those who were truly awakened to seek for holiness, as before they had been to seek for pardon. Others, if we judged them sincere, were sometimes occasionally admitted but we were very careful whom we considered as fixed members. Of these I had a separate list; and about once a quarter met them apart from the others. I felt myself led to enforce on them some particular observations, which they frequently asked me to set down on paper. I did, therefore, set them down as follows:As you have expressed a desire that I would give you on paper the few observations I have sometimes made on Wednesday nights, I will endeavour so to do, as far as I can recollect. And if my dear Lord is pleased to help you through so weak an instrument, he shall have the more abundant praise.

First, I would recommend you to be very careful whom you admit into your meeting. Consider no one as member thereof who is not steadily seeking after Christian perfection; that is, a heart simplified by love Divine, and kept each moment, by faith, from the pollu tion of sin. Whosoever agrees not with you on this point, will greatly interrupt your design.

Secondly, See that you fix on your minds,-We come together to get our faith increased; and expect as much that our souls should be refreshed by our meeting, as we do our bodies to be refreshed by our food. Come with a lively expectation; and that your expectation may not be cut off, keep your spirit all the time in continual prayer; united prayer can never go unanswered. Mr. Fletcher, on this head, has a lively observation: "When many believing hearts," says he, "are lifted up, and wrestle in prayer together, we may compare them to many hands which work a large pump; at such times particularly the fountains of the great deep are broken up, the windows of heaven are opened, and rivers of living water flow from the hearts of obedient believers."

Thirdly, Bear with each other's mistakes or infirmities in love. Consider the members as if they were your own children. How much will a man bear with in his own son that serveth him? A threefold cord cannot be easily

broken. Satan will leave no stone unturned to disunite you;—but O, remember the characteristic of the evangelical dispensation is,—

"The love that turns the other cheek;

The love inviolably meek,

Which bears, but conquers all."

Fourthly, Be well aware of that deadly poison, so frequent among professors,-I mean evil speaking. It will cover itself under a thousand forms; and, alas! how many sincere hearts swallow this gilded bait before they know what they are about. Never repeat the fault of an absent person, unless it be absolutely needful. In particular, speak not evil of dignities; neither of our king, on whose account we have the greatest reason to be thankful; nor yet of any in authority under him. Neither those whom God hath set over us as spiritual teachers, If any of these do not speak just as we could have wished, never forget that one may have his gift after this manner, another after that. The exhortation not so immediately useful to your state may nevertheless be put into their mouth at that time for another person then present. Known unto God are all his ways; and as he hath said, A cup of cold water given to a prophet, shall not be forgotten, how pleasing will it be in his sight, if by faith and prayer we hold up the hands of his praying servants.

Fifthly, Hold fast the truth in a pure conscience. Let not one spark of your light be put out. Though all your teachers, brethren, friends, yea, the whole Church, were to turn against the truth, let nothing make you forget, The blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin; and that he keeps that soul for ever clean, who day and night hangs on him by simple faith.

Sixthly, Be always ready to give an account to those that ask you a reason of the hope that is in you. In order to this, let us pray for clear ideas of what we seek, and what we possess. Bear in mind, that to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, is no more than you have already promised: First, By your sponsors in baptism; secondly, In your own person, when you made those vows your own by confirmation; and, thirdly, Whenever you' renew that covenant by coming to the Lord's table. "You have engaged to renounce the devil and all his