which petition so pleased God, that he answered his request, and, over and above, blessed him in an extraordinary manner.

"I perceive thou art inclined to read pretty much; I pray thee, that thy chief study in books may be the holy Scriptures. Let all other books, though of use, and good, in their places, be subservient to them; for their authority, of all other writings, to the true believers in Christ, are most Divine; they having a supernatural spring and Divine evidence in them to the virtuous and pious readers. Thou, my son, wilt much comfort the heart of thy tender mother, and of me thy loving and careful father, if thou follow and persevere in the ways of virtue and truth; which, that thou mayest, is the prayer of thy affectionate fatherin-law.

T. CHALKLEY."

The latter end of the Sixth month I went to the general-meeting of ministers and elders for the East part of New-Jersey, and to the quarterly and youth's-meeting at Burlington, and to a generalmeeting at Stony-Brook, and to the quarterlymeeting of the county of Bucks. John Oxley, of Barbadoes, and Joshua Fielding, of London, were at divers of those meetings, wherein we had open, seasonable opportunities; and I had a large, affecting account from Joshua, of his long and difficult travels in the service of truth to the West-India isles, and thence to South-Carolina,

from whence he came through the wilderness by land, through North Carolina, Virginia, &c. to this province.

The 16th of the Seventh month began our yearly-meeting at Philadelphia, which was attended with the gracious presence of God, to the comfort and great satisfaction of many souls. In this meeting divers young men and women appeared, who were lately come forth in the ministry, and, as I believe, had received a measure of the gift of Christ's gospel; which was cause of rejoicing to the faithful among us, and excited our thanksgiving and praises to the Almighty Lord of heaven and earth.

At this meeting we had the company of four ministers from Great Britain, and one from Barbadoes, and many from divers other parts, it being a very large gathering of some thousands of people, as was believed, in which many were strengthened in their faith in Christ, and comforted through the power of the Holy Ghost, that blessed Comforter, which Christ promised to his church, who should be with them for ever, and guide them into all truth.

Next First-day after the yearly-meeting, I, with several of my neighbours, went over Delaware, to a meeting up Pensawken creek; in which the wonderful love of God was declared, in sending his Son upon earth, who, as he was man, died for man, and is now by his Spirit present with all those that truly believe in him; he being the mes

senger

of the covenant of God to mankind. And on second-day, being the 25th of the Seventh month, I had the sorrowful tidings of the death of my beloved friend James Lord; who, on his death-bed, desired that I might be sent for to his burial. In the consideration of that Christian love that was between us, I think I may truly note, that we were always glad to meet each other; therefore the thoughts of this so sudden change, and final parting, brought, for the present, a sadness and heaviness over my mind; considering his station in that neighbourhood, and service in that congregation to which he did belong; for therein he was well-beloved, and very serviceable.

And oh the loss that his dear wife and tender children will have of him, really affects me with sorrow in penning these notes; but the sorrow, in these things, is all on our side; for he, without doubt, is at rest with his great Master in heaven. We had a larger meeting at his funeral, than ever was known to be there before, (as an ancient Friend told me,) which was solemn and serviceable to many.

Some time after, having been at divers meetings about home, John Oxley and I, in company, visited Friends on Long Island. At Flushing, we were at the burial of Jonathan Dickenson: many people, of divers persuasions, were at the meeting on that occasion, and were very sober and attentive. I was at the yearly-meeting for the southside of the island, at a place called Seccataug,

which meeting was large, many Friends and others coming to it over the plains. I was afterwards at the yearly-meeting at Shrewsbury, in East Jersey, which held three days, and was very large, and the last day the people were very still. Joshua Fielding was at this meeting, and was therein concerned to preach the gospel of Christ with good authority, and matter suitable to a true gospel minister; John Oxley was ill of a fever, so that he could not be there; but there were brethren from divers parts, and the power and presence of the Most High was with and among us; blessed be his name.

I was also at Rohaway river, where was a solid, good meeting. From thence I returned home, having been abroad about a month, and at above twenty meetings, and travelled about 350 miles.

In the Eighth month, at Frankfort, we had three burials out of one house, at one time; the mother, daughter, and grand-daughter, of which I had never known the like instance before; on this occasion we had the company of many neighbours, and a very solemn meeting at our meeting-house at Frankfort.

About this time I was at divers meetings at Philadelphia, Abington, and Burlington: we had an evening-meeting at Burlington with Richard Smith, junior; who had been so ill that he could not get out to meetings for some months: it was such a satisfactory meeting, that he, and I, and

others that were there, will not easily forget, our hearts being broken together.

The world still continued to frown upon me; but, though my case was such in this world, yet, at times, I had great consolation in Christ; and, in the midst of my troubles, when I looked back, I could truly say, that I had not been extravagant, but frugal; not covetous, but charitable; not idle, but industrious; not willing to be such an infidel as not to take care of my family. It was some solid comfort to my mind; and I bless the Almighty, that I always preferred his work and service to my own, and therein had great peace. This I can also say, if it were the last I should say, That I never wilfully, or knowingly, wronged any man, woman, or child, since I came to years of discretion; and yet I have nothing to boast of; it is the Lord's grace and mercy which saveth us.

Having occasion to make another voyage to Barbadoes, I wrote to the teacher of my children as followeth :

"Loving Friend,

"Frankfort, 10th of 10th month, 1727.

"I being going to Barbadoes, leave the charge of my little children to thy care, not doubting thy management of them, by their growing in their learning, please to instruct them to sobriety, and the fear of God, and faith in Christ; and, if I never should see them or thee any more, our lives

N