all-sufficiency of that Divine Power, which had raised him up and qualified him for the work to which he was appointed, and enabled him eminently to adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour.

His works are numerous, consisting of upwards of two hundred and fifty separate treatises, besides his admirable Journal. They were printed at various periods between the years 1652 and 1691. An excellent collection of his Epistles was published in folio, 1698; and his Doctrinal Works, folio, 1706.

(Journal of George Fox: Sewel's History of Friends, &c.)

MARGARET FOX,

BY A FORMER MARRIAGE

MARGARET FELL.

MARGARET, the daughter of John Askew of Marsh Grange, in the County of Lancaster, was born in 1614; and in her eighteenth

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year was united in marriage to Thomas Fell of Swarthmore Hall, near Ulverstone, who afterwards became a Member of Parliament, Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster, Chancellor of the Duchy Court at Westminster, and a Judge on "the circuit of West Chester and North Wales."

She was a serious and devout person, in whom, as in many others at that remarkable period, strong desires had been awakened after a nearer communion with God; and whose continual prayer was for a more perfect knowledge of His way.

In her search after truth, when ministers from a distance occupied the pulpits in the neighbourhood of her residence, she was accustomed diligently to attend their preaching. Many of them denominated "Lecturing Ministers," were afterwards hospitably entertained at Swarthmore; where those accounted the most godly, were encouraged to hold meetings for prayer and other religious exercises in the family. Yet, notwithstanding this evidence of pious zeal on the part of Margaret Fell, she informs us a fear often attended her that she was

short of the "right" way. In this enquiring state she continued for nearly twenty years.

At length in 1652, that entire satisfaction for which she had so long sought, was granted her

through the ministry of George Fox; who, introduced at Swarthmore by one of his friends, on the following "Fast Day," so powerfully addressed the congregation to which Margaret Fell belonged, as effectually to reach the witness for God in her conscience; and although he was not allowed to finish his sermon, (being expelled the place at the instance of a magistrate who was present,) yet in the evening he returned to Swarthmore, where the doctrine he preached found such acceptance, that the family and household were generally convinced.

Margaret Fell relates, that at the time of this occurrence, her husband was absent in the fulfilment of his official duties; a circumstance which caused her much embarrassment, and aggravated her difficulties. She tells us that she "Was struck with sadness and knew not what to do." "Yet," she says, "I saw it was the truth," that George Fox preached, "I could not deny it; and I did as the Apostle saith, 'I received it in the love of it,' and desired of the Lord that I might be preserved in it."

George Fox did not remain long at Swarthmore, but pursued his ministerial service in other parts of Lancashire; large numbers of serious-minded persons accepted his gospel message; and the people were earnest to hear him.

Under these circumstances, when at length

Judge Fell drew near his home, many of the gentry of the vicinity met him upon his approach, representing that "A great disaster had befallen his household; that Friends had drawn them from their religion; and that if he did not compel the Quakers to leave the neighbourhood, the whole country would be undone."

Thus, with feelings of deep concern, the Judge alighted at his door.

The anxiety of his wife may be imagined. She says, she was in a great strait; "dreading on the one hand, her husband's displeasure; and on the other, to offend her gracious God.”

She requested James Naylor and Richard Farnsworth, who had come to Swarthmore in the hope of meeting with George Fox, to explain to Judge Fell all that had occurred; and though at the first he appeared much disturbed, yet after their conference he became more calm.

At night, however, George Fox arrived, and addressed the assembled household in so convincing a manner, as fully to satisfy the mind of the Judge, who freely offered his residence as a place for holding the religious meetings of Friends. They were therefore at once established, and continued to be held in the hall of the mansion from 1652 until 1690, when a meeting-house was built,

Thus the fears of Margaret Fell were dissipated; and we are told by a contemporary,* that as she willingly became a self-denying disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the narrow way of the cross, she received qualification for service in the church; being endued with true wisdom and understanding, with a clear discerning of spirits, and with a fervent and living gift in the ministry, "to the building up of many in that most precious faith, which gives victory over the world."

Not, during her husband's life-time, exposed to much personal suffering herself, Margaret Fell was enabled to succour her persecuted brethren in religious profession; on whose behalf she several times addressed letters to Cromwell, earnestly interceding with him for the removal of their "burdens and oppressions," as altogether contrary to liberty of conscience."

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In 1658 the decease of Judge Fell took place, to the tender regret of his affectionate wife, and of those Friends Friends who had been acquainted with him; and from that period Margaret Fell appears to have deeply suffered for her christian faith and practice, in common with the members of

Thomas Camm, in his Testimony prefixed to Margaret Fox's Collected Works.