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shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white people.

Brother, -You say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the book?

Brother, We do not understand these things; we are told that your religion was given to your forefathers, and has been handed down from father to son. We also have a religion which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us their children. We worship in that way; it teaches us to be thankful for all the favours we receive; to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion.

Since

Brother, The Great Spirit has made us all, but he has made a great difference between his white and red children; he has given us different complexions, and different customs. To you he has given the arts; to these, he has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true. he has made so great a difference between us in other things, why may we not conclude that he has given us a different religion? According to our understanding, the Great Spirit does right; he knows what is best for his children. We are satisfied.

Brother,―We do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you; we only want to enjoy

our own.

Brother, We are told you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbours; we are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while, and see what effect your

preaching has upon them: If we find it does them good, makes them honest, and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again what you have said.

Brother, -You have now heard our answer to your talk, and this is all we have to say at present. As we are going to part, we will come and take you by the hand, and hope the Great Spirit will protect you on your journey, and return you safe to your friends.

Testimony of Friends of Sandy Spring, Maryland,. concerning Anna Thomas..

In attempting to gather up the precious evidences of the redeemed state of mind of our departed friend Anna Thomas, we recur to a view of her early years, which were marked with an education, calculated to introduce her into scenes of gayety and fashionable amusement, that were indulged in, until her mind became illuminated by the light of truth, showing her the emptiness of all these things; and as she submitted to its progressive operation, we believe a state of acceptance with her Lord and Master was happily attained.

Her first attack of paralytic disease, was more than three years previous to her dissolution. After recovering from its effects, she retained a very solemn sense of the visitation, and said to a friend, that her mind had been awfully impressed under a sense of it; and expressed with reverence, the favour, that she had felt no alarm.

The next severe stroke of the disease, occurred about four months previous to her death. She mani fested the same composed and collected state of mind, as on the former occasion; and in a few days was so much relieved as to resume the important duties of her station in the family at Fair Hill boarding school. But her health evidently declined, and in the early part of the 5th month she was confined to her bed. During this season of great bodily affliction, she expressed many things, truly instructive and consoling to her anxious friends, from which the following selection is made.

"Lord! not my will, but thine be done in all things. Affliction is hard to bear. The Master said, 'I pray thee let this cup pass from me.'" It was then observed to her, that she had been favoured with great quietude and composure throughout her sickness. She replied, "I have felt it, and desire to be thankful for it, the Lord's mercy is over all his works." A friend present observed to her, that it would be hard to give her up, yet the desire was felt to be resigned to the event. She said, "Yes, it will be hard parting; but the time must come to us all; and to be in a state of preparation is all that is worth striving after. I have felt my mind very much composed and quiet, for which I am thankful. This sickness has been very afflicting; but I think I have seen, that all such dispensations are blessings in disguise, and this has been for my good, though a very trying one. I have thought if I should be brought through, I shall endeavour to live more to the praise of the great Creator. I have not been as faithful as I ought to have been; but I hope if I should be continued, that I shall be enabled to leave

all, to follow after the one thing needful. There are times wherein I can say, 'not my will but thine be done,'-but the flesh is weak."

In the course of the following night, when under great suffering, she supplicated thus, Oh Lord! if it be consistent with thy will, be pleased to be with me, and round about me this night, and grant me patience." She made inquiry relative to the close of a deceased friend, whom she had known and loved, in early life. Some particulars were recited, and after a pause, she feelingly remarked, "She has passed into Abraham's bosom, and received the answer of "Well done,'-where I hope we shall all rest."

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On the return of Friends who had attended the Quarterly meeting in the 5th month, she made particular inquiry respecting Friends' views concerning the boarding school; and on being informed that there appeared to be general satisfaction, she said, “May they in deep humilty and devotedness of heart, be given up to conduct this school; then I believe it will prosper, and be a great thing for this Yearly Meeting. May prayers be daily put up for its prosperity."

During the progress of the disease, she at one time apprehending that suffocation was about to take place, desired to be helped up to relieve the difficulty of breathing, and expressed nearly as follows: "We are all as clay formed by the hand of the great Potter; some he forms more comely than others; but we should not think too much of it, for what is it all; I have seen it as the clay in the valley."

The succeeding day she was more sensible of weakness, thought she felt the approach of death, and said, "My friends do you not think these must

be the chills of Death? my sight fails, and I feel as if I had but a few hours to be with you."

She continued to speak at intervals, and once said, "My friends I want you to pray for me, that my faith and patience may continue through all I have to suffer, to the end. I think this night must close the scene." She again revived, and in the presence of her husband, and other friends, said, "If I am willing to go, I think my friends ought to give me up. I feel neither fear nor dread. I should have liked to have seen my children, but in that I am resigned. I have prayed to be redeemed from earthly ties and connexions; for I have tried them all, and proved them to be perishable, and that true religion is the alone durable riches. I feel nothing but love and good will for all who enter this room; not that love which knows a distinction, but that love which wishes the salvation of the immortal spirit, and its happiness, here and hereafter."

She was favoured to remain composed, and sensible to the last, and departed in peace, the 19th of the 5th month, 1820, aged nearly forty-eight years;and was interred on the day following, in the grave yard at Sandy Spring meeting-house, attended by many friends and neighbours, with a becoming solemnity.

Testimony of Friends of Sandy Spring, Maryland, concerning Samuel Thomas.

On the removal of our beloved friend, Samuel Thomas, (at a period when, from a view of his increasing usefulness, we were led to conclude that it was but the meridian of his day in the work asVOL. VI.-12

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