her, saying, I had but a few days to stay behind her; and encouraged me to faithfulness. She like

wise desired friends might be still and quiet until her departure, being sensible to the last moment; and thus quietly finished her course, and ended her day's work in the day time.

Let me never forget the hand that brought us together, and the favour that heaven bestowed upon me; and let me leave these few lines in remembrance of thee, thou that wast dear to me in this life. Let me now condole my present situation, for thou art gone; O thou hast paid the debt of nature; thou that I much preferred before myself in piety and virtue; thou that wast my help and comfort, my counsellor and near friend; thou that wast often concerned for my everlasting peace, and wast my chief delight in this world, my bosom friend, and one that I preferred before all transitory enjoyments whatever. For, I may truly say, that her chief concern seemed to be to meditate in the law of the Lord day and night: and, although she was taken away as in the prime of her days, yet she seemed like a shock of corn cut down in its season, or like fruit fully ripe for the kingdom. And I have good reason to believe she is entered into the full fruition of eternal joy and felicity; into the holy city, the new Jerusalem, whose builder and maker is God, there to praise, worship, and adore him forever; and there let her rest, saith my soul. Amen.

The foregoing testimony I leave in truth, to the honour of God, and the memory of my truly beloved and dearly affectionate deceased wife, and companion in the Lord.

She departed this life the 13th of the 7th month, VOL. VI.-15

1766, and was decently buried in Friends' burying ground, at Sadsbury, on the 15th of the same, aged forty-five years and nearly nine months-we having been married together about one year and three quarters. JAMES MOORE.

As I have heretofore given some account of my first two beloved companions; now, although deprived of the use of my pen by a palsical disorder, and old age, yet I think it my duty to leave some short hints of my last two beloved companions.

On the 4th of the 5th month, 1769, I again joined in marriage with Ann, the widow of Nicholas Newlin, of Concord, Chester county, who was favoured with a gift in the ministry.

She departed this life the 19th of the 10th month, in the year 1789, in the seventieth year of her age, we having been married together about twenty years; and I can do no less, in justice and gratitude to her memory, for the tender love and regard she had to me and mine, than to give a short account of her qualifications and conduct.

She was a plain, virtuous, religious, and sober woman, hating pride and superfluity, and not greedy of filthy lucre. She loved the Truth, and the friends of it, and was a diligent attender of our meetings, when health permitted.

The evening before she departed, some of my children came to pay us a visit. She appeared cheerful and pleasant as common, eat her supper as usual, and in the night awoke once or twice, but seemed as well as she usually was, until after daybreak. A little before sun-rise, as we were in discourse, she seemed to fall into a sweet sleep, and the

first that I discovered her being amiss was by a moan. I spoke to her, but she made me no answer; I then looked on her countenance, and saw she was just departing; I called up my children, and in a few minutes she departed this life without moving hand or foot. I conclude, in short, she was to me a dearly beloved wife, and, although my loss is great, yet I trust it will be to her everlasting gain.

Again, on the 9th of the 3d month, in the year 1791, I was united in marriage with Ann, the widow of James Williams, of Sadsbury, Chester county. After having lived together above ten years, she departed this life the 21st of the 9th month, 1801, in the seventy-third year of her age.

She being a weakly woman, had been afflicted with the asthma, at times, for many years before our marriage. As she advanced in life, it increased upon her until her close. About three weeks before her decease, her disorder became so violent, that she could not lie down, but was obliged to sit up night and day; and in that condition quietly departed this life without sigh or groan.

I believe she endeavoured to live at peace with God, and with all men. She loved plainness, and had a testimony against superfluities, pride and highmindedness. In a few words, she was a religious, virtuous woman, and a tender companion to me, in my advanced age.

The foregoing I have signed with my own hand, being now the 10th day of the 2d month, 1803, in the eighty-seventh year of my age.

JAMES MOORE.

172

ACCOUNT OF WILLIAM HUNT.

A view of the religious exercises and labours of faithful Friends, has sometimes had a good effect in stimulating others to diligence in attending to the same divine rule, and minding the unfoldings of the same heavenly light, which enabled those worthies to run the race that was set before them with acceptance, and to close their pilgrimage with the brightest prospects of immortal felicity. That divine grace which appears unto all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and the world's lusts, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, will do little for us, unless we take heed to it, and strive to conform to its instructions; but when our attention is fixed on it, and our obedience to it keeps pace with its illuminations, we increase in the experimental knowledge of truth,-and advance from a state of weakness to a state of strength and establishment, from whence we are not easily moved. When this attention begins in the early stages of life,-before we have been led astray by the captivating influence of worldly allurements,-of evil habits and injurious customs,-much difficulty is thereby avoided; and the mind is prepared to move forward in that highway to holiness which is opened before us, unshackled by the trammels of passions "wild and strong."

In the life and character of William Hunt, of Carolina, we have a remarkable instance of the beneficial effects of early dedication to the impressions of divine grace. His parents were emigrants from New Jersey, and were connected in relationship with the Hunt, Harvey, and Woolman families, of Burling

ton county. They settled at Manoquacy, in Maryland, where William was born about the year 1733. It is related, that in his very childhood he was sensible of the Lord's tender dealings with him, and when about the age of eleven years, he had remarkable openings in viewing the wonderful harmony of the works of creation. He appears to have been diligently attentive to these early illuminations; and when a little turned of fourteen years of age, he received a gift in the ministry.

In the history of Friends, divers instances of such early appearances in the ministry are noticed; most of them, however, have been considered as rather premature. James Parnell, soon after the rise of Friends in England, was an extraordinary instance, in which the vigour of manhood was exhibited at the age of sixteen or eighteen, that was astonishing. He is represented as powerful in his preaching, and his writings are standing monuments of intellectual strength and intelligence. William Hunt was evidently in possession of an uncommon mind-and showed in early life much of the mental vigour of riper age. A friend who knew him well, says, "he appeared in the ministry when a youth, and his labours therein were of good savour." His qualifications were considered extraordinary-his wisdom was equivalent to long experience, and his unspotted character placed him on that eminence, usually assigned to the experience of age. His preaching is described to have been "powerful and impressive," and he is reported to have said, when engaged in a religious visit, "that his concern was to be devoted to the service of Christ so fully, that he might not spend one minute in pleasing him