ing very still and resigned, he said it had been a pleasant comfortable day.

For some days, when I stopped in to see him, Į observed he lay very still, not having much to ex

press.

On the 4th of the 4th month, I was several times at his house, in the course of the day. In the evening he appeared very weak and low;-his son also seemed near his end,-I mentioned to him, that I believed his dear child would go before him. At which, he expressed great satisfaction, in the prospect.

A friend was sitting by his bed side, to whom he mentioned his desire, that his prayers might be for him, that he might have an easy passage. He then called me to sit by him, making the same request. Then said, that he had desired, from early life, that he might have an easy passage out of it, and that he might be favoured with a good companion; and he believed, that as one petition had been granted, the other would likewise be,- that he thought he had his friends' intercessions on his behalf, that he had' no fears about him, and that he could throw himself into the arms of his Redeemer.

He desired his brother, Isaac Coats, to give his dear love to divers friends in New England, and to inform them that he was going in peace.

I was with Elisha, more or less, every day, till he died. He mostly lay very still;-though, at times, expressed some lively, pathetic sentences, and gave good advice to divers young people, who came to see him.

On calling to see him, the morning of the last day of his illness, although he was much worn out by

:

coughing, he told me he felt pleasant, and all things about him looked pleasant. During the forenoon, he continued praising the great Name, and speaking of his favours. Toward the closing period, he seemed oppressed, but agreeable to his own request, passed away very easy. I left the house to go home, but before I had proceeded many steps, was called back, and he departed, as I entered the door.

Isaac Coats's Account of Elisha Kirk.

On sixth-day morning, the 2d of 4th month, 1790, I went to see my brother, Elisha Kirk; and on inquiring how he was, he said he was low, but had peace of mind; and expressed his great satisfaction in seeing me once more. Some time after, recol-. lecting many of his friends and relations, whom he named, he desired me to remember his love to them, and tell them he was going in peace. One, in particular, he was desirous might be informed, that the last time he saw her, he was apprehensive, from some expressions she used, that she was letting in some hardness against a worthy friend, on account of a small matter of temporal interest;-which, if she did not take care to have it erased out of her mind, would eat out or destroy all good in her. Another, who hath a good gift in the ministry, he desired might be faithful and valiant, in his Master's cause; also desired he might be careful not to let the cumbering things of this world obstruct his service; and expressed his fears of said friend's undertaking. more worldly concerns, than would be best;-believing he had enough under his care already,

First-day afternoon, we were apprehensive he was going off; but after some time, recovering a little, I told him I thought he had been going. He replied, "Oh! sweet change!" Then observing some about him to weep, he said, "Weep not for me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children." Hearing a little animal sing, he said it was in his heart to sing also, for the joy that was before him. He then called a near relation to him, and said, "I have been concerned for thee; and though I believe thee has been improving. of late, yet, I have always found it better to give way, than stren-. uously to contend about worldly matters: which now affords me sweet peace, and will to thee, when thee is cast on such a bed as I now lay on."

Soon after, he spake to another relation, and said, "you have a large, rough family to order. I wish it could be otherwise; then you might often get them together, and sit down to wait upon the Lord; which is very difficult with such a family as you have." Then said, "be faithful." Another asked him, whether he had not any thing for him? He said, "No: thy Master directs thee."

On second-day, he lay very still and slept until near four o'clock in the afternoon; then drawing me near to him, said, "I believe I am going. My breath is getting short." I replied, "Thee is not afraid to go?" He said, "Oh! no.". His wife being near him, and appearing much affected, he said, "My dear, it seems as if thee could not give me up freely; which thee must do, and not hinder my going." They then took leave of each other in a most solemn manner. Appearing to have a foretaste of the unmixed joy, and felicity that was before him,

he said he was so filled with joy and sweetness, that he could not refrain from tears.

After laying awhile, he said, "I seem to go but slow: but I should not have said so, for that is like repining." He then desired his three apprentice boys might be called in, one at a time. But he had nothing further to say to them, than in an affecting manner to bid them farewell, and be good boys.Soon after, he called a near neighbour, whom he loved, and bid him farewell, saying, "perhaps I may not be in my senses long." He then in a very solemn manner, bid me farewell.

ISAAC COATS.

Recollections of some of the last expressions of Elisha Kirk.

A few days before his happy close, he mentioned to me, as follows: "Before I was married, in one of my favoured times, I requested of my gracious Creator, that if it was consistent with his will, he would grant me two things:-one was, that I might be rightly guided in the choice of a companion, -and obtain one that would be a blessing to me, in my journey through a world of dangers:-the other was, that when the time came for my leaving the world, I might have an easy passage out of it. The first request has been fully granted me; for my wife and myself have been a blessing to each other, and lived together as happy as we could desire. Now I have confidence as I am drawing fast to the close, that my second request will also be granted me." This was remarkably the case. Soon after, he said to me, "I have been looking back, with an eye, as I believe, en

lightened by the light of Truth, and I do not see that I have, for eighteen months past, in any one thing offended."

The day before his departure, I was at his bed side, between seven and eight o'clock in the morn⚫ing. His countenance was remarkably serene, and his mind seemed to me to be wholly at rest. A solemnity covered my mind, as awful silence prevailed, in which his soul seemed to me, to be encompassed with the light of the Son of righteousness.After a short time spent in this heavenly state, he turned his face toward me, and said, "We have both spoken of the Divine light, but I have never before enjoyed it, in so luminous a manner: and I now see in this heavenly light that to-morrow I shall be gone from this world, and shall have a happy entrance into the eternal world." He departed accordingly.

Job Scott's Letter on the death of Elisha Kirk. North Providence, 16th of 9th mo. 1790.

Dear friend, Isaac Coats,

I seasonably received thy affecting account of the blessed end of our dear Elisha Kirk. He was, in life, to me truly dear, and his memory is still precious. But who dare repine at his removal to an heavenly inheritance? or at the removal of the dear children? It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good. I showed the letter to Moses Brown, as thou requested. He and his, are pretty well for them. He was greatly satisfied with the VOL VI.-7