and that there may be a readiness and willingness at all times, to answer the Lord's requir ings, and to show forth a good example unto all, in keeping clear of those unnecessary entanglements of this life, that may hurt their service in the church, remembering the saying of the wise apostle, "No man that warreth, entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;" but rather conclude with the apostle, when he writes to Timothy: "For we brought nothing," says he, "into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out; and having food and raiment, let us be therewith content:" signifying how the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness: charging him, "in the sight of God,” and “before Jesus Christ," that "thou keep," says he, "this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ; which in his time he shall show, who is the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, &c. to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."

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'And, dear friends, as there are diversities of gifts, by one and the same Spirit, so members of that holy body, of which Jesus Christ

is the head, have their several services in the body, and many are become, in the Lord's hand, as pruners and diggers in the vineyard: O that such may do their day's work faithfully! For as I have already said, the old enemy is greatly at work, to lead into earthly-mindedness, and though little fruit is brought forth by many that is well-pleasing unto the Lord, yet superfluous branches grow naturally, where there is a being often watered; what must be done to the fruitless trees, that cumber the ground? Shall they not be cut down. ? It is written, "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none; then said he to the dresser of his vineyard, Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none; cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground? And he answered and said unto him, lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it; and if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." So it appears the fruitless trees are not to be let alone to cumber the ground.

"And therefore, men being compared unto trees, what great need is there for all that profess the way and the truth of the Lord, to be so fruitful, as that trees of righteousness men may call them; and seeing the tree is known by the fruit, that such fruit may be brought forth by

the Lord's people every where, as will demonstrate that they are the branches of the heavenly vine. And on this wise the apostle Peter exhorted the believers who had escaped the corruption that is in the world, through lust: "And besides this," said he, "giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness, charity." What is aimed at, in the whole matter herein contained, is, that all may be found in these things, that make neither "barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ;" "but he that lacketh these things," saith the apostle, "is blind, and cannot see far off, and hath for gotten that he was purged from his old sins." Wherefore I shall conclude with the saying of the apostle, "I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth: yea, (says he,) I think it meet as long as I live in this tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance."

"In a feeling of that divine sweetness, and ray of God's glory, that covers the souls of the righteous, do I unfeignedly salute all that are sojourning in the way to Zion, sincerely desiring your happy end and safe arrival at that

eternal rest, where the righteous shall ever live, to praise and magnify the worthy name of the Lord God, and the Lamb, that sits upon the throne, for ever and ever. Amen.

"By a lover of truth and righteousness,
"CHRISTOPHER STORY."

'Righead in Cumberland, the 5th of the 11th Month, 1699."

Now the number of Friends increasing, many being convinced, and Friends growing up, our Meeting-house at Sikeside grew too little to contain us, and in the aforesaid year, 1699, (it being about twenty-seven years since our meeting was first settled,) we enlarged the meetinghouse, which it is supposed will contain about three hundred, and is generally well filled; many of our children growing up in the truth, and being zealous for the God of their fathers. Thus hath the Lord increased our number; and as the harvest is great, and the labourers but few, there is great need to pray the Lord of the harvest, to send forth more labourers; who can do what seems good in his sight: to whom be honour and praise for ever.

CHAP. IV.

1701-1720.

Passes through part of Scotland into Ireland.Visits most of the Meetings of Friends in that Nation, and returns-Disturbance of a meeting in the Parish of Canonsby, in ScotlandLetter on that subject-Termination of the Author's own Narrative. -SUPPLEMENT, briefly noticing his various further Services, his last Illness, and his Decease.

In the year 1701, I had it in my mind to visit Friends in Ireland; and when the time came I concluded to go, and having acquainted Friends, according to order, I had a certificate from the monthly meeting, and accordingly I took my journey for Ireland, and a Friend of our meeting with me, whose name was Richard Latimer. We went through Scotland, and Gilbert Molleson, with some other Friends born in that country having sent some Friends' books relating to the principles of truth, to be spread abroad in that nation, we dispersed them all along, as we had opportunity, till we came to Port Patrick, which was about eighty miles; as the following letter will give a relation.