of Christ will be much better understood than has hitherto been generally the case. I may possibly be restored to contribute my small mite toward it. In this and all things else, I am not sensible of any wish, but that the divine will may be done. 1 think some parts of my Journal abound too much with a repetition of similar exercises, services, trials, and favours, when on religious visits. In this respect I have steadily had an intention of making very considerable abridgments; several other things also, in the Journal, require a very careful review. I have no wish any thing of mine should appear in print, but from a probability of usefulness. I have thought a considerable part of the Journal might be, in some degree, useful to some minds; but I submit all to the careful inspection, correction, and determination of my friends.

It is almost marvellous how my strength of body and mind holds out to address you in this manner. I may now just mention, that nothing will be knowingly neglected, for my comfort of body or mind, that my physicians or friends can afford; and greater cheerfulness, and even pleasure, in doing all they can, I have not met with among my nearest relations. I pray the Lord, in the riches of his grace, to reward them with flowings of his love. I suppose my love was never in a state of greater enlargement, or less tinctured with selfishness, to all my relations and friends, the world over. My desires for my children's substantial growth in the truth, and strict adherence to all its discoveries, to the close of their days, is by far the principal wish I have for them. Out of the enjoyment of a good degree of this precious inheritance, I know of nothing in this world worth living for. Ye that know it, suffer nothing, I most cordially beseech you, ever to divert your minds from an increas ing and fervent pursuit after the fulness of it, even unto the measure of the stature and fulness of Christ. I once more, and perhaps for the last time, express my living desires, that my own dear father, (if living,) may know much more of an advancement into, and progress in this divine life, before he goes hence to be seen of men no more. It is now eleven, I want rest; whether I shall be able to add further is to me at present

beloved friend William Jackson had good service. Sixth-day, 8th, no way opening to go forward, we turned back, and rode about twenty-five miles towards Philadelphia, and lodged at Isaac Thomas's. First-day, 10th, we were at the meeting at Newtown school-house. Second-day, 11th, at Newtown; at both I was still closed up in silence. Third-day, 12th, we were at Haverford, with a little meeting of Friends, where, blessed be the name of the Lord, he opened the prison door, and sat my soul at liberty; counsel and doctrine flowed freely, their hearts were greatly tendered, and my soul sang praises to the Lord.

Fourth-day, 13th. Last evening we reached Philadelphia, and went this day to Pine street meeting, it being a good open time, to the rejoicing of our souls. Fifth-day, 14th, we attended Market street meeting in the city, a favoured open time, to be remembered with gratitude. Sixth-day, 15th, I had a meeting at Germantown, where I had been shut up before, my mind having often been drawn that way since my being there. This was, blessed be the God of Israel, a meeting wherein the gospel was extensively preached. Great indeed was the power and dominion of truth this day, wherein a close search was made: several other brethren having living, powerful service; and in conclusion my soul was poured forth in ardent supplication, and light and life triumphed over death and darkness. After this we had a heavenly opportunity in a Friend's family, and then returned to Philadelphia, with gladdened hearts.

Seventh-day, 16th. We attended the burial of an ancient Friend at Darby, where the Lord gave ability to preach the everlasting gospel, in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit and with power, to the comfort of many minds, and I hope to the awakening of some others; after which we had another blessed opportunity in a Friend's family, in which our souls were rejoiced together in the cementing love of God, who was graciously pleased to favour us with the manifestation of his holy presence.

First-day, 17th. The way having thus opened for me to go to Germantown, and then to Darby, as above mentioned, it now seemed clearly to open to go forward to Chester; where, VOL. I.-30

through deep wading and a living travail of soul, life rose into good dominion; though I had to labour some time, even after I stood up, under much depression of mind, looking carefully to see the way, and find the stepping stones; but the meeting ended well and truth reigned. And being desirous of another meeting in this place, one was accordingly appointed to be held next day.

Second-day, 18th. The meeting was large and highly favoured, and truth was triumphant. Third-day, 19th, we had a meeting at Chichester, where truth gave us the victory, and furnished with strength, openings, and utterance, far beyond mere man's ability, with all his boasted wisdom. The sufficiency and universality of the grace of God; its way of working ; the absurdity and wickedness of supposing that God eternally and unconditionally ordained the destruction of multitudes; and the cessation of John's baptism, and of other symbolical observations, were doctrines that opened in the light and in the life. The power of truth was eminently witnessed, and our souls rejoiced together in the Lord.

After meeting I understood there were some predestinarians and zealous Baptists therein, which I knew nothing of in the time of my speaking what simply opened in the visions of light. Oh! it is good to trust in the Lord, and keep close to the openings which he is pleased to favour with, not leaning to our own understandings. For were we to go to guessing at the state of meetings, we should make wild work; but truth's divine openings never did, and never will, deceive or mislead us. There was a little remnant of seeking souls, to whom encouragement flowed sweetly this day. Fourth-day, 20th, were at meeting at Centre; the fore part was painfully exercising, but after a time of ardent breathing to the Lord, I felt a small arising of life, as a small cloud like a man's hand, and in the little openings which attended it, I stood up; and in great weakness, my faith being but as a grain of mustard seed, I went on very slowly, and found hard work. But as I kept low with the seed, and carefully watched, and waited for the gradual opening, from word to word, and looked well to every step, as I advanced forward, at length truth rose into powerful dominion. It was a baptizing time, and the "little cloud" afforded abundance of rain.

21st. We were at Wilmington, where I had been, and suffered in silence, some time past. Notice being now given of our intention of being here, it was a large crowded meeting, and the doctrines of truth were opened in my mind in great clearness, and utterance being graciously afforded, it was indeed a highly favoured day. I could write much of this heavenly meeting, but all centres in the mercy, favour, and loving kindness of the Lord, without whom we are altogether helpless and cannot move to profit. Oh! how comfortable! how unspeakably consolating it is to our souls, when we are admitted within the vail, and swallowed up in the luminous presence of our God! This is truly "joy unspeakable and full of glory;" a blessed and ineffable communion! a transporting earnest, or foretaste of the joys to come. Oh! that all mankind would believe in and press after these divine enjoyments; this heavenly participation of the love of God, which neither tongue nor pen is able to set forth to the full. But, alas! too many are faithless and unbelieving, ready to think this is all imagination and enthusiasm. But, Oh! if they could come to the blessed enjoyment, their doubts would soon vanish, and their souls would be established in a blessed confirmation, as on the rock of ages; and anchored in a living trust and confidence in God, and a lively hope of everlasting life.

At this meeting I had to bear testimony to the continuation of divine inspiration, and that there can be no true gospel ministry without it; that those whose hour is always come, or who are always ready, however they may work themselves up, heat and warm themselves and others, by the sparks of their own kindling, and, like the priests or prophets of Baal, be ever so vehement, yet can they never, without divine inspiration and assistance, profit the people. But that those who wait for, and move only in this, will always in a greater or less degree, reach the witness of truth in the hearts of the people. Their words will be attended with a lively savour, far beyond the mere sound of voice, even though, (as the natural understanding and bodily organs are made use of to express the prospects and openings of the mind,) they may not always deliver themselves with strict accuracy and propriety. But as their sense and meaning

are felt, and attended to by the hearers, it is perceived to be with authority, and not as the scribes, that they speak.

Though I knew not there were any teachers of that sort who are always ready, in the meeting, I afterwards heard that there were several Baptist preachers present, who do not even profess to wait for divine aid in their preaching to the people, but appoint a time and fall to speaking, &c.

Thus the Lord enabled me, as I waited for his openings, to bear pertinent testimony against such as wait not for his influence, but run, and he hath not sent them. Oh! it is good to keep close to the divine opening, and to be or do nothing without it; nor yet afraid to move in it, and declare faithfully what is opened, and commission given to utter, leaving the service and event to the Lord.

We had three comfortable opportunities in Friends' families in this place, one of which was with our ancient friend and elder in the church, John Perry, and his daughter, they living together. He had been in New England, where I saw him, on a religious visit, in company with our since deceased friend. David Ferris, but now was very ill, and I thought unlikely to continue long. Truth was in good dominion while we were together, wherein doctrine and supplication were livingly owned by the inshinings of the divine presence.

Sixth-day, 22d. William Jackson went home, intending to meet me again in a few days. Hugh Judge and several others from Wilmington attending, we had a precious meeting at White Clay Creek. My soul was deep in suffering for a short time; but the power of him who is the resurrection and the life eminently arising, the gospel was livingly preached in demonstration and clearness; the youth persuaded; the faithful encouraged; and the lukewarm warned and reproved. Many minds were reached and much tendered, and my own soul comforted and rejoiced. But here I may note a trial that attended my utterance, very different from that kind of exercise wherein it seems difficult to find the stepping stones; for here my heart was so full, and my cup so overflowed, that I could scarce keep so deliberate as to express myself to my own relief and satisfaction, until after standing a short time, I sat down and waited to get more com