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which, she said, her companion and herself, through many deep probations, had been endued with help and strength, to discharge their duty to his praise, and to their own peace.

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CHAP. VI.

Visits Hampshire, Kent, Surry, Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Cornwall-a written Soliloquy-visits the Northern and Midland counties-extract of a letter-visits families in Hants, Eastern,. Northern and Midland Counties-second family visit at Sheffield, and at Kendal-family visit at Birmingham..

SARAH STEPHENSON does not appear to have travelled much in the remainder of the year in which she closed her engagements in Ireland; she however was at the Quarterly Meeting for Devonshire; but in 1786, she had a certificate for the purpose of visiting Friends in Hampshire, Kent, Surry, and parts adjacent, with the families in some places. In the course of this journey, she attended the Yearly Meeting, and. had Mehetabel Jenkins for a companion through Kent, and the adjacent county of Sussex.

• In 1787 she travelled twice with certificate. The first journey was chiefly in Somersetshire; and in divers places the visit was extended to families. The other engagement was in Devonshire, Cornwall, and Dorsetshire. In this visit also, she was concerned at times to go from house to house; and Ann Byrd, already mentioned, bore her company in the three counties.

The year 1788 was marked with more extensive travels; but, previously, her mind had been much stripped of consolation, and enveloped in dismay. Such an event would naturally tend to keep it humble, and to prepare her for further service. The following soliloquy, penned the 21st of the Second Month shows, in some degree, for words paint feelings but feebly, the depth of her distress, her continued patience, and the administration of help in the needful time.

My mind, (says she), having been for some time deeply led, as in the valley and shadow of death, so that I much feared I had some way or other greatly offended my good Master, many were my searches; but Oh,

I could not say with David, "When I go "through the valley and shadow of death, "I will fear no evil;" for many were my fears, and the greatest was, lest I should never again experience the lifting up of the light and life of his glorious countenance upon me. But this morning, being gathered into solemn stillness, my soul felt these words, "My words, they are spirit, and

they are life;" and they proved so to my poor spirit, which was then permitted in some degree, to see the usefulness of these baptisms, not only to myself, but in order to feel with, and speak to others who may be alike proved; and who may hear in this valley the roaring of the beasts of prey. These are deep felt truths, to the poor in spirit.'

In the Sixth Month, she received her Monthly Meeting's certificate to visit Friends in the Northern and Midland counties, also in Scotland; and it had the addition so usual in those lately granted to her, it mentioned her view of visiting in some places the families of Friends.

She has left a very short account of this long journey; and indeed she performed it, comparatively, in a very short time; for she was at home in the Eleventh Month. Her former companion Ann Byrd went with her as far as York; and then Esther Brady (already mentioned by the name of Esther Marshall) joined her, and they went together through Scotland.

A short extract from a letter, written at Edinburgh, on this journey, may show her humble disposition, and, in the scarcity of information relating to this engagement, may be particularly acceptable to the reader.

'I have had renewedly hitherto, on this journey, to admire His love, and great condescension in helping me along, so as to leave the places in general peaceful: á favour beyond the expression of words. Indeed, I cannot but, humbly, afresh at this time, admire his goodness, being often led to feel after this manner, My father's "family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the "least in my father's house."

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