gratitude overspread my soul, humble praises ascending from my quivering lips.'

The reader may now perceive that it is not a connected narration that is to be expected. Probably the authoress of the memorandums, which are offered to his perusal, might, in making them, intend them rather as helps to her own recollection, of past instances of divine support, than as materials for a journal. The friends, however, who were most intimate with her, and who have been confirmed in their love for her memory by these memorandums, have no doubt of their being sweet and encouraging to others; and are therefore desirous, whatever might be the original design, that they may be presented to the inspection of their fellow-members in religious profession. The want of exactness in arrangement cannot now be supplied: therefore the following remarks are here introduced without the

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certainty of their being placed in their due

order of time.

My spirit hath been, for a considerable length of time, baptized, and much inclosed in pain and distress, by day and also by night, and that sweet calm, which I had before often felt when I awoke, was withdrawn ; a serenity in which my mind felt and understood that declaration, "The angel of the "Lord encampeth round about them that "fear him, and delivereth them."

Instead

of this, pain was now administered; in this trying season, all comfort was withdrawn; the stone was heavy on the well's mouth, and but little strength was I sensible of, to roll it away. Language fails me to express the painful feelings of my mind; but O! the invisible Power that was pleased to permit me to be thus tried, gave me to behold the unsafety of drawing my comforts from the visibles; and the secret manifestation of help was mercifully afforded, to apply with a broken heart and a contrited spirit, to Him who holds the winds in his hands, and causeth them to blow where it pleaseth him.

In this state was brought to my remem. brance that text, "The kingdom of heaven "suffereth violence, and the violent take it "by force." My mind was led deeply to consider on an awful eternity, and on the purity that is necessary for the inhabitants of the new Jerusalem. These considerations, with indisposition of body, greatly humbled my mind, with this attendant thought, Perhaps kind Providence is opening the eye of my soul more clear into things of this nature, that I may be prepared for my final change.'

Second month, 1772. My cousin Jefferys' daughter Katharine was taken ill, and remained so several days. She was a child uncommonly ripe for her age. [Probably not more than four years old.] The sweetness of her disposition was extraordinary, and her patience in sickness, very instructive. I waited much upon her, esteeming it a favour, because of the sweet covering that attended, and particularly so when her innocent spirit departed. I think I never experienced any thing to equal it, on a similar occasion. She died on my lap at which

time divine love, in an uncommon manner, covered my spirit, and boundless Goodness gave me to feel beyond what I can or dare express: being then permitted to behold her rest, and taste her joy, in unutterable bliss; which reverently bowed all within me in awful prostration and thanksgiving before Him who is glorious in holiness, and fearful in praises, and doeth wonders.'*

It may seem from the manner of her narration to visit the men-friends at the Monthly Meeting of Lavington in the Twelfth Month, 1771, that she then belonged to that meeting. She had probably then become a resident in the family of Edward Jefferys at or near Melksham, which Meeting was a part of Lavington Monthly Meeting; but she was not recommended to it by certifi cate, as appears by the records of Chippen

The reader may find something similar to this, in Mary Venington's testimony to her husband, prefixed to I. P's works

ham Monthly Meeting, until the Third Month, 1772. There were then three Monthly Meetings in Wiltshire; but a different arrangement has since taken place; and all the meetings in the northern part of the county are united in one Monthly Meeting called Wiltshire Monthly Meeting. The Friends in the southern parts of it have been connected with those of Hampshire.

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