that they went so frequently to the steeple-houses, and there spoke to the priests. But whatsoever any may judge concerning this, it is certain that those teachers generally did not bring forth the fruits of godliness, as was well known to those who themselves had been priests, and freely resigned their ministry, thenceforth to follow Christ in the way of his cross; and these were none of the least zealous against that society, among whom they formerly had ministered with an upright seal. Yet they were not for using sharp language against such teachers, who according to their knowledge feared God; but they levelled their aim chiefly against those who were only rich in words, without bringing forth true Christian fruits, and works of justice." Sewell's History, vol. i. p. 128.

Having thus adverted to one of the daughters of Andrew Jaffray, this will be the most fit place to introduce a brief but precious memorial of another, Lilias, who was so named in remembrance of her honoured grandmother, Lilias Skene. The Friends in Aberdeen and the neighbourhood, in their united capacity, were induced to convey their genuine unsophisticated feeling, upon occasion of her death, by a simple record of her worth. This they did, not with any view of puffing up the vain mind in youth or others; but as an encouragement to survivors of every class, to aim at, wrestle for, and breathe after that purity of heart, which the filial fear of our beneficent and heavenly Father will not fail to bring forth. Her example, thus held up, is an illustration of the force and value of Solomon's beautiful language:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom-get wisdom, get understanding-forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee; love her, and she shall keep thee-exalt her, and she shall promote thee-she shall

give to thine head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee."

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Upon the 1st of the 4th month, 1694, it pleased the Lord to remove out of the body a dear young plant, Lilias Jaffray, eldest daughter to Andrew Jaffray, being near 20 years of age; who, as she was of a very loving, sweet, innocent nature from her infancy, had also drank in a tender, sweet love to the Truth and to Friends, being beloved of all, both Friends and other people, that ever knew her. She was exceeding subject and obedient to her parents in the Lord; so she laid down her body in a sensible feeling of God's love and favour, and unity of Friends, the said day, a little before one in the morning. Her body was buried in her father's burial-ground at Kingswells, upon the 3d day of the said month, being a 1st day, after a good meeting and good service at the burial-place."

After this servant of the Lord, her father, had been honoured by bearing witness, for upwards of fifty years, to the excellency of the saving and spiritual knowledge of Christ Jesus, having had his conversation in the world in much simplicity and godly sincerity," not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God," he was cast upon the bed of sickness, and seemed not likely again to be restored to the church. During that dispensation, a calumnious report was industriously propagated in Aberdeen, that he totally denied those principles, which he had so long and so nobly defended. This circumstance, as he subsequently acknowledged, in a writing dictated by himself, and signed only two days before his death, "made me, after my last great sickness, the more willing to be restored, in subjection to the will of God; and I am made willing, though some years

after, to leave this testimony,-whatever evil men or others may say against me,-that if it be the Lord's will to remove me at this time, I die in unity with the Friends of Truth." Though favoured with some degree of returning health, the pressure of natural infirmity was latterly very heavy upon him; yet was he again and again strengthened publicly to advocate the gospel of the free and unmerited grace of God; for, even up to the last day before he took to his chamber, he exhorted and commended his friends to cleave to it. When confined to the bed for some months, under much bodily weakness, distress, and conflict, not without the buffetings of Satan,-the energies of the outward man gradually decaying,—he experienced the frequent rekindling of his desires and hopes heavenward; and was often engaged in a lively, clear strain, to set forth his admiring sense of the Lord's goodness towards his soul. He breathed his last on the 1st of the 2nd month, 1726, in great peace, and full assurance of an everlasting portion among the followers of the Lamb; his remains being interred in his own burial-ground on the family estate of Kingswells.

In the paper above referred to, taken down so shortly previous to his removal, he thus alludes to the memorable outpouring of the Holy Spirit, of which he and others were made partakers, during the time of their long imprisonment at Aberdeen." Oh! the unutterable glory, that brake forth and spread even in this country, wherein God Almighty raised up some mean instruments, as well as some more honourable, and myself among others, though very unworthy! And when thirty or forty of our ancient Friends were shut up in prison, I cannot but remember this particular instance; that when we were all

met in the low Tolbooth, and not a word had been spoken among us, either in prayer or preaching,-we breathing in our hearts for power to do the Lord's will;-his power at last brake in among us in a wonderful manner, to the melting and tendering our hearts. And though I was kept very empty a long time, yet at last the glorious power of God broke over the whole meeting, and upon me also, and ravished my heart,—yea, did appear as a ray of divine glory, to the ravishing of my soul, and all the living ones in the meeting. So that some of those that were in the town-council above us, confessed to some of our number with tears, that the breaking in of that power, even among them, made them say one to another, 'O! how astonishing it is, that our ministers should say, the Quakers have no psalms in their meetings; for such an heavenly sound we never heard in either old or new church.' After this, our meetings were often filled with heavenly, divine comfort, to the satisfaction of our souls, and we were often overcome with the love of our God, and many innumerable instances of his miraculous power attended us; many of which are recorded in a book for posterity to come. And God will tread down Satan under the feet of his power in due time, let him rage as he will."

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CHAPTER XX.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN THE PRESENT DAY, OCCASIONED BY THE FOREGOING HISTORY, AND THE ANTICIPATIONS OF THEIR PREDECESSORS.

Ar the opening of these Memoirs, the travels of George Fox in Scotland, in the year 1657, were briefly adverted to. After describing, in his Journal, the last meeting he had, previous to his return to England, this extraordinary comment upon his visit occurs. The truth and the power of God was set over that nation; and many, by the power and Spirit of God, were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, their Saviour and Teacher, whose blood was shed for them: and there is since a great increase,-and great there will be in Scotland, though the time may be far distant at present. For when first I set my horse's feet upon Scottish ground, I felt the seed of God to sparkle about me, as innumerable sparks of fire. Not but that there is abundance of thick, cloddy earth of hypocrisy and falseness atop, and a briary, brambly nature, which is to be burned up with God's word, and ploughed up with his spiritual plough, before God's seed brings forth heavenly and spiritual fruit to his glory. But the husbandman is to wait in patience."

Whether those readers, who may be inclined to lay some stress upon such anticipation, can see any thing like the fulfilment of it, at least in part, in the foregoing history, must be left with each individual to