Fifth-day, attended the usual meeting for worship of Friends at this place; most of their members and many strangers gave their attendance: at the close of the meeting a solid carts. We reached Soilard by night, and led to see, had I been suffered to pursue my were favoured to procure comfortable lodg-own inclination in the matter, it might have ings, for this part of the country. I had involved me in difficulty and distress, by inlearned quietly to put up with many things fluencing my mind to leave Stavanger before that would be considered hardships in my na- the time for it had fully arrived. tive land. We proceeded next morning with a pair of horses that appeared to be hard worked and not half fed, which was the case pretty much through this day's journey, and greatly lessened the pleasure it might have af- countenanced man, unknown to Friends, stood forded, the weather being serene and fine. During the last stage, our attendants, who were to take back the horses, and whose place it is to walk by the side of the carriage, were two females; we prevailed on them to get into our carriage, and we took our turns with them in walking; the inconvenience which we sustained was amply repaid by the gratitude the poor women manifested for this attention, and by the peaceful reflection it afforded. I believe we suffer ourselves to be plundered of much of that peace, which a beneficent Creator designs for us in this life, through yielding to a selfish disposition, and an unwillingness to take our share in the difficulties and inconveniences of life. O, may I ever remain willing to give up luxuries in order to supply others want of comforts; and may my comforts at times be given up to supply others want of necessaries; and that even my necessaries at times may be given up to relieve the extreme distress of others, is what I crave, from the assurance that such conduct is consistent with the true Christian character. This afternoon we were favoured to reach Stavanger, for which I felt truly thankful. On inquiry, we found the vessel we left at Egarsund had not arrived, the wind remaining contrary; had we continued with it, we should have been beating about to this time. I obtained clean, comfortable lodgings, which was cheering to my mind, and an earnest desire was awakened in me to be preserved patient under every trial that may be permitted to fall to my lot. up under much apparent exercise of mind, and expressed himself in a feeling manner, which produced a solemnity over the meeting; under which precious covering the mecting separated. We afterwards learnt that a person who was at the meeting I had at Christian-sands, had written an account of the meeting to some of his friends at Stavanger, which had brought this man and others to the meeting that day; and that the substance of what he expressed, was the commemoration of the Lord's continued goodness to mankind, in commissioning his servants thus to go up and down in the earth, proclaiming the truths of the Gospel, which he could say he had heard that day. At the close of the meeting for worship their two months' meeting was held. The laws of this country required all, without distinction of sect, to render an account to persons appointed by government, of all marriages, births and deaths that take place in each parish, which requisition Friends here had not complied with; whereby they had brought themselves under difficulty. As I had been informed by some in authority, that this omission was deemed obstinacy, and opposing the order of the government, and as I could see no ground for their scrupling to comply with the requisition, in order to prevent a continuance of this omission, I drew up the following minute, and had it translated for the approval of the two months' meeting, to be always the first minute read, and replied to by Friends who should be appointed to receive these accounts, and hand them to the persons appointed by the govern ment. "Are there two or more Friends appointed in this two months' meeting, to see that due notice is timely given to those apAPPREHENDING my stay here would not be pointed by the government to receive the of long duration, and being informed that ves- same, when marriages, births, or deaths have sels from Bergen to Hamburgh passed Tan- taken place? Has any case occurred since last nanger, about seven miles from Stavanger, I meeting, and has it, or have they, if more proposed in my own mind to write to a mer-than one, been attended to?" which being apchant at Bergen, whose address I had in my possession, requesting him to inform me when the first vessel would sail from thence for Hamburgh, and to secure a passage in her, to be taken in at Tannanger; but on looking more carefully at this proposal, made in my own will, such a cloud came over me, that I was obliged to relinquish it. I was afterwards VOL. III.-No. 7. CHAPTER XX. proved, was entered on their two months' meeting-book accordingly. Feeling constrained to labour for a better observance of true Gospel order amongst them, I recommended that when they discovered any of their members, or those who were constant attenders of their meetings, walking disorderly, or heard reports to their disadvantage, they 31 being brought under exercise for service, when the time for standing up was nearly come, I informed him, and when I rose he stood up with me. The meeting being attended by many strangers, I feared he would be embarrassed; but he was helped through the task, much to the satisfaction of the meeting; and, I doubt not, to the peace of his own mind; as he informed me, when the meeting closed, he should be willing to accompany me to the afternoon meeting, and assist me again: thus the language was afresh excited in my mind, should labour with them in private, as being to interpret for me in the meeting. My mind the way to promote the unity of the one Spirit, which is the bond of true peace; and that they should be especially careful how they judged those of other religious societies, or meddled with them relative to their religious rites and ceremonies, unless they were well assured in their own minds that necessity was laid upon them so to do. Also to avoid too familiar intercourse with those of other religious professions, but to keep in view, that Israel was to dwell alone; because, if we run into the way of temptation for the sake of gratifying our natural inclination, let it be in whatsoever way" What shall I render to the Lord for all his it may, we cannot expect to receive that Divine support and protection essential to escaping the danger. I felt thankful in believing these remarks were seasonable and well received. The son of a merchant, to whom I was quite a stranger, made me a call, saying, from apprehensions of duty he came to offer his services as my interpreter, to the houses of such in the government department, the clergy and others, as I should feel a concern to visit. I had felt my mind at times, when looking towards visits of this sort, brought under a great strait, as the only Friend here acquainted with the English language, was very imperfect in his knowledge of it, and he in a very humble situation in life, so that I feared, when the time came for me to make visits to those who moved in the higher circles, independent of his imperfect knowledge of the English language, and want of capacity to give a correct translation of my words, he might not be so cordially received as to afford a free, open opportunity with those I visited. Although I considered this extraordinary occurrence as likely to relieve my mind on this subject, yet it appeared to require mature deliberation before I accepted of his very kind offer, that I might be fully satisfied in my own mind it had the sanction of my Divine Master; otherwise, improper views might be given of my communications to the hurt of the good cause I am professing to promote. After mature deliberation, I believed I might with safety accept it; we therefore proceeded together, and made some agreeable calls. Seventh-day, my kind young friend had served me so much to the satisfaction of my own mind, that I solicited his company at meeting, should I need his aid this request I observed appeared to try him much, and I did not feel easy to press him, as he did not profess with Friends: so the matter was left. First-day morning, my kind young friend came to my lodgings to accompany me to meeting, although I found he had not got the better of his discouragements at the prospect of a public exposure, should I call upon him mercies towards me!" On my way to meeting of the good effects produced by what had been communicated. I returned to my lodgings, I hope, truly thankful for that Divine counsel and support I had been favoured with: may the praise be given, both by preacher and hearers, where only it is due, is the prayer of my soul. Second-day, accompanied by my young friend, I made a visit to one of the clergy, who manifested a concern for the promotion of the Lord's cause, and a desire that Friends here should be careful in keeping their proper places amongst the people; he also expressed the high esteem he had for our religious Society, and his desire that tenderness should be manifested towards Friends respecting their principles, if they could produce testimonials from Friends in England, that they were a part of the same religious body. I informed him they were so far under the care of the Society of Friends in England, that they corresponded with a committee of one of our meetings in London, and had recently received an epistle from that committee; and having procured a translation of it, I presented him with it, which he appeared to read with considerable interest; expressing the satisfaction the contents afforded him, and the pleasure he felt during the short time we had been together. who, to obtain the necessaries of life, had thrown herself into an exposed situation, her affections became entangled with a young man not professing with Friends, to whom she had become married, and had withdrawn herself from the meetings of Friends. She appeared in a very tender, yet mournful disposi tion, from a sense of the great loss which, through unwatchfulness, she had sustained, as she said, when recurring to past seasons, in which she had been favoured to feel the incomes of Divine love and life, whereby she was strengthened, so long as she abode under its influence, to withstand the assaults of satan; but now all the good she was once favoured to be a witness of, was withdrawn from her, and she found herself left an easy prey to the enemy. Feeling, as I apprehended, a sense given me that Divine mercy still waited her acceptance, I endeavoured to hold out to her the language of encouragement; to seek for that help, which, if faithfully co-operated with, I believed would be found all-sufficient for the great work she had to do, in order to her recovering that good state she was mourning the loss of. At our parting, a hope was raised in my mind, that the opportunity had awakened in her a fresh resolution to make some efforts to obtain that help, which alone was sufficient to enable her to experience this good state again. I felt deeply on her account, as well as the loss the meeting and the cause had sustained through her fall. I In the afternoon we visited the chief magistrate. I had called at his house before, and he being from home, I left for him the Book of Extracts peculiar to Norway, which he now Fifth-day, an hour before the meeting-time told me he had read to his satisfaction. I told many people were waiting about the house, him, he would see by it the conduct which our and when the meeting was fully gathered, it principles led its members to observe, when settled down in much quiet. The Friend, fully submitted to; and where shortness mani- who only had knowledge of the English lanfested itself in any of the Friends here, by not guage, sat next me. I informed him that I coming up to their profession, and it came to believed it would be best for me simply to cast his knowledge, it would be a kindness done before the meeting what might be required of the Society tenderly to inform them thereof. me, and there to leave it, which took place; He replied, he knew nothing but that Friends and we were favoured with a solid, and, generally conducted themselves well; but laid doubt not to many, a satisfactory sitting togreat stress on the necessity of their having gether. When the meeting closed, I was retestimonials from Friends in England, that joiced to find my kind young friend in the they are a part of the same body. I made passage of the meeting-house, waiting to see him the same reply which I had before made if he could render me any service in a private to the priest, and gave him the translation of way, which was truly relieving to my mind; the epistle from the committee in London to and as I had a few matters to cast before read, informing him the Friends there, were Friends before I left them, I gladly accepted as much under the notice of Friends in Eng- his kind offer, and requested that the men and land, as was practicable from their remote women who were members would take their situation. He assured me that the statement seats again. After a time of quiet, I endeaI had given him was satisfactory, and appeared voured to impress on the minds of those who to entertain a kind disposition towards Friends, had families, the necessity of being careful to which I afterwards was informed he had fully give their children an early and sufficient edumaintained. This evening I received a visit cation, and to induce them to overcome that from a young woman, who a few years ago drawling and very low tone of voice, in which had joined Friends here, and at times had they were in the habit of expressing themspoken in their meetings to satisfaction; but | selves, directing their faces to the ground, when speaking to persons, from which I was informed disgust had arisen in the minds of some of the inhabitants against Friends. My remarks appeared to be well received, and desires were expressed, I could not doubt in great sincerity, that they might profit by them. The care which my kind young friend manifested at this time, unsought for by me, endeared him much to me. In the afternoon I walked out of town about four English miles, and had a religious opportunity in a family. manifest, and many tears were shed at the prospect of our being likely so soon to separate; but I believed I felt fully satisfied in my own mind the time was come for it, and that it would be unsafe for me to yield to the entreaties, to tarry longer amongst them. After the opportunity closed, feeling something still on my mind to one of the Friends, I requested my interpreter to remain with the Friend and myself; we sat down together, and having been strengthened to relieve my mind fully on Seventh-day, accompanied by my young the subject with which I had been exercised, friend, I waited upon the lieutenant of the the way appeared clearly to open for me to county, with whom I had an agreeable inter- request Friends to arrange for my proceeding view, relative to some difficulties Friends were towards Bergen. At the afternoon meeting under, whose case was before the ecclesiastical | the crowd of strangers was great: the manner court. He manifested a kind disposition to- in which the people entered the meeting-house wards Friends, saying, if those of Stavanger encouraged me to hope we should be favoured had been able to produce testimonials of their together. They manifested agreeable attenreligious principles being the same as those of tion to what was communicated, and remained Friends in England, the prosecution would not quiet until the meeting closed; many of their have been commenced. I gave him the same countenances indicating that their minds were reply I had done to others, with which he ap- seriously affected. They came up in a feeling peared satisfied. I left with him the Book manner, and offered me and my interpreter of Extracts; and after his expressing in an their hands, which led me to hope he had been agreeable manner the desire he felt for my favoured with Divine help in the discharge of getting comfortably forward the remainder of his arduous undertaking. In the evening I my journey, we parted. I felt drawings in returned home with two Friends of the meetmy mind to visit an aged couple, about five ing, who reside with their parents, on an island, miles out of Stavanger, parents to one of the about five miles from shore. The parents do Friends of Christiana; but who I was informed not profess with Friends, but they received me were much opposed to Friends, and would not with great kindness. Before I retired to rest, receive two Friends who had been here from feeling something given me to communicate to England, on a religious visit. The prospect the parents, I sought for help to be found faithof making the attempt felt trying; but fearing ful to this pointing of duty. They received I should not be clear in the sight of my Great what I had to cast before them with expresMaster without it, we proceeded this afternoon, sions of gratitude. Next morning, after a reand met with a very cordial reception. Every ligious opportunity in the family, we returned effort in their power, according to their limited to Stavanger. On inquiry being made about circumstances, appeared to be made to refresh a vessel bound for Hamburgh, it was found our bodies; and we had reason for believing, that there was one lying at Tannanger, about that what was offered in the line of ministry seven miles from Stavanger, waiting for a fair was well received; at parting they expressing wind, and another was soon to sail from Berthe comfort which our visit had afforded them. gen, which it was expected would pass TanFirst-day morning, as I approached the nanger; but whenever I looked at taking shipmeeting-house I was plunged into exercise, ping at Tannanger, such a cloud came over by observing the great number of people al- my mind, that I saw no way for me but to deready assembled: when the doors were opened, cline so doing, and yet I could not see any the meeting soon settled down in quiet, and prospect of service likely to open for me at closed under a covering of good; a thankful Bergen. In this trying situation, I thought I sense attended my mind that holy help had might truly say my faith was tried, as to an been near, cementing us together in spirit. I hair's breadth, from the dread of encountering was again comforted in finding my kind young a voyage of near a hundred miles to Bergen, friend was in the passage of the meeting-house, on such a dangerous, rocky coast, in an open to lend me his further assistance. As I ex- boat. But as my friends here thought I should pected to take my departure before another not be able to endure an overland journey, first-day, I requested Friends again to take there appeared no other way for me, if I was their seats to afford us a quiet parting oppor- favoured with the continuation of Divine guidtunity together. Much did not appear to be ance, in the safe accomplishing of my further required of me in the way of ministry: it prospects of religious duty, but to submit. proved a time in which heart-felt sorrow was After much exercise and earnest seeking to say the Lord not to leave me, until a willingness preaching. For some time after absenting was brought about in me to commit my poor herself from the Lutheran place of worship, body to his keeping, I was favoured to expe- she spent her first-days at home, until her rience the contending powers to be disarmed; mind was divinely turned towards the meeting my fears all vanished out of sight, and I was of Friends. At first she met with great openabled cheerfully to yield to proceed in this position from her brother; but in time her way, and not to have a desire in my mind to steady conduct so wrought on his mind, that adopt any other, from an assurance I should he has now beome her companion in attending be strengthened to endure whatever difficulties Friends' meetings: they appeared to be very might be permitted to fall to my lot on the near to that principle of light and life, which, passage. I therefore requested my friends to if fully yielded to, would make them wayarrange for my speedy departure. After in-marks to others, and instruments in the Diquiry being made for a boat, and a company vine hand of increasing this meeting. of men to take charge of me, and nothing Fourth-day morning, we set out on our pas offering that appeared suitable, my kind friend, sage. I was favoured to enter the boat as void Thomas- having a good boat, and he and of fear as if I had been entering a carriage to my interpreter being well acquainted with the travel on a fine, level road, and not as having coast, they engaged to provide themselves with a voyage before me of nearly one hundred such help as would be necessary, and to take miles, in an open boat, off a dangerous, rocky charge of me to Bergen. As I had expected coast. We proceeded well on our way until that I must commit myself to entire strangers, noon, when heavy rain came on, and we put whose language I could not understand, I es- into Corsunt Harbour for the night. These teemed this a great mercy from my heavenly harbours, between Stavanger and Bergen are Father; and secretly acknowledged it as a very numerous: in consequence of the rocks further proof of his superintending care, and and sudden squalls of wind they are subject I have lacked nothing that was essential to in this passage, many wrecks occur. I ento my getting forward, when the time was deavoured to make the best of the miserable fully come for my proceeding. May the re-accommodation the house I entered afforded, currence to this instance of Divine regard, and next morning we got on our way; but we excite in me not only the inquiry of "Lord, had not proceeded far before a heavy fog came what wilt thou have me to do?" but a willing-on, which rendered it difficult for the boatmen ness also to yield unreserved obedience to all to steer their course with safety amidst numehis requirings; that I may not be found an rous sunken rocks. The appearance of the ungrateful receiver of his manifold favours! fog, the anxiety manifested by the boatmen Previously to my departure I received a for our safety, the frequent occurrence of these visit from two young persons, who have of sunken rocks in every direction, and my getlate become diligent attenders of Friends' ting rather off my watch, threatened to shake meetings; respecting whom a comfortable hope was raised in my mind, that if they hold on their way as they have begun, they will add strength to this meeting. On inquiry as to the cause that had induced them to come and sit with Friends, as they lived at some distance from Stavanger, I received the following interesting narrative. They were members of the Lutheran church; the young woman had been a diligent attender of her own place of worship, but absenting herself for a at their labours late this night, to reach a staconsiderable time from it, the priest of the tion where we were the most likely to have parish sent for her, and inquired into the such beds as we might venture to get into. cause, asking if she had anything against him On sixth-day we again proceeded, the wind that was the cause of it. To which she re- being against us, and having considerable arms plied she had. He appeared greatly confused. of the sea to cross, and a strong current to She then told him, she attended the burial of contend with, made it hard work for our boata man who was well known to have been a men; who being desirous of relief, and coming very irreligious, immoral character; and that up with a fisherman, applied to him, when he in a sermon he preached at his grave, he en-directed them to take a course, which soon deavoured to set him forth to the hearers as a led us into still water for four or five miles. man of good conduct-one who had walked We passed between lofty rocks, on the tops of amongst men as uprightly as the patriarch which, in places, stones of a great size hung Jacob; that she durst no longer sit under his above our heads, as if ready to come down that confidence in the all-superintending care of a Divine Power, with which I began my voyage; but from an assurance that exposing myself to these dangers was not in my own will, but in obedience to His commands, in whose hand is my life, to do with it as he pleases, I was favoured with ability to resume my confidence, and all my fears of danger disappeared, not leaving a desire to be anywhere than where I then was. The men kept |