poor meeting. I queried, why they did not ly Meeting, which was I hope serviceable, give their neighbours notice? To which they answered, they did not use to do it. There is a very great remissness amongst some Friends in this respect; if they were diligent, and desirous to have the company of their neighbours, where the minister is so concerned, it might be of great service to them. I went from thence to Godalming, where we had a very large and open meeting; to Alton, and had two very agreeable meetings; and to Winchester, where were but a few Friends; then to Rumsey, and had a small meeting; so to Ringwood week-day meeting, which was small, but pretty well; to Pool, and had a meeting or two there, and then home, being very glad that I succeeded so well, both as to health and ability of mind, getting home about the middle of the second month, 1747.

I visited the meetings in my neighbourhood, until the 9th of the third month, 1747, and on that day took my journey for Bristol Yearly Meeting, which was very large and well. From thence to the Quarterly Meeting for Gloucestershire, held at Thornbury, where I had a very satisfactory time. I went to Nailsworth, and was taken unwell in the night, but went to meeting, although not very fit for it; my dear friend Richard Champion came there, and I went with him to his house. The respect and kindness he showed, proved that he was an excellent sympatizing friend in affliction; for my encouragement, he went to Worcester with me, the meetings being appointed so far. I was bravely recovered by the time I got to Worcester, was at three meetings there on first-day, and had good satisfaction and peace in them. I went thence to Broomsgrove, and had a small but comfortable meeting; and to Birmingham, where I staid seventh-day, and went to Coventry on firstday, and was at two meetings there, which were both open and well; but the latter more so than the first. Then to Hinkley, Leicester, Castle-dunnington, and to Nottingham on firstday, where I was at two meetings, but few besides our own professors were there; the meetings were tolerably well. I had not very agreeable service, to my own apprehension, in some of the above meetings, though some Friends thought my doctrine suitable to their states, and that is the chief end which we ought to aim at. I went to Mansfield, and had a very full meeting at a funeral, with which I had great comfort and peace: then to Chesterfield, Sheffield and Warnsworth, and had tolerably good opportunities; and to York Quarterly Meeting, where I had good service.

From York I went into Holderness, taking meetings to Beverly, where was a MonthVOL. III.-No. 2.

being a large gathering of Friends and other people of different persuasions; then to Hull, Welwick, Oustwick, Hornsey and Burlington. Oustwick was a very large meeting, the others but small, but not to complain of; thence to Scarborough, where I was at two first-day meetings, which were large and comfortable. I had seven meetings in that place to good satisfaction; then I had a small meeting at Staten-dale, and so to Whitby, and had three meetings there, but they were laborious, being pretty hard to get through. At Moorsam and Castleton, I had a small meeting; it being harvest-time many Friends could not attend. From thence to Kirby Moorside, and lodged with my dear and worthy friend John Richardson, at Hutton in the Hole, and was at a very large meeting at Pickering, called a Yearly Meeting, but it did not answer expectations, many of the people who were not Friends, coming to it as to a revel, and would afterwards get drunk before they went home, which gave Friends much uneasiness, and room to consider whether it was best to continue it or not.

I returned to my old worthy friend John Richardson's, whose conversation and company were very agreeable and profitable; then to Kirby, and had a very comfortable meeting; then to several small meetings, which were pretty open and edifying. At Yarm my friend Thomas Couldwell, of Darlington, met me; who had a few words in meetings to good satisfaction; and was an innocent reputable man, both in ministry and conduct.

James Wilson went with me through the county of Durham, where we visited most of the meetings. From thence we went to Allendale, and had a pretty large gathering of Friends, the Monthly Meeting being there; their business was well conducted, and the affairs carried on to edification and comfort. At Allenstone Moor, I had a pretty large meeting, and a comfortable opportunity, it being Monthly Meeting also: from thence to Cornwood, which was pretty full, and I had an agreeable time. There being here some convincement, I was opened to show the dif ference between a true and false ministry, demonstrating the qualifications of each, that they might judge whether a spiritual qualification, which sanctifies and purifies the conscience, fitting it for receiving the knowledge of the Divine will, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit; or a human qualification by literature and books, with what they call ordination, too often without the sanctification of the heart by the word of Truth, was most likely to advance the work of true religion.

From this place we went into Cumberland,

9

but after the first meeting James Wilson went there very agreeable service. The Quarterly home. I visited Cumberland pretty thorough- Meetings of Cumberland, Westmoreland and ly, and at Coldbeck was taken so ill, that I Lancashire succeed one another, and are the could not attend that meeting. From thence largest of any I know in this nation. I staid I went to Isel and Cockermouth, Pardsay and at Lancaster over first-day, and had some Whitehaven, but I was very weak and low in service at their two meetings, both pretty my spirit, which rendered me very unfit for large. From Lancaster I went to Yelland, service. I was at Workington on first-day, and had a small hard meeting, and to Preston and had a very large and open meeting, so meeting next day, which was small and heavy; that I was finely recruited, and gathered my friend Sarah Wilson, James' wife, and strength both inwardly and outwardly. I some other Friends from that side, met me went to Broughton, Allonby and to Holm, there, with whom I went to Brigflats meeting, where was a troublesome woman, in whom which was a fine gathering, and I had a coman opposing spirit was very strong. She fortable time. Then to Dent's town, to a gave some disturbance, especially to John Ur- General Meeting, which was pretty large and win, but no body said anything to her; and well : thence to Garsdale and Ravenstonedale, after I had spoken some time, and concluded, and had two small meetings which were edishe stood up and expressed something to this fying, although not without some mixture of effect; "Here are a great many fine words put uneasiness and trouble, chiefly occasioned well together, but where is the life?" And in by unfaithfulness and indolence prevailing on meetings she would often cast forth reproaches some of the professors, from whom one might and reflections on ministers, both of the same expect much better by their appearances, and county and also strangers. From Holm we the places they aimed to fill in the church. went to Wigton, and I staid there over first- I was at Brigflats meeting on first-day; and day, and had two very edifying meetings; their Monthly Meeting for discipline being on then went to Moorhouse, and had a tolerably the fourth-day following, I staid there, and all good meeting, and so to the Quarterly Meeting was conducted to edification and comfort; at Carlisle, which was very large, and I had good satisfaction both in meetings of business, and the meetings of ministers, to my great comfort. These meetings very much restored me, for I had been very low and weak with the disorder I took at Coldbeck, but my friend John Urwin was of singular good service to

me.

In the visit from Carlisle to Penrith, I went with my friend John Wilson and his brother Crewdson, who were so kind as to meet me at Carlisle, and we had a very large, good open meeting, and I doubt not the power of Truth was eminently felt that day by some. I went to Great Strickland Monthly Meeting for discipline, and to Shap, and had some service, although I was dejected and low; and always when I was in that condition, I endeavoured in secret to be still, waiting in patience, with fervent prayer that I might be preserved in the simplicity of the Gospel, to appear just as the Truth assisted, carefully guarding against forming any image or likeness, from a wrong root, lest I should offend my Master as Israel did in Moses' absence, by forming to themselves that dumb, lifeless idol the calf, to worship after the manner of the Egyptians.

thence to Grayrig, a small meeting; and to Crook, where some Friends from Windermeer met me; it was but a small meeting, and we had a low poor time. I came back to Kendal, and was at the first-day meetings; that in the afternoon was large, and I opened pretty clearly the difference between a natural and a spiritual state, showing the necessity of the last, in order to qualify for the knowledge of Divine things, as that knowledge is not to be attained by the natural man; we had an edifying and good time.

I went from Kendal to Bentham, and had a large meeting to satisfaction; then to Settle, and was at their Monthly Meeting for discipline; to Skipton, and had a small meeting there; and so to Bradford, where I was on first-day, and had pretty good satisfaction. This week's labour gave me a good degree of case and cheerfulness of mind. I was also at Rawden, Leeds, Gildersome and Bradford Monthly Meeting, which was very small, chiefly occasioned by the inclemency of the weather, the rains being very heavy and a great flood. I returned to Leeds, and so back to Rawden, and to the Monthly Meeting at Asquith, where I met with dear Benjamin Kidd; the meeting was pretty large, and I From Shap I went to Kendal, to the Quar- think to good purpose. I returned to Leeds terly Meeting for Westmoreland, which was on first-day, it being my last and farewell very large, and I was much opened in it, meeting. The widow Horner's house was my having very satisfactory service both to my-home, and in it I had great peace of mind and self and Friends. I went to Lancaster to the consolation, though she was at that time under Quarterly Meeting for that county, and had a very trying exercise, which gave her some

uneasy thoughts; but considering the close trials she had undergone, she bore it with great patience, plainly demonstrating, that she was favoured to dwell near the Truth; to the comfort of her family and sensible Friends who had the opportunity of her desirable and edifying conversation.

I left Leeds, and went to Wakefield to a funeral, on which account the meeting was somewhat larger, though it was a very stormy day, and much snow fell. John Scott was with me, and we had a good opportunity: thence I went to Pontefract, and had a small meeting; it was a deep snow, and very hard frost, which made it very bad travelling; then to Warnsworth to their Monthly Meeting, and to Blith in Nottinghamshire, to the funeral of a worthy elder and minister, where we had a very large company, who were orderly and sober in their behaviour. At Hansworth Woodhouse, I had a small meeting; and then to Sheffield, and had two large meetings to pretty good satisfaction; then I went to Chesterfield, and had a small meeting, and at Mansfield; to Nottingham week-day meeting, and to Leicester on first-day; here John Scott left me. The morning meeting was but small, but that in the afternoon was larger, and both were to pretty good satisfaction. I was at two or three small meetings, in the county, and then came back to the Quarterly Meeting at Leicester, where I had a satisfactory time before the business came on, which was conducted with prudence and love.

good examples, and to take care the poor were not neglected, but assisted in due season. At Stourbridge we had a large meeting, sundry people came in besides Friends, and it was of good service: from Bewdley I went to Worcester on first-day, where the morning meeting was small and heavy, but that in the afternoon was large and more open. At Tewksbury I had a very open, edifying opportunity, though but a small meeting; thence to Cheltenham, where, although I requested notice might be given, it was neglected, and the meeting was very small. At Painswick I much pressed that notice might be given to their neighbours; I likewise gave several notice of the meeting myself, desiring them to acquaint others of it, and by this means we had a large and open meeting; I hope it was of good service to some, and the people were very sober and attentive. From thence to Nailsworth, and although it is a considerable meeting, if not the largest meeting in the county, it was very small, yet we had a comfortable time together. I went to Thornbury on first-day to a funeral, which was very large and open; from thence to Bristol, and was at the third and sixth-day meetings, and on first-day at two meetings, which were all well and comfortable. Then back to Thornbury to the funeral of a worthy elder, Thomas Ally: he was much respected, which his neighbours manifested by giving their attendance at the meeting; and many Divine truths were opened, which appeared to be to satisfaction, there being teachers of sunFrom Leicester I went to a general Monthly dry professions present, who were very attenMeeting, in a parish called Wigston-two-Stec- tive. Then to Frenchay, a small meeting, ples on first-day, where the meeting was pretty and so to Bristol. I was at the sixth-day large, and to good satisfaction; and that eve-meeting, and at a funeral in Temple street, ning came back to a meeting at Leicester, where many of the people called Methodists Benjamin Holme being there also; the meet-came; I staid over first-day, and had two ing was well and comfortable: then to Hink-meetings, being edified in both, but the last in ley, and had a comfortable time, and to Nu- Temple street rather exceeded. I came to neaton, and had a very large meeting, which Dassil near Shipton Mallet, and had a very I hope was to good purpose. I was also at satisfactory meeting at Roscombe, about a Coventry week-day meeting, and at Atherston; mile off, where Baptists, Methodists and other these meetings were of some service, but not dissenters came, being all very sober and large. At Warwick on first-day, and had an attentive; and what much contributed to enevening meeting the third-day following, which large the number was, that the Baptist teachwere comfortable opportunities: thence to Hen-er gave notice both to his own people and ley and had a small evening meeting; but the inhabitants of the place, and gave his Friends were too negligent in acquainting attendance himself. After meeting he came their neighbours, for which I had cause to to the Friend's house where we dined, and deblame them in several places. I went to Bir-sired a little conversation, which was readily mingham, and was at their sixth-day meeting, complied with; this gave some reason to think which was small; staid over first-day, and he intended to object, but it proved the conhad two meetings to pretty good satisfaction, trary, for he was rather too much abounding with which I was comforted. On fourth-day following I was at their Monthly Meeting, which was well conducted, and I had an edifying time, advising the elders to keep their places as watchmen over the youth, and to be

in praise, commending what he had heard more than I approved of, wanting to know whether I had not studied that sermon, as he called it, before I came there. My answer to him was, I knew not, when I came there,

whether I should have anything to say or not, many hopeful young people of both sexes atso far was I from having anything provided tended it, who seemed likely to come up in the beforehand. He said it was a very good ser- places of the faithful already gone, and of those mon, and very suitable for those who heard who are going to their long homes. My heart it. He was very loving, and so we parted. rejoiced to find in them a right concern for the From Roscombe I came to Long Sutton cause of the Gospel, and zeal to keep up the testiand had a small meeting; then to Sherborne mony for which their parents joyfully suffered. meeting, the smallest I ever was at, or had in We had several acceptable and edifying times, that place, and to but little satisfaction; the and the affairs of the meeting were conducted smallness of the number was much owing to in great love and condescension, and ended the want of notice to the town's people; then well. The concluding meeting was very to a funeral at Yeovill, of an ancient woman large, and the only one for which I had a upwards of ninety-five years of age. A particular concern before I left home, but I large company of the neighbours attended was almost shut out, being so narrowed up the corpse, and we had a good time, the peo- for time by those who appeared before me, ple were very serious, and seemed edified that it seemed quite unseasonable to hold the with what was spoken; from thence I came meeting longer, and not likely to comport home, on the 16th of the twelfth month, with the health of the people. But yet my 1747.

age and infirmity considered, and it appearing I staid at home and visited the neighbouring doubtful whether I might have the like oppormeetings until the 2nd of the third month, tunity, and being pressed in spirit thereto, I 1748, and then went towards Bristol Yearly stood up under great fear and weakness; but Meeting, but had no meeting till I came there, I was immediately strengthened by the good except the Monthly Meeting for the north di- word of life, through which I was helped, vision of Somerset, and though it was very and came off beyond my expectation, being small, the affairs thereof were conducted with afterwards filled with Divine peace and conprudence and judgment. Bristol Yearly Meet-solation, which confirmed me that I was in ing was to general satisfaction.

my place and duty.

I staid in London over first-day, but had no service in public ministry, except at the morning meeting of ministers on second-day, where I was much drawn forth to the min

From Bristol I went to Bath, and had a small meeting, and so to Pickwick. I had a small meeting at Corsham, and then went to Bradford on first-day; the morning meeting was small, but pretty open; that in the after-isters, the meeting being very large with noon was very large, and I was concerned to country Friends, and I was much comforted. distinguish between the theory and the practi- Next morning I went with my worthy friend cal part of true religion, and many of the Samuel Waring, by Esher to Alton, to their people called Methodists being there, were first-day meeting, had a meeting at Great very attentive; all was quiet and ended well. Fraile, and staid the Monthly Meeting at AlI went back to Pickwick to the men's Monthlyton, which was comfortable and well, though Meeting, and the adjourned Quarterly Meeting not much appearance of service. I went to for the county, it was very small, which mani-Rumsey, but was taken ill on the road, and fested too much neglect amongst the elders of was very much fatigued, yet next day was the Society for the service of these meetings. bravely recovered, and had a small meeting From thence I came to the Devizes, Melksham with the two families, which was very comand Market Lavington, and had a meeting at fortable. Then to Ringwood on first-day, each place, which were pretty comfortable; and had two open meetings; next day was and to Salisbury on first-day, and had two their Quarterly Meeting, where their affairs large meetings there: a great many Method- were well conducted; and the day following ists came to both meetings, and were in their was the Yearly Meeting of the two counties appearance and behaviour very agreeable; of Southampton and Dorset, pretty large both several were partly convinced, and constantly in the forenoon and afternoon, and of good attended meetings; I had very suitable doc-service. Then to Pool to the Quarterly Meettrine to their unsettled states, and seeking ing of Dorsetshire, and I staid there over firstconditions, for they seemed to be inquiring day, and had two pretty full meetings, espethe way to the kingdom, with their faces cially the last, which was very large and thitherwards; and I hope there will be an increase of our Society in that place.

From Salisbury I went to Alton, and had a small meeting there, and then to the Yearly Meeting at London, which was very large; and

open; many Divine truths were clearly and plainly declared to the people, who by their stillness and attention, manifested a good disposition to hear and be informed; I came home the last day of the fifth month, 1748.

An account of my journey to Bristol Yearly
Meeting, and to London, Norwich, &c.

was enlarged on the progressive advancement in a living and saving faith, which is the very life of true religion. We had a I left home the 17th of the second month, small meeting the day following, being their 1749, and had a meeting near Shipton Mallet, weekly meeting; then I went to Brand, Edto good satisfaction; then to Bristol, and staid mund Peckover being with me; he had very the Yearly Meeting, where I had some very good service, and the meeting ended well. I agreeable opportunities, both in the select and went back to Woodbridge, and staid over firstpublic meetings. Being clear of that place, day, but there were very few besides Friends, I proceeded by Chippenham, Caln and Marl-though it was expected the last meeting would borough, and had a meeting in each place; have been large, but for want of notice it was then to Newbury, and had two meetings on not. Thence to Layston, Peason-hall and first-day, the last pretty large and agreeable; Beccles, and had a small meeting at each to Reading, Henley, Wickham and Uxbridge, place to tolerable satisfaction; then to Mutford and had but small meetings, though satisfac- and Pakefield, and had as large meetings as tory at each place. From Uxbridge I went the accommodation would permit; what was to London, and had some very acceptable chiefly wanting, was room for the people in times in the select meetings of ministers, and both places. At Yarmouth, I had a pretty was largely opened in the public meetings, large meeting to edification; one at North and I found my concern to grow upon me. Walsham; and then to Norwich Yearly MeetWhen I was clear I left London in company ing, which was very large. I was enlarged with John Wilson of Kendal, and went to on the qualification of true ministers, showing, Colchester the 27th of the third month, the that without the Divine aid of the Spirit of Yearly Meeting beginning next day, and the Truth, that work could not be rightly perQuarterly Meeting for the county the day fol- formed to the edification of the hearers. lowing, and the select meeting of ministers From Norwich I went to Lamas General on the morning of the third-day of the week, Meeting, which was very large, too much for which appeared to me but of little advantage, the house to contain, but the people were very but the public meetings were very large and ed-quiet; then back to Norwich, and staid the ifying, and ended to good satisfaction. Thence week-day and first-day meetings following. to Manningtree, and had a small meeting, and I had ten meetings, though in two of them so to Ipswich, and was at their weekly meet-I had nothing to say, and they were mosting, in company with Jane Hoskins, formerly ly very large and to good purpose, being Fenn, and Elizabeth Hudson, both from Pennsylvania, who had agreeable service amongst Friends. I staid in Ipswich over the first-day, and the last meeting was very large, being appointed about the fourth hour in the afternoon, and many of other professions were there, and were very attentive and sober, and some very much affected and broken into tears, so that I hope that meeting was of service to many: I was largely opened on the subject of working out our own salvation, and the means whereby it is attainable.

full enough for my natural strength to go through with; but I was thankful and glad in finding inward strength and assistance every day to help me through, to my own comfort and his praise who is God, blessed for ever; and he has given me faith to believe, that so long as he engages my mind in the work of the ministry, he will give a fresh supply of strength, both inward and outward, adequate to his requirings. From Norwich I came to Mattishal, Windham and Teasborough, and had a meeting at each place, the last was enFrom Ipswich I went to Woodbridge, it larged considerably with Friends from Norbeing the Quarterly Meeting for the county wich, but I was under great poverty of spirit of Suffolk, and there being some uneasiness in these small meetings. I went to Diss to a amongst them, Friends were concerned to ad- General Meeting; Friends from Norwich and vise them to a reconciliation, lest they should other distant places came in and attended, be wounded by a breach of union and affection. which laid me very low indeed, but I saw in The meeting, by adjournment, held all day, the opening of Divine virtue, that as the blessand Friends seemed in a good degree of sweet-ing of Christ my master, upon a small quanness and condescension one to another, though tity of but plain and low food, gave satisfaca contentious party spirit had got in among tion to a multitude, more than we were likely them. Next morning was a meeting of minis- to be, so I found it best to retire to my gift, ters, to good satisfaction; and then the Year- and be still. The meeting was very large, ly Meetings for worship followed, which were quiet and well, and I was concerned to set exceedingly large, and with the parting meet- forth the folly and emptiness of all forms of ing the day following, were all very much religion, without the virtue and power of the to satisfaction. In the parting meeting ISpirit of Christ, and was opened on this sub