yet he was often sensible that he had strong business, believing it right to be given up to temptations to follow the vanities and follies the service of his Lord. His means were of the world. He had a great fondness for limited, but, as his wants were few, and his gay apparel, and felt that his peace was con- habits very simple and moderate, he found cerned in mortifying this disposition; and he that he had a sufficiency. faithfully bore his cross in this as well as in other things. In the course of his services as banker's clerk, he had to purchase lottery tickets for country correspondents, and to do some other things which troubled him. Hence, as he was a man of a tender conscience, he became uneasy in his new situation: he sought for Divine guidance, and, after many conflicts of mind, gave up his place, and thought it his duty to learn the trade of a shoemaker, an employment which he followed as long as he continued in business. The confinement of London not suiting his health, he removed to Tottenham in the year 1778, having sometime previously been admitted as a member of our religious Society by Gracechurch-street Monthly Meeting. Here he steadily followed his new line of employment, and in the ensuing spring formed a respectable connexion in marriage. His course and that of his wife were marked by honest industry, and contentment with their lot; and they trained up a young family consistently with their circumstances, and in accordance with our religious profession, teaching them to fear God, and keep his commandments. In the year 1790, our dear friend was acknowledged a minister of this Monthly Meeting, having for a considerable time previously spoken in that character in our meetings for worship. After this period, he left his outward concerns from time to time, and in Gospel love visited his friends in nearer and more distant counties, and paid a general visit to Friends in Ireland. The cares of a rising family pressing heavily upon him, he felt these sacrifices to be acts of simple faith; but, believing them to be in the line of his religious duty, he allowed no inferior considerations to turn him aside. When from home, he pursued the service with great diligence his visits were acceptable to his friends, and we believe to their religious edification. He was accustomed to travel in a very simple way, and very careful not to occasion needless expense to himself or to his friends; and in order to set himself at liberty for these services, he often made great exertions in his business previous to leaving home. When, in the latter part of the time that he was in trade, he found that he could leave his outward concerns with less anxiety, the journeys were performed principally on foot. About the year 1806, thinking that, through the Divine blessing on his honest endeavours, he had gained a competency, he retired from This Our dear friend was a man of energetic mind. If in conscientiously and plainly setting before his friends, in his intercourse with them, what he believed to be their mistakes, whether in practice or in opinion; and if in an honest zeal to be found not flinching in the discharge of his duty, he at times tried them, his love and affection were such as to prove the sincerity of his heart, and the kindness of his intentions. He was often brought very low, partly arising from nervous feelings, and partly from the religious exercises of mind which he passed through: he was also not unfrequently very cheerful. was strikingly the case after the performance of any act of duty to which he had believed himself called. In these acts of dedication, he was faithful and persevering, however humiliating the nature of the engagement. The greater the cross to his natural inclination, the greater was his fear lest self-love, or the desire of ease to the flesh, should cause him to shrink from what he believed to be the will of his God. An instructive illustration of this feature in his character is presented in some very trying service which he performed in Ireland. In the populous cities of Dublin and Cork, as well as in some other places in that nation, where vice and immorality abound, he went, in the years 1810 and 1811, accompanied by some of his friends, from house to house, without distinction, where ardent spirits were offered for sale, to warn those who kept such shops, and the persons assembled there, of the evil of their doings. The message which he conveyed was short and plain and simple; but, being delivered in Christian love, it was received by many with attention and respect. He was remarkable, through a long course of years, for his kindness to the poor and distressed, sympathizing with them in their troubles, pleading for a just remuneration of their labours, and liberal to them according to his means; prompt and unwearied in soliciting the affluent for relief for such, especially exerting himself on behalf of those who had seen brighter days. In these labours of love, his disinterested applications seldom failed to be successful. He bore a faithful testimony against the love of the world, whether it showed itself in vanity in dress, or in other extravagance, or in the eager pursuit of wealth, calling his friends to the necessity of daily bearing the cross in all things, warning them against speculations in trade, and urging them to take heed lest, by coveting riches, they should make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. With a view of being near his children, he left Tottenham in the year 1812, and lived some years in Yorkshire, and a longer time in Hertfordshire. We have received the following communication from Hinchin Monthly Meeting, within the compass of which meeting he resided, when at home, upwards of eleven years. kind, efficient interpreters, who assisted him "Although our late friend Thomas Shillitoe was a member of this Monthly Meeting for some years, yet, as is well known, for a considerable portion of that time he was absent from us on important religious engagements, for which services he was at different times freely set at liberty by this Monthly Meeting, under feelings of sympathy, and Though our departed friend had received with desires that throughout the same he but little education, his courteous and affable, might mercifully experience Divine guidance yet respectful manners, often facilitated his and protection. Whilst here, he possessed access to persons of high rank in society. the esteem of Friends; and, in some instances, Considering kings in the character of fathers rather remarkably so, that of several persons of other religious societies, who seemed to respect him for his faithfulness. He was frequent in visiting the sick, and sympathizing with the afflicted, evincing much concern for the everlasting welfare of those among whom he resided. The moral and religious improvement of the poor was also a subject that often occupied his attention. He was frequently engaged amongst us in a plain, searching testimony, tending to arouse from a state of indifference and unconcernedness in religion, and to stir up all to diligence in occupying with the different talents entrusted to their care. His watchfulness and circumspect conduct had, it is believed, a salutary influence amongst us, and, when he left these parts, his removal was sincerely regretted." During the period above alluded to, our dear friend paid two extensive religious visits on the continent, passing through, or tarrying in, many of the nations of Europe, between the years 1821 and 1825. In the course of those engagements, he visited the few professing with Friends in the south of France and in Germany, also in Norway; and he sought out and visited pious characters in many places through which he travelled. Accounts have been received from several of those, of the comfort and instruction derived from his Christian labours among them. He travelled mostly alone, and, being wholly unacquainted with the languages of the people, it was a close trial of his faith. But, keeping a single eye to the guidance of his gracious Lord, he was mercifully cared for from place to place his way was in a remarkable manner opened by unexpectedly meeting with of their people, he many times, both in this and in foreign countries, thought it his duty to seek for interviews with them. As he patiently looked unto the Lord, in simple dependence upon him, an opportunity was often afforded him to communicate what was upon his mind. Either verbally, or by written memorials, he conveyed his exercise for their eternal welfare, and that they might be good examples to their subjects; and also his concern for their adopting measures calculated to repress crime, and to promote Christian virtue, and the true happiness of their people. In the year, 1826, at the advanced age of seventy-two, he paid a religious visit to Friends in America, and travelled among them about three years. It was a time of much unsettlement and sore trial to faithful Friends, owing to a grievous disesteem, on the part of many, of the great truths of the Christian religion. It appears by the testimonials which have been received, that the company of our dear friend was acceptable to his brethren in America at that time, and that his solid, consistent deportment, and steady testimony against the spirit of unbelief, tended to their encouragement and strength. After returning home he lived the rest of his days at Tottenham with his wife, who had been, and continued to be, a faithful help-meet to him, and who still survives him. He felt the infirmities of declining years. Of later times, his bodily sufferings were often considerable; but, living near the meeting-house, he regularly attended all our meetings, continuing earnestly to exhort us to let our obedience to the law of God keep pace with the knowledge of its requirements; labouring with us on the necessity of pressing after holi- admitted within them, it will be enough. O!I ness of life, and a thorough surrender of our see the goodly land before me, and the glorious wills to the Divine will. He still endeavoured journey thither; but I am not yet permitted to do good and to communicate. He was to enter it. It is indeed a beautiful prospect, much beloved and respected by his neighbours. as clear to the eye of my soul as any outward One of the very last acts of his life, when his object to the natural sight." He then exweakness had greatly increased, and disease claimed, "O! the love of my Redeemer, how was wasting his constitution, was to collect sweet it is. May my latest breath be enand assist in expending some money for the gaged in singing his praises." He further comfort of a few of his poorer neighbours, by observed, that he had no works or merit of the repair and improvement of some alms- his own to carry with him on that beautiful houses. He was continually concerned that road, nor any claim to prefer at the pearl he might be found ready to meet his Lord, gates, but the love and mercy of that Saviour when the solemn messenger of death should who shed his precious blood for him. On the arrive, often adverting to the necessity of Friends' taking leave of him, he expressed watchfulness, lest having long professed the that he felt love to all his friends without exTruth, he should in the end become a cast-ception, emphatically adding, "to all my away. In the retrospect of his lengthened friends." At another time, on receiving a but active life, he was very desirous that his message of love from two Friends, he said his friends should know that he trusted in nothing love was to every body, all the world over, but the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus, even the worst sinner. He loved them; but repeatedly assuring them that all his own not their deeds-that his love was universal righteousness was but as filthy rags. to all the human race; adding, "If it were not so, how miserable should I feel!" On the 5th of the sixth month, 1836, he was taken more alarmingly ill. Early in the He quietly passed away from time to etermorning of the following day he became nity on the 12th of the sixth month, 1836, much worse from increased debility; and, his and his remains were interred in our burial breathing being difficult, he said, "It is la- ground at Tottenham, on the 17th of the bour, but not sorrow. O! deliver me, if con- same. He was about eight-two years old, sistent with thy blessed will. I am in the and had been a minister upwards of fifty hands of a merciful God-take me. I can years; and we believe that to this aged sergive up all in this world. Mercy! mercy! vant of God may be applied the words of Ŏ! come, come, blessed Jesus, if it is con- Holy Scripture: "Blessed are the dead which sistent with thy blessed will." In the course die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith of the evening of that day he was visited by the Spirit, that they may rest from their la a Friend, who found him in extreme weakness, bours, and their works do follow them." but in the possession of his mental powers. He observed that it was difficult to maintain the 28th day of third month, 1837. The foregoing testimony on behalf of our late dear friend Thomas Shillitoe, has been read in this meeting, and is feelingly united patience." "O! for patience!" he exclaimed; London and Middlesex Quarterly Meeting, held "O! for a little help to be preserved in patience;" adding, after some further expression, "but surely mercy is even now covering the judgment seat as to a hair's breadth." A hope was expressed to him that, although the body was brought very low, the mind was anchored on the unfailing Rock; he promptly replied "O, yes. If it were not so, what meeting, by should I now do, or what would now become of me? Ah! truly, I am a poor creature every way, wholly dependent on the mercy with. Signed by direction and on behalf of the GEORGE STACey, Clerk. Signed on behalf of the Women's Quar of my Redeemer; and if he do but admit the terly Meeting, by pearl gates to be so far opened that I may be ELIZABETH KIDD, Clerk. JOURNAL OF THE LIFE OF THOMAS SHILLITOE. CHAPTER I. APPREHENDING it will prove a relief to my own mind, and may afford a ray of encouragement to some poor weary traveller like myself, should these fragments be cast before the public, I am most easy to attempt something by way of Journal, to show forth the Lord's wonderful dealings, his merciful interference and deliverance manifested towards me, in times of sore trial and conflict, both inwardly and outwardly. this business, and of an easy disposition, by I was now about sixteen years age. A person who frequented my father's house, and who had been an officer in the army, having begun business in the grocery line in Wapping, proposed to my parents to take me as an apprentice for five years, to which they I was born in Holborn, London, about the agreed. Here my situation was not improved, second month, 1754. My parents were mem- as respected good example; for my master bers of the national church, and zealously en- was given to much liquor and company; and gaged to bring up their children in the due his wife from her manner of being brought observance of its religious rites and ceremo- up, was not a suitable mistress for me. These nies, and every moral duty. In my infancy things, together with the examples of wickedthey left the place of my birth, and settled in ness exhibited in the neighbourhood, rendered Whitechapel, until I had attained about the my new situation every way a dangerous one. twelfth year of my age. My father had, for But though thus exposed, adorable Mercy met many years, filled the office of librarian to the with me, and awakened in my mind a degree society of Gray's Inn. His situation calling of religious thoughtfulness. I endeavoured for his daily attendance, and feeling the infir- to obtain an acquaintance with a young man mities of old age coming upon him, it became in the neighbourhood, towards whom I felt an necessary to change his place of residence, which induced him to take the Three Tuns public house at Islington, and move there with his family. attachment, from an apprehension that his countenance bespoke him to be of a serious disposition. His company proved helpful to my preservation, from going greater lengths This change exposed me to great tempta- in folly and dissipation than I might otherwise tions, being naturally of a volatile disposition, have done; and his example awakened in me and early addicted to vanity. Before, I had again that liking which I once had for attendbeen kept close within doors, seldom being ing a place of religious worship, when I had suffered to go into the company of other chil- the opportunity; but this did not often occur; dren, except at school; but now I was ex- my master and mistress spending the first-day posed to all sorts of company, and allowed to from home, in pleasure, I was left to take care ramble over the village unprotected, both by of the house. My master's inclination for day and late of an evening, carrying out beer company and strong drink caused him to neto the customers, and gathering in the pots, glect his business; and after I had been with and waiting upon such company as came to him a little more than one year, he was comthe house. First-days were generally the pelled to give it up, and move to Portsmouth, most busy days I had, being scarcely ever where he opened a shop in the same line. I able to get to a place of religious worship. felt regret at being obliged to leave my new This, by long continued neglect, became a acquaintance; and the more so, as my expomatter of the greatest indifference to me; which had not been the case before my parents changed their abode. I can now recur to the satisfaction I at times experienced, in going with my parents to what is called church; but my exposed situation in my father's house, open to almost every vice, and the artifices of such evilly disposed persons as I had at times to do with, had nearly effected my ruin. My father being unacquainted with sure to temptation was not at all lessened by tion was thus wrought in me, to yield to the purifying operation of the Holy Ghost and fire, that the fan of God's word and power should effect the necessary separation between the precious and the vile, corresponding fruits were brought forth in me, and manifested by my outward conduct. I soon found that my old companion considered me no longer a fit one for him, and our intimacy ceased. he well knew how. Finding his arguments made no impression on my mind, he requested I would go with him the next first-day to the chapel of Gray's Inn, and hear their chaplain. It being his particular request, I consented, and attended; but my conflict was such, dur The neighbourhood in which my master not leave me, nor suffer me to become a prey resided, exposed me more to the danger of to my soul's adversary;-that his hand would being drawn aside from the path of virtue, not spare, nor his eye pity, until an entire wilthan any other part of the town; this circum-lingness was brought about in me, to cast mystance, together with the little probability of self down at his holy footstool. As resignamy making any improvement in a knowledge of my business, induced me to write to my parents to procure my indentures, which being effected, I returned to London, and obtained a situation in the same line of employ. Although I did not mend my situation as respected the neighbourhood I settled in, yet the change was abundantly for the better as respected my master, who was a sober, religiously disposed man, and a great help to me. He being a Fresh trials now awaited me. The knowconstant attender of the Foundling Hospital ledge of my attendance at Friends' meetings chapel, I became his companion on first-day reached the ears of my parents, who manimornings, and in the afternoon resorted to fested great displeasure. My father took opsuch places of worship as were noted for popu-portunities to persuade me to leave the meetlar preachers. In this situation I remained ings of Friends, laying out the Society in as about three years, until I became acquainted unfavourable and ridiculous a point of view as with a young man, a distant relation, descended from the Society of Friends. I then forsook the Foundling Hospital chapel, and other places of worship which I had frequented, and kept solely to the meetings of Friends, on first-day mornings. But my motive for this change was not a pure one; my chief induce-ing the whole of the time I was there, that I ment being to meet my young relation, and was ready to conclude my countenance indigo to dine with him; his acquaintance causing cated the state of my mind, and that all eyes me to neglect the attendance of a place of were upon me. From this time I never more worship the remaining part of the day, which attended. But my difficulties did not end here had been my uniform practice for the last as respected my parents, whom I felt an inthree years. My new companion also took crease of care not wilfully to disoblige. Wave me to the most fashionable tea-gardens and after wave arose in my soul. Using the plain other places of public resort, where we spent language, and refusing to conform to the vain the afternoon, and, at times, the evening; this compliments of the world, were brought close led the way to my giving greater latitude than home to my mind, and laid me under great ever to my natural inclination. Still I con- suffering; not only on account of my becomtinued to attend Friends' meetings on first-day ing still more obnoxious to my parents, but morning, more than twelve months, but spent my employer not professing with Friends, if the remainder of the day in pleasure. The I gave up to those convictions of duty, my retrospect did not produce those comfortable conduct to his customers, would not be apfeelings which I had once known, when this proved by him. Thus the spirit was willing, day of the week was differently occupied ; and but the flesh was weak; for instead of seeking I was again, in unmerited mercy, met with, to that Almighty Power for help, who I was and my attention arrested to consider the fully persuaded laid the necessity upon me, misery into which the road I had now chosen and firmly maintaining my ground by faithfulto travel would eventually lead me, if I con-ness, I sunk under discouragement, and, to tinued to pursue it. avoid the cross I should have to take up if I Feeling a decided preference to the meetings continued where I was, left my situation, with of Friends, I continued my attendance; expe- a view of procuring one in a Friend's family. riencing an increased care to observe the time No situation had offered for me, when the appointed, and to be diligent also in the at-time proposed for my leaving arrived, and I tendance of afternoon meetings. The more had nowhere to shelter my head but my fafaithfully I gave up to these impressions of ther's house; who, with my mother, was much duty, the more my desires increased after an opposed to me, on account of my persisting acquaintance with the Almighty, and the to attend the meetings of Friends. After knowledge of his ways. Earnest were my being some time out of employ, my father one prayers, that in this day of his powerful visita- day told me, he would rather follow me to my tion, in mercy renewed to my soul, he would grave, than I should have gone amongst the |