I thought I would like to share the spoil with thee, my dear, but perhaps I have written too freely. Now, if thy poor friend can only walk faithfully under the cross all day long in future, watching and waiting unto his holy will! You did indeed give the cup of cold water to one, who feels "the least of these," and may He give you the cup of salvation.

Though I have written thus to magnify the Father's power, yet as dear I. Penington says: "I feel daily weaker in myself." Shall I quote his words, they are instructive to me oftentimes: "I am a worm, I am poor, I am nothing, less than nothing as in myself, weaker than I can express or thou imagine; yet in the midst of all this, the life, power, righteousness and presence of Christ is my refreshment, peace, joy and crown."

Do we not want this to be our experience, my dear A, this dwelling in the inward life? I feel that you know what it is, and may He preserve us all in the hollow of his Almighty hand. My love gratefully and kindly to you both. Thine affectionately,

DEBORAH BROOKS.

CHAPTER IV.

In her diary she says: During the Tenth and Eleventh months of this year, our dear Friend E. A. visited the families of our (North) Meeting, and way seemed to open before me to accompany her, after many shrinkings and trials of faith. The language seemed to be:

"What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." We felt yoked together, and it was a privilege to be with her. Her ministry seemed like two arms of love, that reached around the individuals, and drew out all the good feelings in their hearts, so that we were often warmed and comforted together. Together, too, we descended into baptisms at times. Oh, it is weighty work to dare to speak to particular states. Our Lord helped and I had to feel thankful again and again to Him, who owned our feeble efforts to serve Him. After returning home, dear E's cup overflowed at times, and I had solid peace.

The following extracts are from a letter under date of Twelfth Month 22nd, 1869. Alluding to the visit to the families of North Meeting, she says: Thou will be glad to hear we both feel peaceful. The "penny of peace" is indeed a rich legacy when earned through so much humiliation. The dear Master did seem to

.

The visit has left a

go with and before us. good savor. We both partake of the feeling of being but unprofitable servants though there is so much now, to excite our young Friends, and perhaps lead them on too rapidly to make "confession with the mouth," or as one dear Friend said: "causing a desire in some unsettled ones to be doing something, rather than to be something." Many feel it to be a serious time, and are bowed down in spirit, but I try to rest it with the Lord, feeling if it is of Him it will prosper, and if not, it will come to naught. The young plants need a loving, training hand, rather than entire coldness. S. E. was at our meeting yesterday, and spoke, commencing with, "Praise waiteth for thee in Zion, O, God of our

salvation," referring again and again to the words, “and God saw that it was good," saying that though we may have had bitter disappointments, yet they were for our spiritual progress, and in the end we would have to say: "His work in our souls was good." He called upon the elder Friends to draw the younger members nearer to them. This spoke my feelings so much. I think they are left too much to pass along without being able to realize that any one cares for them. O, to know myself how to do right! for more pure wisdom "Wise as serpents and harmless as doves.'

1870. Third Month 1st.-I love to waken with a passage of Scripture in my mind and almost in my mouth. "God is not in all his thoughts," seemed to arouse me a few mornings since, and naturally the query arose, "Am I classed with the wicked, of whom it is said, 'God is not in all his thoughts?'" and it caused the desire to arise to be more conformed to the command, Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." This is my desire. Next, He gave me on First-day morning. "Proving what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God," "Wait before Him, O, my soul, that thou mayst prove his will concerning thee."

To a friend who had met with a serious accident, she wrote Third Month 6th, 1870: We heard of the sad accident, and of thy subsequent suffering, but my heart does not feel satisfied. I want to hear of thy getting well and about again, and being such a comfort to W, I feel such sympathy for you both; but you know where to retire to find the Almighty Arm of power to lean upon. "I worship thee, sweet will of

God," is a state of resignation attainable even by poor, frail, mortal man. May his blessed peace be in your hearts. I have thought so much of this heavenly peace of late. He says: "My peace I give unto you." It is not ours, nothing obtained from nature, nothing outward, but "My peace," a pure heavenly stream, an undercurrent; all the waves and the billows, all the pains, trials, sufferings and sorrows, may rest upon the surface, and we through his mercy be hidden as in the hollow of his holy hand. My soul has desired this again and again for thee, my precious friend, particularly through this season of suffering.

Fare

well, dear, in Him who can comfort and support thee. 20th. First-day. "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue confess to God," etc. A day of searching from the Lord, and our meetings not very lively. Oh, that we were more of a cross-bearing people, and then we should feel more of the heavenly power in our midst.

One week ago, Richard Esterbrook, in the morning meeting, was very lively in supplication and testimony. His prayer for Divine strength and guidance is just what we need now in these perplexing times, when new ways and paths seem opening before many, and others are perhaps opposing them with too much of the creaturely activity. Thy pure Truth, O Lord, we humbly implore. We love the old ways, but want thy Truth to lead us.

27th. First day. Silent meeting to-day. Last Thirdday evening, the twenty-second, our beloved friend E. A. held an appointed meeting for the young Friends of this city, and was remarkably helped to declare the

Truth, standing fifty minutes. To-morrow evening she
is to hold another for Friends generally. Oh, that
Israel's Shepherd may be near us.
After this meeting

D. B. records :

Thanks be unto thy Holy Name, O, Lord, that thou didst help thy handmaidens.

Fourth Month 10th.-Sick at home. True it is that man proposes but God disposes. Having had a heavy cold, it has confined me at home two First-days. Last Fourth-day some hemorrhages from the lungs caused anxiety, but as they do not seem really diseased, I hope, by being more careful, and doing less, to avoid consumption. But the will of my Heavenly Father be done in all things. I am trying to be like Catharine Evans and Sarah Cheevers, as recorded in Sewell's History-have no will, but be like a little babe in Christ.

17th.--Our Yearly Meeting time. Some strangers here that we feel unity with, and with some we have to wait in patience. My heart was ready to exclaim, O, that those coming from a distance would only sit in silence with us until they feel the states, and then minister, under the weight and solemnity of the occasion, with the true-reaching unction.

Oh, Lord, thou knowest all hearts, instruct them more perfectly, I beseech thee, rebuke all forward. spirits and give unto us a good, solemn Yearly Meeting, that we may bless thy Holy Name.

19th. My birth-day. Oh, that I might be more and more filled with Heavenly wisdom and the Holy Spirit; filled with humility; filled with holy watchfulness. Desiring this only will not bring it—I must stand and watch and pray.