the second time, without sin, unto salvation, to all that look for Him, by his living and eternal spirit, the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot receive, as when he prayed unto the Father, that he would send the Comforter, that leads into all truth, all that believe in him thereby.

When it pleased the Lord to visit me with the day-spring of his love from on high, in the days of my youth, by this Spirit of Life and Truth, sin and satan were manifested; and if at any time I was prevailed upon, by entering into any of his temptations, I was reproved and judged thereby. But when faith was begotten in my heart, to believe in the Spirit of Truth that reproved me, I received power from Him, in whom I did and do believe, to overcome one sin after another, in order to a perfect freedom from it, which must be in this life, or else there is no entering into the kingdom of heaven. For all who live and die in sin are unclean and therefore cannot enter the kingdom.

truth, and the life; the true light, the door, the true Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep, and saves by his grace all true believers, who obey the teachings thereof.

He is also believed in and known by his second coming, to be the ingrafted Word, that is able to save the soul. He took flesh and suffered in it, the one Offering once for all, to put an end to sin, and finish transgression, and bring in everlasting righteousness.-The fulfiller, the finisher and end of the law, with all the types, figures and shadows of it; the end of tithes, swearing, temple-worship, outward circumcision, offerings and oblations. The end, finisher and fulfiller of water-baptism, and outward communion by eating of bread, and drinking of wine; He the great Baptizer, having baptized many by his spirit into one body, of which he is the Head, which is the one saving baptism, with the Holy Ghost and fire;-and John with his waterbaptism is decreased, and ended.

And He is the one bread of life, come down from God out of heaven, which is eaten of by faith, whose flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed. He the living substance is come and fed upon; that was and is the communion of saints.

This is the blessed effect of the faith of every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ; as to his birth, suffering, resurrection, ascension, and second coming without sin, unto salvation; in whom all must believe for life and salvation to their souls, whoever come to This being the substance of the testimony, know the full assurance thereof, in the king-in brevity, of my faith in Christ, I am willing dom of happiness, and endless glory. to leave it behind me, when I have finished

I believe in Him, and own Him in all his the work of my day, and am gathered to my offices, and under every name and denomina-everlasting rest, which I have long travailed tion which is given to Him in the holy Scrip- for, through many deep exercises. And this tures. I own Him as King, even King of saints, and Lord of life and glory; High Priest of the profession of all that were and are of the true faith; God's covenant of light and life; Emmanuel, God with us, who is come to save his people from their sins, not in their sins, for there is no being saved therein; which is in the fallen and lost condition.

I own and believe in Him, as he is the "true light, that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world."

I own and believe Him to be "the way, the truth, and the life; and that no man comes to the Father but by Him."

I believe in Him, as he is the Minister of the sanctuary, and true tabernacle which God hath pitched, and not man; who by his power and spirit, hath fitted and made many able and faithful ministers, in this the day of his everlasting Gospel, among whom he hath been pleased to account me worthy to be one, though one of the least of many. He is the Minister of ministers, and none are or can be true ministers, but who are made so and ordained by Him.-He fits, opens and prepares by his power, and quickening spirit. So the ministers of Christ preach Him, the way, the

not only for myself, but I was willing to leave this upon record, on the behalf of my Friends and brethren also, the people of God in scorn called Quakers, who are of the same faith in Christ with me.

That all may know, who have a desire to have a right understanding of our faith and principles; that we are no such people as to our faith in Christ, as some ignorantly, and others hatefully have rendered us; as though we only or wholly depended upon the light within, for salvation to our souls; and did not own or believe in Christ, as to his coming, death, resurrection, ascension, &c.; and the benefit we, and all true believers have thereby.

But, blessed, praised and magnified be the worthy name of the Lord our God for ever, who hath opened our understandings by his power, whereby we know Him, in whom we do believe; which is not to believe in the light within, distinct from Christ;-or as if people could believe in the light, and not in Christ. But we believe in both, as one; knowing and being clear in our understanding, that no separation can be made between Christ, and the light that comes from him, which shines in the hearts of all true believers; and shines in

A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, IN THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." Ps. lxvi. 16.

Ir hath been in my heart for many years, to leave behind me a brief relation of the Lord's dealings with me, from my youth up to this day, for the encouragement of the young to faithfulness and continual trust and confidence in the Lord, who is never wanting to those that truly depend upon him, either in temporal or spiritual mercies.

nor by the priest, I went on in the same, grieving the holy Spirit of God in myself; not yet knowing what it was that reproved me in secret for these things; though, through the Lord's great mercy and goodness to me, I was addicted to no worse evils in all my life.

Nevertheless, when the Searcher of all hearts came by his light to open my underI was born at Rickmansworth, in Hertford- standing, and to set my sins in order before shire, in the year 1657, of honest parents, me, and to make known what it was that rewho educated me in the profession of the pub-proved me for my mispent time, then, oh! then lic worship of the church of England. My it was, that the day of Jacob's trouble was mother died when I was very young; but witnessed. Oh! dreadful was it to me, to whilst she lived, she was a tender, affection- consider how I had overlooked the reproofs of ate parent to me, almost to excess. One in the Almighty! and often was I ready to bestance of her affection was very remarkable: moan myself after this manner;-Oh! that I I being at one time very weak, and as was had but had parents that could have informed supposed nigh unto death, the exercise thereof me that those things for which I was reproved was so hard to her, that she fell down upon her knees, and prayed the Lord to take her and spare me; which he did, for what end was best known to himself.

were evil; or that those reproofs I often felt in secret were of the Spirit of the Lord! surely I never would have done as I did: but neither my parents, nor the priest, taught me I continued at home with my father till any such doctrine; both of them counting about the age of sixteen years, under the those things but innocent and harmless diversharp government of a mother-in-law, whose sions. And as for the light, and grace, or austerity to me made me weary of living with Spirit of God, that reproved me, I had never her, insomuch that I left my father's house, heard there was any such thing so near me, and went to service, that I might live more at as I felt it and found it. Then was I grieved peace than I had done. The Lord in mercy to think the Lord of glory should have so long remembered me, and looked upon my affliction knocked at the door of my dark heart, and in that day, though I was not yet come to the knowledge of the truth: and he followed me in those days with his reproofs in my conscience for the sins of my youth; which were dancing, singing, telling idle stories, and some other pastimes, into which youth are too liable to

run.

And not being reproved by my parents,

waited for entrance, and that I had so long kept out him who still followed me with his judgments, and in great mercy to my poor soul, often brought me into deep sorrow.

The consideration of my latter end he laid weightily before me, and the thoughts of eter nity, and the words "ever and ever," laid fast

worship, and that of those among whom I went. After some time of silence, a woman stood up and spoke, whose testimony affected my heart, and tendered my spirit, so that I could not refrain from weeping: but, alas! alas! after the meeting was over, the enemy soon prevailed again, and darkened that little sense I had, by his instruments without and suggestions within, so that I went no more to any such meeting for several years.

The time being come to go to my service at the justice's, my mistress, before I had been long with her, would be often saying, “This Alice will be a Quaker:" though still I had no such thoughts; but through the Lord's goodness to me, I spent all my spare time either in reading or in getting alone, or in some reli

faithful to the trust that my master and mistress reposed in me, to their satisfaction, and my own too, being well pleased with my place.

Now I am about to relate, how the wise hand of the Almighty guided me. After I left my father's house, I went inquiring for a place, and soon heard of one, where I continued some time, and was well beloved in the family, and I served them honestly, and in love. But it may not be amiss to state how I spent my time at my first service, with relation to religious performance, and continued diligent and gion, which was after this manner: I kept close and constant, as opportunity permitted, in going to the public worship, and very often went alone into private places to pray, and greatly delighted to read the Scriptures, and to get passages by heart; and when my hand has been in my labour, my heart was meditating on good matter, and I was very glad that I was from my father's house, because of the quietness I enjoyed. I was often comforted in my heart in those days, though I knew not from whence it came.

As I thus continued in well-doing, according to the best of my knowledge, the Lord was pleased to appear to me in an extraordinary manner, and a sweet visitation I had; for I was led into a deep silence before the Lord, there to wait, and durst not utter words, notwithstanding I had gathered much, in the brain, of good words and Scripture sentences; but now I came to see that would not do. After this manner that time was spent, and a good time it was to me: it was the Lord's doing, and he shall have the praise of it; blessed be his name for ever!

It was in this family, as I said before, that I became acquainted with my first husband, Daniel Smith, who in love made suit to me, and we continued together in that family near two years. About the end of that time, it pleased the Lord to visit me with sore lameness occasioned by a wrench in my ancle; but for some time longer I continued in my service.

That winter my master and mistress removing to London, had not occasion for so many servants in town as they kept in the country; some they dismissed, and my mistress provided a place for me till summer, when they were to return. At this place I received hurt, as to my spiritual condition. Here I had no help towards heaven, but the contrary, by the ill example of vain and irreligious conversation in that family. I therefore caution young people to take especial care what company they join, and to fly from bad associates as from a serpent; for surely it was a sore venom to me, because it helped to drive good things out of my mind, and forgetfulness of God followed, which caused me to have many a sorrowful hour, when the Lord brought me to a sense of it. Blessed be his name, he did not permit me to go on long in this state: for now my lameness grew worse, and the time came that I was to leave this family, and to return to my former master, the justice, where I longed to be, because it was a more orderly family.

After some time, I went to live at the house of a justice of the peace, where my first husband and I became acquainted. But I should first notice, that I went for a short time to a brother's house before I entered into my second service, and while I was there, heard a report about the neighbourhood of a woman preacher, greatly esteemed among the Quakers, and who was to be at one of their meetings not far from my brother's house. Some of the neighbours, in curiosity, had a mind to hear and see, and asked me to go with them; to which I con- I fain would have been well of my lameness sented. When I came to the meeting, it made in my own time, that I might be able to go a great impression upon my mind. The so-through my business; but I found the more I lidity of the people, and the weighty frame of strove for a cure, the worse I grew, insomuch spirit they were under, occasioned many deep that I was obliged to go home to my father's thoughts to pass through my heart, by behold- house, which was no small exercise, on acing so much difference between their way of count of my mother-in-law. But blessed be

the Lord, the day of his love was still length- witness arose, which caused sore distress of ened out, though in judgment, yet mixed with mind; and in this condition, I seemed just mercy. Great was my pain in body, and about to step out of time into eternity. I saw, much greater my sorrow of mind: in this if I died in this state, my portion must be with affliction, like Israel of old, I cried to the the unbelievers and disobedient, in the lake Lord for help; for now I saw, if he did not that burns with fire and brimstone for everhelp me, I was undone for ever. As for man's help I despaired of it, for I tried many to no purpose, so that great and many were my cries and prayers to God, to restore me, resolving to serve him in newness of life. This was the covenant I was ready to make with him. Oh! the matchless mercies, and long forbearance of a good and gracious God, to a poor, distressed, disconsolate, and unworthy creature!

Very remarkable was the faithfulness and constancy of my dear friend, Daniel Smith, afterwards my husband, who, in all my distress and weakness, never shrunk in his love to me, but continued constant, though I was brought to be a poor cripple and went with crutches; and he was a comely, handsome man, and had now entered upon a farm, where he was likely to do very well, and seemingly might have had far better matches. He, like an honest man, never regarded that, but continued firm and constant, and waited two years to see how the Lord would deal with me; and at the end, seeing no amendment, proposed marriage to me, and accordingly we were married. A faithful, tender, loving husband I had in him; who provided for me all things that were needful and comfortable; a mercy and blessing I hope I shall never forget; and his constancy and faithfulness are worthy to be recorded. The blessing of God was his reward in this life, and I have no doubt that he is at peace with his and my God.

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more. And just would God have been, if he had cut me off for my covenant-breaking, and disobedience: dreadful it was to me, to behold my time so short, and the work I had to do so great. Oh! the horror and amazement I lay under, to think how to endure the torment I deserved. Let the thoughts of this sink deep into the heart of every one who reads these lines, that they may become prepared, and truly fitted for the kingdom of rest and peace, when pale death looks them in the face. Then will it be easier with them than it was with me; for no mortal can tell the disquiet I lay in for several nights and days, looking for that dreadful sentence, Depart hence, for time to thee shall be no more." Oh! the fervent cries and prayers I put up to the Lord at this time, that he would be pleased to spare me this one time more; and I begged all that came near me, to pray for me. My cry was, Spare me a little longer, and try me once more, and I will become a new creature." Thus I ventured once again to enter into covenant with the Lord; who, in great mercy and pity, looked upon me, and spared, and pardoned, and raised me from the brink of the grave. Oh! the boundless mercies of God; how shall they be sufficiently set forth by me! everlasting glory be given unto him; let all that is within me praise his name. And forasmuch as it pleased him to hear my petition, and to raise me up again, and to give me a little strength, a remembrance of that state seized me daily, and called for the performance of my vows and promises to become a new creature.

My lameness in a few months grew better, so that I left my crutch, and could go pretty well. But, oh! it was to be lamented, that I And now I began, according to the best of missed the way; for being recovered from my my knowledge, after this manner: morning lameness, and grown strong, living in heart's and evening I failed not to pray, and to read content with a loving husband, and outward the Scriptures and other books which I took things prospering, I forgot, like Israel of old, to be good ones, constantly going to the pubthe tender dealings and mercies of so gracious a God, and the promises and covenants I had made with him; and I gave myself what liberty my unstable mind desired.

Thus I went on for about one year and a half after marriage; when the Lord, with an eye of pity, looked upon my wretched and miserable condition, and laid his hand upon me, in order to awaken me out of this false ease, and by sickness brought me near to death. Then my conscience being thoroughly awakened, I beheld my backslidings and disobedience with amazement: horror and condemnation took fast hold upon me, and the

lic worship if able; also resolving to have a care both of my words and actions, and to act justly by all men. And I thought I would walk very humbly before the Lord, in order to become a new creature; for he let me see that it was holiness he called for at my hands, and that it was my duty to persevere therein, not for a day, a week, a month, or a year; but if I would be saved, I must hold out to the end.

Notwithstanding I set myself strictly to observe the aforesaid performances, many months had not gone over my head, before I found a very strange alteration and opera

gave me to see, "that he was a liar from the beginning."

tion in me, the like I had never felt before; the foundation of the earth within me began to be shaken, and strange and wonderful it Indeed, had not a secret hand of power sup was to me. I had hoped, that now being ported me in this my bewildered state, I had found in the aforesaid practice, I should have surely fainted, and laid down in the depth of witnessed peace and comfort, but behold the despair. Day and night were alike to me; contrary; instead of peace, came trouble and there was no flying from the "presence of sorrow, wars and commotions; I feared that the Lord, and his righteous judgments," my condition was such, that never was the which pursued me, and were now poured like; not knowing that the messenger of the upon the transgressing nature in me, which covenant was coming to his temple, even he had long continued, and taken deep root. whom my soul had been seeking; and that Now was the refiner's fire very hot, in order he must sit there, that is, in my heart, "as a to burn up the dross and the tin. Oh! happy refiner with fire," and "as a fuller with soap, man and happy woman, that doth thus abide to clear his own place," which was defiled by the day of his coming; for sure I am, "his the usurper, who had taken up his habitation fan is in his hand," and if men will but subthere too long. Oh! it was a long time in-mit when he appears, he will thoroughly do deed that the Lord of life and glory was kept that for them which no other can do, "purge out of his habitation, for an entrance into the floor," which is man's heart, where the which he had waited and knocked nearly chaff is to be burnt. twenty years; in which time there was much fuel for the fire, and much work for the refiner, whose skilful, as well as merciful hand, preserved me in the furnace. The bad part in me was so great, and the good so small, that I thought all would perish together: for the heat of that fire in my heart was great and terrible, so that, like David, I was ready to say, "My bones are all out of joint ;" and in the depth of my distress, the enemy was very strong with his temptations. But oh! the kindness of God to me in that day, " for then did succour come in the time of need." The old adversary was strong, and not willing to lose his habitation, and have his goods spoiled; but Christ, the stronger, overcame him in due time, and cast him out, and blessed be God, in a good measure, spoiled his goods. The strugglings that I felt in those times, I hope will never be forgotten; and my desire is, that these lines of experience may, and I do believe they will, be of service to some poor distressed traveller, that may have such steps to trace.

This is the baptism that doth people good; may the Lord bring thousands more through this inward experience to make an offering to God in righteousness; for nothing short of it will do, or stand in the great and notable day of the Lord.

After this manner did the Almighty in great loving-kindness deal with me, his judgments being mixed with mercy to the unworthiest of thousands. And as I continued in patience, resolving to press forward towards the mark, various were the inward states I passed through. Yet by the assistance of the light of Christ, without which, I had surely fallen in the vast howling wilderness, where so many dangers did attend, I came to witness in the Gospel dispensation, what Israel of old passed through, while in Egypt's land and by the Red Sea; and their travels through the deeps, with their coming up on the banks of deliverance; and likewise their travels through the great and terrible wilderness, where were the fiery serpents and scorpions, and the drought, wherein there was no water, as in Deut. viii. 15.

Marvellous it is to think, that I should ever be preserved through these diversities of states, and that altogether without the assistance of any outward instrument, which, blessed be God, many now have; for I was still under the hireling teachers, to whom I very frequently resorted, and fain would I have settled under them. I was constant in resorting to the steeple-house; but sorrowful I went in, and so I came out, week after week, and month after month, seeking among the dead forms and shadows, the living Lord, who is not to be found there.

I thought, that if I had met with the account of any that had gone through such exercise, it would have been some help to me. I searched the Scriptures from one end to the other, and read several books, but I thought none reached my state to the full. The third chapter of Lamentations, and many of the Psalms, and the seventh of the Romans did somewhat affect me at times, whereby a little hope would arise in the thought that the writers of these had passed through something of it. And, oh! the bitter whisperings of satan, and the thoughts that passed through my mind, such as my very soul hated! yet such were the suggestions of the enemy, that he And well might it be so with me, for want would charge them upon me, as if they were of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom my very soul my own. But the Lord, in his own due time, I desired more than any outward enjoyment.