strength of my own, I can with unutterable thankfulness, and in deep humility of soul, say, the Lord my God has kept me to this day from falling into the gross sins and enormities of the world, and for which I reverently bless and praise his holy name.

that make for peace, and the things whereby ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live we may edify one another. The Lord has righteously and godly in this present evil bestowed diversities of gifts in his church; he world. And by which alone, and not by any hath endowed some with a spirit of discerning, others as helps and for government, &c. These seeing anything in any minister or elder whose example therein may prove hurtful to the church, it is their duty to advise and counsel such an one, and his duty is to condescend therein, though he should see but little in it, especially where the thing is not matter of faith but of condescension, and there can arise no hurt from removing the occasion of offence. The apostle Paul even exceeded this, when he would eat no flesh while the world stood, if it made his brother to offend.

But notwithstanding that, I freely confess, that for want of my keeping so close to the guidance of his Holy Spirit in my heart as I ought to have done, I have very often sinned and offended him. And whenever I so did, either in thought, word, or deed, his holy light in my soul let me see it, and his Holy Spirit, which is the same, brought inward judgment and condemnation upon me for the sin and offence committed against him, and by his

I confess I am apt to be prolix in writing, and never thought myself a sententious or accurate writer, but I am not much concerned about it, well knowing I am addressing a true righteous judgments within me, which is the and charitable friend, who will not put upon it a wrong construction; and if there be the least thing therein that may conduce to stirring up the pure mind, my end will be answered. For the very desire of my heart is, that as the Lord has gifted thee and made thee a bright and shining instrument in his hand, so thou mayst on thy part answer his love therein by thy obedience, and by carefully avoiding anything that may in the least eclipse thy gift.

Extract from the last Will and Testament of Joseph Pike, of Cork, dated the 25th day of the month called November, 1727.

baptism of Christ, which all men must witness to fit and qualify them to enter the everlasting kingdom of God, I say, by his righteous judg ments and the assistance of his Holy Spirit I was brought to true repentance, and found remission of my sins, O blessed be his holy and everlasting name, saith my soul!

And besides the blessing of his Holy Spirit, he, the God of all my mercies, hath added blessings from beneath, namely, outward substance, for the conveniences of life; which I can in sincerity and humility, and without boasting, say, I have received from the Lord's hand with great thankfulness of heart; and have desired of him that he would be pleased to give me a heart not to be puffed up with them, and I hope I can in truth say he hath I, JOSEPH PIKE, of the city of Cork, mer- granted my request therein. And I can furchant, being but weakly in body, but through ther say in sincerity, that I have not eagerly. the Lord's mercy of perfect mind and under- striven to be rich in this world, to make my standing; and, although I am but weak in children high and great therein. But what I body, and arrived to old age, yet, through the have more earnestly desired of the Lord for infinite goodness and mercy of Christ my only them has been, that they might truly fear and Saviour, and by whose merits alone I hope for serve him, and first seek the kingdom of hea salvation, I can also say, he has made me ven and the righteousness thereof; and then, strong in spirit this day, to give in my testi- whether they had but little or more of this mony to the powerful and virtuous operation world's goods, they would have the Lord's of his holy light, grace and good Spirit, a blessing with it, which I esteem infinitely be measure and manifestation whereof he has yond all the riches of this world.-This introgiven to me and all men to work out our duction to my last will I have chiefly made as salvation; and which teaches the obedient, a memento to you, my children and grandaccording to Holy Scriptures, to deny all children.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE MEETING OF CORK, CONCERNING
JOSEPH PIKE.

IT having for some time past lain on the minds of divers Friends, that something by way of testimony concerning that worthy elder, our dear deceased friend, Joseph Pike, might be of service, we hope a few lines relating thereto will not be thought unseasonable at this time.

was both acceptable and serviceable, and even sometimes when the circumstances of his family might have been a reasonable excuse for his staying at home. But his love to Truth and concern for the prosperity thereof outbalanced other considerations; and some of us, who were intimately acquainted with him for many years, are witnesses of that deep exercise and travail of soul he laboured under for Zion's sake; more especially of late years since the removal of many of our worthy ancient and faithful elders from among us, under a sense and consideration how few in the present age come up in their places. It may truly be said of him, that he preferred the welfare and peace of the church before his chiefest joy; taking great delight in hearing when the affairs thereof went well, particularly in hearing any account of young

He was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Pike, who were early convinced of the blessed Truth, and continued zealous for it and faithful to the end, he dying a prisoner for his testimony thereunto. It pleased the Lord in his great love, to visit this our dear friend in his tender years, being under eight years of age, and by his Holy Spirit strove with him, to bring him off from the vanities that childhood and youth are incident to, and until he was twelve or thirteen years of age. About this time, that honourable elder, William Edmundson, came to visit Munster Province, by whose men coming up in a right concern for ministry at a meeting in Cork, the Lord's hea-Truth. venly power took hold of him, opening to him He was a man of a clear understanding, his inward state and condition, which begat in and sound judgment and impartiality; tender him earnest cries to the Lord, that by the help over the weak, where tenderness appeared, of his Holy Spirit he might be enabled to come but sharp against the high-minded and stub into obedience for time to come. And as he born, though nearly related. Much might be grew in years, and was brought into obedience said of the many excellent qualifications with to the workings of Truth in his own heart, he which it pleased the Lord to favour him; of found a concern upon his mind to join with which favours he was truly sensible, and faithful Friends in church discipline, for which oftentimes, in great awfulness and brokenness service it pleased the Lord to gift him in an of spirit, humbly acknowledging his own uneminent manner, as appears by some manu- worthiness of the great love and goodness of scripts written some time before his departure, God extended towards him every way, both as also by that excellent Treatise on Baptism inwardly and outwardly. In conversation and the Supper; and on many occasions solid and weighty, without affectation, yet showing himself to be a man of an universal cheerful and agreeable without levity. A spirit.

worthy elder, ruling his own house well, and of great service in the church, as is well known to many that yet remain, who are more and more sensible of the church's loss in his removal.

As a good steward of the grace and gift received, he was faithfully and zealously concerned for the holy name and testimony of the Lord, that the line of judgment without partiality might be kept up, and over that And as he had often desired, that he might spirit that has long and does still endeavour have a short and easy passage out of this to lay waste the Lord's work, by introducing world, he had his desire granted; for after a a false liberty into the church; he being, from lingering weakness which had attended him the time of his first admittance into meetings for several years, he was suddenly taken with for business, preserved from joining with or a fit of illness, and in a few minutes departed strengthening the hands of any loose, disor- this life, the 7th day of the eleventh month, derly spirits, but on the contrary, had a testi- 1729; and we doubt not, he is entered into mony in his heart against them to his dying that rest which is prepared for the faithful. day. He was a good example in duly attendSigned on behalf of the said meeting, by ing meetings for worship, and sincerely devoted himself to the serving of Truth: constantly, for many years together, attending the National Half-yearly Meeting at Dublin, and often the Yearly Meeting at London, where he

CHARLES HOWELL,
JONAS DEVONSHIRE,
GEORGE BEWLEY,
PETER TOMEY,
RICHARD ALLEN,

THE END.

EDWARD BAURICK. JOHN DENNIS, RICHARD PIKE, NICHOLAS HARRIS.

JOSEPH OXLEY'S JOURNAL

OF

HIS LIFE, TRAVELS, AND LABOURS OF LOVE,

IN THE FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

"I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him." Gen. xviii. 19.

Joseph Oxley's Address to his children. My dearly and well beloved children, unto whom I send greeting: grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am now pretty far advanced in years, waiting daily until my change shall come, having no desire to stay longer than is my Master's good will and pleasure. In this state of resignation I desire to live, and to live so You are nearer and dearer to me than all as to be fit to die. I trust, in this passage things here beside. Divine Providence was through life, I have not been unmindful of pleased to bestow you on me in the days of that great work, unto which I have appremy youth, since which you have been my hended myself called; and when concerns of constant care; and, as you have been increas- a religious nature have appeared to be my ing in years, so in like proportion have my duty, have not to charge myself with neglect cares been increasing towards you. While or backwardness; but stood in passive subvery young, you were instructed to fear and mission to be made willing in the day of his worship your great Creator, and oftentimes power. Herein, as I was made to give up, I directed to him, and to the guidance of his had great peace, and have no cause to murmur blessed, holy, unerring Spirit, which, as due or repine at any of his requirements, though regard is paid thereunto, would lead and guide I thought myself not worthy, not pure enough you into all truth. This becoming the rule of to run on his holy errands. I do not know government of our actions, will make us, of how better to recommend you, than to follow the children of men, the children of God. I me, my dear children, in like manner, only in have not been wanting in bestowing on you a greater degrees of purity. The more pure liberal education, to qualify you for business, and holy and perfect we are made, the fitter and brought up and settled you in such busi- we are to be sent on his errands, and to bear ness and callings as are in esteem and reputa- the Gospel message. In former manuscripts tion, in all which I have had an eye to the I have recommended brotherly love and unity, glory of God. without which there can be no real, true hapAs occasion required, I have exhorted, ad- piness. The same I again recommend to you. vised, reproved, and restrained you. You There is much beauty in beholding brothers know well that I was exemplary in attending and sisters living in love, endeavouring to religious meetings, and you also therein be- help one another as occasion may require, in came my companions. My increasing cares, counselling and advising in temporal or spiritand laudable endeavours, through Divine fa- ual matters. I charge you be not unmindvour, have in some good degree procured for ful in so doing, my dear children; peace will me that blessing, which above all temporal flow in upon you abundantly, and your blessings I have desired, the blessing of sober reputation and honour will be increased and virtuous children. It is the all-wise, great among men. The Lord will delight himself and good Benefactor, the Lord, the everlasting in you, and you will be a praise to his great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, before whom my name.

soul seeks to worship at this time, and with My life being attended with variety of disearnestness to entreat, that he would still vouch-pensations, I have, as opportunity presented, safe the renewings of celestial rain upon the committed to paper some things, among many seed of his poor servant, that thereby they that have fallen to my lot, in the course of my may grow as plants of the Lord's own right pilgrimage; not with any intention or desire hand planting, to his glory and praise for ever of its going forth to the public, but intending and ever. chiefly to have it kept within the circle of my

own family; not thinking it better worth. You Him who is perfect, who delighteth not in the will find in the perusal of these few sheets, the death of sinners, but is graciously seeking, tender dealings and merciful visitations of the immediately and instrumentally, to save sinAlmighty to me, after long provoking him to ners from their sins, and to preserve them anger; by which means, judgment and con- from sinning. How strange a thing it is that demnation were brought over my soul. May minds should be so infatuated, as to prefer he who reached poor me when I was gone pleasures rather than peace. It is by seeking astray, and brought back again that which and pursuing after pleasures, that many hearts was lost, in like manner effectually reach are wounded and slain; but they that seek the hearts of my dear children, that closely after peace, shall be made peace-makers, and joining in with the visitation of Truth, they shall be called the children of God. The tes may at length become warriors and champi- monies and labours of the Lord's servants, ons in our Israel, contenders for the God of tend to bring off from those things that are of their father, in their generation; and the Lord a hurtful and destructive nature and evil tenso bless the work in their hands, that sinners dency, wounding the poor soul, bringing it may be converted from the error of their into great distress and confusion; which do ways, that souls may be saved from death, not settle it upon a right bottom and sure and thereby hide a multitude of sins. In that foundation, wherein dwelleth true happiness, day the wisdom of God will be made mani- comfort, and peace. Thus is an understand. fest, and according to the saying of the pro- ing given, not a verbal declaration only; for phet Daniel," those that are wise shall shine the knowledge and Christian experience of as the brightness of the firmament, and they such, as have been seeking after the Truth, that turn many to righteousness, as the stars, and by obedience to its manifestations have for ever and ever!" For this great and good found it, and have it in possession, speaks of end, many have been called into the Lord's what they know, and not of what they know work and service, and their reward shall be not. I therefore direct and recommend you to according to their measure and faithfulness. such teachers, and to the teacher of them, the Great is the loss which many sustain who have Lord Jesus Christ in your own hearts, the been long hearing, and not obeying, being di- true and infallible Teacher; that by attending verted and turned aside by strangers, of which thereto, you may come in this manner to at there are many to delude and enchant; deceiv-tain to the like experience, and in the end ers, and not true, captivating allurements, called obtain your hope, even the salvation of your by fine names. Thus it is, that the creature souls. is exalted above measure, and is set up in the mind above the heavenly witness; turning aside the deep counsels communicated from

Remember my counsel, herein recommend. ed, and depart not from it. It is what above all things else I covet for you.

JOURNAL OF JOSEPH OXLEY'S LIFE AND TRAVELS, &c.

CHAPTER I.

I HAVE had it on my mind for a considerable time, to commit to writing some of the many occurrences that have befallen me; and of the precious visitations, and merciful deal ings of the Almighty with me from my youth

up.

parted this life the 27th of the sixth month, 1720; and was interred at Castlethorp, in Friends' burial-ground, the 30th day following, aged thirty-three years and three months. She was a virtuous, zealous woman, sometimes publicly engaged in meetings, and loved and entertained Friends heartily who came to visit I was born at Brigg, in Lincolnshire, on the us. She was naturally a woman of a ready 4th day of the ninth month, old style, 1715. wit, charitable to the poor, a friendly neigh My father's name was John, son of John and bour, and well beloved of all. We had a Mary Oxley of Criggleston, in the parish of good meeting at her interment, wherein seve Sandel, and county of York. My mother's ral testimonies were borne concerning her; name was Ann, daughter of Joseph and Cathe- also at the burial-ground, all signifying her rine Peckover, of Fakenham, in the county of departure was in peace with the Lord." About

Norfolk.

Respecting my mother, my father left this hort testimony:" Ann Oxley, of Brigg, de

three years afterwards, it pleased Divine Providence to visit my dear father with a sore fit of sickness, of which he also died, the 29th

of the twelfth month, 1723, aged forty years; leaving three children, Joseph, Ann, and John, thus rendered destitute not only of natural, but religious parents. I was the eldest.

me, he was afraid to take me, because I was so very low of stature, and sent me to school again, to a Friend who lived in the town, where I also underwent some profitable correction, as well as acquired useful learning. The following summer, my uncle, Edmund Peckover, being on a religious visit in these parts, I was bound an apprentice to Robert Henderson, of Scarborough, clock maker. My uncle recommended to my master, that he should let me attend week-day meetings as often as it was convenient. His great care over me in that respect made lasting impressions on my mind, even to this day; and I have been careful to be exemplary therein, and in bringing up my family in that commendable practice. My master and dame, for so I was ordered to call my mistress, were both sober, valuable Friends, and orderly in their conversation; but such of us as were under their care as apprentices, journeymen, &c., were unruly and disorderly, very unbecoming and reproachful, idle, loose, and profligate, corrupting one another in many evils, frequenting ale-houses, and gaming; practices destructive both to body and soul. Let all beware lest they unhappily fall into these evils, and bring the Lord's displeasure on them as I did. I liked very well the business, but it was too hard and laborious for my strength. I had also a pretty deal of other business, such as cleaning boots and shoes, looking after my master's horses, &c., as occasion required, which kept me very backward

About the eighth year of my age, we all came under the care of my grandfather and grandmother, Joseph and Catherine Peckover; myself more particularly under the guardianship of my dear and honourable uncle Edmund Peckover. My sister became the care of my grandmother, and my uncle Joseph Peckover, of Fakenham, took the care of my brother John, who was the youngest. I was boarded at Brigg, with Ann Bethell, widow, a valuable Friend, until such time as my relations could settle my father's affairs. I went to school in the town, but have no reason to think I was one of the best boys; for though I was very young, I well remember that one night on going to bed, curiosity led me to look into the maid's trunk, which was in the chamber, and unlocked: on opening and searching the trunk, I found a little screw box which I ventured to examine; its contents were chiefly silver. I thought I might hazard to take sixpence, and not be found out; which I did, and no more. My mistress, with whom I went to school, sold nuts, gingerbread, sweetmeats, &c., some of which I bought, and distributed amongst my school-fellows, and played truant; on which I was suspected, and at night my pockets were examined, and I was found to have spent about two-pence, for which the next day I underwent the discipline of the rod, which I have had reason to think was of service to me, not remem-in my business. Having served my master bering I have ever done the like since. Soon after this I was sent to Gilbert Thompson's school, at Sankey, in Lancashire, a very good school; but I was very unapt at learning my books, though few exceeded me at play. One time in particular I have reason to remember. My master being from home, I had agreed with another boy to run a race, and for each of us to carry another boy on our backs; and in running, I fell down with my leg under me, by which means I broke my thigh, which proved a source of long confinement, sorrow, and trouble. The surgeon who set it, not being sufficiently mindful, set it wrong, and in this state it remained several days, when at length it had to be broken again and set afresh, which indeed proved an unspeakable sorrow; but afterwards the parts united and did well.

About this time my dear grandfather Peckover, of Fakenham, departed this life, and bequeathed something for my further education, &c. After being at school more than five years, I was sent to Scarborough, in Yorkshire, to be an apprentice to a clockmaker. But when my master came to see VOL. II.--No. 11.

seven years, my time with him expired. I am far from being able to give a good account of myself during these seven years. I remained exceedingly raw and ignorant respecting religion, negligent in attending meetings, for which my master and dame would often reprove me, and on a first-day evening they would frequently call us together to read in the Holy Scriptures. My mind seemed at this time to be estranged from anything that was good, and I turned a deaf ear to all advice and counsel that had a tendency to settle the mind in the fear of God.

Being now in the twenty-second year of my age, I left Scarborough, and by order of my uncles, Edmund and Joseph Peckover, went to Brigg, my native place, and by their advice, disposed of an estate of my late father's: from thence into Norfolk, to see my relations there, which afforded me very great satisfaction, and not the least to see my dear brother, who was then an apprentice to John Northern, a Friend at Walsingham, in said county: I had not seen him for about thirteen years. We were exceedingly rejoiced to see each other, and though we were so long parted, I believe

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