Memorials of deceased members of the Society of Friends..
^ ... # ■% v </> , s <$> % # * .ov <\, * Q0V ^ *fc ■^ A w ^, ^ .v 7<h \0 °^ ' / MEMORIALS OF DECEASED OF &\\t J&ocfetg of iFrieirts. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." Rev. xiv. 13. PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED BY JOSEPH AND WILLIAM KITE, No. 50 North Fourth Street. 1843. (( x<\\ PREFACE. Throughout the different periods of our his- tory, as a distinct religious Society, there has been amongst us a succession of dedicated followers of the Lord Jesus Christ ; who, through the power and efficacy of Divine grace, have been enabled, by a humble and circumspect walking in the fear of God, to afford convincing evidence to those around them, that their's was " the victory that overcometh the world," even that " faith which worketh by love," " purifying the heart." The following pages contain memorials of some of these. Amongst the number here selected, the reader will find notices of individuals who were conspicuously engaged in advocating the cause of the blessed Redeemer ; and the remembrance of them, and of their labours, is precious to many. Others, perhaps not less subjected to the sanctify- ing influence of the Spirit of Truth, were led in a more hidden path ; and the fulness of their light did not diffuse itself, until the day was about to close, when the brightness of the Sun of righteous- ness shone around them, and gilded the dark "val- ley of the shadow of death." There is, in the economy of Divine grace, a great diversity of operation ; yet all in harmony and in- finite wisdom. And whatever may be the varied gifts, or the external circumstances which distin- guish the disciples of a crucified Saviour, " It is IV PREFACE. the same God who worketh all in all." And may we ever be impressed with the deeply instructive and encouraging truth, that this working of the Spirit produced in each the same blessed result ; that, whereas in our fallen state by nature, we are all " the servants of sin," those in whom this transforming power is suffered effectually to ope- rate, become " servants to God," having their "fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." The object in this compilation is not to eulogise the dead, but to magnify the goodness and mercy of " Him who loved" them, "and washed them from their sins in his own blood ;" and to excite survivors to use all diligence to make their calling and election sure, remembering the solemn injunc- tion : " Be ye also ready, for it such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." MEMORIALS. Joseph White. — In reading the memorial of Joseph White, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, we have been forciply impressed with that decla- ration, u The memory of the just is blessed." Prov. x. 7. And as it will probably be new to many of our readers, and is calculated to prove deeply in- structive to all, we consider it desirable to give it a place in this collection. He was born at the Falls, on the 28th of the Eleventh month, 1713. Being young when his father died, he was brought up under the care of his relations and friends ; and through the extend- ings of heavenly regard whilst young, and attend- ing to the teachings of Divine grace, he was pre- served from many of the follies and extravagancies incident to unthinking youth. About the twentieth year of his age, he spoke as a minister in our re- ligious meetings, and, continuing in a good degree faithful to the measure of light and grace commu- nicated, he grew in his gift, and became a lively and able minister of the gospel of Christ. He was naturally of an open and cheerful dis- position, and honestlly concerned for the promotion of piety and virtue, and for the support and main- tenance of good order in the church ; for which service he was eminently gifted, being often con- cerned that the authority of Truth might be kept up in all our meetings for discipline. He was 1* 6 JOSEPH WHITE. exemplary in his life and conversation, a diligent and timely attender of our religious meetings, when health of body permitted ; and was often favoured therein in public testimony and suppli- cation, much to the comfort and edification of the truly humble worshippers. And although he had a large gift in the ministry, he many times sat meetings in silence, waiting upon the Lord ; not being hasty or forward in the exercise of his gift ; but careful not to minister without the heavenly life and power that first raised him up in the min- istry, whereby his public service was greatly to the consolation and refreshment of many. He was, at different times, engaged in the love of the gospel, to visit his friends in his own and several of the adjacent provinces ; also in Mary- land, Virginia, and North Carolina. And having, for some considerable time, been weightily im- pressed with a sense of duty to pay a similar visit to Friends in Europe, he, with the concurrence and unity of his brethren, took shipping for that purpose, in the year 1758, and after a short pas- sage, landed in England ,• and having pretty gen- erally visited Friends' meetings in England and Ireland, and some parts of Wales, he returned to his beloved family, having been from home in that service nearly three years. He produced certifi- cates of Friends' unity and good satisfaction with him, and his public labours amongst them. He was divers times engaged in visiting families, being well qualified for that weighty service. He much enjoyed the company and conversation of his friends, was a loving and affectionate husband, a tender parent, and a good neighbour ; generally JOSEPH WHITE. 7 beloved by those who knew him; being in several respects useful in the neighbourhood where he lived. He was from his youth subject to frequent at- tacks of indisposition, but as he advanced further in age, intermissions of health grew short, and pains increased, which brought on, other bodily infirmities, which he bore with patience and resig- nation ; often craving he might not be off his watch when his pains were exquisite, nor his faith fail in the time of trial. He believed it to be through the goodness of God, that he was thus dealt with, in order more and more to wean him from all outward connexions and nearest ties of nature, that, being as the pure gold refined through the furnace, he might with triumph join the re- deemed that were gone before, which he at times had a foretaste of; but the time when, as he him- self sometimes expressed, he did not then see, be- lieving it to be consistent with Divine wisdom to keep it hid from him. During the latter part of his time for several months, he slept but little in the night season, being at times engaged in reve- rent intercessions and divine contemplation, and appeared to be waiting for the solemn moment. He lived in the compass of the Falls particular meeting until a few years before his death, and then removed to Makefield, (a branch of the same monthly meeting ;) and having for a considerable time felt strong desires (if favoured with health) to go to the Falls meeting, on a monthly meeting day, he set out for that purpose, but the weather being cold, and he in a weak state of health, he soon found himself unable to perform the journey, and returned home. But some time after, feeling his bodily health somewhat restored, and love re- 8 JOSEPH WHITE. newed, he set out, in company with his wife, one First-day morning, and got to the meeting, where he was favoured with an open time in public testi- mony, much to the satisfaction of those present. After the meeting was over, and Friends gone out, a Friend being desirous of speaking to him, not seeing him out of doors, returned into the house, and found him sitting on a seat unable to move without help; and he was taken to the house of a Friend. The attack, being of the paralytic kind, continued ebbing and flowing for some hours, in which time lie uttered many weighty expres- sions ; some of which being taken down, are near- ly as follows : Being asked by his son how it was with him, he answered, " I do not know but that I am near my end. My desire at this time for thee is, that thou seek unto the Lord for assistance, to govern thee in thy conduct in this fluctuating life ; for I have found Him to be a sure help and counsellor to me. If thou follow after Him in truth and sin- cerity, as I have endeavoured to do, He will be unto thee a sufficient director, a teacher that can- not be removed into a corner. I have not been anxious to gather a portion of this world, nor make to myself mammon of unrighteousness; for I think I have seen a snare that has attended many young people on these accounts. 1 have ever from my youth had a desire to be more in substance than in show ; let me appear as I might in the sight of men, their praise I sought not for ; but I have sought the honour of God, and there is a place, where no trouble shall annoy, prepared for me. — You that stay, be more humble, and when trouble awaits you, look not upon, nor trust JOSEPH WHITE. after me, after my end, let them know all is well with me." The next day his pain abating, and finding himself somewhat relieved from his disorder, he was taken to his own house, where he remained in a weak state of health for some time, being unable to go much abroad : and a short time be- fore his death, his pain having been sharp the fore part of the night, but abating during the lat- ter part of it, his wife fell asleep ; he as usual slept not, but after some time called to her in these words : " My dear, I believe I must take my leave of thee. I have never seen my end till now, and now I see it is near, and the holy angels inclose me around, waiting to receive me." He departed in much stillness as in a sleep, the 10th day of the Third month, 1777, and was interred in Friends' burying ground at the Falls meeting-house, on the 12th of the same; his remains being attended to the grave by a large number of Friends and neighbours. The Friends of his own Monthly Meeting, after giving these particulars respecting him, add, " May we, under the consideration of our great loss of him, and many other faithful labourers in the Lord's vineyard, now removed from us, be incited so to follow their footsteps, that with them, we may be partakers of that in- corruptible inheritance, which is reserved for the righteous when time here shall be no more." Mary Watson, wife of Samuel Watson of the county of York, was one who, for the sake of the MARY WATSON. 11 blessed Truth, denied herself, and was made wil- ling to part with those things which she thought stood in her way, abhorring all manner of evil ; she was a tender nursing mother, exhorting and building up the young in the most holy faith. She spent much of her time in private retirement, and was frequent in prayer and praising the Lord, delighting in meditation, like Mary, of whom our Lord said, " She hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke x. 42, Whilst she had strength of body to go to public meetings, she had a word to speak in sea- son, suitable to the states and conditions of many : and was also instrumental in the Lord's hand, in keeping things in good order relating to church affairs. In the time of her weakness of body, she was sometimes under fears concerning her great pas- sage from mortality ; but through travail of soul, in the living faith which she received of Christ, the author of it, she was kept steadfast and ob- tained the victory, which God in his own time manifested to her soul. And, afterwards she made acknowledgments of the same to the refreshment of others. Several weeks before her decease she mentioned " That the work of redemption was wrought and completed; and all doubts and fears were removed, and now she waited to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, who had redeemed and sanctified her :" so that as a wise virgin, she was prepared to enter into eternal joy ; and was filled with praises while any strength remained ; her eye was to that hea- venly family, out of all the families of the earth, 12 ELIZABETH COLLINS. where she gladly desired to be rejoicing with her dear children and relations gone before, (as she often expressed.) She had a tender regard for her offspring which she left behind, that they might, through the grace of God, be gathered to Christ Jesus the heavenly Shepherd, with many prayers for them ; and her exhortation to those who were with her, and also for those absent, was, " That they might walk humbly before the Lord their Creator, and watch against all the evil temptations of this world, the flesh, and the vanity and lusts thereof; that no pride, vain glory, or intemperance might captivate them, but abiding in the holy fear of God, all evil would be suppressed and slain upon the cross ; and humility, righteousness, meekness of spirit, and holiness, should grow up in them, and be to them not only as a comely garment, but as a never failing portion." All visible helps and outward enjoyments fail- ing, she had the Lord for her portion, and kept in possession of that heavenly treasure in her soul, and fed upon that living bread and wine of the kingdom, which she is now in the more full enjoy- ment of. She often spoke of her being surround- ed with the glory of the Lamb, and was sensible in her expressions to the last few hours. She gave up the ghost in a sweet, still manner, on the 2nd day of the Ninth month, 1694. The following memoir of Elizabeth Collins, of Upper Evesham, New Jersey, North America, presents us with a remarkable example of devo- ELIZABETH COLLINS. 13 tedness to the love and service of God, of humble trust in the Redeemer, and of pious resignation under many and complicated afflictions ; and will we believe prove instructive and animating to the Christian reader. She was born on the 4th of the First month, 1755, of religious parents. Her father died when she was about six years old. u Leaving," she says, " my mother with six small children, and not abundance of this world's trea- sure to bring us up with, it was my lot to live out from home ; and I had some trying seasons to pass through, both in body and mind ; but xny gracious Helper was near, in those my young days, though like Samuel I knew not what it was." In consequence of indisposition she was obliged to return home ; where, for some years, she had the advantage of her mother's tender and watchful care ; though mercifully preserved from gross sins, yet she was too frequently induced to yield to her natural propensities to levity and folly. The time of her greatest indulgence in that which was evil was previous to her fifteenth year. She again left her mother's house, to go out as an ap- prentice about the year 1770. In reference to this time, she says, " I was much exposed and met with many difficulties ; but the invisible arm of Divine love and mercy, was near for my pre- servation : blessed be the great name of Israel's God, who alone preserved me from utter ruin ; in the remembrance thereof my soul cannot but bless, praise, and magnify his ever- worthy name. Al- though I took some delight in company, and light conversation, yet I had often to retire and pour out my tears before Him who seeth in secret, and 2 14 ELIZABETH COLLINS. who had in mercy visited my soul and given me in measure to see the vanity of youthful pastimes, that I had too much delighted in. After the ex- piration of my apprenticeship, I attended meet- ings as steadily as my situation would admit, being obliged to go from house to house, to work at my trade, in the course of which I met with many trials, being much exposed to company." She was married about the eighteenth year of her age: but in little more than four years, it pleased Divine Providence to take from her, her affectionate husband. Respecting this deeply af- flictive event, she thus writes, " Being now left a poor disconsolate widow with two small children, I was ready to conclude, that no one's trials could exceed mine ; but the Lord, in mercy, was near to support and bear up through all, that I did not sink below hope, though often brought very low both in body and mind, in which seasons I wrote the following : ' My heart seemeth humbled with- in me, and my desire is, that I may be preserved as in the hollow of the Lord's mighty hand, who am a poor unworthy creature ; but He is wonder- ful in goodness ; He hath spared, pitied, and showed mercy, that I am not cast off and quite lost. " ' Oh ! that my head were as waters, and mine eyes as a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night, until acquainted with my God ; Oh, that I may receive bread from thy table, and that thy grace may abound in me.' " A short time after the death of my dear hus- band, I had a severe attack of disease, in which I had no prospect of recovering, but was quite ELIZABETH COLLINS. 15 resigned to the Divine will ; desiring that if He saw meet to raise me again, it might be for some good end ; in the remembrance of which season, I feel breathings of soul, that I may be so attentive to the pointings of Truth, and so obedient to my dear Lord and Master, as to answer this great end. Gracious and Holy Father, may it please Thee to strengthen my feeble endeavours, and more and more wean me from every thing that obstructs the growth of thy pure truth." In the year 1778 she was united in marriage to Job Collins, and soon afterwards, being then in the 24th year of her age, she yielded to an appre- hension of duty to speak as a minister in our religious assemblies. Respecting the state of her mind on entering on this new and important work, she says : " My mouth being thus opened, I was ready to conclude I should be more steadily favoured, and not expe- rience such deep exercise as I had passed through ; but I was disappointed ; for although I had great peace, in giving up to speak a few words in meet- ings, when required, yet I often had to experience close baptisms ; such stripping seasons, that I have been ready to call all in question, and con- clude that I have been misled, and that it was not required of me to speak in public. But my great and good Master, who saw my distress, suffered me not to sink, but condescended in mercy to fav- our me at seasons, with the lifting up of the light of his glorious countenance, whereby my poor drooping spirit was raised and comforted. My friends also, showed great kindness and sympathy towards me." 16 ELIZABETH COLLINS. " I had many deep and close exercises to pass through, under which nothing short of the Divine arm of Omnipotence, could have supported ; and about which time I wrote as follows : — ' Unto thee, O Thou searcher of hearts, I commit myself! O Lord ! search me, and try me ; if there be ini- quity in me, do Thou it away. Let not thy blessed hand spare, nor thy holy eye pity, until Thou hast brought judgment unto victory — until Thou hast made of me what Thou pleasest, for thou knowest for what cause I am thus tried. O Lord ! be pleased to visit my dear children, now in their young and tender years; turn their hearts unto Thee, and one unto another. Be graciously pleased to enable me to keep my place and autho- rity over them, in thy Truth. Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me — a right disposition of mind, to bear all things that may fall to my lot, for a trial of my faith and love unto thee, O Thou beloved of my soul V " She several times believed it to be required of her to leave her family in order to visit her friends in the love and service of the Gospel ; and in the year 1793 felt her mind strongly attracted to the Yearly Meeting in Philadelphia. The yel- low fever prevailed at that time in the city, and it appeared to be a very serious thing to venture thither ; yet her faith was strong that she should experience preservation ; and this favour was mercifully granted. During her stay there she writes as follows- " This is a solemn time in this city, wherein many houses, great and fair, are left without in- habitants, many faces gather paleness, and hearts ELIZABETH COLLINS. 17 are filled with sadness. Many, I believe, as was formerly recommended, are getting as between the porch and the altar, crying, ' Spare thy people, 0 Lord ! and give not thine heritage to reproach.' 1 have entered this city, and remained in it, with- out fear, except the fear of the Lord, that at times fills the hearts of his humble dependent children. May I be truly thankful for this and every other mercy." She returned home under an humbling sense of Divine regard, having to remember those ex- pressions of Jacob, ' I crossed this Jordan with my staff, and now I am become two bands.' " 1 had nothing but the staff of faith to lean upon, and now in my return, I have to experience a good degree of holy quiet, and the incomes of sweet peace ; which is more to the immortal soul, than all that this world can afford. O ! may it be more and more prized, and sought after by me, is the desire of my heart. In looking over the above remarks, my soul doth bless, praise, and magnify, that holy hand and arm which pre- served his children unhurt even in the flames, whose power is the same, yesterday, to-day, and forever." She was not long afterwards closely tried by the decease of three of her children : but through- out this period of affliction, her mind was much stayed in humble submission to the dispensations of an all- wise God, and she was enabled to adopt the language, "Thy will, Oh Father, be done." About this time she thus describes the state of her own mind. " I have been much reduced, and centred in 2# 18 ELIZABETH COLLINS. nothingness of self, a suitable situation to receive the wine of the kingdom ; and through mercy, I have had to partake of the incomes of holy good, in a larger degree than ever before, for so long together, and have been ready to conclude, that perhaps my warfare is nearly accomplished ; but whether or not, my greatest desire is, that I may be fully given up. The world and the things of it, have been sunk into such nothingness, that I have not a name importing little enough to call them by, compared with the joys of eternity, that I have had a prospect of. Centre, then, O my soul ! more and more within the enclosure of the walls of its salvation." In the Ninth month, 1796, at the Yearly Meet- ing at Philadelphia, she says : " Many weighty matters were feelingly and pertinently spoken to, and nothing more fully than that of love and unity, the badge of true discipleship ; the want of which, I believe, is a great loss and hurt to many. This subject brought great weight and exercise over the meeting, and over me as an individual. Great was my desire for Friends in general, and more for our particular meeting ; but especially my dear offspring, that they might be more and more partakers of that love and unity, which be- comes and distinguishes Christ's followers ; that they may not only be his by creation, but by re- demption also; for God is love, and they that dwejl in him, dwell in love." In the Tenth month, she thus writes : " Thou most holy and righteous Lord, art more and more weaning me from the pleasant things of this world ; perfect thy work to thine own praise. Let not ELIZABETH COLLINS. 19 thy hand spare, nor thine eye pity, until Thou hast perfected thine intended purpose; until Thou hast made of me what Thou pleasest. Thou only knowest what food is most convenient for me. Be pleased, in mercy, to mete out the dis- pensations of thy Providence, in a way and man- ner that may tend to the firm establishment of my faith in Thee, O Thou immovable Rock ! " In looking over my life, even from the days of my youth, I have to admire the many preser- vations, gracious dealings, tender mercies, and loving-kindnesses of the Lord, my bountiful Crea- tor, towards me, a poor unworthy creature. My soul doth bless, praise, and magnify His great and ever-worthy name, and can with some degree of propriety adopt the language of Jacob, when He blessed Joseph and said, ' God before whom my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them ,* and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.' " But we cannot suppose, that to be called the children of Abraham, or of believing parents, will do any thing for us. We may remember, that our dear Lord and Saviour told some in that day, that to be the children of Abraham, was to do the works of Abraham ; that it is not a name or a profession, but a possession of the Truth that will do. " Oh ! may the Lord, in mercy, so visit and so open the understandings of my dear children, as not only to see the beauty of the Truth, but to join in, and receive it in the love of it. So wish- 20 ELIZABETH COLLINS. eth, and so prayeth, your truly exercised and deeply concerned mother." In the years 1797, 1798, and 1799, she paid several religious visits to her friends, and during these engagements she thus writes : — " Thou, O Lord ! art strength in our weakness, mouth, and wisdom, yea all things to thy humble dependent children, whose trust is in Thee, waiting for thy putting forth in the way, and gently going before them ; blessed be thy holy name forever !" A little after she expresses being " thankful in heart to the Great Helper of his people, who had been near and supported through many close ex- ercises, and in much weakness of body, that at times it looked unlikely I should be able to get through ; but as mine eye was kept single to my holy Helper, I had to acknowledge, with the dis- ciples, I lacked nothing. Before I set out on this little joui'ney, I had many difficulties and discouragements to pass through, which ofttimes looked insurmountable, like mountains and floods that could not be passed over. But as my mind became truly given up to him, whose right it is to dispose of us as he sees meet, how were those difficulties removed, that I could even adopt the language of the Psalmist, ' What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou Reddest ! thou Jordan that thou wast driven back ! ye mountains that ye skipped like rams, and ye little hills like lambs !' Thus I had from time to time to set up my Ebe- nezer and acknowledge, " hitherto Thou hast helped me." On returning from one of these gospel missions, she says, ELIZABETH COLLINS. 21 " In the Eleventh month I reached home, weary in body, but comforted in mind, with the reward of sweet peace, having been enabled to perform the service required of me, in a good degree of faithfulness and dedication to Him, who had thus called me forth, and was graciously pleased to go before and make way. O ! blessed forever be his great name ! who continues to be the never- failing Helper of his humble dependent children, who put their whole trust in him ; and who has supported through many trials and deep proba- tions, yea, sweetened many bitter cups. " I have been afflicted of late with inward weak- ness, and sometimes great difficulty of breathing, but preserved in quietness of mind ; yea, the over- shadowing wing of Divine love, even as a canopy, has covered it. I feel entirely resigned to the disposal of Him who has strengthened me to press through many difficulties, to perform what I have believed has been required of me, which is now a comfort and a support, in a time of weakness, when the poor body is much reduced. " When I consider Thy abundant mercy and goodness towards me, a poor worm, how Thou has delivered out of many evils : yea, preserved out of many snares and temptations, that have been laid to draw my soul from following Thee ; I am led to adopt the language of Thy servant, — * What shall I render unto Thee, O Lord, for all thy benefits towards me? O ! may I be fully given up to Thee ! In thy presence there is life ; and at thy right hand, are rivers of pleasure for ever- more !' In the year 1810 she made the following deeply affecting and instructive memorandum : " In the Seventh month, I met with a severe trial indeed, by the sudden and unexpected death of my oldest son. I knew not of his illness until late in the afternoon ; I went that evening to see him, and found him nearly speechless, though I believe sensible. He departed next morning, aged about thirty-seven years, leaving a widow and four children. " Oh ! the trial such an unexpected event must bring upon a tender mother, having no opportu- nity of conversing with him to know his mind, or ELIZABETH COLLINS. 23 to afford any advice or encouragement. I thought if I could be favoured with an evidence that all was well with him, I could freely give him up. Through Divine mercy I was supported beyond what I could have expected, and may with some propriety adopt the language of Job, when he said, ' The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord.' Thus he sustains the minds of his children and people who are looking to him, and calling upon him ; he will be unto them as a shadow of a great rock in a weary land ; yea a covert from storms and tempests ; retire there, O, my soul ; for there the righteous flee and find safety." After this it pleased Divine Providence to take from her a beloved daughter, three sisters, and a brother. She bore these bereavements with hum- ble resignation, and, in allusion to them she writes, " My state of health being feeble, those losses were no doubt more sensibly felt. I was the only one left of our family, and as I was sitting pen- sively alone, reflecting on my stripped state, the language of the Psalmist came fresh into my mind : c Although my father and my mother forsake me the Lord will take me up.' This expression was comforting, and I was made renewedly sensible, that although I was thus stripped, without father and mother, brother or sister ; yet I was not for- saken by the Father and Fountain of all our sure mercies, who in condescending love, was pleased to comfort my mind, yea, to favour with his holy presence ; that I was led humbly to commemorate his goodness, his love and mercies extended from season to season, and secretly to inplpre the con- 24 ELIZABETH COLLINS. tinuance of his blessing through lime, that I might not become a dry and withered branch, O ! it is a blessed state to be preserved alive in the Truth, bringing forth fruit in old age ; fruits of holiness of life, fruits of dedication of heart to the will and service of God : that this may be my happy experience, is the breathing of my soul." She was several times much reduced by indis- position. In the Fourth month, 1821, she says, " My health is better, so as to be able to attend meeting ; it is comfortable to sit with my friends again. I feel very desirous that I may keep my place, that I may be just what the Almighty would have me to be, that his will may be done in me, by me, and through me. These lines have been so sweetly revived when in a feeble state, and feeling a peaceful calm and quiet, I thought I could with propriety adopt them as the present state of my mind. ** 4 How are thy servants blest, O Lord ! How sure is their defence ; Eternal Wisdom is their guide ; Their help, Omnipotence.' " How comfortable, when we can rightly num- ber and appreciate our blessings ! knowing ' our place of defence to be the munitions of rocks, bread to be given us, and our water to be sure :' receiving all from the Divine hand, and experien- cing that wisdom which is from above, and is pro- fitable to direct in all our movements. May this be more and more my happy experience through the remaining days of my life, that when the evening comes, the work may be so completed, ELIZABETH COLLINS. 25 that I may receive the answer of, c Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' O blessed change, glorious tri- umph ! to be admitted into the mansion of eter- nal rest, there to sing praises unto the most high God, and the Lamb, who is worthy forever and ever." " First month, 1825. I am more than seventy years old ; an age I did not expect nor desire to attain unto, but thus it has proved ; my days have been lengthened out in best wisdom, no doubt, to take care of my dear husband in his afflictions, he having been in poor health for upwards of three years, which he has been favoured to bear with pa- tience and Christian fortitude. Atone time after a season of silent retirement, he expressed to me: 'I think I have never been more willing to put off this poor tabernacle of clay, than at the present time, though no merit of mine. when his will becomes ours, and we have no will contrary to his Divine will, then may we with propriety express : ' To live is Christ, to die is gain ;' great gain to put off mortality, and to be clothed upon with immortality and eternal life. When the mind is thus centered, we are enabled to acknowledge, ' Sweet is thy voice and thy coun- tenance is comely.' Thy name is as precious ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love Thee, the pure in heart, those who are wean- ed from every other beloved, and their affections set upon the Beloved of souls. These experience in truth, that one hour in thy courts or presence, is better than a thousand : they can testify : Thy Name is as precious ointment, a savour of life unto life, which strengthens to offer the tribute of worship, adoration, and praise, unto the great Jehovah, who is worthy, with his beloved Son, our blessed Saviour and Redeemer, who paid the ransom for us, and who is one with the Fa- ther : to whom be glory, honour, thanksgiving, and high renown, for evermore. Amen." In the Second month, 1827, she says : " My dear husband departed this life in the seventy fifth year of his age, after a long and tedious con- finement and affliction of nearly five years and a half. His suffering at times was very great, which he was favoured to bear with much Chris- tian fortitude and patience. He attended meet- ings as long as he was able to go, and encouraged my going whenever I was easy to leave him. At different times, he said : ' The faith in which I have lived, in that faith I hope to die ;' and I fully believe he did, and that his departed spirit is ELIZABETH COLLINS. 27 now at rest in the arms of redeeming Mercy : this is my comfort, my great consolation. "Third month, 1829, I am now quite feeble, and it looks most likely ' my departure is at hand.' Be that as it may, the Divine will be done ! I feel neither wish nor will ; and may with some degree of propriety adopt the language of the apostle : ' I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them also, who love his appearing.' "Eleventh month. Mostly confined to my room, but favoured with a quiet composed mind, wherein I have been enabled to breathe, ' Glory to God in the highest : on earth, peace and good will to men ;' — to breathe glory, honour, thanks- givings, and praise unto the great Jehovah, who with his dear Son, our blessed Redeemer, is wor- thy forever. Oh ! the preciousness of the Truth : how it strengthens and supports the mind ; that I may say with the poet : **• My life, if Thou preeeiVst my life, Thy sacrifice shall be, And death, if death shall he my doom, Will join my soul to Thee.* " O blessed union and communion ! to join the heavenly host in singing praises and hallelujahs, unto the Lord God and the Lamb, who is worthy forever. Amen. " c If ye love me, keep my commandments,' said Christ our Lord. ' This is my command- 28 ELIZABETH COLLINS. 