which kept them together in near unity and greater safety; so that the young people in most parts, were generally trained up in innocence of manners, and in plainness of habit and speech.

Some indeed, chiefly of the young men grown up, had for some time past, refused submission to the good order established, but I lived there long enough to see the unhappy consequences thereof, both to many of themselves, and to the body whereof they were members. Though their tables abounded with elegant dishes, and a variety of liquors; though they made a figure and were envied or caressed for a time; yet most of them were either cut short by death, or fell into disgrace. The hand of the Lord seemed to be against these introducers and spreaders of corrupt liberty; and they never attained that true honor and peace, which attended the worthy men and women above hinted at, to whom the first departure of such was matter of great concern and anxiety, from a clear foresight of the hurtful consequences thereof; and much labor and pains they took to put a stop to it, and prevent the spreading thereof, particularly in the city of Cork, and therefore they were clear of it.

But though some of these were too large for the girdle of truth to meet about them, or to be limited by the desires of their best friends; yet I found the discipline of the church better maintained, during my first years in Cork, than before them in Bristol; tending to edification, brotherly comfort and love, and mutual encouragement in piety and virtue, with a joint desire and care to preserve a uniform regularity, and to revive and maintain a religious fervency toward God.

Some Friends from the several parts attended their province meetings, which were held regularly once in six weeks,

and circulated from one part to another, yet were most frequently held in Cork. Those meetings were often sweetly favored, through the coming together of sincere, lively spirited friends. At one of these meetings in particular, in Cork, soon after my coming to it, we had the company of John Duckett, from Leinster, a worthy Elder. In the men's meeting he spoke to us with such divine authority and sweetness, that to me his words seemed fitly spoken indeed, and, "like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

The half year's meetings in Dublin were attended by some Friends from most parts of the nation. Here, in the meetings for discipline, as well as for worship, a zeal for the honor of God, and the good of the church presided, and Friends were incited to keep all things in proper order in the church. The first time I attended a half year's meeting, was in the winter of 1742, and it was indeed a lively, good meeting, which I hope never to forget. After I removed from Cork to Mountmelick, I attended the national and provincial meetings for Leinster pretty constantly, and often in them was affected with reverent gratitude to the Almighty, who by the discoveries of divine wisdom, instituted them for the support and edification of the church, and in them frequently owned the gatherings of his people in his name, by the evident manifestation of his divine presence.

In process of time these worthy men and women, in whose hearts the love of God and of his people, had, by long growth, become deeply rooted, one after another, finished their course honorably, leaving an excellent savor behind them.; but when they were removed, very few of the youth or others, succeeded them in the right line, to fill up their vacant places with propriety. Of their survivors, on one hand, a considerable number retained the

ancient plainness of language and habit, and were rigidly censorious of any deviation therefrom, and valued themselves thereupon, as if it were the only test and badge of discipleship, while their hearts were gone after their covetousness, in eagerly pursuing and sordidly hoarding temporal wealth. On the other hand, was a large body of youth and others, shooting up in self-indulgence, in conformity to the world, and rushing headlong into the temptations of the times. Yet amidst this inundation of negligence and revolt, there remain in most places, a number of sincere-hearted Friends, a few worthy ministers and elders; but within these twenty years past, there has been a great alteration for the worse.

The proposals which Friends of Bristol made me appeared sufficiently encouraging to promise a pretty easy situation, as to temporals; and when in Mountmelick, this city was presented to my view for a residence for me and my family, it was brought to my remembrance, how in my young years, it was made to me what Bethel was to Jacob in his youthful time, when he travelled alone, with his staff, obeying the command of his parents; that is, the place where the Lord first visited me with his power and light, and was a father to me, when I was, as it were, alone, and far from my parents and all my relations. After many years, and a great increase of family, He called Jacob to go up again to Bethel and dwell there, and erect an altar to his God; and thereupon Jacob obliged his household to put away their strange gods, to be clean, and change their garments; and so they went. Under this view, I hoped this removal might be attended with beneficial effects to me and mine, and that I had in degree, concurrence therein, being favored of the Lord among my dear friends in Ireland, in taking leave of them.

But promised happiness in this life, often proves a phantom that flies from us as we pursue; we often think we have it in prospect, but it still keeps beyond our reach; they who would attain certain and durable happiness, should extend their views beyond this life.

For, notwithstanding the apparent encouraging prospect, after a while I found things, both provisions and labor, so much dearer here than in Ireland, that discouragements and embarrassments crowded upon me to that degree, that I was often brought very low, under the gloomy prospect, and my faith was put to a severe trial; yet it pleased kind Providence to make way for me, and raise me relief in his own time, for which I desire to be ever gratefully thankful, and unreservedly dedicated in heart to his service, whose mercies fail not.

I found also a change in another respect not agreeable to the natural disposition. He who had visited my soul, and called me into the ministry, had given me a great place in the particular and near regard, affection and esteem of Friends in Ireland, where I had an open door, and was often much enlarged in gospel love. Mostly attending the province meetings in Leinster, Friends were rejoiced to see me, and apt to think me much missed, if at any time I did not get out to any of them. Whenever I did, I met such a welcome reception amongst Friends, being often opened to their edification, and to our mutual endearment to each other in the sweet streams of divine life, and such ready attendance and kindness as were very pleasing to

nature.

But coming from thence to Bristol, where I was now become a stranger to many, and where they were full fed as to vocal ministry, I was here very much shut up, and for a season seemed to have lost the caresses, cordial in

vitations, and that place I had amongst friends in Ireland; which, however, though in my present trying circumstances, a seemingly additional discouragement, was not an unprofitable dispensation; for though it was the great favor of the Almighty, whereby I was opened among my friends to their edification, and their hearts opened towards me; yet herein the enemy artfully laid his snares and often prevailed over my unwatchful soul, to my inward hurt. For what are all the caresses of mankind? Of small value in themselves, and often injurious to them whom they please, conveying hidden poison to the unguarded mind; while that which alone will stand us in real stead, and be of infinite advantage, is to get and keep the favor of the Almighty; may I therefore want and even reject, whatever would please and nourish that spirit, which ought to come under daily mortification.

The inward near unity, sympathy, esteem and affection of friends and brethren, is a very grateful and pleasing enjoyment; but it may be proper and good for us to be tried and proved, with being stripped of every leaning stock, but the only sure foundation, that we may thereby be driven to have recourse to it, and keep our only safe habitation there. May this, after a life so tossed up and down, as mine has been, at length become my case on any terms; and if it be, it will be more than worth all I have yet suffered, were it many times more; for all else will be soon over, but this will never end.