242 FRIENDS’

REVIEW.

 

Are they not brothers all, sisters and cousins ?
So loving they seem and so full of good will. ~
I love the drab bonnets which go by the dozens _

To the old Quaker Meeting House up on the hill.
The snug little Meeting House, time-honored Meeting
House, . ia
_ The old Quaker Meeting House up on the hill.”

D. Cooper to Martha Allinson.

Dear Martha,—In a degree of the most
sweet and precious affection, which I trust-will
continue with me beyond time, I salute thee,
dear child.

After thy departure I was uneasy lest
thou shouldst think I slighted thy tender care
for me, in declining to go with thee or to have
thee stay with thy poor parent. No, my dear.
Ifelt it im the tenderest manner. The company
of no one living yields equal comfort in my dis-
tress; but my care for thee at times exceeds that
for myself, and I would gladly lighten thy load
of cares, not increase them by making thee an
eye witness of my sufferings, which thou wouldst
be unable to relieve. I have at times a little
_ ray of faith that the gracious Hand which has

been near to preserve from my infancy, will not
suffer my grey hairs to fall a prey to the de-
vourer. He knows I have none, in Heaven nor
in all the earth, to look unto or lean upon, but
Him alone. Thus, dear Martha, is he showing
us what helpless worms we are without Him;
and the necessity of crying, under all our trials,
“ Abba, Father! help us!”—lest we sink as
_ did Peter when his faith failed.........
I rejoice to hear that thy mind is borne up
_ in trust upon Him who alone can help thee. A
Tate attack has left me exceedingly reduced.
Thus I may linger for a time, but wish thee not
_ to place thy expectation on seeing me with you,
_ for however desirable to us both, there is very
little prospect of my health admitting it. Iam
thus employed while my dear friends are collec-
tively performing solemn worship to Him who
createdthem. Asweet privilege withholden from
me. May I bear it with submission, knowing
. that his will is our sanctification. . . . . [After
alluding to a locality where no Preparative

Meeting existed:] This I think is truth; that

where there is no Preparative Meeting, disci-

pline is always low; and well it may be; the
weight of dealing with offenders lying wholly
with Overseers, they become like prime minis-
ters—do just as*they please. Sli keg
Thy loving father Davip Cooper.

To the same.

: Seventh-day evening, 11 o’clock—1791.
I take this time, when the family have gone to
rest, to give thee a token of my remembrance,
and to signify the satisfaction my late visit at

Burlington afforded, which tended not a little to

calm my mind; though for myself I see nothing

desirable, as to outward things, but the end

Yet thy cheerful and resigned state of mingdys

der thy various exercises was exceedin

‘* : Bev

  

 
 
   
    
   

 

  
   
   
  

fortable as well as strengthening to me, and
much greater cause of joy than the addition of
any out ~ treasures without it could be.
Mayest thou, my dear child, be favored to keep
there, and then the frowns of this world cannot
much affect thee. Oh, the heavenly situation of
those who are enabled to keep their minds above
being disquieted by the occurrences of this life,
and who by strength of faith can cast all their
cares on Him who is omnipotent. . ... . My
beloved friend, Daniel Offley, was here on First-
day night, on his way to Salem Meeting, to
reach which he set off at five in the morning,
We expect him here again this evening.

In endearing love for thyself and children, I
am thy affectionate father,

Drveelbeates

Some of the older portion of our readers well
remember Daniel Offley as a dedicated and
effective minister. He died 10th month 11th,
1793, one of the victims of yellow fever, at the
early age of thirty-seven ; having “‘in a short
time fulfilled along time.” He was a diligent
laborer in the work of the gospel, and paid a
religious visit to the West Indies. At the time of
the execution, for murder, of Charles Read,
a minor, Samuel Allinson, Daniel Offley and
William Savery accompanied him to the gallows,
where the latter two preached powerfully to the
assembled multitude, and their presence and
service were a great comfort to the penitent lad.

As his life evidently drew towards its close,
D. C.’s yearnings as a Christian parent continued
strong, and the following paper, written 9th
month 19th, 1791, evinces his concern for his
descendants, that they might rejoice together,
‘“‘no wanderer, lost,” in the blissful realm where
all his own hopes were centered. bee

‘Dear children,—My health has been for
some time fast declining. I am now confined, and
that I shall ever enjoy better health is uncer-/ —
tain, and what I do not expect. In this situa-
tion my mind is often turned to think of you
and your children, and oh, the yearnings of soul
that I often feel on your account, that you
might be kept in His love and fear who alone can
bless here, and give happiness hereafter. Many
and various have been my fears and cares for you.
my four surviving children, from your youth

‘|up. The Lord only knows my cries and breath-

ings to Him on your account, and I have cause
to be thankful that the desires of my soul have
in some good degree been answered, in your
being preserved from the pollutions of the world.
But there ’s much yet to do to obtain the
fulness of that peace which Christ promised to
his humble children, with an assurance of the
answer of ‘ Well done, good and faithful ser-
No small part of your duty and trial
y, 18 respecting your children; to educate
bring them up in the nurture and admonition