4386

FRIENDS’

 

REVIEW.

 

verse is human nature, I could not give up to
what I knew was my duty. In this way I con-
tinued till the fourth summer after my marriage,
when just before harvest I was taken with a se-
vere spell of sickness, which rendered me so
weak and feeble as to be incapable of work ;
and the following winter I was confined to my
house with consumptive symptoms, from the
second of November* to the fourth of Third
month, and continued for several years but just
capable of overseeing my business. I now could
cheerfully give up to serve my Maker, and to
attend meetings. Thus, in infinite mercy, is the
rod used to accomplish that which favors do
not, and to verify the Scripture, that they who
will not bow in mercy shall bow in judgment.
And, indeed, I have ever had to consider this
dispensation as one of the greatest favors I have
received from+the hand of an all-wise Providence,
who thus in early life taught me to know from
whence all good comes, and that the obedient
only can taste his peace.

Before this illness, all my affairs seemed to
smile upon me, but they now wore a different
face. The fore part of this winter, my low
state of health made it probable that I should
not go out of my house till I was carried out.
Out of doors I had no one to look after my
affairs but a negro boy (10 years of age,)
and a Dutch servant, just arrived, who could
speak or understand very little English. Here
I was in a narrow strait. None could help
but Divine Goodness, whom I had not been
careful enough to please. To him alone was
my application now turned, with great ear-
nestness and ardor of soul; who was mer-
cifully pleased by degrees to dispel the gloom.
My brother John, in going to the West
Indies was, in a violent hurricane, thought
to be lost; but one evening sitting alone in my
bed-room, I heard a knocking at the door, and
on opening it beheld my brother. The surprise
was so great that I could not speak to him, but
the tears gushed from my eyes. I had never
known such an effect from joy. He stayed
with me, and took care of my outward affairs,
and I recovered slowly, so that in the spring I
got out of doors again.

I now saw the necessity of endeavoring to be
in reality what I professed to be. This required
great circumspection in my words and conduct,
and I found the necessity of observing our Lord’s
injunction; “‘ Watch and pray continually, lest
ye eifter into temptation.” One instance I may
remark. Being at the smith’s waiting for work,

 

*It is hardly needful to remind the reader that
Friends used without hesitation the Latin numerical
names of the months, till in the change of style they
became inappropriate,

D. C. subsequently notes: “In 1751, the style was
altered ; 1752, to begin the first of First month, Sep-
tember following to have but 19 days,”

 

 
   
   
 
   
  
  
  
   
  
 

he, knowing me to be a great reader,
I had read the life of the Duke of Ma
I answered that I had not, and he offe:
it to me, The query immediately spre
mind with much strength,—as I p
have a testimony against all wars and
what would he (who was a strict Pres
think of my taking pleasure in readi
chiefly on that subject. This check 1
decline his offer—and clear I am in th
tion, that the more our minds are redeen
the world and the spirit of it, the less
tion we shall have in reading books of th
or in conversing upon such subjects; as it ever —
hath a tendency to leaven the mind in t
same nature, as certainly as doth fami ;
evil company.
[D. C. here narrates at length an e
cumstance, which occurred in 4th mo
His little daughter,* about two years
playing with her cousins, and was sup
have followed them home, but was lost
woods. When her loss was discovered,
nearly dark—the sky was overcast, and |
cold wind was blowing, with the prospec
snow-storm. Two families were long engaged ©
in anxious search for her, and ready to despair
of success, with the conclusion that she m
inevitably perish before morning, when her
uncle calling in a loud, sharp tone to some per-
soas at a distance, aroused the child, who was
sleeping by the limb of a tree, and cried |
in alarm, at suddenly waking in so strangs
place.] a
He took her up, but she appeared
ened that we could not get a word from he
we reached the house. My two brother:
present, we sat for some time in sile
an humble thankfulness to that —
whose goodness had answered our anxious cri
in giving to us again our innocent babe
season not to be forgotten. In this mann
it sometimes please Divine Goodness to
his creatures, whether their dependence
upon him, or whether they will rely upon
own prudence, like the King of Israel,
it is remarked that in his disease, althov
was great, he sought not to the Lord, but
physicians. And how often have his ch
to experience, when their trust and confi
are singly in him, that no strait or diflicu
too great for him to deliver from-—that
open a way where there was no way, an
their hearts with songs of praise on the bank
deliverance. fe
About this times eight . .. . 2
ters had a meeting in the neighborhood 1
dain a brother to take charge of the flocl
Woodbury and Timber Creek. The ordin
sermon was printed, and a neighbor gay

     
     
 
    
    
    
   
 
  
  
  
   
    
    
    
  
  
    
   
     
 
  

 

 

i ale is ei
* Elizabeth, afterwards wife of John Tai
She lived until 11th mo, 11th, 1814, ©