solid person, and desires are for his preserva

tion.

my

7th mo. 28th, 1811. At Bristol meeting. There appeared a want of Christian zeal and fervent concern for the arising of life. Simon Gillam spoke in the meeting, I believe to satisfaction.

8th mo. 15th. Week-day meeting. Simon Gillam spoke, being the first time but once. I thought it a good meeting.

9th mo. 21st. Went with Oliver Paxson and John Hunt to Daniel Carlisle's; next day, at Richland meeting-then on to Stroudsburgh-visited the meeting, school, and families of our society; in all about fourteen families. 27th. Crossed Delaware, and had a meeting in the neighbourhood of a few friends near Belvedere--then to Kingwood--at their meeting on, first-day, and reached home the 30th. Find great cause of thankfulness for preservation in this rough journey.

2d mo. 7th, 1812. Went on a visit to some meetings within the compass of our own, and the Falls monthly meeting, and to the families of Bristol particular meeting with Clayton Brown, who came with a concern to visit the above meetings and families-was from home near a week. But help was afforded to get through to a good degree of peace and satisfaction.

8th mo. 17th. Select preparative meetingbrought forward Edward Hicks and Sarah Gregg, who have spoken some time in public meetings, in order to be recommended as gospel ministers.

30th. In the afternoon attended the burial of Joshua Maule, who was on a religious visit to our parts, and was removed by death.

3d mo. 21st, 1813. At the burial of Mary Landis, which was attended by a large concourse of people-a large meeting, where many testimonies were borne to the truth, and the advantage of a virtuous and self-denying life. The meeting ended under the influence of divine good. My desire is, that this opportunity may be sanctified to many minds, and not be like water spilt on a rock, or the morning dew that is dried up and passeth away.

5th mo. 6th. Our monthly meeting was attended by Abel Thomas, an old fashioned Quaker; which made me think of what William Penn's father said to him-"Son William, if you and your friends keep to your plain way of preaching, and plain way of living, you will make an end of the priests to the end of the world."

9th mo. 2d. Attended the funeral of our beloved friend, William Richardson, who was, I thought, a waymark in religious society.

7th mo. 23d, 1814. Left home, to visit some meetings within Burlington Quarter, New Jersey— was from home about two weeks and attended fourteen meetings. Although, at times, I felt myself covered with leanness and poverty, yet have to acknowledge, with a thankful heart, that divine goodness was near, and enabled me to perform what I apprehended was required of me. To Him be the praise of his own works.

10th mo. 30th. Had at our meeting the company of John Hunt, from Jersey, which was acceptable to many. He told us sound truths.

8th mo. 8th, 1816. It has been a considerable time since I have kept any thing like an account of time, but it seemed with me this evening, to look a

little back over some things, to see how I had got along. Indeed it has been through many ups and downs, and divers trials and difficulties-and I have to believe, if it had not been for the Lord's tender mercies, I should have been left as the heath in the desert, that knoweth not when good cometh. But blessed be his adorable name-he has kept me from sinking so low; and I can thankfully say, Lord, thou art good, for thy mercy endureth forever.

This day I have been at our monthly meetinghave nothing to boast of either in myself or others; yet, a little faith revives, to strive to do the best we can, believing that assistance would then be afforded, so that we could run through a troop, or jump over a wall of opposition.

11th. First-day. Have been to meeting-said something, which I thought was attended with some authority, yet find myself a poor creature. If the Lord keep not the city, the watchmen wake but in vain. May I strive to sit at his footstool-keep as near as I can-wait patiently-do all I can, and have full faith in the Lord's power-he will not suffer me to be cast away, but will have mercy on my soul.

It does not appear that Wm. Blakey continued his journal after the account last noted. The weakness and infirmities of his advanced age were the probable cause of his laying aside the pen. There is, however, an essay of a letter to his friend, Oliver Paxson, dated 3d mo. 1817-in which he says, "I have undertaken to try to write a few lines, and let thee know I am still in the body; but feel myself feeble, both in body and mind. I have been poorly, but

If

we must strive to get along as well as we can. we are ready to go, it will be well with us; but if it is our lot to remain some time longer in mutability, it is our duty to be faithful, and do whatever we are bidden, as faithful servants."

He continued gradually to decline, and for about two years before his close, was too feeble often to get to meeting-yet his love to Truth and to his friends continued to the last. The sweetness and innocency of his spirit were manifest, even after the energies of his mental faculties had very much declined. His faithful, affectionate, and excellent companion, Sarah Blakey, deceased a few months before him; and his useful life terminated on the 20th of the 6th month, 1822, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

RECOLLECTIONS

Of Abraham Gibbons, late of Lampeter, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

Our valuable friend, Abraham Gibbons, was a man of much reflection, and had examined many subjects with attention. He therefore was qualified to afford useful information to others. To furnish some of the instances in which he was engaged, may serve more perfectly to show his singular accuracy, as well as justness of opinion.

In company with a man who professed to be a predestinarian, Abraham said, he entertained the belief, that we always acted from choice; and, therefore, every thing we did, we did with our own consent. The predestinarian replied, he could furnish

a case where, he thought, the individual had not acted from choice; and mentioned Haman's leading Mordecai on horse back through the streets. The question was, whether any one could believe that this was done of choice? To which Abraham answered, "he had a choice, which was, to perform the act, or suffer the king's displeasure: and he chose the former." The reply convinced the predestinarian professor, that man always had the alternative of doing or suffering.

At

During the revolutionary war, Friends were of ten closely tried; and Abraham Gibbons, in attending upon the officers of government, on account of cases of suffering, was sometimes attacked on the subject of the society's refusing to bear arms. one time, H. H., an officer, remarked, when Abraham was present, that, in his opinion, Friends had no principle against fighting; they refused to take a part from cowardice. "But," says he, "we shall now prove them. We have made a law that has horns, and it will push." Abraham said, "It is the test law, I suppose, thou alludes to. In that you have gone as far as to confiscation and banishment. There is one step further you can go, and that is, to take the life; and then the measure of your iniquity will be filled up; after which, we will have our choice, and no thanks to you. We may choose whether we will obey your law, or die." H. H. observed to his companions, when Abraham left them, that there was a man of courage, he had no doubt, from the bold and independent manner in which he spoke.

At one time, several Friends were prisoners in Lancaster jail, and it became necessary they should