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THE GIFT OF 
 
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Cornell University Library 
 arV16985 
 
 A brief account of the life and reiigiou 
 
 3 1924 031 452 042 
 olin,anx 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031452042 
 
A BRIEF ACCOUNT 
 
 LIFE AND RELIGIOUS LABORS 
 
 SAKAH GRUBB, 
 
 (FORMERLY SARAH LYNE^,) , 
 
 A MINISTER' OF THE GOSPEL . 
 
 THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PUBLISHED BT THE TEAOT ASSOOIATIOS OP FBIENDS, 
 
 No. 304 Arch Stkbet. 
 
 1876. 
 
A BRIEF ACCOUNT 
 
 SARAH GEUBB 
 
 The biography of those who have been first awakened in 
 advanced life to the importance of religious duties, and who 
 have through obedience to the powerful operations of the 
 Holy Spirit, been enabled to work out their own soul's sal- 
 vation with fear and trembling, is interesting and instructive 
 as setting forth the long-fofbearing mercy JTnd goodness of 
 Grod. Yet such account is not of the same interest to the 
 members of the church militant as is a faithful biography of 
 those who having given up their souls in early life to entire 
 dedication to (lod, have by faithfulness to Him, through hii« 
 preserving and sustaining mercy, been enabled to bring fotii. 
 to old age, the fruits of righteousness, holiness, and peace. 
 In these the fruits of the Spirit have more time to ripen. 
 In them we see more of the graces which adorn the true 
 Christian character. Their conduct is an extended testimony 
 to the truth of the Gospel; — is a life-long assurance that He 
 who calls to glory and virtue is abundantly able and willing 
 to strengthen for every good word and work, as we abide in 
 his fear and in his love. One of those whose conduct, from 
 :[uite early life to the close of mortality, gave evidence thit 
 she was numbered among the Lord's children, and dedicated 
 to his service, was the late Sarah Lynes Grubb. 
 
 She was born at Wapping, London, in the year 177' 
 Her parents were Mason and Hannah Lynes, who having 
 been favored to witness for themselves something of the 
 power of vital heart-cleansing religion, were concerned that 
 their children might also experience it. Her father was 
 
 (3; 
 
4 AMRIEIACCOUNTOF 
 
 removed by ieath when Sarah was about six years of age. 
 During his last illness, he counselled his seven children 
 severally to fear and love God ; and at the time of his close, 
 his friends were consoled by the assurance that through the 
 redeeming love and mercy which are in Christ Jesus, an en- 
 trance into the everlasting Kingdom was ministered unto 
 him. 
 
 Sarah was early visited by the Lord's Holy Spirit, so that 
 at five years of age she experienced the tendering touches 
 of his love. When eight years old, she, with five others of 
 the youngest children, were placed at " Friends' school " at 
 Clerkenwell. Here she endured many privations of the 
 comforts she had enjoyed at home ; but her Heavenly Fa- 
 ther, to whom she looked in her sorrows, blessed them to 
 her soul. She sought to the Lord for strength to resist the 
 evil propensities of her nature, and she many times expe- 
 rienced .His preserving power to be near her. Yet in these 
 her young days, she often gave way to temptation, for which 
 she was brought under condemnation by the swift witness 
 against evil. When nine years of age, she was brought to 
 bemoan her condition, and begged and prayed for ii better 
 state and a happier. Yet the Lord was with her, an(f whilst 
 she continued to make childish errors, and to witness repents 
 ance therefor, she still grew in religious experience, and was 
 made more strong to resist evil, and became more sensitive 
 of sin. Her love for good books increased, and her esteem 
 for good people. She had but little opportunity of reading 
 many books, the Bible and two or three journals of Friends 
 constituting the library of the school. Of the Bible and 
 these journals she says, she valued thorn as highly as she was 
 capable of doing in her childhood. 
 
 As her years increased, her inward baptisms increased 
 also, and she was sensible when only thirteen years old, of 
 something on her mind like an anointing for the ministry 
 of the Gospel. She was often contrited in a sense of the 
 Lord's power and love, and when alone, would exclaim, 
 " Lord, make me a chosen vessel unto thee ! " She at times 
 addressed her companions in a religious way, and once saw 
 several of them in tears whilst she spoke to them. 
 
 Soon after she was fourteen years of age, she left school, 
 and went to reside with Sarah Grubb, at Anner Mills, in 
 Tipperary county, Ireland. Here she had charge of the four 
 children of her mistress, who were young. This young girl. 
 
S A R A H G R U B B . 5 
 
 keeping under .the humbling and preserving power of truth, 
 was a .great benefit in the fejnily, and though she had many 
 trials to endure, she was sustained through them all, and 
 grew and prospered in best things. She was still passing 
 through the needful baptisms to fit her for that extensive 
 usefulness, as a minister, to which she was called, and heart 
 and strength seemed at times to sink under them. Yet her 
 faith never wholly failed, and in the Lord's time she was 
 calied to speak in his name. Her exercises in that way wero 
 first in private sittings, when the family wer& collected for 
 religious reading, or for silent waiting before God. 
 
 When sh^ first fslt herself called upon to speak in public 
 meetings in the high and holy name of the Lord, she was 
 in great fear,/ and her natural inijlination caused her to 
 shrink ^xpeedingly from the, exposure. Her reluctance was 
 SO. great, tjiat oftentimes, even when the word of life was like 
 a, fire within her, she hesitated until the meeting broke up. 
 0f this she says : " .Great has been ray mourning through 
 these omissions of duty, although but seventeen years old 
 when I first gave utterance publicly to a sentence or two, I 
 had opened my. mouth in private many months previously, 
 under the constraining influence of the Spirit of Truth ; 
 being without a shadow of doubt that it was indeed required 
 of mC; poor child as I was. I had sweet consolation in 
 coming into obedience, and after a while was surprised to 
 find, that although I stood up in meetings expecting only to 
 u^ter a little matter, more passed through me I scarcely 
 k^ew how." 
 
 The Lord kept, her long in the furnace, that she might 
 experience still further refinement, and about eighteen months 
 after her first public appearance as a minister she made' this 
 note : 
 
 i 3d of 6th month, 1791. — " Oh, the deep distress and sorf 
 anguish of soul which I now feel ! It is beyond expression ; 
 yet out of the depth of my tribulation have I been permitted 
 this morning to cry unto the depth of His mercies, whose 
 compassions fail not. Oh ! there is something in me which 
 perhaps is not of His pure Spirit; that wishes it might please 
 Him to cut, the thread of my life, or that I might go into 
 some solitary place, where I might mourn, and none know 
 it. But I find another language, peradventure more profit.- 
 able to attend, to, 'Is this keeping the word of my pa 
 ti^ce ? ' " 
 1* 
 
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF 
 
 « 
 
 " Thus the gift grew, and more baptism and suBfering was 
 jny portion from time to time ; the great work of toy salva- 
 tion and sanctifieation going on, white I was ocoasionally in- 
 duced to invite others to the needful acquaintance with Him 
 who came to redeem us from all iniquity. I have never 
 known an easier way to favor with the Lord of life and glory 
 than that of passive submission to all His holy will con- 
 cerning me, even under dispensations most proving and mor- 
 tifying to the fleshly mind." 
 
 In writing to a ministering Friend in 1790, she says: "I 
 much wish and desire to be humble; yea, continually to 
 dwell in the low valley. This is often, more often than the 
 morning, the breathing of my soul to the great Searcher of 
 hearts ; but the unwearied adversary is so busy and subtle, 
 that I am at times ready to think I shall never attain to that 
 state of purity which when under the precious influence of 
 the power of Holy Jesus, 1 am enabled to press after. Oh ! 
 truly I am often afraid 1 shall fall at last a prey to the de- 
 vourer. And what shall I say '! May it please Divine Good- 
 ness to cut the thread of my life, rather than that I should 
 be a reproach to the spotless truth, the pure truth. I trust 
 [ feel in degree what I write ; for when I am made sensible 
 of the Lord's hand at work in my heart, I am at seasons 
 ready to say, I will offer unto thee and thy truth not only 
 my body, but all that Thou hast given me, only go Thou be- 
 fore. And, oh ! saith my soul, may I never run before I am 
 sent. This is what T am much afraid of . . Very 
 
 slippery, thou knowest, is the path of this life, and many are 
 the wiles of Satan ; if, therefore, I should be caught in his 
 snares, great will be my fall. One comfort just now occurs 
 to me, ' Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the 
 world.' " 
 
 In 1791 she writes: "It hath pleased the Most High to 
 deal with me lately in a manner to me almost wonderful; for 
 verily, I have been brought into diirkness and not into light; 
 yea, I was hedged about that I could not get out ; my chain 
 was indeed heavy ; insomuch that I was ready to concltide 
 my soul was never more to see the glorious light of Almighty 
 Power ; yet blessed be his name, I had not been long here, 
 when out of the depths of my sore troubles I was permitted 
 to cry unto the depths of His mercies, and He granted to 
 me, even to so poor a worm as I, ' The word of his patience.' 
 He gave me a resigned heart, let what would befall me ; and 
 
SARA'IGRUBB. 7 
 
 1 /elt that if I had offended my Beloved, I, had ao other to 
 look to for forgiveness; and through Him alone was enahled 
 to wait, and trust in the arm of His power; so, in His own 
 •time,. did he cause nie to sing praises to His name." 
 
 She continued living in the family at Anner Mills, en- 
 deavoring faithfully to do her Heavenly Father's will. Some 
 obstacles at times she experienced to the fulfilment of that 
 which seemed to her a duty, and she had on this accoun*^ 
 irials and anxieties. Yet she thus writes to her mother in 
 4th month, 179"2 : " My lot, I believe, and may T, through 
 Divine mercy, still continue to think so, — is a favored one 
 beyond many, as to heing kept much out of the way of 
 temptation ; yet, in every station, I am apt to think, there 
 are probations and besetments, and truly it was not intended 
 that it should be otherwise. We are placed here to work out 
 our salvation, so if we had not trials, the reward would not 
 be ours; without a cross we need not expect the crown ; so 
 then, my d«arly beloved mother, let thou and I lay aside 
 every weight and burden, all impurity, and run with patience 
 the race that is set before us, looking unto Holy Jesus, the 
 author and finisher of our faith. Could we but be clothed 
 with this faith, surely we should be enabled to quencjj the 
 fiery darts of Satan ; to overcome him even the prince of the 
 power of the air, in all his assaults to catch the poor soul. 
 Oh ! methinks I can sometimes feel him close behind me, 
 waiting every opportunity to destroy me, by his secret in- 
 sinuations to my mind. But when I am led to consider that 
 He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world, I am 
 ready again to be glad in His name, feeling of power His 
 holy, arm of preservation is> still extended even to me, a poor 
 unworthy creature, ready to fall every hour, but that He 
 ho'ds me up. Oh ! that the whole world could but be per- 
 suaded that there is a possibility of living without sin here ; 
 that all would but believe that they can keep the command- 
 ment of our dear Lord and Saviour, who said, ' Be ye there- 
 fore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is per- 
 fect;' then would our conversation indeed be in heaven 
 while we live on the earth." 
 
 The power with which Sarah Lynes was clothed in her 
 ministerial labors was very remarkable, as was also the dis- 
 cernment bestowed upon her. One instance exemplifying 
 both these, she thus narrates : ■ 
 ■ "Once, when young in the ministry, being at an inn with 
 
8 ABRIEFACCOUNTOF 
 
 the family with whom I lived, I heard one of them say Shfe ' 
 had placed a handkerchief in one of the chambers; arid bfJ' 
 going to fetch it, could not find it. Immediately my mind 
 was impressed with a sense that a young girl whom I had 
 seen in the house had stolen the handkerchief. I was aston- 
 ished at my conviction of this fact, for I had' by no means a 
 disposition to suspect any one of evil. It was not, however, 
 to be suppressed ; for I saw with clearness that she had com- 
 mitted the theft: what showed it me was the light of the 
 Lord, which came like lightning into my mind. I ran to 
 enquire for the girl, who came, not knowing my business 
 with her. I looked at her, and in the fear of the tiued' told 
 her she had stolen the handkerchief, which she dated not 
 deny, and it was, produced. Then I spoke to her, the power 
 of the Lord accompanying what I said in a wonderful man- 
 ner; the girl turned very pale, almost like a corpse. T con- 
 tinued to declare of the exceeding sinfulness of Sin, and tu 
 
 warn the young creature, for perhaps twenty minutes 
 
 The mother of the young girl came to me 'before we left the 
 inn, and asked me how I could tell that her daughter had 
 taken and concealed the handkerchief; to which I replied, 
 that I was made acquainted with it from a sense given me 
 by the Spirit of Truth in my own mind, — the anointing 
 which could not only give me to be without doubt in this 
 thing, but also did influence all that take heed to it, so as to 
 lead them out of sin, and bring them to lead godly lives. I 
 told her she had this gift of Grod in herself; that all the 
 children of men had it, or a measure of it ; and warned her 
 
 to take heed to it After this was all over, and we 
 
 passed away from the place, I was so overcome with what 
 had occurred, that I could not refrain from many tears." 
 
 Another instance of the mighty power of the Lord' fit- 
 ting her for the sacred work of the ministry, she says, was 
 " in the case of a member of our Society, a high professor, 
 but who was of a contentious spirit. It came upon me to 
 set before him his corrupt and dark state, and to warn him 
 of the day of the Lord, who searcheth all hearts ; that if he 
 did not speedily repent, and humble himself as in the dust, 
 this day would overtake him,,bring him down, and he would 
 come to nothing. I was engaged to keep my eye upon him, 
 while thus addressing him in the dread of the Most High ; 
 he attempted to look at me once or twice in defiance, but he 
 could not hold up his head, nor oppose the power; he grew 
 
SARAHQRUBB. b 
 
 quite pale, and was some time silent, as we Sat together after. 
 \Vhen,,^liowevt'r, we were about to separate, he began to rail 
 against me for what I had said. His words seemed but aa 
 ebaff before the wind. . After this my bodily powers seemed 
 aq shaken, that I was quite weak.": 
 
 This contentious professor, at the time of Sarah's warn- 
 ing, liyed in a grand house, and kept a chariot, but he came 
 to nothing, according to the word of the Lord through her 
 lips. Long afterwards, indeed at the close of her life, he 
 was still living, supported- by the eharity of others^ 
 
 Whilst laboring in Ireland, she feltherself called to enter 
 intp;a path not much trodden by ministers of the Grospelin 
 ti(g?e!,la,ttpr days. At Cork a concern came over 'her to go' 
 in^o^.the, market-place and there declare the truth. Through 
 m,ujc)ti sore exercise of mind, a willingness was wrought in 
 her, and in obedience to the will of her Heavenly Fatherj ' 
 s}ie gave up to the requiring of duty. Of this act and 
 other similar ones, she says : "No one 'knows the depth of 
 my sufferings and the mortifying, yea, crucifying of my own 
 will, which I had to endure in this service; yet I have to 
 acknowledge to the Sufficiency of Divine Grace therein. 
 Many times I had brave opportunities, on these occasions, 
 to invite.the people to, the Lord Jesus Christ, who manifests 
 himself in the conscience as a light, and who would discover 
 the evil of all covetousness and of all unrighteousness; lead- 
 ing and teaching to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk 
 humbly with God : hundreds, possibly thousands, who would 
 not,. even though requested, come to meet us in a house, or 
 place of worship, have thus felt the power of the living God, 
 in, hearing tell that he rewardeth every man according to his 
 ways, and according. to the fruit of his doings." 
 
 ''I lived nearly ten years in , the family to which I went 
 from school, viz., that of Sarah Grubb of Anner Mills, near 
 Clonmel, Ireland. Never, all that time, could I see my way 
 tq -change my situation ; for, through all the difficulty that 
 lay in my way of fulfilling my religious duty, I believed that 
 the Great Master liad some good end which he designed to 
 answer, in permitting me to be as it were cramped in the' 
 gift dispensed- to me as a minister of Christ, and my faith 
 was at times renewed and confirmed, that if I would pa- 
 tiently endure to the end, my rewardi would be sure. Thus 
 I was mercifully enabled to wait all the days of my appointed 
 time,-:until my change came; until, in the clear openings of 
 
10 ABRIKFAfCOUNTOF 
 
 truth, 1 was led back to iny native land, to my near rela- 
 tives.'and sent forth largeltj to publish the^lad tidings of 
 the Gospel. I had been some journeys while a servant in 
 Ireland, but now a very wide field of labor opened before 
 inc ; and, with the consent of my Monthly Meeting, I trav- 
 elled much up and down in England, both among Friends 
 and others, for some successive years; and many blessed and 
 powerful meetings we had, to the praise of His excellent 
 Name, without whom we can do nothing and are nothing. 
 For some considerable time T was joined by my beloved 
 friend Ann Baker, daughter of Samuel Baker of Birming- 
 ham, and afterwards wife to Stanley' Pumphrey of Worces- 
 ter. We passed through tribulation together, which, as well 
 as experiencing some rejoicings, had a strong tendency to 
 unite us in true sisterly love and friendship ; and in it we 
 were preserved to the end of her course, which was finished 
 with holy triumph. Neither hath death itself dissolved the 
 heavenly bond by which our spirits were united ; even in 
 tbit which outlives all probation." 
 
 She returned to England in the 5th month, 1797, and re- 
 sided in and near London, principally with her mother. In 
 the 8th month of that year she obtained permission from 
 her Monthly Meeting to pay a religious visit to several of 
 the northern counties of England. Of the labor in this 
 journey she saya: "We have had many very large meetings; 
 and although what I call preaching the Gospel is seldom 
 got to without obstruction of various sorts, partly on account 
 of the mists of darkness wherewith many minds are clouded, 
 yet it is generally a satisfaction that we meet with openness 
 in some, and have cause to believe the petition is more and 
 more answered — ' Give ear, oh Shepherd of Israel ; Thou 
 that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that dwcllest between 
 the cherubims, shine forth.' Sometimes, after a meeting of 
 more than two hours, the people can hardly be persuaded' 
 to withdraw, saying, Meeting is not over; and they often 
 wish for another ; but we seldom find this required of us." 
 
 Her meetings were for all classes; sometimes in places 
 «f worship, sometimes in town-halls, and sometimes in pris- 
 ons. The fashionable flocked to hear her, and were often 
 made sober and thoughtful, the slothfiil Christians were 
 aroused to renewed zeal, the hardened sinners were melted 
 to tears. Respecting a visit to some prisoners, she says : 
 " I went under a heavy load indeed, and the Great Master 
 
SARAH a RUB B. 11 
 
 was witli me by His power, and the poor creatures had tho 
 Gospel preached to them ; they were very attentive, and 
 seemed glad. Just as we came away, the word was in me 
 like fire, to the keeper, for I believed he was not far from 
 the Kingdom of God ; so I told him this Kingdom was 
 within him, and as he submitted to the simplicity of tho 
 Gospel, he would see all things clearly. Last evening a 
 large meeting was held in this town to some relief, although 
 there was much to get through before the Gospel could be 
 preached. I believe I was on my feet two hours and a 
 half,; the further I went, the more it seemed to make way 
 in the people's minds, till at length, blessed be His name 
 who hath promised to be with me, while my eye was single 
 to His power, truth was in dominion, and it seemed rather 
 a disappointment when tJiey were told that meeting was over, 
 though it was nearly nine o'clock." 
 
 " The low spots my mind is in at times, thou knowest I 
 cannot describe : if it prove at all like receiving the ' white 
 .stone, whereon is written the new name which no man know- 
 eth, save he that rcceiveth it,' my soul is bowed even in 
 gratitude for the dispensation." " I believe we are never 
 more peculiarly under the notice of the Shepherd of Israel 
 than when the sensible enjoyment of His presence is the 
 most withheld, in His inscrutable wisdom." 
 
 The cross-roads in juany parts of England were very bad, 
 and she experienced rough weather when winter set in. 
 From Birmingham, 12th month 12, she says : " Since I 
 wrote thee last have had a deal of travelling, and many 
 meetings in very foul weather ; I have been wet through 
 several times, and for some miles the snow was so heavy I 
 
 could hardly see That day we rode from Eatington, 
 
 in Waffwiokshire, to Warwick, ten miles, to a ten o'clock 
 meetiag, and had another in the evening with the people 
 who do not profess with us, which, notwithstanding the se- 
 verity of the weather, was large, and in a good degree di- 
 vinely favored; as was another the next evening at Coventry. 
 Blessed forever be that Power that doeth all things right 1 
 ....". Here I feel still bound, althoi^h I have sat some 
 distressing meetings in silence, or nearly so, and in others 
 have been enlarged in the gift mercifully vouchsafed ; have 
 also sat in fourteen families. What I have done has been 
 througl: inexpressible pain, and in one instance particularly, 
 where I had to tell a young woman who appears in meetings, 
 
1 2. ABRIEFACCOUNTOK 
 
 that hers was a floating ministry, and the Lord would have 
 none such. Oh ! I could not help it, let the consequence bd 
 what it might ; the word was like a sword in my soul till I 
 gave up. I remembered I could not choose what to do, and 
 what to leave undone, and yet be accepted. > 
 
 " My mind is often occupied about dear . Tell him 
 
 my soul feels solicitous on his account. . . . '. Oh ! that he 
 may Ve one of the believers to whom all things are possible ; 
 he must then assuredly believe in the simple revelation of 
 that eternal Power that hath eminently visited and brought 
 his mind under close exercise; so will 'the mouotains skip 
 like rams, and the little hills like lambs' at the presence of 
 the mighty God of Jacob. Oh ! how different will the face 
 of all things appear; his wilderness shall be made like Eden, 
 his desert like the garden of the Lord : he shall have to say 
 rejoicingly, ' Let my Beloved come into His garden, and eat 
 His pleasant fruits ; ' ' I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved 
 is mine, He feedeth among the lilies.' How is this, at the 
 present moment, illustrated in my view on his account! I 
 do think all he has to do is, simply and unreservedly to re- 
 sign himself into the hands of a faithful Creator ; not ap- 
 proving in part, and disapproving in part, the words of Om- 
 nipotence, but approving the whole, and saying, ' Thy will 
 be done.' " 
 
 Many of her letters descriptive of this journey were to 
 her late mistress. In one written 3d month 5, 1798, from 
 Birmingham, she says : "We have not been all this time 
 here; we went to attend the Quarterly Meeting at Worcester, 
 and were unexpectedly detained from this place about five 
 weeks, passing through much privation, having public meet- 
 ings, etc. Since our return we have had considerably more 
 than a hundred opportunities in families, having frequently 
 had two in one family, — and attended many meetings^ but 
 have not appointed any; yet feel bound in spirit, and can- 
 not rightly make our escape ; if we could, I believe it would 
 be cause of gladness. Many have been our trials here and 
 various; perhaps I have never known closer proving of 
 spirit on divers accounts, yet believe now, whilst I write, all 
 things are designed to work together for good, if the inten- 
 tion is but pure, and resignation to the Divine will honestly 
 endeavored after in all things. I am ready to conclude, at 
 times, I have many deaths to die, before the Divine will is 
 wrought out in me; peradventure, in the progressive ad- 
 
SARAHGRUBB. 13 
 
 vanqeiaent of this powerful, yet necessary work, it is that 
 rtiis l)i\tine will may <be wrought out' by us and through us. 
 W*ll, Divine aid is the alone swffioiency. Where else nan 
 we peutre ?- Unto whom sbajl we go ? He hath the words 
 of eternal life. Even ' He who speaks in righteousness,' 
 and oh ! precious annexed language — ' Mighty to save.' He 
 hath, rny dear mistress, even to my soul, many a time since 
 I saw thee, proved Himself omnipotent; for whieh repeat- 
 edly hath my soul been^ bowed in reverent submission : in 
 the moment of extremity. He hath been my Deliverer. Yes- 
 terday {First-day) was a time of uncommo'n exercise. I had 
 beefi silent in several meetings, and two burials, save a short 
 testimony in one of them, und felt on going to meeting again 
 poor and empty, without any expectation of being qualified 
 to minister to others. But, ' whilst I was musing, the fire 
 burned.' Then I spoke what flowed unpremeditated, not 
 only in testimony, but supplication. But oh ! between meet- 
 ings, the sufiiering was unutterable, save in mental groans to 
 Him who I believed existed ; who knows all hearts. I lay 
 on the bed most of the time till we must go again, not know- 
 ing that He who hideth Himself in wisdom would be pleased 
 to put a new song into my heart, and command the utterance 
 thereof in words, as was afterwards the case, both in meet- 
 ing and in the family in the evening : then I said, ' It ie 
 good to trust in the Lord.' 
 
 " I reflect that I might have done better at some periods, 
 — have been more meek, more submissive, and have had 
 thereby more true firmness, more fortitude. Yet can I throw 
 myself into the arms of adorable mercy, and say, ' There is 
 forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared.' I (am) 
 glad in that His love unites us in spirit now, as it did, at 
 times, through all." 
 
 Her exercises in the market-place at Wolverhampton, in 
 the 4th month following, are thus described by J. Burling- 
 ham, a Friend who accompanied her: "After making a short 
 stand, she began to address those around her, and had not 
 spoken many sentences, when divers shed tears, struck dumb 
 as it were with amazement; indeed, the power was so great 
 and so evidently felt, that ifear was taken -from me. After a 
 very solemn, but short opportunity, (having hold of my arm 
 all the time), she went more into Che centre of the market, 
 which is a very large one, and seeing a butcher's block, 
 without asking any questions to whom it belonged, she and 
 2 
 
14 ABRIEFACCOUNTOP 
 
 Ann (her companion) mounted it, my brother and self stand- 
 ing on each side. A large audience collecting immediately^ 
 she addressed them for about one hour, to the satisfaction 1 
 believe of most that could hear her. When she got down, 
 great was the anxiety of many to shake hands with her, — 
 which numbers did, and also expressed their thankfulness." 
 The farmers generally had retired from the market, and 
 Sarah hearing that they were dining at the inn, requested to 
 be admitted into the room where they sat, when she found 
 an engagement, after about ten minutes' silence, to preach 
 the everlasting Gospel to them. Her companion says : " If 
 I may give a description of S. L.'s engagement at that time, 
 agreeably to my own feelings, both then and since, I must 
 say that her elegance of language, pertinent matter, persua- 
 sive energy, and above all the crowning authority of , power, 
 I think I never witnessed exceeded, if equalled. Wben she 
 had done, she immediately began to withdraw, when the com- 
 pany, every man, rose from his seat, though silently, yet most 
 respectfully. 
 
 " On enquiry, we found the company she had thus been 
 addressing was composed of gentlemen farmers, several at- 
 torneys, and one clergyman. The latter had heard her in 
 the market. The chairman, we apprehend, was the High 
 Sheriff of the county. So we see how her language was 
 suited to the company. She knew nothing until afterward, 
 as to who they were. 
 
 "After the opportunity in the market, S. L. found other 
 work. The Methodist meeting-house being offered, she did 
 not feel freedom to go without seeing the town-people. ,The 
 offer was accepted, and those who belong to the meeting say 
 two thousand people were within the walls. Many thousands 
 could not get in. I believe it was a favored season. Her 
 mind is pretty completely relieved, but she is withal so worn 
 down, she concludes to rest to-day." 
 
 Sarah says of these seasons : "At Wolverhampton there 
 were many hearts tendered, and we were sensible of holy aid 
 to fulfil all the apprehended will ; yet as soon as this was 
 done, my spirit, as it were, was again in the deeps. Yes, my 
 dear friend, and so it hath been nearly throughout this last 
 week ; but this evening I am quiet, and seem bravely, notr 
 withstanding all. But who can understand these things ? 
 Very few can know what it means, or why it should be, so. . . 
 
S A R A H G R U B B . 15 
 
 It ia the language of my spirit. 'Great and marvellous are 
 thy works, Lord God Almighty.' " 
 
 She afterwards visited the market-places in Stonebridge 
 and Dudley, and had many: other labors of Gospel love to 
 perform in meetings and private families. The meetings at 
 Dudley, she says, "were crowded, but what is better, were 
 miich favored ; many came from the country round about, 
 and I believe many of their souls were truly hungry and 
 thirsty. .... We return to Birmingham, and bonds and 
 afflictions seem to await me everywhere. The Lord is our 
 strength. Oh ! he is great, and greatly to be praised. His 
 is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever." 
 
 'After attending London Yearly Meeting, she felt drawn to 
 address an epistle to Friends of the North Monthly Meeting, 
 Warwickshire. This is a lively, instructive, and awakening 
 communication. She says in it : " There are amongst you, 
 who atfe near and dear to my life, in Christ. These are the 
 little ones. Unto these I now put the language, ' Fear not, 
 little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you 
 the kingdom. Youj I mean, who ' have none in heaven but 
 Him, nor in all the earth you desire out of Him.' Your 
 foundation will stand through the shaking of the heavens 
 and the earth ; for, being purely of God, it hath this seal, 
 ' the Lord knoweth them that are His ' These among you are' 
 an oppressed remnant, but their fortress is the fulness of 
 strength. Oh 1 that you, who, though professing the same 
 truth, are so far from the same practice, as to be followers 
 of the world in its bewitching and fluctuating spirit, may 
 awake tO' righteousness and sin not ; — may gather your wares 
 out of the land, even coming out of Babylon. How often 
 htalh this language been sounded in your ears before now : 
 ' To thy tents, O Jacob 1 to thy dwelling place, Israel ! ' 
 Will He who is rich in meicy, and just and equal in all His 
 ways, always strive with us ? We do not kpow how soon He 
 may deal with these according to their folly ; and, because 
 in' the day of His mercy there was a turning the Dack and 
 not the face. He may, speaking after the manner of men, 
 ' Laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh.'" 
 
 This indefatigable laborei!> for the good of others contin ued 
 her religious visit, and was drawn in many towns to the 
 market-places to exercise her gift. Some disturbances she 
 met with whilst thus engaged. She says at Leicester : 
 " While I was speaking in the market, there came two men 
 
16 ABRIEFACCOUNTOF 
 
 who looked really furious. They said the mayor ordered me 
 down; coming toward me through the crowd that stood 
 round, evidently intending to pull me down from where I 
 stood ; but I observed them, and looking at them, their coun- 
 tenances fell, and they appeared to have no power to touch 
 me. However, as they came with an order from the mayor 
 of the town, I told the people how it was, and commended 
 them to their inward Teacher — Christ. When we obeyed 
 the order, and were leaving the place, some said, had it been 
 a mountebank who stood in my place, he would have been 
 suffered to proceed ; but that which drew their attention to ■ 
 God was prohibited. Others, who were light and wicked, 
 reviled us. I had, as usual, some dear and tender friends 
 among the brethren, who accompanied and stood by me in 
 this great exercise. These partook of the insults offered — 
 the people throwing at them : indeed somebody was unfeel- 
 ing enough to bring hot melted lead and cast it at us ; some 
 of which was found on part of the clothing of one dear friend. 
 I retired to my chamber at a friend's house after this bustle; 
 and oh, the sweet tranquillity that filled my mind ! I thought 
 it a foretaste of that glorious rest pi-epared for the children 
 of God in His eternal Kingdom." 
 
 This interruption turned out, according to Sarah's own 
 belief respecting it, to the furtherance of the Gospel. The 
 next day, she says, " the meeting-house was crowded by per- 
 sons from both town and country, some of the folks, 
 
 that are seldom seen at such opportunities. The Almighty 
 was pleased to appear in both meetings, giving authority in 
 the awful line of the ministry." She had a meeting on 
 Second-day evening in an assembly-room, which had formerly 
 been used as a theatre. It was very full of people. Her 
 companion says : " S. L. was on her feet in less than ten 
 minutes, and after she had stood an hour, her voice mended 
 to my admiration. She had much power and command of 
 it. She stood nearly another hour ; the people seemed as 
 though they were nailed to the floor. Her conclusion was 
 very solemn. She adverted in a very few words to what had 
 passed in the market; it was short but striking. I doubt 
 not many felt it." 
 
 Passing northward, they held many meetings, visititig 
 markets in the towns generally. At Sundeflatd, the day 
 ofter having been in the market, she wrote the following : 
 " Had, on my bed, to scrutinize concerning the engagements, 
 
SARAH GHUBB. 17 
 
 •ind desire all in me might be done away that breathed any- 
 thing, out of the will of the Father, and that he would be 
 with me in future. Oh ! Lord, thou only knowest how my 
 soul partook of the worinwood and the gall yesterday, in 
 endeavoring to move in the line of apprehended duty in Thy 
 sight. Thou wast graciously pleased to support me in it, and 
 bring me through it; for thia and thy dealings with me to 
 this day, ray soul blesses Thy holy name." 
 
 When in the street in that place, she says : "A man 'spoke 
 roughly to me, and bade me begone; that that was the place 
 to sell, not to hear my nonsense. I stood till I felt the power, 
 and then replied he must be serious one day or other. That 
 was the place to clear my conscience, the Lord having laid 
 it upon me. He said no more that I heard of, and the peo- 
 ple behaved well." 
 
 On the 21st of the 12th month, she writes : " Durham 
 was a Nineveh to me. We reached it the fifteenth, and soon 
 after arriving, had to turn out in the streets and markets, 
 although it was snowing, to declare the word of the Lord to 
 the people. How had my spirit been straitened till it was 
 accomplished ! I do not think I ever, for so long together, 
 endured so much sufferings as for many days was my lot, 
 preceding this awful day. However, in the deepest humility 
 1 can acknowledge to thee, my much-loved friend, that in 
 the moment of extremity I was not forsaken. The Lord on 
 high is mightier than the noise of many waters. He was 
 pleased to be mouth and wisdom, tongue and utterance. 
 Whilst thus endeavoring to clear my mind in one of the most 
 
 public places, a man , came with much seeming 
 
 consequence to endeavor to put a stop to it. This did not 
 hinder in the least ; my strength was exhausted with exercise 
 before setting out, but afterwards I was bravely, and visited 
 the prisoners that evening, forty-five in number, who seemed 
 glad of the opportunity. Friends procured_a room for meet- 
 ing next day, and gave notice in town and country, both 
 verbally and by printed papers. Some of the latter were put 
 up in conspicuous places in the town, but these were all, I 
 think, torn down before night. We thought this manifested 
 a spirit of opposition at which we did not marvel, as it is a 
 town abounding with idle clergy. One of them being a 
 justice, seemed to have no mind we should hold our meet- 
 ing next day so publicly as we meant, so informed the person 
 who granted us the room he was liable to great penalty by 
 2* B 
 
18 ABRIEFACCOUNTOF 
 
 law. After a little stir all was settled, and the meeting next 
 day was large and favored. At the close of it we gave notice 
 for another. This latter meeting was to great relief. Truth 
 got into dominion ; the great Naine was supplicated ; the 
 doctrines of the Gospel were preached with power and very 
 largely ; women's preaching, election and reprobation, water 
 baptism, and what is called the Lord's Supper, were particu- 
 larized) and clearly set open. Our souls bowed in gratitude 
 for these two days' help and counsel, in which all man-made 
 ministry was decried and set at naught. We had a precious 
 season of retirement at our inn, and another at parting with 
 most of our company." 
 
 At the close of this visit in 1799, she pens this as the 
 language of her heart : " Thou knowiest, oh ! my heavenly, 
 merciful Father and unerring Guide, how I have followed 
 thee in my late travels, in the cross to my own will, and in 
 thy fear and dread, into large congregations, into markets, 
 unto the habitations and beds of the sick, and sometimes to 
 the houses of the great with a message from Thee ; some- 
 times to individuals in the highway ; at others into jails and 
 prison-houses; amongst those who are not professing the 
 Truth as we do, as likewise to those who do. Thou hast 
 been pleased to make my feet as hinds' feet, and lifted up 
 my voice like a trumpet, to show the people their trans- 
 <5;ressions — the house of Jacob their sins. Thou hast made 
 me a comforter to the comfortless and to the weak. ' For 
 all I bless thee, most for the severe.' I am now undei'the 
 sense of being helpless as the worm of the dust without 
 Thee ! Oh, keep me here continually, and be my all in all. 
 Amen." 
 
 She writes, 7th month 24 : "I have continued to as- 
 sist in keeping school and taking in a little needle-work 
 since the Yearly Meeting ; so that my hands, with that, and 
 attending meetings together, have been pretty full. My 
 mind has often felt sensations of gratitude to my Heavenly 
 Father, in permitting me this little space of time without 
 travelling, wherein I have enjoyed the society of my endeared 
 mother." 
 
 Sarah thus narrates an exercise which lay as a burden on 
 her mind for a whole year. It appears to have been finally 
 removed in 1799. She says: "It was to go, on the day 
 called Christmas, into the great cathedral called St. Paul's, 
 in London. Shortly before the time arrived, I a-oquainted 
 
SARAH GROBB. 19 
 
 some friends with my concern. They did, I believe, ten- 
 derly sympathize with me ; awd having been engaged for 
 some time previously visiting in the city, both Friends and 
 others, they both felt much for me, and one offered to accom- 
 pany me. About the time the people were to assemble, we 
 two women went into the worship house; taking our places 
 in a gallery not far from the pulpit. The bishop preached. 
 There did not appear to be a large congregation ; they gave 
 marked attention while this man repeated something called 
 a sermon ; it was not long. He then immediately kneeled, 
 and uttered words in the form of prayer, but I may acknow- 
 ledge I was not prepared to witness anything so dry and for- 
 mal as his communications were altogether. It seemed to 
 me like nothing more than the mere repetition of words, 
 devoid of all that could render them impressive . to the 
 hearers. No sooner had the bishop risen from his knees, 
 than he retired without sitting down, or looking at the peo- 
 ple; his attendants seemed to be in waiting at the door of 
 the vestry room, as I supposed, 
 
 " Now, while the bishop was withdrawing, I asked in a 
 loud voice if the service was over. This I repeated, expect- 
 ing an answer ; but two of the officers of the place came 
 and led me away, my companion following, toward the large 
 entrance, where the people rushed after us to gratify their 
 curiosity, while the man told us we must depart, and not 
 spteak diere ; however, I turned from the great door, and 
 aiddiressed the audience for a short time, to the relief of my 
 own mind ; indeed, for this act of dedication, in giving up 
 to so singular a thing, I was favored with a time of the flow- 
 ings of sweet peace in my own soul, — that which the world 
 can neither give nor take away. When we met my endeared 
 friend Joseph G. Bevan, who was anxiously waiting for us 
 outside, I felt inexpressible joy, in which I believe he par- 
 took. My heavy burden was laid down, and I was like an- 
 other person. At kast for twelve months had this matter 
 occasioned me to go bowed down, although I was mostly en- 
 gaged travelling in the work of the ministry. I did not con- 
 sider that, in this instance of obedience, the way opened for 
 enlargement in preaching the true Teacher, Christ Jesus, — 
 the everlasting Bishop of souls; but then I was favored with 
 a belief that the acceptance stood in the obedience, and my 
 Sioul blessed and praised the Lord." 
 
 In the summei of 1800 her friend and recent fellow 
 
20 ABRIEPACCOUNTOF 
 
 traveller, Ann Baker, was married. Sarah Lynes attended 
 the marriage, and accompanied Ann to her new home at Wor- 
 cester. Here Sarah, althongh she had one appointed meet- 
 ing with the people at large, and two with Friends, was, she 
 says, mostly indulged for the few days she remained here, 
 " with social satisfaction." She adds : " We made an excur- 
 sion to Malvern, eight miles from Worcester, where we were 
 delighted with the admirable display of the beauties of Na- 
 ture, in the counti-y. AVithout attempting a task I am un- 
 equal to, that of describing the scene, I hasten to tell thee 
 that I think we had a mark that this innocent gratification 
 was not displeasing to our Heavenly Father. As we de- 
 scended a little below the summit of the highest hill, sitting 
 down to rest on a bank, an uncommon degree of Divine light 
 and sweetness .spread over my mind, under which I recol- 
 lected a dream I had in the winter, and felt the opening df 
 life to tell it to my companions, — and that the reality was 
 then my experience. I dreamed I was on an eminence, sur- 
 rounded by my fellow-creatures in their habitations, and 
 under great exercise for myself and them, when serenity and 
 sweetness preciously diffused itself into my soul, and my 
 tongue was loosed to say, 'Alleluia! Alleluia!' The relation 
 of it, together with enlargement through the Gospel light 
 vouchsafed at the time, broke us all into contrition. My 
 dear Ann said a little matter, and supplication was poured 
 forth, with thanksgiving and praise to Him who Shuts and 
 none can open, who opens and none can shut. We went 
 home under the consoling persuasion that he mercifully cares 
 for His little ones. I felt the incomes of love and life so 
 strong, while thus, as it were, unbent with my dear Ann, 
 that we reckoned it might be intended to answer the purpose 
 of the forty days' food." 
 
 This feeling was truly prophetical in respect to Sarah, for 
 she was again liberated for religious service, and was led in 
 her old line of labor in market-places and prison-houses, and 
 into her old experience of deep preparatory baptisms. In 
 addition to these, her spirit was often bowed in mourning for 
 many of her fellow-professors. She writes, 9th month, 1800 : 
 " liately my spirit hath been pretty much in secret mourning 
 and lamentation, feeling my own frailty, and being sensible 
 of the miserable condition of some high in profession, who 
 nevertheless are making beds for themselves, and stretching 
 upon couches ; yea, as to the spirit of this world, arc taking 
 
BARAHGRUBB. 21 
 
 large draughts, like drinking wine in bowls; even that wine 
 which mystery Babylon presents in her golden cup ; but 
 these are not 'grieved for the afflictions of Joseph,' and when 
 the gracious call is going forth, ' Cotne out of Babylon, my 
 people,' etc , they are evidently asleep in a spiritual sense 
 Yet I remember that there are many under our name, whose 
 spirits are very different in the holy sigh.t; whose tents are 
 gobdly, whose dwelling places are beautiful, whose fortifica- 
 tion is the fear of the Lord ; whose language is, ' Walk about 
 Zion,and go round about her, tell the towers thereof. Mark 
 ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces,' etc. I have no 
 doubt but this Zion of God, this true churohj will call a 
 Bation that she knew not, and nations that knew not her 
 shall yet run unto her, because of the Lord, her God, and 
 because of the Holy One of Israel in the midst of her; and 
 I often feel grateful in being a member of this Society." 
 1, 1st month 17, 1801. — "The serpent that beguiled Eve is 
 beguiling very many from the simplicity of the Truth as it 
 is in Jesus. ■ Well is it for those who keep their habitations 
 in this unchangeable, ever blessed Truth. No enchantment 
 or divination shall prevail against such, and though others 
 may, for Want of watchful ' dependence upon the source of 
 all sufficiency, wander in their imagination, and look for what 
 they may call a higher and more glorious dispensation, they 
 never will come at it. They may strain their eyes, as it 
 were, even until they become blind, and so, stumble at noon- 
 day, as if it were night, but God hath revealed the last dis- 
 pensation in the Gospel of His dear Son. Oh! may this 
 Gospel,'this one eternal power unto the salvation of the souls 
 of men, be more and more spread and illustrated in the world, 
 according to His holy will and purpose, saith my soul, so as 
 it relates to the general, as the sun that riseth in the east, 
 and shineth from one part under heaven even unto the other 
 part under heaven, the coming of the Son of Man may be. 
 His coming may be, at whose name or power every knee 
 must bow, and every tongue confess, of things in heaven, 
 and things on earth, and things under the earth. I believe 
 it is so with individuals, who singly eye the light in them, 
 that it comes to shine more and more, until the old man is 
 full of light, until all is brought into holy conformity, and 
 leavened into the Divine Nature." 
 
 Bristol, 9th month 18, 1801. — "The meeting was large, 
 Bnd'I think highly favored. Dear George Dill wyn was mucn 
 
22 ABRIEFACCOUSTOF 
 
 engaged therein, both on his feet and knees. It is cause of 
 encouragement to my mind, to see liim so lively in his ap- 
 pearances of this kind, through a dependence, no doubt; 
 upon the never-failing arm of Divine Strength. When' 
 people think they can do without so much of this, afta- be- 
 ing many years engaged in the ministry, I observe they 
 dwindle into dryness ; and though their words be very good; 
 they arc often but words." 
 
 9th month 21. — "I went to see at his lodging at the 
 
 Wells. John Waring took me in his chaise, and neither of' 
 ■ us were sorry we went. A few minutes' solemn silence came 
 over us before we separated, and I had to break this with a 
 few sentences for his encouragement; believing the great 
 and necessary work was being carried on, and would be ac-' 
 complished to his everlasting joy, as he looked to the powef 
 which he had been made acquainted with. Oh ! my dear 
 friend, how my heart was contrited under a sense of Divine 
 mercy in this visit, — a man that orice seemed to have little' 
 or no trust in God, now wooed to him by his everlasting 
 love ; and through a yielding thereunto, is almost in the 
 state of David, when he said, ' Surely I have behaved and 
 quieted myself as a child that is weaned of 'his mother; my 
 soul is even as a weaned child.' " . 
 
 In reference to some of her exercises in these early days, 
 Sarah writes thus : " Once having to walk through Worces- 
 ter streets, and to speak in the markets there, as I passed 
 along, I was drawn to address a recruiting sergeant who was 
 near me. I spoke to him in dread of the Most High',' and' 
 had to allude to his employ. At first he seemed ready to b^' 
 scornful, but as I proceeded he changed countenance; look- 
 ing pale, and held down his head, not answering a word." 
 " At another town I recollect seeing a young woman under 
 a gateway; I think it was at Carlisle. She was conversing 
 with a man who my mind was arrested with a belief that I 
 ought to warn her of the awful consequences of sin, and to 
 turn her to that of her Saviour in her own heart that would 
 lead from and redeem out of all iniquity. She listened with-- 
 out reply ; looking as if she would have fainted : the man 
 also waiting to hear me out. Children and young lads who 
 would follow us from place to place in a town, have often 
 been overawed in my turning to them, and charging them to 
 love and fear their God. At Bath I had to go to the pump- 
 room, and declare the truth to the gay people who resorted 
 
SARAH ORUBB. 23 
 
 tl)0re,,. This was a time very relieving to my sorely exercised 
 mind. : In these days of my life I was seldom from under 
 some heavy burden, so that I w^nt greatly bowed down ; 
 sometimes ready to say, ' If it be thus with me, Thou who 
 hilgt [given me a being, I pray Thee take away my life from 
 me.' At length I saw to the end of this trying dispensation. 
 I saw clearly that it was fulfilled, like other dispensations 
 that had been allotted me in inscrutable wisdom, and which 
 had a tendency to ' crucify the flesh, with the affections and 
 lusts;' and even bringing into a disJ)osition to 'bear about 
 in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also 
 qf Jesus might be made manifest in our body.' Oh! it is 
 good to say amen to the whole will of God concerning us-; 
 to be patient when brought to a low estate, and "' make not 
 haste in time of trouble.' " 
 
 ,;Jth month 14, 1802. — Writing to a friend who had been 
 sick, she says : " In being informed of the bodily suffering 
 thou: hast experienced, I assure thee, my dear, my heart 
 ached ; but I summed it up thus ; it will weigh amongst 
 those things that help to sanctify the better part; and is, 
 therefore, instead of being unnoticed by the Most High, 
 precious in His holy sight. Oh I my dear Ann, it seems to 
 me a favor to believe that it is the prerogative of the King 
 immortal to recognize the common occurrences of life, to 
 take account of all our little affairs ; surely, if we sanctify 
 Hifli, the Lord of hosts alone, and if He is our fear, our 
 dread, we shall be taught by Him to esteem this a great 
 y^sing, and have to acknowledge, that although at times 
 we seem almost crushed under our exercises, yet ' He weigh- 
 et,h the mountains? to us 'in scales and the hills in a bat 
 ance-.' Thus may we learn to trust His providence, and rely 
 on His infi'nite wisdom. My heart very tenderly salutes thee, 
 and commends thee to so good and gracious a Creator, in 
 whom I know thou hast, in some precious measure, learned 
 to confide, and whom thou hast been taught to love." 
 
 She at this time had obtained the permission of her friends 
 at home to pay a religious visit in Ireland, and soon after- 
 wards she engaged in the work. Her heart was humbled in 
 the prospect, yet during the visit she was much favored. 
 Writing from Clonmel, I2th month 15, she says: "I have 
 with humble gratitude to acknowledge, that my way now 
 seems less rugged, the dispensation of so much public ex- 
 posure being,! trust, through^ the holy efficacy of the Spirit, 
 
24 ABEIEFACCOUNTOF 
 
 fulfilled, and in Christ Jesus our Lord, finished. Thou cansf 
 better conceive, than I can describe, the release luy poor mind 
 experiences being excused going into streets and markets, th« 
 prison-houses, and the asylums for the sick, yet my soul hath 
 sympathy in secret with the woes of my dear fellow-creatures, 
 and from this I feel no desire to be exempt. Since coming 
 to Ireland, I have not been without seasons of probation, bui 
 may tell thee, my dear friend, that it never was my lot to 
 witness more glorimis liberty in the sacred office of the min- 
 istry, than at some meetings with Friends hereaway. We 
 are not yet out of Munster province, so that I know not what 
 is to be met with in the other two. If, in adorable mercy, 
 preservation is vouchsafed on the right hand and on the left, 
 all will be well, come what will come, and I think this mercy 
 is all my soul dare ask." 
 
 1st month 2, 1803. — She writes from Dublin to her mother 
 concerning Leinster Quarterly Meeting : " The Quarterly 
 Meeting was thought to be a time of renewal of strength to 
 many, wherein the purity of the testimonies given us to bear, was 
 held up to view, and Friends encouraged to attend simply to 
 the holy principle, which led and still leads to the support 
 of these precious testimonies. Several of the soceders at- 
 tended, and the call was reached forth to them to embrace 
 the unchangeable truth, which perhaps some of their poor 
 bewildered minds have never yet done, although they once 
 held it in profession. It pleased my Heavenly Father to 
 baptize my .spirit, and prepare me for enlargement of heart 
 and tongue, in the Gospel of Christ, in these meetings, 
 blessed be His name ! He chooses the ' things that are not, 
 to bring to nought things that are.' His is the pow^r and 
 glory forever. We had a public meeting for the people at 
 large on Third-day evening, in which strength was given U 
 illustrate the doctrines of (/hristianity. I was concerned to 
 acquaint the people, that as an associated body we held these 
 truths as they are recorded in the New Testament; and we 
 believe in both the New and Old, which are like one con- 
 tinued chain, held together by links." 
 
 She continued faithfully laboring to fulfil her apprehended 
 duty in Ireland, and was favored to return to her mother's 
 house in peace before the time of London Yearly Meeting 
 on the 5th month following. 
 
 An affectionate attachment had long subsisted between 
 John Grnbb, son of Sarah Grabb, of Anner Mills, and 
 
SARAH GRUBB. 25 
 
 iSarah Lynes, and he now thought that the time had come 
 when it would be right for them to be united in marriage. 
 Sarah believed it to be in the ordering of Divine Providence, 
 and their surviving pairents approving of their union, the 
 marriage was accomplished on 8th day of the 9th month, 
 1803.. Her husband thus describes the event: "We sat- 
 under th« gallery. . . . . Mary Bevan and Mary Savory ap- 
 peared in testimony before we moved to enter into the solemn 
 covenant. After this a considerable silence followed; the 
 meeting then seemed about to break up, when I found my 
 dear S. was under considerable exercise. She stepped up 
 into the gallery, and was, I think I may say, favored in a 
 remarkable manner to preach the Grospel to the people. Sho 
 said^ it was ' unexpected, and a cross to her, to have to move 
 in that line, that day; but it was her chief joy to be found 
 faithful in doing the will of her Heavenly Father, and the 
 solemn covenant being now entered into, she felt her mind 
 drawn in Gospel love to the people,' to whom she spoTce a 
 considerable time, so that it seemed like one of her appointed 
 public meetings. She sat down in the gallery, and then re- 
 turned to her seat by her husband. Mary Bevan moved 
 afterwards in supplication, and then my dear S. in the same 
 line ; we retired soon after The bride was again en- 
 gaged in the exercise of her gift after dinner. The day was 
 throughout, I think, marked with that quiet and peace which 
 is so comfortable to my mind, and I hope satisfies it, without 
 seeking for much beyond." 
 
 The newly married pair passed over into Ireland to their 
 home at Clonmel. Sarah was soon engaged in religious labors 
 in that land, and in the early part of 1807 she left a young 
 babe, and with her husband, who was her felk)w-la;borer, as 
 her companion, paid a visit to Scotland. The trial to her 
 affectionate feelings was a close one in parting from her be- 
 loved child ; and she says : ". I think there is nothing that 
 could make this journey tolerable but being at times favored 
 to come to the resignation of all into the Divine hand." Her 
 labors were abundantly blessed with the overshadowing pre- 
 sence of Him who had sent her forth, and her heart was 
 often filled with grateful emotions to her blessed Leader and 
 Preserver. 
 
 In 1812, being on a religious visit in England, she wrote 
 to her husband : " I feel this coming over to be just such a 
 Baerifice as it was in anticipation — hard to the natural mind; 
 3 
 
26 ABRJEFACCOUNTOF 
 
 but herein is my stay— I have to place the whole account' to 
 religious duty ; and however I have been tossed and tried 
 since our hands separated one from the other, I now assuredly 
 believe it is no delusion, no fancy, or imaginaiy dream ; 
 therefore I trust in the Lord, and stay myself upon my God 
 and thy God, whose sweet presence I was favored to kno#, 
 when in the chamber with our dear little ones, as they lay 
 asleep in the morning I left them.' _ '■ 
 
 Thus, although hourly sensible of her domestio- comforts, 
 and closely attached to her near relations in life, she con- 
 tinued faithfully to occupy her gift, and to travel as her 
 Master sent her forth. She labored much in England during 
 the few following years, and was also engaged in public ser- 
 vice in different parts of Ireland. From London, 6th month 
 29, 1813, she writes : " The large Quarterly Meeting yester- 
 day was, in the first sitting, extraordinary to me. For a while 
 I sat as much a blank with respect to any Divine opening, 
 as it was possible to be ; but, suddenly and powerfully, I was 
 sensible of the sacred impulse to speak, beginning with^: 
 ' There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the whole 
 city of God,' and was led to describe the purity and clearnesB 
 of this river, as in the Revelations, and Of those who were 
 of the city of God ; also, in a searching testimony to the 
 earthly-minded and negligent, and to show how the Almighty 
 would work with respect to the state that is called as it were 
 first, to show forth his praise ; that these in continuing to 
 rebel and refuse, will be rejected, and the stones of the street 
 raised up ; for that the Lord will exalt his truth on the earth 
 and be glorified." 
 
 7th month 21, 1814 : " We went to meeting at Tring ifes- 
 terday, where, though I felt very poorly^ I was engaged bodi 
 in testimony and supplication in an encouraging strain, ibut 
 I did not know that things were as high as sometimes; yet, 
 when. I li£Eed up my eyes, oh ! the tears of tenderness that 
 were strewing all about me ; and when we came out of meet- 
 ing, almost all the young people were wonderfully. broken^ 
 some of them took my hand, and could hardly speak for 
 weeping. It was truly delightful and consoling, to see the 
 power of the Lord had reached them, and that they were so 
 near the Truth. I need not tell my endeared companion in 
 life, that nothing belongs to the creature of glory or praise'^ 
 but to the Lord alone." • 
 
 In writing to her children in after life, she says : " The 
 
SARAHGRUBB. 27 
 
 tribulations attendant on illness, and twice that of death, have 
 been heavy. In one of my long fits of illness, and while 
 several of our household were visited by indisposition, my 
 dear husband and I held certificates for travelling. Great, 
 truly great, was the trial of my faith, and much -did I seek 
 to, commit all into the Divine hand again and again. At 
 length, while yet confined, I think, wholly to bed, my soul 
 distinctly heard the voice of its well-beloved, saying in the 
 very (language of Scripture^ 'Rise up my love, my fair one, 
 and come away. For lo ! the winter is past, the rain is over 
 and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the 
 singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard 
 in our laud.' Oh ! my mind was prepared to understand and 
 receive this gracious answer to all my prayers, my sighs, and 
 my groans. I saw indeed that of myself I was vile, but he, 
 who, to me, was the chief of ten thousand, had again and 
 again washed, me in His own blood, and I found my spirit 
 united to Him in the covenant of His own life, in which I 
 bowed my heart, and gave thanks.' From this time I rapidly 
 mended in health ; and before long we left home to accom- 
 plish the service of the Grospel before us. 
 , " We have seldom been easy to stay at home more than a 
 few months at a time, even since it hath pleased the Almigh'ty 
 to vouchsafe to us our precious offspring. When nursing you 
 I was led to engagements in the ministry around our dwell- 
 ing; and when my loved baby, my first-bom, was but eight 
 months old, I left her for five months to travel in Ireland, 
 Scotland, and England, my dear husband accompanying me. 
 This, and many such sacrifices, have cost my nature much 
 suffering ; but I have apprehended them called for, as the 
 first-fruits of all bestowed upon us by our bountiful Creator." 
 ji'.iln: the year 1818, John and Sarah Grubb removed to 
 England. For several years Sarah had felt that the time 
 was drawing near when such a step would be right. When 
 it first opened to her as a requisition of duty, she felt the 
 great importance of the step, and it was only after close 
 searching of heart that she became resigned to move in the 
 concern. Her husband, notwithstanding some outward in- 
 conveniences likely to attend being away from his worldly 
 possessions, was brought to a willingness also, because he 
 believed that it was in the ordering of Truth. Their friends, 
 who had become very much attached to Sarah and her min- 
 btry, generally opposed the movement which would take her 
 
2i A B R I E F A C C O U N T O F 
 
 away from thjm. The trial she endured from their opposi- 
 tion was great, yet she could see no way for them but obe- 
 dience. She writes, 7th month 5, 1818 : " Some amongst 
 us have given me plainly to understand that they believe me 
 to be under a delusion with respect to the prospect of re- 
 moving with our family from this place to England. How 
 then is it that while this concern was ripening, it pleased the 
 Lord fo be with me ; to send me forth in His name through 
 this nation ; to grant the living and blessed authority of His 
 spirit in declaring the Truth ? Yea, even just before dis- 
 closing my views, how did I go in His fear and visit the 
 meetings in this province of Munster ; the humbling, bap- 
 tizing power of Truth being, from place to place, in blessed 
 dominion J so that divers felt it like a farewell visit, and some 
 said they believed the Great Master was about to remove 
 me, at least for awhile, from this Quarterly Meeting,, I was 
 truly of their opinion, and strengthened in my views as to 
 leaving Ireland. After a painful interview with some friends 
 on this subject, my dear husband had it from the Lord to 
 encourage me to, attend to the pure openings of Truth, say- 
 ing: 'Thy God whom thou servest continually. He will 
 deliver thee.' Even now, under all I have to bear, I find 
 that the name of the Lord is a strong tower, where my soul 
 finds refuge. Were it not so, how could I adopt the language 
 as I do : ' Cast down, but not destroyed,' etc. ? Indeed, I have 
 lately felt,-that were it not for the invincible fortress which 
 is open to the oppressed and bowed down, I must have been 
 destroyed by that which is without. Blessed be Jehovah, 
 the Lord of Hosts, and blessed be my Rock and my Re 
 deemer ! Ah ! He knows the simplicity with which H4 
 enabled me to look to Him in this great exercise, and to Him 
 I appealj who knows that I have no motive in wishing to 
 remove from this land, but to follow His holy leadings, to 
 act in His counsel, and to prosecute my day's work in His 
 fear." 
 
 9th month 6. — " We had a heart-contriting farewell meeting 
 on First-day, consisting of Friends of our Monthly Meeting, 
 including Clonmel and Garryroan particular meetings. All 
 opposition appeared to give way in the minds of those pres- 
 ent, who before were much against our leaving them ; but 
 truly the Lord's everlasting power was in dominion." 
 
 " We left Clonmel the 8th of Qth month, 1818, for Buty,'. 
 M Suffolk ; for to this place my inward eye was directed, 
 
S A R A H G R U B B . 29 
 
 Mlthough I know not for why. It was only while pursuing 
 our jouriifcy that we either heard of, or had liberty to make 
 much euquiry for a habitation. We arrived there the 10th 
 of 10th month, with peaceful feelings.' Our habitation was 
 very inferior to that which my husband had built for us in 
 Ireland, and which we had just left; but I may gratefully 
 acknowledge that I believe this quiet spot, with the fine 
 bracing air of the place, had a great use in strengthening 
 the constitution of my beloved husband and our children. 
 The meeting was small to which we now came to belong ; 
 we were, however, but little at home ; that is, my husband 
 and I ; it was still our lot to travel in thp work of the 
 Gospel." 
 
 2d month 11, 1819. — "Is not He to whom we have been 
 accustomed to look, a Friend to the needy in their distress ? 
 Oh ! my dear sister, none, whose experience has not been 
 alike painful, can form any just idea of the sufferings of my 
 poor mind, even now. But to whom shall we go in our 
 trouble, save unto Him who hath the words of eternal life ? 
 These feelings, so repugnant to our nature, may be a neces- 
 sary ordeal to prepare the vessel, as a channel through which 
 the holy oil flows. Oh ! my soul, have patience. I would 
 not, however, have thee suppose that thy poor friend has 
 not known other and more joyous moments at this place; 
 yes, my sister, I have felt the power in dominion in my soul; 
 I have witnessed the reigning of the immortal seed, when 
 waiting upon God. At one time in -particular, in solemn 
 silence, I could say, my Beloved ' cometh leaping upon the 
 mountains, skipping upon the hills ! ' He made haste to 
 help me; there was no obstruction suffered to prevail — I 
 was mercifully favored to see Him, the Lord my God, sitting 
 upon His throne : I knew that the Lord Jesus Christ had 
 taken unto Him His kingdom, and my heart sang Halleluia. 
 Oh ! do thou ask for me, that I may be as willing to suffer 
 as to rejoice, when such is the mind of my Heavenly Father, 
 that his own works may yet praise Him, in, by, and' through 
 me." 
 
 5th month 26, 1819. — " If ever we meet in mutability, 
 may it be with an increase of the heavenly image and holy 
 likeness ! The inscrutable dealings of a gracious God bring 
 to this, as we humble ourselves under His mighty hand ; 
 and so we may come fully away from our fallen, undone con- 
 dition, and be made meet for union and communion with the 
 3* 
 
30 ABRIF. F ACCOUNT OF 
 
 Author of our salvation. The Lord will, indeed, work for 
 the honor of His name . . . whether the privileged mem- 
 bers of our Society will be faithful or not; but the people 
 can never come to anything higher or more safe than that 
 with which wc profess to be acquainted. May the deal 
 young Fri'Jiids be induced to retire from the delusive, fluc- 
 tuating spirit of the world, and turn their view to the city 
 of the great King, even Zion, beautiful fm- situation, when 
 beheld in the true light. She indeed is on the sides of th<! 
 North, but her foundation being sure, no storm, no trial, 
 shall ever prove too mighty for her. Oh ! then, may we not, 
 with holy propriety, say to our beloved youth, ' Walk about 
 Zion, mark ye well her bulwai'lis, count ye her towers. God 
 is known in her palaces for a refuge.' " 
 
 "This Yearly Meeting has so far not been left without 
 best help, and what bows my heart most of all in gratitude 
 is, that solemn silence covers ua at times. In this is the 
 power and the life, which were before words, and remain 
 when words shall cease : but I consider that we are conde- 
 scended to in unmerited mercy, for we are too generally of 
 the revolters and backsliders, and I find that the people lovi 
 elegant orations better than to yield to the anointing, which 
 is truth, and no lie." 
 
 During the Yearly Meeting she visited the men's meeting, 
 and was enabled to plead the cause of her Divine Master, 
 with faithfulness and power. She was also raised up in the 
 women's meeting in a similar strain of awful warning, rie- 
 specting the lukewarm state of the Church. She was soon 
 afterwards laid by with sickness. Writing from her sick 
 bed, she says, 5th month 30 : "I have been pretty quiet and 
 easy on this bed, for I thought I felt nothing like condem- 
 nation, having endeavored to do the Lord's work in His 
 time and way, so far as I was favored with a knowledge of 
 His holy will. But then my movements are not so much in 
 the smooth way as some, and I get hints to try to be a little 
 more like others, lest what I. say should not be so well re- 
 ceived ; and yet again I am the same thing, for when the 
 Lord raises me up by His power, I fear no man, haying 
 humble confidence in His name; but I believe none know 
 the depth of my sufferings, nor how mu.ch I am permitted 
 to know the sentence of death in myself. May He, who 
 only is able, keep me from falling, lest, after having preaehed 
 to others, I become a castaway. We take a deal of suffering. 
 
SARAH GRTJBB. 31 
 
 to bring us to a holy and blessed establishment in the im- 
 mutable truth, but it is mingled with consolation." 
 
 Soon after leaving her sick bed, Sarah, accompanied by 
 her husband, set out on a religious visit to some parts of 
 Kngland. They visited many families, and had some large 
 and highly favored public meetings. They returned home 
 towards the close of autumn. 
 
 12th month 1 she writes : "We are indeed tossed and 
 tried ; our building seems to be shaken to the very founda- 
 tion ; yet I believe there is a foundation that can never be 
 removed; and if we are but found thereon, all our beset- 
 ments, and every storm, as from the north and south winds, 
 ■will have a tendency to fix us firmer on this immovable Rock ; 
 so that I wish we may take courage to commit all to the Lord, 
 in that humbled state wherein we can say, ' Though He slay 
 me, yet will I tru,st in Him.' Now, in proportion to the ten- 
 derness of spirit which becomes ours under suffering, so are 
 we grown and growing in the heavenly image, and holy like- 
 ness; so that I know of nothing so desirable as a broken 
 heart and a contrite spirit; and, if we wait in passiveness on 
 the Lord, I believe he will give it." 
 
 Early in 1820, she and her husband were once more lib- 
 erated for religious service. 3d month 31 she writes : " Our 
 line of religious duty has not been confined to our own So- 
 ciety, but we have many more public meetings : most of these 
 latter are seasons wherein He who ' leadeth Joseph like a 
 flock,' sends forth His light and power amongst us ; some- 
 times it is Over all; yet this is seldom the case, but through 
 considerable labor ; but when the obstruction comes to be 
 removed, even by word and doctrine, it is an unspeakable 
 favor I look forward to Yearly Meeting with some- 
 thing of dread, not joy; for it is hard for the little, lowly 
 seed of life to rise into doininion ; it being a time and place 
 wherein there is much want of true simplicity; but it is 
 well that we should keep in view, ' that unto us it is given, 
 not Iraly to believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 but also- to suffer for His sake;' there is a portion of suffer- 
 ing dispensed in His time, for His sake, though not like 
 what befell the first Christians. Tt is now spiritual impris- 
 onment, and spiritiKdly the Lord's servants are sensible of 
 being stoned and wounded. May we dwell deep in spirit 
 with the eternal Power, in which alone is preservation ! 
 Surely the sons of Zion will be raised up, as against the sons 
 
32 ABRIEFACCOUNTOF 
 
 of trreeov',; and the truth must he spoken, although opposed 
 by the Tusdom of the wise !" 
 
 5th month 27. — "I love to see my friends made sensible 
 of the necessity of waiting for that Divine voice, which, in 
 due time, is heard in the soul truly chaste to God; even say- 
 ing, ' llisc up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For 
 lo ! the winter is past, the rain is over and' gone, the flowers 
 appear on the earth ; the time of the singing of birds is come, 
 and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land : ' may this 
 be thine and your happy knowledge of the righteousness, the 
 mercy, and the truth of Him who is forever the covenant 
 keeping God ; yea, ' the joy and song of many generations.' 
 Perhaps my soul never adored His wisdom and power more, 
 than now that T am times under great weights and burdens; 
 but again, He ' leads me to the Eock that is higher than I,' 
 and He Himself sets my feet above all the mighty billows, 
 and gives me to sing the new song, even to string the harpi 
 of victory, and say, ' Great and marvellous are thy works. 
 Lord God Almighty ; just and true are thy ways, thou King 
 of saints.' Oh ! it is a most blessed thing to know that the 
 Lord's own works, and they alone, praise Him. Let lis, 
 therefore, my loved friends, lie low before Him, seeking to 
 say amen to all his dealings with us, even in the darkness 
 of His providence, that He may work in us, both to will and 
 to do, according to His good pleasure ; so shall we witness 
 Him again and again, to make darkness light before us, and 
 the crooked paths straight. The rough places shall be made 
 plain, for the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. These 
 are times abundantly worth waiting for, even as long as that 
 Wisdom which is infinite shall "please." 
 
 She thus expresses a concern which she felt constrained 
 to spread before Friends at the Yearly Meeting this year*. 
 " Oh ! that we may more and more be gathered, for I believe 
 we have temptations, which, if yielded to, will scatter, will 
 lay waste, will destroy, will even hug us up, and being of the 
 subtle serpent, will press out the pure, innocent life." Much 
 of the remainder of the year 1820 was spent in religious 
 service, and large public meetings as usual fell to her lot. 
 
 In a letter to a sister-in-law, 1st month 14, 1821, she 
 writes : " With respect to our Keligious Society Not- 
 withstanding our backslidings, I trust it may yet be said, ' 
 Israel, who is like unto thee?' but my fears have been many, 
 lest, through the subtlet.y of the serpent, we should more 
 
SARAH GRUBB. 33 
 
 sind more lose, this distinction, and become mingled with the 
 world in its spirit; and lest his various transformations should 
 even .prevail with many, unto the removing them from their 
 pieces, Uke the dragon with his tail drawing down the stars 
 from heaven; for we have become so wise and so liberal, that, 
 even with divers of those first in rank amongst us, many 
 things once deemed highly inconsistent with our holt pro- 
 fession, are yielded to with impunity. It seems to a few, 
 that some inexperienced minds are in danger of going out to 
 meet that, and of settling down in it, which thfe true spirit 
 of the Gospel leads from." 
 
 "Somo,of the public meetings were so very still, that when 
 the power had got up into dominion, in requesting the peo- 
 ple to retire into themselves that we might commend each 
 other to the Lord in silence, the solemnity has been so great, 
 without any sound whatever, that it is like what we sometimes 
 fe^I at the close of a great Yearly Meeting, and the congre- 
 gation seems loth, to separate at last. Oh ! how far does this 
 expeed all words ; and what a testimony does it seem to me 
 to, be to silent worship ! " 
 
 . .5th month, 1821. — "An address was brought into the 
 women's meeting, calling the attention of the'inhabitants of 
 Europe' to the iniquitous traffic still carried on in the per- 
 sons of the African race. This introduced my mind into 
 great feeling, that we might all be found so co-operating with 
 the Divine purpose in ourselves, that qualification might be 
 received to promote the coming of the Kingdom of Jesus in 
 the earth, by our individual obedience and dedication to the 
 Lord in all things." 
 
 4th month 12, 1822. — "For a considerable time I lay as 
 'lamong the pots,' during ;the last winter; but I thought may 
 be the Lord would raise me up in His own time, if it was 
 my endeavor to wait upon Him for preservation, that I might 
 be 'kept chaste in my love to Him, who had been to my soul 
 thfc chief of ten thousand; and so He did, blessed be His 
 Name ! for I distinctly heard His voice again, and felt His 
 power giving me to ascend with the ' wings of a dove,' which 
 are indeed 'silver, and her feathers yellow gold,' even of that 
 which had been tried in the fire; so it is good not to cast 
 awsiy our confidence, when we may seem to ourselves to be 
 as a broken vessel." 
 
 . When writing the above, she was out on religious service, 
 and on returning home experienced much indisposition. She 
 
 
 
34 A B R I E F A C C O U N T O P 
 
 says : " I was many weeks very weakly indeed. My stren^h 
 seemed nearly exhansted, yet not feeling clear of some places 
 about London, and being sensible of an enlargement of prb^-' 
 pect, we could not see the way to resign our certificates, but 
 in faith requested more liberty of the Monthly Meeting; sO 
 when the wigiy-clearly opened, we left our dear childreii once 
 mora ; comniitting them to the gracious care of Israel's Shep- 
 Iicrd. As usual, we sat down together to wait upon the 
 Lord just before separating ; it was a precious time, so that, 
 ilthough our dear children had anticipated our absence very 
 painfully, I believe they gave us up freely to the service of 
 Him whom they felt to be goodness itself." 
 
 "In nearly all opportunities the living power has come 
 into glorious dominion, after all the baptisms and strippings 
 attendant on such engagements ; for I think from time to 
 time my spirit is brought into a deep sense of my own 
 nothingness, even in a peculiar manner ; and oh ! frequently 
 before meeting breaks up, my heart is made glad that the 
 Lord alone i? exalted. What a solemn sense of His good- 
 ness is mostly afforded, in awful silence, toward the lattej* 
 end of a meeting crowded with people sitting and standing! 
 the bodily feelings are lost in a sense of the Divine influence. 
 Forever magnified and praised be Israel's God ; He is more 
 and more bringing the people to the experience of true spi- 
 ritudl worship, even in the silence of all flesh. Whether we, 
 as a Society, will become more spiritually minded or not, I 
 cannot say; but God will be glorified, and Truth and its 
 testimonies exalted in the earth, even until all nations shall 
 flow unto the mountain of His holiness, which is set on the 
 top of the mountains, and abovB all the hills. The dead 
 forms and professions, whether amongst us or others, must 
 yield to the living substance, and the eternal power ; but I 
 fear that many under our name will wither more and more, 
 and be taken away; so great, is the oppression of the life, 
 and so dry are many meetings, aa to their general condition : 
 80 that I am often ready to say. Oh ! where is the living sap 
 from the living root ? And while much is doing in works 
 of benevolence, by our members, there seems but little of 
 that fruic whereby our Heavenly Father is glorified. 
 
 "We have on this journey lodged at the house of two 
 aged Fnends. The age of W. A. is eighty-five, and that of 
 his wife eighty-eight : their faculties are clear. The state 
 of mind in which they are is truly desirable; we took a sol- 
 
SARAH GRUBB. 35 
 
 cjpn, aflfl I, expect, ?. final J^ave in tMe.mutablc state. It.is 
 ejucouragiiig ;ta, see the Christian ti^ayellevs so far safe on 
 theiCj passage, to a glorious eternity,, for they seem to have 
 W.eath,eired, many storms, and to have cast anchor in the ha- 
 yen, waiting for a .joyfuL Japding on the, blissful shore." 
 , ,,At Eeading, 10th month 7, she writes: *<I hardly need 
 tell thee that, the present are truly fearful engagements, and 
 that py mind is much Ipd down into baptisms ; »tut through 
 all, I have to acknowledge to the almighty aid of flim whom 
 we desire to servo, and whose to be. Most of the meetings 
 have been times of peculiar favor, as much so, I think, as I 
 ever remember; although to vigit the immortal life, where it 
 lieSj.j-eqiiires great, abstractedness, of mind, likef sitting 'in 
 the w<>u,th ,of the cave, with the head wrapped in the! man- 
 tle.' Oh ! sometimes, when in this situation, how clearly has 
 the s(;ate ot meetings and individuals been opened to my 
 mind, even as plain as ever I saw the face of another with 
 my natural.eyes ! apd in many of those assemblies ixiade up 
 of a mixed concourse of people, their condition variously has 
 been feltand spoken to, in authority, which hath produced 
 the, language in my heart, ' This is the Lord's doing, and 
 marvelkras in my eyes.' But oh! my dear sister, what awful 
 
 frpund a,true Gospel minister stands on in the sacred office! 
 t puts me in njind of what the Majesty of Heaven said to 
 looses,' Put oflF thy shoes ftom off thy feet, for the place 
 whereon thou standest is holy ground.' Indeed, we must be 
 |h)iSuj3,shod, as it were, to receive and communicate messages 
 of, grace. Aijd for my part, I find, from time to time, the 
 preparation as needful as if it had never been known before." 
 FjjlOth month 15. — "As to our engagements amongst those 
 npjt, professing with us, I think I never had more blessed 
 mejetings than in this journey. The doctrines of the Grospel 
 flojr, freely almost from place to place, and such is the gath- 
 ering influence over us, that it seems to me, that whilst these 
 doctrines are declared, the solemnity increases until the Di- 
 vine Power is over the meeting as a canopy, under which we 
 mostly sit in silent heavenly enjoyment for a short time. This 
 sfijlne^s I consider as a proof that the Lord is bringing the 
 people more and more to a sense of what it is to worship 
 Ilim without vocal sounds, and in it my spirit often feels a 
 
 11th mot^th 161 — "My dear companion and myself are 
 ^bout Returning home, having endeavored to fulfil the will 
 
36 A B R I E F A C r, O U N T O F 
 
 of our Heavenly Father, in an engagement of nearly eloVen 
 weeks in visiting Friends and others in divers counties here- 
 away. We are very sensible of weakness, belonging to' us 
 poor creatures, while we have to acknowledge to the dominion 
 of the power of truth in most meetings, even in a marvellous 
 
 and glorious degree Sometimes these meetings have 
 
 held long, and the longer the more solemn, while the doc- 
 trines of the Gospel flowed freely. . , .1 have had to say 
 to the people, ' Were I speaking to you from this time until 
 midnight, and then to daybreak, it would all be to invite and 
 gather to the influence which you now feel ; the blessed power 
 and presence of God. Let us sit under the heavenlj' canopy 
 in reverent stillness a little while, and feel its preciousness, 
 beyond what words can set forth.' So it has been many a 
 time — Oh ! forever praised and exalted be Israel's Almighty 
 Helper. He is doing much, while He convinces uS that 
 without Him we are nothing, and can do nothing." 
 
 Tn the early part of 1823, Sarah Grubb was ill for a long 
 period, during which she was not expected to recover. In 
 this illness she had a remarkable opening, which she thus 
 describes : " The pain I endured was excruciating. Tedious 
 days and wearisome nights were ap[iointed me for weeks to- 
 gether, and for a season I thought my sufferings would ter- 
 minate in death. I earnestly waited upon the Lord, and it 
 was frequently the language of my heart, ' Oh ! my Heav- 
 enly Father, when wilt thou be pleased to send forth thy 
 word and say. It is enough ?' Being under a great weight 
 of illness, and looking towards dissolution, I was opened into 
 a view of the love of my gracious Saviour to my soul, feeling 
 assured that nothing stood in my way of acceptance with the 
 Judge of quick and dead. I saw clearly that my transgres- 
 sions were forgiven ; that all defilement was purged away in 
 that living, blessed ' fountain opened to the house of David, 
 and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.' I had a degree of fore- 
 taste of eternal glory. I saw the light of heaven ; I beheld, 
 as ' through a glass darkly,' something of His majesty who 
 sitteth upon the throne, and the inefiable brightness of those 
 garments worn by the redeemed. I had no doubt of being 
 admitted to their blessed company, should it please Divine 
 Wisdom to cut the thread of my life. I relate this with rev- 
 erent humility, and in the unreserved acknowledgment that 
 I felt assured, if presented faultless before the throne of 
 my Saviour's glory, it would all be of His free mercy and 
 
S ARA H G RUBB. 37 
 
 jjiflnite loving-kindness to one of the Jeafi' of His family. 1 
 ijiiok it was given me to say, ' Not my will, but Tliine be 
 (}pne' as to, the restoration of the poor afflicted ;frame. I did, 
 |i,qjvever,,find myself much exercised about my loved family j 
 and one morning I was engaged to petition that I might be 
 spared to them, when I became sensible of receiving the 
 earnest of my prayer; these words being heard in my soul, 
 ' I will spare thee;' That Scripture occurred to remembrance 
 which (t^Us us, that \Tlien Jacob, ma,de an end of blessing or 
 commanding bis children, he gathered up his feet in the bed, 
 and .gave up, the ghost. I believed, that I might yet be of 
 u^e,t6 my beloved family in the Divine prdering. Immedi- 
 ately I wished tO; .call you (her children), and say, 'Your 
 motljer lives ; the Lprd will raise me up again,' but such was 
 ruy weakness,,! could not request to see you." 
 
 When somewhat recovered, she went to Dover with her 
 busband. Her health improving, she proceeded in religious 
 service.,. During these engagements, she was much favrcd 
 \yith Divine, support in her ministry, and yet she often felt 
 cfist d9,^n. " I ought to esteem it a favor to be employed at 
 all by, the Great Master, or to be made sensible of wJiat is 
 His blessed will concerning me, yet I wanted to get home 
 and be hidden. ,.,,, . . I am a poor insignificant, creature. 
 It must .be that the weak things are indeed made use of in 
 
 the great cause, or surely I had been left out I am 
 
 so. weighed (lown undera sense of my own insufficiency unto 
 any, good i(;ord or work ; and yet, in reflecting, surely it is 
 heje I rest in my spirit, — that the sufficiency is not of us, 
 b,Ht:flf , Him that calleth us into His work." 
 
 .Believing that He who had led them to take up their 
 abode at ,Bury, now was calling them to Chelmsford in Essex, 
 they repioved there during this year, with the family. 
 
 In 1-824, writing to a. daughter leaving school, she says: 
 "Place the fear of God continually before thee; have, refer- 
 ence to Him in all things. He hath not only given thee a 
 being, but endowed thee with a good understanding, and 
 granted thee many blessings ; let it be the sincere language 
 of thy heart : ' What shall I render unto the Lord for all 
 His.benefits?' so.will. He teach thee His Divine law, and 
 <;na,ble thee to delight therein. Thus wilt thou possess relir 
 gion ; real, vital Christianity. It is the, greatest, of all treas- 
 ures; befriends the godly through this, world,, and leads 
 them to a better. What are we without religion, even in 
 4 
 
38 ABRIIFACCOUNTOlr 
 
 our best state ? We know not how to estimate our sxist 
 encc nor any of the blessings offered ; how then can W8 
 truly enjoy them ? In distress, in sickness, in the dark and 
 floomy seasons which will overtake us sometimes in the 
 course of our journey, what have we to flee to for safety, if 
 unacquainted with the name which is the power of God ? 
 Therefore, my dear child, ' get wisdom,' ' forsake her not,' — 
 ' the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.' 
 
 " Never give way to a fretful disposition.- To repine at 
 the crosses and difficulties attendant upon our probationary 
 state, betrays a little mind, and want of resignation to what 
 Heaven permits ; besides, it renders things trying in them- 
 selves still more bitter; therefore, whenever tempted with 
 peevishness, seek, with all thy might, to be quiet, and wait 
 upon the Lord, who will bring thee near to Himself, and 
 convince thee, that with Him who is light there is no dis- 
 quiet; and so He will grant thee peace. Thine enemies are 
 thine own natural evil propensities : to overcome these in (he 
 Lord, is a most glorious victory. Thy dear Saviour is a')le 
 and willing to grant thee this victory with holy triumph. 
 
 " Give no place to an envious disposition ; it would corrcde 
 thy mind and prevent the incomes of heavenly love. The 
 sweet and the bitter are more equally dispensed than n^aD 
 perceives. We cannot of ourselves promote our happiness, 
 but, by watching against all wrong things, we may become 
 strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might, to avoid 
 all that would render us the authors of our own misery. Be 
 assured, my previous child, that if there is not tranquilli^f 
 in thy own breast, from suffering the all-regulating principle 
 to operate there, thou ne-.c. wilt find true felicity in any 
 situation whic*. "nay fall to thy lot; and while a kind Provi- 
 dence may permit thee to be surrounded by temporal good, 
 thou mayst be without capacity for enjoying His bounty. 
 Be wise, therefore, and submit early to the humbling power 
 of truth, that it may be well with thee in time and in eter- 
 nity, which is the desire and prayer of thy affectionate 
 mother. 
 
 "And now, with respect to domestic economy, let me say, 
 for thy future comfort, do everything in its season : although 
 it may seem very often, at the moment, as if this method 
 was very inconvenient and troublesome, thou wilt find thy 
 account in it. Thou wilt hereby save much precioufi tiw,,' 
 and avoid confusion andhurry. Make suitable arrangement i, 
 
S A B AH G R U B B . o9' 
 
 aBdnbe'sure to observe them. Have few servants j treat them 
 kindly, but give not up thy own judgment to gratify their 
 will, lesfc thou lose that government which is essential to th« 
 comfort of a family. Be industrious, but be not in the habit 
 of doing that thyself which properly belongs to the servants ; 
 for this only renders them negligent. Be sure to manage 
 everything with frugality and prudence ; thou wilt have the 
 more to spare for the needy. Look well to thy household in 
 all things. Let thy countenance be as sunshine- to thy family, 
 through the calmness of thy temper: 
 
 ('Be not over anxious in trouble, but endeavor to leave all 
 to. the Lord, in doing according to the best of thy capacity; 
 and thus let thy whole life bring glory to Him who is worthy 
 of all glory,' honor, and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen." 
 .iSarah Grubb at this time could say for herself and hus- 
 baiid:: '■* We are at times sensible, through the unmerited 
 kindness of the Great Shepherd, that our feet are still guided 
 in the way of peace." They were set at liberty to pay a 
 religious visit in Ireland, for which service they left home 
 in the Third month, 1824. Of some labors on their way 
 thither she writes: "At Goalbrook Dale we were detained 
 from 5th day night^ until 2d day morning, finding a stop in 
 our minds (after having seen Friends together on 6th day, 
 even after preparing to leave the place). It was much against 
 the natural will and wisdom, to give up to be there on First- 
 day, but I knew too well my own short-sightedness, to reason 
 away my sense of duty ; so besides meetingagain with Friendsj 
 we had a large publio meeting, and I think I never was quite 
 SQi near sitting down without proceeding with what was before 
 m«, in any meeting where this was not really the case, when 
 suddenly the power arose, and a very favored time it proved, 
 the people's .minds being at length awakened to a sense of 
 the truth ; but the poor frame felt the effects of this hard 
 battle." 
 
 They were at some meetings in Dublin, and from thence 
 passed down to Clonmel. The meetings at these places were, 
 she says, " times of deep digging." " Yet although things 
 felt very low, through a faithful abiding with the gift the 
 Power at last arose into some dominion." They returned to 
 D/Ublin at the time of the Yearly Meetiiig, although Sarah 
 had taken a heavy cold which had affected her lungs, and 
 ilmost deprived her of her voice. Yet she was not released 
 Vom labor. On 5th month 3, she writes : " Yesterda- 
 
40 A B » I E F A C C O U N T O F 
 
 (First-day) was a memorable day to me, and perhaps to some 
 others. I was very poorly in the morning, and my voi<3e far 
 from clear; the soreness and tightness of the chest eonsid^- 
 able ; but wishing to get to meeting, I ventured, and to my 
 utter astonishment, found my voice as clear as usual, and no 
 pain in speaking for a very long time, to a large, crowded 
 audience ; the power of truth rising higher and higher, until 
 the dominion thereof was generally felt ; and although I was 
 on the bed most of the time between the meetings, and took 
 but little nourishment, I was enabled to be at the second, 
 and to declare, with a strong voice, the doctrines of truth 
 again very copiously; the meeting-house being greatly 
 crowded, many not of our Society attending. The meeting 
 ended in thanksgiving and praise, after which I came to my 
 lodging, and again laid down, but was in a large company 
 of Friends after tea, wherein supplication seemed called for, 
 and Was uttered audibly. Thus, I have been prepared to 
 say : ' This is the Lord's doing, and marvellous in our eyes.' " 
 
 After faithfully filling up the allotted service n Ireland, 
 this dedicated pair returned home to Ghelmsfoi i in the 
 Sixth month. Of this visit, she says : " We were detained 
 much longer than, at one time, we expected, but not in pur- 
 suit of temporal gratification, for of this we partook very 
 little during our absence ; it was in religious engagements, 
 and often in sore travail of spirit, that our time was filled 
 up. Nevertheless, we can acknowledge, that to be at Divine 
 disposal is our interest as well as duty ; and- although this 
 excursion has cost us considerable every way; we find the 
 retrospect produces a quiet which is worth obtaining at any 
 price." 
 
 8th month 1. — "The cup of life is mingled with the 
 bitter as well as the sweet; and were it not so, we should 
 be ready to forget that this is not the place of our rest,— ^ 
 that we are but pilgrims and strangers here below, and 
 ought to be diligent in seeking another and a better country 
 of uninterrupted bliss, where joy unspeakable and full of 
 glory is the eternal portion of those who, ' having come 
 through much tribulation, have washed their garments and 
 made them white in the blood of the Lamb.' Oh ! animat- 
 ing consideration ! Is not this worth a world of trials and a 
 fighl of afflictions to obtain ?" 
 
 " If we come to a holy settlement in the truth, it must 
 be by obedience keeping pace with knowledge, for we cannot 
 
SARAHQEUBB. 41 
 
 of ourselves choose the time for- oSenng the sacrifice of the 
 natural will, in those things which may be pleasing to the 
 flesh, 'any more than Saul could merit Divine acceptance by 
 sparing the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice in 
 Gilgal, instead of when and where the Lord commanded 
 him." 
 
 To a young Friend under trial she wrote thus : " What a 
 favor it is to be, as it were, singled out as one peculiarly 
 tried and sifted, that so, the precious being separated en- 
 tirely from that which will hot endure the fire or the sieve, 
 the Lord's own work, may abundantly praise Him, and the 
 soul be enlarged in capacity for living joy, in proportion to 
 its sufferings. How often does my mind desire for thee the 
 meekness of Divine wisdom, in every varied feeling, that, 
 enduring hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, thoti 
 mayst become increasingly valiant in His name ! Not that I 
 would have any of us suppose, that because we have been 
 brought through fire or water, we therefore know anything, 
 save by the fresh unfolding of truth ; but if there be a con- 
 tinuing in Christ, then is there also a waxing stronger and 
 strona;er in His Name, unto His own glory, who is all in 
 all." " 
 
 About the close of 1824 and the beginning of 1825, she 
 Visited the families of Chelmsford meeting. To a Friend 
 she wrote, shortly after finishing that engagement: "Our 
 late visit to the families was attended with relief: the Lord 
 revealed His power and Spirit from time to time, so that the 
 authority and love of the Gospel made its own way, and was 
 generally in some degree of dominion; and some of the 
 succeeding meetings have been highly favored, the contriting 
 influence of truth spi'eading and prevailing over all. It 
 "would now seem as if I had written fine things with respect 
 to our getting on, but oh ! I often feel left to a sense of my 
 own nothingness, in a manner more humiliating and depress- 
 ing than I can tell thee. It is the Lord's power that I wish 
 to magnify, and if I glory, it is in my infirmities." 
 
 4th month 25, 1825. — " There is a Bible meeting now 
 sitting in Chelmsford : it will be well if speakers and hear- 
 ers all mind what that good book tells them, and then they 
 will not be of those who say, ' Lord, Lord, open to us, for 
 we have done mighty works in thy name'/ but who, for want 
 of conformity to the Divine Mind, are not acknowledged, 
 after all, by the Lord of life and glory." 
 4* 
 
12 A B H 1 K F A C C O U N T (I F 
 
 8th month 30. — " The most desirable state of mind bfeCore 
 the Father of mercies is that of true contrition, for He'hath 
 said through His prophet, ' I dwell in the high and holy 
 place ; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, 
 to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of 
 the contrite ones.' Trials we must have in this world, and 
 what a favor it is when they tend to unite us more closely to 
 Him who for our sakes became a man of sorrows, and was 
 acquainted with grief; whoso life exhibited a perfect pattern 
 of true humility, and submission to the will of the Father. 
 Surely it is they who have fellowship with Ilim in suffering, 
 who shall reign with Him ; being even joint heirs in His 
 unspeakable glory. Oh ! adorable mercy vouchsafed to poor 
 unworthy man ! How does the thouglit of such 'infinite' love 
 melt our hearts ! " 
 
 Tn the 9th month, 1825, Sarah was engaged in religious 
 labors from home, and again in 1826. In the latter year she 
 writes : " I remember a time when I was under most tryitrg 
 feelings, when my soul distinctly heard a language like this, 
 ' Have patience ;' and with it as I turned to the voice which 
 spake, my mind was enabled to sink down into resignation 
 and quiet ; willing that the creature should be mortified and 
 brought into the dust, which is needful for us, that in all 
 thin^ the eternal power of truth may be set up and magni- 
 fied." 
 
 1st month 17, 1827. — "None of us can come to be well 
 grounded in righteousness but by tribulation. 1 well know there 
 are times when we seem to be clear in what, we ftel, thinking 
 no one was ever introduced into similar distress : this is in order 
 that we may cleave closely to the Almighty as our Friend, 
 and not look too much outward. Surely He who in the days 
 of His personal appearance among men carried our sorrows 
 and bore our griefs, is pleased to care for thee, and designs 
 that thou shouldst know him in the character of Comforter 
 as well as Saviour." 
 
 Writing from home, 11th month 6, 1827, to her brother, she 
 says : " I must tell thee that the opposer of all that exalts 
 the kingdom of Jesus, has seemed to me to stir up his wrath 
 against even the feeble attempts we, poof things, are con- 
 cerned to make for the promotion of righteousness and truth. 
 He has been permitted to beset me with divers discourage- 
 ments, so that, at times, I have well nigh fainted ; but the 
 Lord hath held me up, and enabled me to resist the attacks 
 
S A R A II G It, U B i; . -1:3 
 
 of the graud adversary, so that I can say renewedly, ' The 
 JiOrd Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is be- 
 come my salvation.' " , i 
 
 12th month 11. — " Oh ! how cheering the hope that even- 
 tually we may triumph over all that could prevent our con- 
 summate happiness, and that for ever Sind ever ! What are 
 a few fleeting years, even were they replete with sorrow, when 
 put in competition with eternal, ineSable joy? Let us take 
 heart, and humbly endeavor to commit the keeping of our 
 soulsito the blessed Redeemer in well doing, even as unto •■. 
 faithful Creator ailj High Priest. 
 
 '" I have-not, to this day, discovered a better way than t<' 
 trust in the Lord my God, even should He slay me. To 
 whom shall we go ? shall we not still wait upon Him whose 
 words are gracious, and who hath indeed the words of eter- 
 nal life ? Will not H is heavenly ear of pity be open to our 
 cries and sighs, all helpless as we are? Yes; and He will 
 yet give us to confess, '1 am poor and needy, yet the Lord 
 Alnketh upon me.' We may be humble without undue de- 
 pression ; nay, I am inclined to think that the meekness of 
 Christ leads from a disposition that way." 
 
 To a young Friend under affliction she writes : " It is not 
 always those who are qualified to be the most conspicuous 
 religious eharacters, who are the most acceptable with Him 
 who sees not as man sees, but it is those who are wise enough 
 to be obedient to the Divine will, who ' shall shine as the bright- 
 ness of the firmament; and those who turn many to right- 
 eousness shall be as the stars for ever and ever.' Now if we 
 do but come to eternal glory at last, no matter what we haye 
 "to pass through in this world ; for time, compared with eter- 
 nity, is but like the drop from a bucket in the ocean — it is 
 lost there. Yet, my dear, I would have thee partake of every 
 temporal enjoyment which may be thy portion, in the will of 
 the Almighty Creator, who giveth us of all things richly to 
 enjoy. Improve thy natural understanding by suitable books 
 and study; it will make thy time pass more pleasantly; but do 
 not risk thy health by these things." 
 
 The latter part of the year 1828 and the whole of 1829 
 were occupied in religious labor in and about London, — fam- 
 ily visits and public meetings. Whilst engaged in the ser- 
 vice she wrote : " I went through almost more than I can 
 remember in my past life, both by day and night, for a long 
 time, before coming on this present concern ; so that I thought 
 
44 ABRlEFACCOUNTOr 
 
 of one wlio tpoke cf bC;iFg ' pi e, sou out of measure,' abovp 
 streno-tb ; ' but now , witb ail that, I have to introduce my 
 mind into exercise, I seem raised above it; so that I can gt) 
 forward with a degree of cheerfulness, in this weighty and 
 arduous work; having received of that which may be com 
 pared to eagles' wings, and to find my place in the high rock, 
 far above the mighty waves of the sea." 
 
 4th month 17. — " Hitherto, in this journey, I may ac- 
 knowledge that the strength of Israel has been a present 
 help in the needful time. Last First-day we held a. large 
 meeting with the people atUxbridge. Previously to going 
 to the meeting-house, I felt so poorly, and devoid of all .sense 
 of anything but my infirmities, that were it not for the re- 
 membrance that I was nothing but a mere channel^ which 
 no good could pass through, until it issued from the inex- 
 haustible source, I should have been wholly faint-hearted. 
 It, however, pleased Infinite Goodness to occasion the doc- 
 trines of the Gaspel to flow freely and largely to the hearers, 
 and His own holy anointing to soften their hearts ; so that 
 once more my soul adopted the language, ' This is the Lord's 
 doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.' " 
 
 About the commencement of the year 1830, John an(i. 
 Sarah Grubb removed to Stoke Newington, near London. Iii 
 reference to their removal, Sarah writes : " There seems tu 
 be much wisdom in the leadings and instructions of the Great 
 Shepherd usward. We have not dared to guide ourselve.s, 
 nor to concltide, because we have felt at home for a season, 
 where Divine Providence has set the bounds of our habitii- 
 tion, that it was to be our ' certain dwelling place' to the 
 end of our day, but have again been made willing, from 
 time to time, to have our rest in this respect broken up; 
 which is no pleasant thing to that part which would like tO 
 be able to say, ' Take thine ease.' " 
 
 3d month 18, 1830.—" Oh 1 if my dear children are united 
 to their Redeemer, in the eternal covenant of His lo> e and 
 life, what cause of rejoicing it will be to their precious father 
 and myself! We never desired great things for theni in the 
 world, only that Christ Jesus our Lord might be to tli jm the 
 ' chief of ten thousand.' " 
 
 4th month 15. — "It is true that ' affliction comuth not 
 forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the 
 ground.' No, no ; it is not a spontaneous plant ; it is per- 
 mitted to be sown for us j to grow up and mature, until it 
 
SARAH OHUUB. Ab 
 
 produces what is bitter in the mouth, but is as wholesome 
 medicine, that' proves ultimately conducive to the health of 
 those who rfeoeive. Thus is the soul strengthened, so that 
 ability is known to ' withstand in the evil day, and having 
 done all to stand.' " 
 
 10th mouth 2, 1831, from Colchester she writes : "I am 
 just come from meeting. On sitting down with Friends and 
 inwardly gathering to the unfailing Source of good, I found 
 my mipd nearly united to a few simple ones — meek and 
 lowly ones — and sat delighted in tlie sense of it, although I 
 knew that I was not among valiants or mighty men, and also 
 that many exceptions to these children of God were present; 
 but oh ! I have been for once permitted, as it were, to cele- 
 brate the Mighty Name with harp and pipe, even on the holy 
 mountain." 
 
 ! Of a meeting -at Tottenham she saysi: " Oh ! it was a good 
 meeting. My spirit felt relief indeed, in opening the doc- 
 trines of the Gofepel to the people, largely, and with living, 
 blessed authority. Then a precious silence ensued; again, 
 thanksgiving, praise, and prayer were offered up to the throno 
 of God and the Lamb ; after which, and a solemn pause at 
 la.st, the meeting closed. My soul is encouraged to confide 
 in Him who is the strength of His poor, dependent ones, 
 and to ascribe unto Him all might, majesty, and renown; to 
 He low before Him, and to wait for the fresh openings of His 
 mind and will." 
 
 ; Speaking of the sudden removal of a friend, she writes : 
 '< My heart has indeed ached with sympathy both by day and 
 by night, in looking toward the circle in which he moved, as 
 a hilsband, a father, a son, and a brother. I have been ten- 
 derly touched with sorrow, and have dwelt upon the emphatic 
 language, 'All flesh is grass.' Thy testimoniiil of the Chris- 
 tian fortitude with which the afflicted widow bears this more 
 than common stroke from the hand that waits to sever the 
 iiearest ties of Nature, has afforded me some comfort. May 
 Almighty Kindness pour into the wounded spirit the healing- 
 balm of his Heavenly love, which, while it renders the mind 
 all passive and resigned to the sovereign' will of our Heav- 
 enly Father, brings down the high places, and prepares the 
 soul to worship, to praise, and to give thanks, as in ' Jerusa- 
 lein the quiet habitation ; ' producing the language, ' Just and 
 true are all thy ways, thou King of saints.' My tender love 
 to her, to whom all things once owned by him she loved, must 
 
46 A B R I F. F A C C O U N T F 
 
 seem to wear the garment of mourning. Tell her to be en* 
 courao-ed to took to Him who takes judicial notice of all iet 
 sii'hs, and the inexpressible feelinsp with which she views 
 the dear pledges of near mutual aflFectimi. Tell her to pray 
 that her Maker will be her husband, — the Ijord of Hosts is 
 his name. Oh ! may she also beg of Him to be a Father to 
 her fatherless little ones. He is a (i.id hearing prayer." 
 
 11th month 1'2, 1832, she writes to a sister-in-hiw near her 
 close : " Do not, oh ! do not be afraid of the dark valley to 
 be passed through, as at the foot of that hjll d«wii which 
 thou art taking some painful steps ; endeavor to look bcyoniJ 
 all suffering, all darkness, to those regions of joy and' lightr 
 where redeemed souls forever live to praise His name, who 
 hath purchased for them eternal rest and peace. But possi- 
 bly thou mayst be ready to say, there is little or no ability to 
 lift up thine head in the blessed hope of everlasting' felicity; 
 even so, I cannot but believe that the preparation is going 
 forward, however imperceptibly, to rise superior to all depres- 
 sion, and wing thy way to glory. I long foi those powers of 
 expression which some possess, to describe to thee, my sister, 
 the sweetness, the sense of the innocent life that accompanies 
 my thoughts of thee ; which makes me hope that the leaven 
 of the pure, heavenly kingdom, is rendering thee more and 
 more like itself; and I do commend thee to Him who, in His 
 love and mercy, hath paid for us poor, frail creatures a ran.- 
 som which we could never purchase for ourselves; the bene- 
 fit whereof all do partake, who, like thee, do love Him, our 
 Ijord Jesus Christ, in sincerity; so, my dearly beloved friend! 
 and sister, farewell, in thy Saviour and mine. Thy dear 
 brother's near sympathy and iuffection is with thee, which hei 
 wishes thee to be assured of. We are all three in the last 
 stage of life, and shall we regret that it is so ? True, we see 
 that we have proved ourselves to be poor, erring mortals, — 
 but yet, could we bring ourselves back to even middle age, 
 we do not know that there would be one defect less to Wot 
 out of the book of remembrance,, when the final settling day 
 should arrive. 
 
 " Should all be remitted and cleared off, it is^ mercy, mere 
 mercy, for which our immortal spirits will be prepared for» 
 ever to say Halleluia to the Lord God and the Lamb." 
 
 In an address to her children, written from Stoke Newing- 
 ton, 1st month 10, 1£83, she says : " In this place, so near 
 he city, we find «ar exercises, and religions duties to fill up, 
 
SARAH GRUBj,. 47 
 
 idd it has often appeared remarkable to me, that it was not 
 until, from the infirmities of age, we became unlikely to 
 travel much, that our lot was cast in so wide a field of labor 
 as is found here, within a circuit of a few miles ; where we 
 have many meetings of Friends quite within a ride of a 
 morning; besides which we hav« again and again to hold 
 religious meetings with other people. In this work we are 
 now engaged. Many very deep baptisms of spirit does it 
 occasion m!e, yet if I may be found in the Divine will, it is 
 enough. What signify the 'light afiiictions which are but 
 for a moment,' seeing they are not worthy to be compared 
 with the ' glory that shall be revealed ? ' I may here re- 
 mark, that from youth to this last stage of life, I have had 
 but few intimates ; and in some of th«se few I have been 
 disappointed. Friendship, true friendship, is indeed a pre- 
 cious thing- -a rare gem — hard to find. It is, however, to 
 be met with here below. It is UHohangeable as the Source 
 from which it springs. Its value ig equally known and ap- 
 preciated in piodperity and in adversity." 
 
 7th month, 1884. — "For a number of years past it has 
 been my lot to warn Friends, and particularly in the Yearly 
 Meeting in London, against a spirit of subtlety that would 
 draw us from an attention to the inward manifestation of our 
 blessed Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ; for I have long seen 
 that some of those most prominent and influential characters 
 among us never have been altogether of the Lor^d's own form- 
 ing, or as ministers of Christ : and now many, very many, 
 have embraced something short of Him who remains to be 
 the fulness, and are settling on the surface of things — build- 
 ing on the sand ; highly extolling in words the ' One Ofier- 
 ing,' which indeed is to be appreciated with feelings of ado- 
 ration and heartfelt gratitude; but they know not of what 
 they speak, while they preach up a literal faith in Christ 
 druoified, and endeavor to bring people from a pure depend- 
 ence on the leadings and unfoldings of the Spirit of Christ, 
 or the inward and heartfelt power and coming of Christ with- 
 in, the hope of glory. Divers ministers of our Society are 
 sliding, and others are already gone from that which first 
 called them to the preparation, and then did really bring 
 them into the sacred office. 
 
 " Oh ! that my dear children may walk in humility and 
 feartbefore the Lord in this evil day; that they may be shel- 
 tered from all that is airy and notional in religion, being cov- 
 
48 ABRIEFACCOUNTOF 
 
 2ied with the Almighty wing ; for it is written, ' He shall 
 cover thee with His feathers.' " 
 
 At the time of the previous Yearly Meeting she had writ, 
 ten : "I do helieve there will yet be those preserved who 
 will evidence that they are kept by the power of the Lord 
 on that foundation that cannot be shaken ; and that the same 
 testimonies given to our early predecessors to bear, will be 
 upheld and flocked unto, even though many atnong us may 
 be of those that were first, hut shall be last. I had to speak 
 of the holy propriety of keeping to plainness of language, 
 dress, etc., as well as of doctrine; which those who do the 
 will of the Father become acquainted with, beyond all read- 
 ing, hearsay, or study." 
 
 jjexden, 8th month 15, 1834. — " I may tell thee, my true, 
 sympathizing friend, that I never experienced more of the 
 living power of truth, in the exercise of the gift bestowed, 
 than since coming down here at this time ; from meeting to 
 meeting it has been so, with scarcely an exception. I have 
 indeed been a wonder to myself; for no one could sit down 
 more empty, or a greater blank : and oh ! the Word would 
 come, like the bubbling up of a well of living water, or like 
 the flowing tide; and then again, when it receded, I was dry 
 as the sand on the sea-shore. I have been abundantly con- 
 vinced that the authority and heart-melting influence of the 
 Divine Spirit is indeed distinct and separate from all that is 
 of the mere man ; and no more at the command of even the 
 best-informed and most sagacious human being, than the de- 
 scending of rain, or the flowing wave." 
 
 She had much labor in the neighborhood of London, bear- 
 ing an uncompromising testimony against everything that 
 would draw away from the simplicity and spirituality of the 
 Gospel of Christ. Her husband was now nearly blind, yet 
 he still was able to get out to meetings, and to .strengthen 
 his faithful companion in her testimonies for the truth, by 
 his sympathy and fellow labor.; 
 
 About this time, many of those members of the Society 
 of Friends in England who had departed from its principles 
 (of Quakerism), in life, in faith, and in conversation, were 
 prepared to leave the outward profession also, and to join 
 other religious denominations. Sarah Grubb saw undismayed 
 those who had long secretly opposed the principles of the 
 Society openly leaving it. She remarks: "Never fear! there 
 will be Quakers still." 
 
SARAH GRUBB. 49 
 
 i,j^2d ijijqnth 27, 1836. — "It is profitable to reiire eaeh day, 
 
 iwd in nothingness and in silence seek the: Lord. It helps 
 
 iis.^ Jit mayitot seem to profi.* at the time, but it no doubt is 
 
 pjwyirig in secret ; and our Father who sees in secret rewards 
 
 us Qjienly, by porree.ting our proneness to trifle away the 
 
 strength of the mind, and cheeking our natural temper; for 
 
 there is snm.ethitig in all which requires the regulating power 
 
 gf Jesus Christ, who was roeek and low of heart." 
 
 ' 3d month ^4. — " Perhaps there is nothing that we find 
 
 more difficult to surrender than our fisteem with those whom 
 
 we really prefer ; even as serving the Great Master with 
 
 manifold gifts bestowed u[>or,i frhem, while our own appear to 
 
 ourselves to be few, and comparatively very small ; but 1 
 
 believe, that it is essential to our acceptance with our Judge 
 
 sgd Saviour that we should be single-eyed, and if He calls 
 
 tp it, figltt His battles single-handed, like little David with 
 
 hjs, fslii;g and the smooth stone from the brook, hastening 
 
 and [Tt^nning.at the Lord's fit opportunity, without hesitating 
 
 to discover what such-and-such will think of us." " Since 
 
 our Monthly Meeting, I have hadi some further engagements 
 
 of this awful nature, holding public meetings, and through 
 
 renewed mercy, to much satisfaction and abundant relief; 
 
 which latter continues but a-short time. Oh ! the baptisms 
 
 of uiy soul ! I frequently feel such suffering, and apparent 
 
 desertion of all good, that it is indeed only by endeavoring 
 
 quietly to- keep hold of the shield of faith that I dare to 
 
 prosecute the view of meeting the people, an unprepared, 
 
 unqualified handmaiden, until the power arises, like the 
 
 bjijhl^lingi up of a well of living jvater, and reaches forth to 
 
 their conditions, even as streams in the abundance of tha* 
 
 lovp which would refresh and baptize, and gather all to the 
 
 ' ])ure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out 
 
 of the throne of God and of the Lamb.' " 
 
 "It is very evident that, of myself, I am indeed but a 
 worm; and this worm sometimes has the foot of man set 
 upon it. 
 
 "My mind is just now at liberty to enjoy your society, 
 and' for anything of this world that is .truly enjoyable; for 
 although I had a deep baptism about yesterday's engage- 
 ment, the meeting was so good, the blessed, eternal power 
 of truth was so cjlorloudy in dominion, that I feel almost 
 like one who was loosened from fetters of iron, and delivered 
 from the dark dungeon Oh ! my dear children, there is 
 5 D 
 
50 ABRIEPACCOUNTOF 
 
 nothing that gives capacity for knowing, in experience, the 
 defiuiti'on of the term felicity, like being wholly devoted to 
 our God and Saviour; to he, to do, or to suffer His will." 
 
 During the years 1836 and 1837, Sarah Grubb held many 
 public meetings in her own and nearly adjoining counties in 
 England, the Minister of ministers, who had so often blessed 
 her labors in His cause from her youth upward, was with 
 her in these engagements, baptizing her into ,deep prostra- 
 tion of spirit in prospect of each service, and crowning her 
 labors with G-ospel power and authority. 
 
 During the Yearly Meeting of 1838, she had much labor, 
 both in the men and women's meeting, and in a public meet- 
 ing for those who, having gone back to the beggarly elements, 
 had left the Society of Friends. In reference to the state 
 of the Church, in a memorandum for her children, penned 
 this year, she makes these remarks : 
 
 " Great have been the shaking and sifting that have come 
 upon us as a Society : every foundation has been tried, yet 
 that which cannot be shaken still evidences itself to be the 
 invincible, eternal Rock, on which Christ Jesus builds ' His 
 church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' 
 For years past the mourners in Zion have had to wear sack- 
 cloth, and sit on the ground, with ashes on their heads, ex- 
 cept when the Lord has lifted them up, and clothed them in 
 the beautiful garments, to show forth His mighty power in 
 and through them. Some has He made very skilful in 
 lamentation in these days. He has also given them to be 
 mighty to suffer in His cause, and He will take the ' cup of 
 toembling' out of their hand, placing it in the 'hand of 
 them that aflSict them.' The Most High is able to put the 
 harp of victory into the hands of His dear servants and 
 children, with the song also in their hearts and mouths, 
 ' Great and marvellous are thy works. Lord God Almighty ; 
 just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.' It may 
 be confessed that we are made very desolate as a people, be- 
 cause we changed our glory for that which hath not profited 
 us; and in a society capacity have turned judgment back- 
 ward; sanctioning publications and ministry which are not 
 in accordance with the true doctrines of the unchangeable 
 Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and which, therefore, the 
 few among us who have stood fast in the Lord cannot own; 
 the heavenly anointing and blessed harmony of truth not 
 
S A R A H G R U B B . 51 
 
 bejng in these things, but wisdom of words substituted , and 
 
 M^V" , . ; ... ■ ■ 
 
 Her son John having married this year, Sarah soon afterT 
 ward ^addfessed a letter to him and his wife, dated 10th 
 month 27, 1838, from which the following is taken.: 
 
 " My dear J. AND E. — May you, my dear children, never 
 consider yourselves capable of steering your own course, but 
 Ipok to Him whose ways and thoughts are infinitely higher 
 than those of finite creatures, even as the heavens are higher 
 than the earth. Yet is this the day of your might; this is 
 the, time to seek the Lord, that He may be found of you, so 
 as to put into a capacity to serve Him with a perfect heart 
 aijdwith a willing mind, in your dayj to give unto Him the 
 glory due unto His Name. It is not with our failing ener- 
 gies that ,\ve are to expect so to walk worthy the vocation 
 wlierewith we are called, as to be prepared for that happy 
 te,^{impny as applied tc ■'is, uttered by the great and just 
 Judge, ' Let her alone ; she hath done what she could.' 
 
 " The way to ensure Divine approbation is, to live each 
 day in conformity to the liol.y mind of the Creatorj as: we 
 may be favored with His leadings, by a simple reliance on 
 the Grace mercifully vouchsafed; making every sacrifice 
 called for at our hands; not despising the day of small 
 things. .1 am almost sure dear E. will, in minding the day 
 of her visitation, see the necessity of self-renunciation, which 
 begins with a little, but which is not complete until we come 
 to, adopt the language, ' as having nothing, yet possessing all 
 things.' And, dear J., has not the Lord permitted your 
 union, that individually and unitedly you may acquiesce with 
 His will, and assist each other to ascend the holy mountain, 
 where He is not only as refreshing dew, but where He 
 teaeheth His ways, and strengthens the resolutions to walk 
 in His paths. — The ways of pleasantness ! the paths of 
 peace !" 
 
 "I do not know if you were told of our being mercifully 
 permitted to draw very near to the throne of grace in your 
 dwelling, immediately preceding our leaving that dear spot ! 
 Oh ! it was precious ! You seemed to be placed before the 
 Father of mercies as children for whom His blessed spirit 
 yearned, that you might be His in time, and forever. We 
 were made truly thankful for being brought, as it were, into 
 a cloudless atmosphere, in petitioning for you and for our- 
 Belres, under a sense that we are poor, helpless beings: tl>at 
 
f,2 A B a 1 E F A C C O U N T O F 
 
 withont Christ we can do nothing; but that nevcrthelesB, 
 through His strength, made perfect in weakness, we are able 
 to do all things secording to His will. All our dear love is 
 to you. Do, my dear children, watch over your own hearts, 
 and one another for good. And the God of Jacob defend 
 and bless you, and the Almighty helper of Joseph be with 
 you. Amen, saith your affectionate mother." 
 
 A few extracts from her letters are given to show that the 
 Lord did not fail her in her old age. 
 
 2d month 18, 1839.— "We are both feeble now, and likely 
 to be subject to infirmities attendant on old age. It is often 
 a consolation to me that I feel not reproached with a want 
 of early dedication, few as my gifts have been, and little as 
 I have done for the promotion of truth and righteousness. 
 It is, however, delightful to my soul, to take a retrospect of 
 the gracious dealings of the Most High with a poor worm, 
 all wretched withont Him ; in whom I do ctill desire to live, 
 and move, and have my being, in the most exalted and im- 
 portant sense." 
 
 She was at this time suffering much from nervous pain ; 
 yet she could wrii.e, Second month 20 : " Through my mani- 
 fold and various tribulations, I do witness that it is a true 
 saying, and worthy of acceptation, which we read in Scrip- 
 ture, * Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is 
 stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.' All false 
 peace will fail, and all false and polluted rest will be broken 
 up, while that which is perfect remaineth for the people of 
 God." 
 
 Her strength increasing somewhat, she attended some 
 meetings in the Third month, wherein her labors were at- 
 tended with extraordinary baptizing power; and in the Fourth 
 month she was set at liberty by her friends to attend " The 
 General Meeting for Hereford, Worcester, and Wales;" 
 also, should strength be afforded, then to proceed to attend 
 the "Yearly Meetiiig in Dublin." These services she was 
 enabled to perform.. From Dublin, 4th month 30, she writes: 
 " Oh ! heaven is worth attaining through all that prepares 
 for an inheritance there; through all which purifies, and 
 prepares to adopt the language, ' Oh ! Death, where i» thy 
 sting? Oh! grave, where is thy vietory?'" Having closed 
 her labors here to satisfaction, she returned to her infirm 
 husband with peace of mind. 
 
 6th month 30, 1839. — " How pleasant it is sometimes, as 
 
SARAHGRUBB. 5B 
 
 ill; the sunshine,: to see beyond this vale of tears, although as 
 ^xough a glass, darkly, into the world of -joy unspeakable, 
 9jid full of glory, where all tears are forever wiped from the 
 eyes, by the hand of the Lord God Almighty." 
 
 Keturning from service in Wales and the neighboring 
 counties, she, .9th month 10, 1839, writes : " How does all 
 that is perishable and transitory, sink into comparative in- 
 significance, before the view of that which concerns the 
 soul's welfare, here and eternally; and how truly dignified 
 is the state of such as serve the Lord ' with a perfect heart, 
 find with a willing mind ! '- Without this devotedness to the 
 Most High, what would even the wisdom and greatness of 
 Splopton ; avail ? , It would not, it could not give man to be 
 found in the situation answerable to his high calling of God 
 in Christ Jesus ; even that of being ' made a little lower 
 tjian.the angels, and crowned with glory and honor!' Tell 
 your dear children, the old woman they paid such kind at- 
 tention to, when it was our lot to meet, always thought as 
 she now writes, sinoe ideas were at all formed in the youth- 
 ful mind. May they timely, yea, without delay, be so wise 
 as to 'lay up for ihcmsolves a good foundation against the 
 time to come ; ' that, should they ever live to old age, they 
 may. possess substantial happiness : that ' when the grass- 
 hopperfeels a burden,' the intolerable burden of disobedience 
 be not their portion." 
 
 11th month In allusion to the illness and death of her 
 
 daughter-in-law, she says : "At length the scene closed for- 
 ever, and the sufferer was released from all her pain and 
 sense of oppression and sinking. The spirit seemed joyfully 
 to take its flight to the happy regions of eternal life. Nearly 
 the, last word articulated was 'glory.' Ah ! my dear, to part 
 with those we dearly love, for even a better world, brings 
 sorrow indeed, and the severing stroke makes the heart to 
 bleed ; but how different the feelings in seeing any dear to 
 us wander from the true sheepfold, and the pastures of 
 Divine life, unto the dark mountains as it were, among 
 beasts of prey ! Oh ! for these I mourn ; for some especially 
 my soul is very sorrowful." 
 
 12th month 19. — "I commend thee in my mind to the 
 HeaTienly Parent, whoso watchful eye is not to be put in 
 competition with that of the most tender earthly connection. 
 Trust thy Father alone, I entreat thee ; and try to leave all 
 painful cogitations at His feet, who groaned, who sighed, 
 5 * 
 
54 A B R I E F A C C O U N T U F 
 
 who wept, who agonized in a body of flesh, in sympathy 
 with, and in a great degree for, suffering humanity. Ah ! 
 He knows that we cannot bear the load which presses on us 
 Bonietimes, without being crushed; therefore a way is opened 
 to come to Him, when heavily laden, and under great op- 
 pression, and to learn of Him meekness and lowliness of 
 heart. Come, my dear, come to Him, thy Saviour; 'A covert 
 from heat and from sto'-Tn; a hiding place in the day of 
 trouble; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land/ and 
 as rivers of waters in a dry place.' " 
 
 On 3d month 6, being atSiidbury, she says : " This morn- 
 ing early, being awake, I remembered the- Scripture, ' These 
 are they who have come out of great tribulation, and' hare 
 washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the 
 Lamb.' It was strengthening to my poor mind, for I dm still 
 in tribulation ; while it seems to me that, having done, as far 
 as made known, the Master's will, I. am permitted to suffer, 
 yet I hope with a degree of cheerfulness, and in the full 
 persuasion that there is nothing worth living for out of the 
 Divine mind." 
 
 4th month 7, 1840. — " How often do I think of the ne- 
 cessity of making use of the day, oi' walking while there is 
 a little light; to gtt on even feebly, with the remainder of 
 ray travel through the wilderness of this world ; for it would 
 be deplorable should the night come before I have finished, 
 and stumbling be my experience, not knowing how to make 
 straight steps. My poor energies are failing, and I feci like 
 a worm — and a worm on whom the foot of man has been 
 set; yet so loiig as any renewal of strength is mercifully 
 given, it is my desire to move on in that path opened to the 
 view by the Guide of my youth ; trusting that the same will 
 be the staff of old age." 
 
 4th month 9. — " We seem hastening toward the period 
 when, I humbly trust, faith and hope will be consitmmated, 
 and joy unspeakable and uninterrupted be our blessed por- 
 tion forever, through matchless and adorable mercy." 
 
 On returning from the religious service alluded to above, 
 she resigned the minute which she had held for some time 
 to her Monthly Meeting. She says, 6th month 10 : " We 
 met my loved partner in life, quite as well as when I left 
 him. It is, however, very affecting to see him so helpleSS, 
 and his sight nearly gone; but I believe that the inner man 
 is still renewed day by day; and if I may be permitted- to 
 
SARAHOBUBB. 55 
 
 see liim in his everlasting mansion before my departure from 
 hence, I think ray poor spirit could ^ive thanks in his beino; 
 spared the bereaving stroke under which he would be likely 
 to suffer beyond description ; but my heart subscribes to the 
 language, 'Thy will be done' — for our Heavenly Father is 
 consummate wisdom, as well as omnipotent; and He is help- 
 fdl to His poor children who fear Himi" -i . 
 
 "The true leadings of Christ are gentle, and the sure voice 
 isf heard in the stillness; then, however small it maybe, 
 there is safety in attending thereto, and in being guided by 
 it. Wc are not to mind the great and Strong wind, nor the 
 earthquake, nor the fire, but to let them all pass by, because 
 the Lord is in none of them. Oh ! may each come to the 
 experience of what it is to be broken, even thoroughly so, 
 that they may be built up in the most Holy faith ; that faith 
 by which victory is obtained over the potent enemies of 
 man's felicity." 
 
 ■:: 7th month 31. — "When there seems to be a dense cloud 
 between our soul's Beloved, and our prayers and sighs to 
 Him, let us not say in our hearts, ' The Lord hath forsaken 
 me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.' Let us not then lean 
 to our own understanding, but trust in His mercy and prov- 
 idence, who leadeth His children in paths they have not seen, 
 and in ways they know not; for they are as the Mtnd, yet 
 servants of the Lord ; and they are defff, yet are His mes- 
 sengers. It will not do for such, even for ambassadors of 
 the Prince of life, to have to say ' I see,' except with the 
 anointed eye, or ' I hear,' unless as the ear is ' wakened to 
 •hear as the learned ' in Christ's school, which is no easy thing 
 to our nature." 
 
 9th month 14. — "lam much as usual in health; la,-f/. 
 symptoms of a decaying tabernacle ; somcti mes humbly hoping 
 for the assurance, ' that when the earthly hou.se of this tab- 
 ernacle shall be dissolved,' a building in the heavens, which 
 is of eternal duration, may be prepared by the Divine Hand 
 for even such an one as myself. Thomas Shillitoe said, ' I 
 am going to a good home ' — 'all in mercy ' — 'no merit of 
 mine.' " 
 
 To one of her children she writes : " Our Quarterly Meet- 
 ing has closed. We have no authority for acknowledging to 
 the mwfvellmis display of Divine power, and that the fire from 
 above ' licked up all the water of Baal's worshippers,' yet 
 were we not left qw'te without the Holy Spirit ; its quicken- 
 
5t) ABRIEFACCOUNTOF 
 
 ing virtue was felt. In the meeting preceding that for Dia- 
 cipline thy mother stood (up), beginning iwith, ' Friends, thp, 
 Lord loill have a Joipli/ people.' I was led on, with tender 
 expostulation, and with a call to come home to the heavenly; 
 gift, the lowly life ; to follow Him who took not upon Him 
 the nature of angels, nor the. splendor of princes, but who; 
 appeared in this world in ' the form of a servant;' who said, 
 ' The foj^es have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, 
 but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.' " 
 
 9th month 28. — To a young Friend : " I know that thou 
 art a good deal tied to business, but with a mind like thine, 
 by no means grovelling, and a spirit far removed from what 
 may be called ' money getting,' I can scarcely conclude thy 
 engagements are likely to produce an injurious effect. T oiice 
 heard of a Friend saying of a person obliged to use great, 
 industry, that there was, through all, sweet incense ascend- 
 ing to the throne of glory from the heart of that individual. 
 Be encouraged to hope for the same heavenly-minded.iess." 
 
 10th month 5. — " Do then tell me, if thou canst, how far. 
 are we sensible of the cloud being dispelled, which hath cov- 
 ered us in the season of the Lord's anger; and whether the 
 joyful language applies unto this people, 'Arise, shine; for 
 thy light is come, and the glory of, the Lord is risen upon 
 thee?' Could my spirit be assured of this being the case, 
 then would gladness fill this fluttering heart; for methinks 
 it would be more to me than the possession of all earthly 
 good, yea, even of health itself; or to be as Moses in his last! 
 old age, where ' eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.' 
 
 "Dear R. B.'s removal is as a place left in the militant 
 Church occasioning lamentation, for that prince in Israel 
 must no more be seen amongst us; and ah ! how arc the seats 
 of such left vacant, even from year to year, for want of those 
 rightly prepared to sit down in the heavenly fellowship, under: 
 the blessed government of the King immortal ! for He will 
 accept none in the linsey-woolsey, garment, too much worn in 
 the present day. No, He will have Jerusalem in her beau- 
 tiful attire, in the true wedding garment, made white by being, 
 washed in the blood of the Lamb, and which is granted to 
 those who come through great tribulation. ' Let us hope that, 
 there remains a remnant of such, seen in the light of truth, 
 occupying their seats among the serva,nts of His house, the 
 'greater than Solomon's;' yea, and that there are of our chil- 
 dren under the Divine Hand, who, as they abide with the 
 
SARAHQRUBB. 51 
 
 pcfket, will be brought forward in due time, and richly qual- 
 ified to show forth the praise of Him who first gathered' us 
 to be a'peo-ple, and who may be instrumental in bringing others 
 to see for themselves the wonderful economy and glory of the 
 Church, the very type or representation of which made the' 
 Queen of Sheba confess ' there Was no more spirit in her.' " 
 
 Prom London she writes, aboutSd month, 1841 : " Oh ! my 
 dear, there is a resting place for us in this wearisome world, 
 even the holy bosom of Him who 'hath borne our griefs, and 
 carried our sorrows.' What a mercy 1 It seems to me that 
 the Scripture is in some measure verified, even to me, ' Ye 
 shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace. The moun- 
 tains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, 
 andiall the trees of the field shall clap their hands.' I have 
 had deep baptisms, but there is occasion to adopt the precious 
 language, ' Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ.' " 
 
 In the 5th month her husband was taken from her, having 
 something like an apoplectic stroke, from which he never re- 
 vived to consciousness. She says : " For this my heart became 
 thankful even that he knew nothing of the rending asunder 
 which was so hard to me to endure with quiet acquiescence: 
 yet no murmuring thought was permitted to enter my mind. 
 
 "I had much rather drink this bitter cup of separation and 
 go softly the rest of my days in sorrow, than that it should 
 have been his lot." " I feel stripped and lonely; missing my 
 loved companion much, with whom I travelled so long in the 
 path of Kfe, and who was very tender of me-, and thankful for 
 our union as well as myself; and although his mental powers 
 were giving way in some degree, through the infirmities of 
 age, yet I loved to be near him, and assist him what I could 
 Ah ! he has left me to take some weary steps without him, 
 but my children are all very attentive to their widowed mother, 
 and my mind is consoled in contemplating the felicity of one 
 almost dearer to me than myself, and that felicity uninterrupted 
 for evermore. There often seems to me to be granted some- 
 thinglike heavenly fellowship with the spirit at rest even now." 
 
 In the 9th month, Sarah Grubb was liberated for service in 
 Kngland by her Monthly Meeting as way might open. She 
 went soon to Ireland, and returning therefrom about the be- 
 gin-ning of the 12th month, she writes : " The religious en- 
 gagements there were close, and I was much enlarged in the 
 ministry in divers places — perhaps never more so. The visit 
 
58 ABRIEFACCOUNTOF 
 
 there brought some of the deepest baptisms upon me that J( 
 ever experienced: the retrospect, however, brings no cloud, 
 nor condemnation ; on the contrary, a consciousness of having 
 done as well as I knew how." 
 
 She proceeded to attend some meetings in England, and 
 was highly favored therein, but on the 26th of the 12th month 
 she was summoned to the bedside of a sick daughter. The 
 daughter recovered, but the mother never again left her home. 
 She was taken sick on the 13th,day of the 12th month, 1842. 
 Her sufferings were great, and she was scarcely able to sit up 
 from the period of her first attack until her close. At the 
 commencement of her illness she thought she might recover, 
 but said one day : " I think I have not been one day without 
 resignation."' 
 
 A message of love being given her, she said : "Ah ! I never 
 felt greater love for my friends, or sorer exercise on their/ac- 
 count ; but the body is weak." She seemed unable to express 
 her feelings, but after a pause added : " Oh ! there is but 
 one way after all. The good old way is the only one for us, 
 though some think me too much a stickler for this." 
 
 Her thoughts were much occupied with the low state of 
 her own religious Society, yet she thought she could see one 
 here and another there who would be raised up to stand for 
 the good old way. She could say thankfully that she had 
 preferred Jerusalem above her chief joy, and that she had 
 a consoling sense that she had done her part in submitting 
 to be made use of as a stone of the street, and that she had 
 been enabled to "fight the good fight," and to " keep the 
 faith." She added : " Oh ! it is a fine thing to have done 
 this — to have 'kept the faith' thrmigh all. The horizoa 
 of our little world, our little society, looks dull to me. There, 
 must be more shaking, more overturning, I believe." 
 
 Sending a message about her sufferings to a friend, she 
 added : " Tell her 1 call these the hailstones, but I believe 
 they have all passed through the righteous balances." " In 
 searching myself, I do not find anything laid to my charge 
 — no condemnation." , " There are things I do not forgive 
 myself, but I hope, through adorable mercy, to be forgiven.'- 
 On being asked one morning hovf she had passed the night, 
 she said : " Out of heaven I could not have been quieter. 
 It was all peace, peace. It seemed almost as if my dear 
 Saviour condescended to converse with me ; and oh ! the 
 sweetness, the meekness of His spirit." Some refreshineni 
 
SARAHURUBB. 59 
 
 Being offered her, she said : " I have been thinking of being 
 fed with the finest of the Wheatl" " Everything that human 
 ingenuity can devise seems to be done for me, but all of no 
 use." " Well ! though my heart and my strength faileth, 
 
 the Lotd is my delight, and my portion forever that 
 
 forever ! " 
 
 To some young friends she sent the following message : 
 " Give my love to them, and tell them I have thought a great' 
 deal of that text, ' Rejoice, young man, in thy youth, and 
 let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk 
 in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; 
 but know thou, that for all these things, God will bring thee 
 to judgment;' and toll them that whatever we pursue of 
 profit or of pleasure, it can only do us good ^o far as it is in 
 the fear of God." 
 
 About ten days before her close, she desired her children 
 to come to her bedside. She then addressed them : "At first 
 I thought I should recover from this illness, but now it seems 
 as if I must quite give myself up. You see that everything 
 in Nature points that way. When I got worse about three 
 weeks ago, I went down very deep in my spirit, and I said, 
 ' Oh ! my Heavenly Father, is it thy will to take me now, or 
 af Slime other time ? ' and it was answered, ' Whether I take 
 iliee now or at sonic other time, be thou ready ; ' and I said, 
 ' Oh ! but it is a very awful thing to die,' and it is an awful 
 thing. Then it was said, ' Fear not ; I can make hard things 
 easy ; and what more is there for thee to do ? ' So it was 
 shown me there was nothing left to do, nothing more to do; 
 and my rejoicing is unspeakable, that my children are re- 
 signed. Is it. not so ? ' Her children said they knew that it 
 was better for her to be released, and that they tried to be 
 resigned. 
 
 Her medical attendant inquiring if her position was a com- 
 fortable one, she said : " Oh ! I hardly ever lie comfortably, 
 but I am very comfortable in myself Ah ! creeds and forms, 
 and a literal faith, will do nothing for us. We must give up 
 our own wills entirely, and become like little children : it is 
 the only way to enter the Kingdom. I have known no other 
 religion all my life than the will of God ; and now, whether 
 I live or die, I shall be with my Saviour. Farewell, my dear 
 friend, farewell." The doctor was affected and surprised to 
 hear her speak thus, as her faculties had appeared somewhat 
 obscured through weakness. When he left the room she said : 
 
6d A BRIEF ACCOUNT 1' ;5ABAU QRUBB. 
 
 " 1 feel so comfortable now I have said tliat to him." She 
 then spoke of Lazarus, and adverting to her own sickness, 
 said she believed it would be '' for the glory of God," then 
 add3d : " Mind, I am not telling you it is ' not unto death.' 
 I would have said that long ago, for your sakcs, if I Could ; 
 but whichever way it is, it will tend more to His glory in 
 that way, than it could have done in any other." 
 
 She added some remarks to the effect that when the crea- 
 ture and its works were in the grave, and when self was dead, 
 then the Creator was most glorified. A trying period of bod- 
 ily suffering followed, during whi6h the sufferer was inwardly 
 supported, and her children were not forsaken by the Lord's 
 sustaining grace. The dying Christian said to her son, who 
 was raising her iu bed : " It is for you I feel, and there i ' 
 One that feels for you more than 1 can." She added : '■ i 
 am going to rest." 
 
 For the last day she lay in a kind of sleep, from which she 
 wakened not until death released her on the 16th of the 3d 
 month, 1842. Her family and friends, whilst mourning their 
 own loss and that of the Church on earth, were enabled to 
 rejoice on her account in the assurance that she had entered 
 into an everlasting and glorious rest. 
 
 She was aged about sixty-nine years, and had been a niiu- 
 ister of the Gospel for fifty-two years. 
 
 tHS ENP