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 AN ACCOUNT 
 
 
 OF THE EARLY PART 
 
 
 OF THE 
 
 
 %iit, aitti €onUnttmmt 
 
 THOMAS MELHUISH, 
 
 LATE OF TAUNTON. 
 
 Given by himself in a Letter to a Friend: 
 
 Together with 
 A Short Account of his subsequent Life, fyc. 
 
 With Extracts from fome of his Letters 
 On Religious Subjects. 
 
 Collected and arranged by two Friends, 
 to whom he committed the Revisal of his Papers* 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED AND SOLD BY 
 
 PHILLIPS and FARDON, 
 
 GEORGE YARD, 
 LOMBARD STREET. 
 
 1805. 
 
 4h 
 

 W 1 : ^ 
 
AN ACCOUNT, -fcfc. 
 
 IT may not be amifs to introduce the fol- 
 lowing letter with a fhort account of our 
 friend*in his early life. 
 
 He was born at Bradninch in Devonfhire, 
 about the year 1737, of parents not then 
 profeffing with Friends : but his, mother foon 
 afterwards joined the Society, his father con- 
 tinuing in profeffion with the national church* 
 
 Having learnt the bufinefs of a taylor, he 
 travelled to London for employment as a 
 journeyman in that line, about the twentieth 
 year of his age, and having been previoufly 
 brought acquainted with the principles of 
 Friends, he foon formed an intimacy with 
 fome in that city, particularly the family of 
 the Marfhmans, who kindly noticed and en- 
 tertained him 5 which doubtlefs proved a lin- 
 gular favour to him, and made a tailing 
 impreflion of gratitude on his mind, opening 
 the way to a correfpondence after his return 
 a into 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 into the country, from whence it appears he 
 addrefTed a letter to James Marfhman, of 
 which the jfp.llowinq- is an extract 
 
 2d Mo. feventh, 1758. 
 
 Respe*:ted Friend, 
 
 THE many and repeated 
 -favours received at thy hands, call for my 
 thankful acknowledgements ; and I make ufe 
 of this opportunity to return them, hoping I 
 ihall always "retain a grateful fenfe of thy 
 kindnefs manifefted to me at a time, wherein 
 my poverty and diftrefs -(fpiritually fpeaking) 
 were very great; and as from an obfervation 
 I have made, I believe thou art mindful of 
 the apoflle's advice, " Be not forgetful to 
 entertain flrangers," I doubt not but thou 
 haft largely experienced the bleffmgs which 
 attend fuch a pious difpofition, 5 and that they 
 may be continued to thee is my ardent de- 
 fire. 
 
 The humble followers of the meek and 
 crucified Jefus, whofe defi.re it is to be found 
 walking in the path of felf-denia!, and are 
 
 earneftly 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 carneftly concerned to attain a thorough re- 
 iignation to the divine will, are oftentimes 
 drawn to look back and take a forrowful 
 profpecl: of their once fallen and loft eftate ; 
 and under a humbling fenfe thereof are made 
 to adore the worthy name and magnify that 
 powerful arm, by which they were called 
 and delivered from darknefs, and brought 
 to a ftate of marvellous light ; and from 
 blindnefs and ignorance -to be meafurably 
 acquainted with the hidden myfteries of the 
 cverlafting kingdom: thefe being filled with 
 a fenfe of their unworthinefs, are at all times 
 ready to acknowledge that it is not in the 
 least by any might, ftrength, or even defire 
 of their own, but through the free, univerfal 
 love of God, by the revelation of that in- 
 vifible power in their hearts, which made 
 Felix tremble, that they are prefer ved from 
 the fins and grofs enormities by which they 
 were once led captive; and as by a fteady 
 obedience to divine grace they are kept in a 
 humble ftate, and know themfelves to be 
 (what they really are) poor dependant crea- 
 tures, infufficient of themfelves to do, or 
 even think any good, they have nothing to 
 A 2 glory 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 glory in but the crofs of Chrift, which, by 
 true faith in it, they have happily experienced 
 to be the <c power of God unto falvation." 
 
 The man out of whom the legion of devils 
 was cad, was found fitting at the feet of 
 Jefus ; and being clothed with a right mind, 
 was fent to declare unto others, what great 
 things God had done for him, and a teftimony 
 was given him to bear to that mighty power 
 which had been fo wonderfully manifefled 
 for his help and comfort; which, upon an ex- 
 amination of what I once was, and (through 
 divine grace) what I now am, permit me to 
 fay, with awful reverence to the Father of 
 all my mercies, bears fome refemblance to 
 my prefent (late, having fometimes a tefli- 
 mony given me to bear*to the worthy name 
 of Jefus, and through the influence of divine 
 love, which I feel to be largely med abroad 
 in my heart, am made willing ro declare unto 
 others, what God (through the abundance 
 of his mercy) hath done for my foul: a fhort 
 account of vhofe gracious dealings with me, 
 I here prefect to thy view, as likewife to that 
 of thy family, with iincere denres that it may 
 tend to their edification and comfort, and ftir 
 
 up 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 .up their minds fteadily to perfevere in that 
 way which leads through many tribulations 
 to the kingdom of gloiy. 
 
 God, who in the might of his eternal 
 power, gave the awful command, Be thou! 
 in due time feparated me from my mother's 
 womb; and his paternal regard and provi- 
 dential care were largely manifefted in carry- 
 ing me through a feries of bodily infirmities 
 in my infant ftate: and I was early brought 
 to a fenfe of his divine goodnefs, and fome- 
 times in my very young years, was led into 
 an admiration thereof. 
 
 It may not be improper to obferve, that 
 foon after my birth, my mother, who had 
 long been feeking the beloved of her foul,- 
 and inquiring for him amongfl the blind 
 watchmen of the night, became convinced 
 of the truth, and being brought off from the 
 fhadowy, came to inherit the fubflantial part 
 of religion: the neceffity of a holy life being 
 ftrongly impreffed on her mind, an earned con- 
 cern was raifed in her, that her offspring might- 
 attain thereto; and fhe made ufe of every 
 opportunity to inilil into my tender mind,, 
 the principles of virtue and religion. This 
 a. 3 I mention^ 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 I mention, becaufe it was of great advantage 
 to me, for her prudent counfel and exemplary 
 conduct had begotten in me fuch an awe and 
 cfteem for her, as many times prevented me 
 from joining in thofe things which I was 
 much inclined to. 
 
 But to return to my own Hate:- — although 
 when about the fixth year of my age, I felt 
 fomething of the vifitation of divine goodnefs 
 often tendering my heart, and begetting de- 
 defires in me that I might be brought to an 
 ■acquaintance and communion with my Maker, 
 ("of which I remember to have formed fomc 
 idea, by remarking Samuel's being called of 
 the Lord when but a child : which paffage, 
 my mother often repeated to me, and gave 
 me fuch advice thereon, as my tender age 
 was thought capable of receiving; ) yet fuch 
 prevalency had the evil in me, that I was 
 often drawn to do wickedly; and being of a 
 vicioufly active and mifchievous difpofition, 
 was, when among my companions, as for- 
 ward (and probably more fo ) as any of them 
 to flan mifchief, though with fo much cau- 
 tion, as, if poilible, to prevent its coming to 
 my mother's knowledge ; for on fuch occa- 
 
 fions 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 fions I was always fure to meet with correc- 
 tion, and that accompanied with fuch mild, 
 perfuafivereafoning, as frequently I remember 
 drew tears from my eyes. 
 
 Near this time (being about the eighth year 
 my age) I was often powerfully vifited and 
 the good feemed to prevail in me*. I was 
 fully convinced, (as far as my capacity at 
 that age could rightly diftinguifh) of the 
 principles of truth, and loved to go to 
 meetings, efpecially when I knew of any- 
 travelling friends being there ; which not- 
 withiianding my father was in profeflion with 
 the national church, I had frequently an 
 opportunity of doing ; and my fober and folid 
 deportment, was noticed by forne ; but this 
 continued but for a fliort time, for being 
 about, this time placed at fchool and thereby 
 more out my mother's notice than I had 
 formerly been, the enemy foon prevailed, 
 and I made use of the liberty I now had* 
 to improve myfeif in thofe vices I had a great 
 propenfity to. I wifh parents would be very 
 careful how they flation their children in this 
 refpecl: though far be it from me to reflect- 
 on the conduct, of mine ; they (my mother 
 a 4 especially. 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 cfpecjally), acHng with great care therein, as 
 far as their circumftances would permit ; but 
 for want of being placed with a religious 
 mailer, I think I fuffered lofs. 
 
 About the twelfth year of my age, my 
 father died, and fome time afterwards I was 
 taken from fchool, in order to be put appren- 
 tice ; and there being no perfon near of our 
 profefiion very fuitable to place me with, for 
 want of a better, I was bound to a parifh- 
 clerk, about five miles from the place 
 where my mother lived, and feven from a 
 meeting; though I am certain had my friends 
 known _ the irregularity and bad conduct of 
 that family, they would not have put me 
 there. 
 
 Being now of a bad difpofition, and placed 
 among thofe who were rather worfe than 
 myfelf, I foon threw off the reftraint of reli- 
 gion, (to which I had hitherto paid fome 
 regard) and became openly prophane. 
 
 Concerning this part of my life let it fuffice 
 to fay, that for about three years and a half, 
 my conduct and behaviour were fuch as filled 
 the heart of my dear mother with unutterable 
 forrow ; to fee (as fhe fometimes expreffed 
 
 herfelf) 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 lierfelf) the fon of her hopes ungratefully to 
 flight the merciful vifitation of heaven, (which 
 as I have hinted, was wonderfully extended 
 to me in my very young years) and precipi- 
 tately run the way to deftrucYion. Oh how 
 fhe mourned I For me fhe went pained as a 
 woman in travail, and often fcattered her 
 tears in folitary places: for me her hopes 
 feemed gone; and me expected nothing elfc 
 but on my account to lie down with forrow in: 
 the grave. I could largely dwell on this af- 
 fecting fubjeel:, but would be brief, and haften 
 to that happy time wherein the merciful vifita- 
 tion was again extended ; and I could with 
 great propriety and feeling experience, make 
 ufe of the apodle's exprejGTion, " (Thrift Jefus 
 came into the world- to fave finners, of whom 
 I was chief." My being thus divinely reach- 
 ed, fully confirmed me in the belief of the 
 universality of the love of God, for had any 
 been, as fome abfurdly affirm, eternally de- 
 creed to damnation, I think I had been one.. 
 When I had continued from about t the 
 thirteenth to the feventeenth year of my age 
 in a known violation of the divine commands, 
 the voice of the Lord, which I had often 
 a 5 heard. 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 heard calling unto me in the cool of the day, 
 and gently moving ort my mind, was now 
 more powerfully lifted up. Where art thou? 
 was founded in my ears in inch a -manner as 
 evidently denoted that divine wrath and in- 
 dignation were juflly kindled againft me; and 
 although a ftrong and fervent cry was raifed 
 in me, that I might be delivered from the 
 body of fin and death, in which I faw myfelf 
 plunged, I had no hope; all feemed vanifhed, 
 the heavei^ were as brafs, and the earth as 
 iron; nothing in either, I thought, could, or 
 rather would, afford me comfort; I faw him 
 whom I had pierced with my fins, and my 
 foul was wounded with the fight. After I 
 had continued for fome time in this mournful 
 ftate, the Lord, who in judgment remembers 
 mercy, looked upon me, and as I was gra- 
 dually brought more and more under the 
 humbling hand which was at work in me, 
 by the purifying operation of the heart-clean- 
 ling wordy a fecret hop© would at times arife, 
 and give me a faint profpecl: of what, if I 
 continued humble, I fliould one day experi- 
 ence: though this was fometimes the cafe, 
 yet inexpreilibly deep were the agonies, and 
 
 bitter 
 
( 1-1 ) 
 
 bitter diftrefs I at this time underwent on a 
 remembrance of my pail life; and the being 
 deprived of the opportunity of feeing or 
 converfmg with religious perfons, (there be- 
 ing fcarcely one in the place where I lived) 
 did not a little, add to my affliction, for being 
 continually expofed to temptations, and no 
 one to encourage me in the way of well-doing, 
 none to lend a helping hand, or affift, what 
 I can fcarcely at that time call myfelf, a tra- 
 veller Sion-wards, I frequently fell into thofe 
 things again, for which I had fo deeply 
 differed. 
 
 Thus I continued in this toffed, afflicted^ 
 and comfortlefs fituation for a confiderable 
 time, but at length the day came wherein 
 liberty was proclaimed to the captive, and- 
 the gofpel found of peace and falvation de- 
 clared in my foul; the heavens appeared 
 with a ferene and beautiful afpecl, and it 
 may be faid the very morning (tars fang for 
 joy, and welcomed the returning prodigal. 
 Thus I was brought to witnefs that the peace 
 of God paffes the under-landing of the na- 
 tural man, and I often felt the enjoyments of 
 divine favour^ and now it appeared clearly 
 a 6 to 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 to be my duty to leave off going to the 
 public w orfliip, which fince my apprenticeihip 
 I had been in the practice of: as likewife to 
 ufe the plain language : both which in time 
 I gave up to, but not fo fully to the latter, 
 as I ought to have done; (o great was the 
 crofs, that I often thought I fhould much 
 rather choofe to give up my life: but my 
 eye being kept to him whofe omnipotent arm 
 had been largely manifested for my help, he 
 made way for me where no way feemed to 
 be, and fupported and carried me through 
 the clofe baptizing exercifes which attended 
 my giving up to the heavenly vifion. 
 
 Thus, from a loft fallen ftate in which I 
 once was, through the unutterable love and 
 mercy of God I am brought at times feelingly 
 to know that my Redeemer lives : how (hall I 
 celebrate his praife or enough proclaim his 
 abundant mercy, but by freely devoting the 
 future part of my life to his fervice: may 
 therefore thy prayers with thofe of thy dear 
 family (to whom I feel myfelf united in the 
 bonds of indiffoluble love) afcend for my 
 prefervation : my exercifes to this day are 
 great, my befetments clofe, and temptations 
 
 powerful - 7 
 
( i3 ) 
 
 powerful ; and therefore when it fares well 
 with you, remember me, as, if ever favored 
 folemnly to approach the throne of grace, 
 and admitted to worfhip in the holy of holies, 
 I {hall you. 
 
 May thefe lines, my dear friends, encou- 
 rage you to perfevere and fleadily walk in 
 the way of the crofs, that there may be raifed 
 from amongfl you, teftimony bearers to the 
 faving powers thereof. For my part I freely 
 confefs the love of God hath fo influenced 
 ny mind, that I have fometimes thought I 
 fhould be willing to run to and fro in the 
 earth, that I might teach tranfgreflors his 
 ways, and that finners might be converted 
 unto him: but it is hard to remain under the 
 preparing hand; though it lies heavy upon 
 me, my heart is melted, and I am quire dif- 
 folved under the humbling fenfe thereof. I 
 feel the drawings of immortal love extended in 
 my heart towards mankind; and I am almofl 
 ready to warn them, from an appreheniion 
 of duty, to flee from the wrath to come : 
 but I mufl longer remain under the forming 
 hand of him who alone can prepare and 
 qualify his fervants for the work he fends 
 them to do. 
 
 Finally 
 
( H ) 
 
 Finally, my friends, farewell. I beg ex- 
 cufe for fo long detaining you, and now take 
 my leave, and recommend you with myfelf 
 to the Rock of Ages for prefervation ; that 
 if ever we meet again, we may have to re- 
 joice in the Lord, and our joy may be full 
 in the God of our falvation: to whom afcend 
 from the heart he hath quickened, thankf- 
 giving, glory, honour, and renown : for he 
 is everlaftingly worthy, faith my foul. 
 
 Thomas Melhuish- 
 
 The following letter (without date) 7 ap- 
 pears to have been written to fome friend in 
 London, fo on after his return from that city.. 
 
 Dear Friend,. 
 
 IT is a very awful thing to have a tefti- 
 mony to bear for God ; but awful as it is, he 
 hath raifed up, and (blelTed be his name) is 
 (till raifing up and qualifying fome for that 
 fervice; and who (hall fay unto him, " What 
 doeft thou?" if in his infinite wifdom he fee 
 
 meet 
 
C >5 ) 
 
 meet to employ the meanefl veffels in his 
 houfe therein. Excufe me, my dear friend, 
 if from the fincere refpeel: I bear, and the 
 unity of fpirit I have with thee, 1 lay before 
 thee the deep concern of my mind, the 
 ardent prayer and breathing of my foul, that 
 I may not mifs my way in fo important an 
 affair as bearing a teftimony for God : I 
 have been led to fee, yea, and to partake of 
 the deep and baptizing exercifes which thefe 
 at times pafs through. O my foul, mayfl 
 thou never faint under the preparing hand, 
 but be encouraged to prefs forward, remem- 
 bering that the chaflifements of the Lord 
 are tokens of his love, who makes his. people 
 perfect through fuffering. 
 
 I cannot upon the whole think that the 
 deep concern which thou faweft me under, 
 proceeded from difobedience; I confefs I 
 many times had fome fentences brought to 
 my remembrance, and impreffed with fome 
 weight on my mind whilft with you ; but I 
 did not fee my duty in that refpefr fo indif- 
 putably clear as I wanted, and I was not in 
 the lead willing to a& at an uncertainty in fo 
 momentous an affair j and the awful fenfe of 
 
 my 
 
( 1 6 ) 
 
 my being called to fo weighty a fervice as to- 
 fpeak a few words in meetings, took fuch 
 hold of my mind after I came from the Savoy, 
 as to bring that deep concern upon me; and 
 with many tears was I moved to fupplicate the 
 majefty of heaven for prefervation, direction,, 
 and affiftance therein ; and methought in an- 
 fwer to my prayers, I felt fome degree of the 
 anointing oil poured forth; and fmce I came 
 home, way hath been made for me, and with 
 much trembling, reverence, and fear, I one 
 day flood up in our week-day meeting, which 
 is but fmall, and uttered a few words as they 
 were brought to my remembrance; with 
 which fome folid friends have given me caufe, 
 by the kindnefs of their behaviour, to think 
 they have unity; but oh, I find my exercifes 
 increafe, under which nothing can fupport me 
 but that omnipotent arm which hath hitherto- 
 preferved. I find a neceffity for a continual 
 warfare that my life and converfation may 
 eorrefpond with that teflimony given me to 
 bear, and above all things, that in the exer- 
 cife of my gift I may be careful never to 
 move till rightly called: I have forrowfully 
 obferved that many who take upon them to 
 
 exercife 
 
( *7 ) 
 
 cxercife the minifterial fun&ion, if they have 
 been rightly called thereto, yet for want of 
 due attendance on the great minifter of 
 minifters, have gone from that life, which 
 alone makes preaching of the gofpel profit- 
 able. 
 
 Some time after his return to the country, 
 he removed to Taunton, and married Jane 
 Mullet, then a widow of that town. Here he 
 carried on the bufinefs of a Shopkeeper, in 
 which however he met with fome difficulties ; 
 yet under a variety of trying circumftances 
 it appears he kept in view the one thing 
 needful, the cultivation and improvement of 
 his own vineyard ; and fas he found his 
 mind concerned) the labouring for the im- 
 provement of others. 
 
 About the year 1768, we find him vifit- 
 ing one of the weflern counties: and after 
 his return he wrote an epiftle to Friends of 
 the fame county, expreffive of his deep con- 
 cern on their account: from which the fol- 
 lowing is an extract 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 Since I paid you a vifit, various have been 
 the thoughts and cogitations of my heart 
 concerning the (late of things among you in 
 a religious fenfe -, but amidft the doubts which 
 have attended me, I have not been with- 
 out a degree of certainty in this comfortable 
 feeling truth, that let things, be as they may, 
 the extendings of divine help are mercifully 
 continued in order to the further cleanfmg, 
 edifying, flrengthening, and preferving, ac- 
 cording to their feveral growths, all thofe 
 among whom a degree of fmcerity remains; 
 w r hich divine care feems to be manifeiled, 
 not only in that you are favoured with fome 
 remains of a living minitlry, but more efpe- 
 cially in that, though many things have oc- 
 curred to prevent the free circulation of the 
 fpring of life among the body in general, in 
 that increafmg flowing manner which could 
 be defired, yet you are humblingly favoured 
 with a good degree thereof, and but few are 
 funk to fuch a pitch of lethargic fcupidity as 
 not in fome degree to be fenfible of its in- 
 fluence -, 
 
( n 5 
 
 Alien cc ; and fome feem to be fo quickened 
 and enlivened thereby, that to feel and enjoy 
 it in this communicating enlarging manner, is 
 become the joy and rejoicing of their fouls.. 
 This general view and fenfe of things, 
 having been prefent with -me, has afforded 
 comfort to my travailing foul, in folid hope, 
 that as you were not forfaken of the ever- 
 lafting helper, but divine mercy difpofed 
 to bear with you yet another year, and con- 
 tinue his cultivating care, fome individuals 
 (I wifb they may be many) will fo carefully 
 attend to the defigo of the great Lord of 
 the vineyard as to bring forth fruit in pro- 
 portion to that care which has been richly 
 and freely manifeilcd towards them ; yielding 
 fubjeclion to the forming hand in all things; 
 that flript of all falfe reafonings, carnal com- 
 prehenfions, and all human felfifh mixings 
 whatever, in the underftanding and ability 
 the truth alone gives, they may attend to the 
 proper bufmefs of the day; watering, planting, 
 or whatever elfe may fall to their lot ; having 
 an eye and dependance on God for an 
 kicreafe both refpe&ing their labours and 
 the particular (late and advancement of their 
 own minds. 
 
 And 
 
( so ) 
 
 And bear with me, dear Friends, if under 
 the prevalence of divine love I warn the 
 negligent, carelefs, and lukewarm, (for fueh 
 there are among you) on whofe account I am 
 dipt into deep {offering, and ready to cry 
 out in the myfterious language of the apoftle, 
 (including my brethren fellow-fufferers on 
 the fame account therein,) " If the dead rife 
 not, why then are we baptized for the 
 dead?" If the determined difpofition of their 
 hearts long rivetted to the earth, is to 
 hide their talent therein, and the fixed bent 
 of their minds to grovel in corruption and 
 .vanity, and feek no other crown than what 
 the world can give them, why fuifer we on 
 their account? If they have bartered heaven 
 for earth, and fold their birth-right for a 
 mefs of pottage ; if the wild uncultivated 
 nature of Efau fo prevails in them as to 
 induce them to offer violence to the fecond 
 birth, the true feed of Jacob,, in which their 
 election Hands, why forrow we at the blemng 
 being taken from them ? especially as all our 
 forrow and fuffering refpe&ing them feems 
 to be in vain ? Yet read me, dear friends, in 
 my painful feelings on this occafion, while 
 
 my 
 
c « ) 
 
 my foul laments that there fliould be any 
 among you who have thus received the grace 
 of God in vain: I pray God, with my whole 
 heart, their number may never be increafed, 
 but that the fmall remains of life in other 
 weak dwarfifh minds, may be fo effectually 
 ftrengthened, that by uling all diligence they 
 may be excited to fuch an holy circumfpection, 
 as that their works may be found perfect 
 before God. 
 
 And, dear youth, though the affe&ionate 
 Sowings of good- will in my heart, ftrongly 
 reach toward you, yet being fully convinced 
 divine mercy careth for you, and is imme- 
 diately influencing your minds to feek true 
 reft; to that gracious fuccouring care, that 
 nourifhing ftrengthening fupport, which the 
 bifiiop of fouls is ever ready to communicate, 
 to him that can do all in you and for you; 
 to the good fliepherd that puts his own forth, 
 and goes before them, feeding them in the 
 green paftures, and leading them befide the 
 ftill waters ; to. him whofe veftment is dyed 
 in blood, whofe name is the Word of God, 
 do I commend you, and remain, 
 
 Your friend and brother, 
 
 Thomas Mejlhuish. 
 
( » ) 
 
 The following Letter, addrefTed to two 
 women friends, travelling in the fervice of 
 truth about this time, with whom he appears 
 to have 'felt near fympathy, may not be 
 thought unworthy of a place here. 
 
 Taunton, 11th Mo. 28th, 1760, 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 AS contrary to my intention and the ex- 
 pectation given, I was prevented from accom- 
 panying you to Bridport, coniidering the 
 abrupt manner in which I took leave of you, 
 a kind of debt feemed due, and an acknow- 
 ledgment of the affectionate nearnefs and ref- 
 pettl bear you : and although fpirits redeemed 
 from the earth, who know the Lord Almighty 
 to be their father, and that by the fpirit 
 of his fon they are quickened to walk in 
 newnefs of life, are under divine protection 
 as their conftant refuge, yet I have thought, 
 while in our prefent mode of being, we 
 fometimes receive confolation in an encou- 
 raging 
 
C 23 ) 
 
 raging hint from a kindred fpirit, though in 
 an inferior relation: and indeed, this feems 
 to have been the general way of the Al- 
 mighty's dealings with his people, fince from 
 the beginning, it is not many mighty, not 
 many wife, &c. that have been called, but 
 God hath chofen the foolifh things of the 
 world, to confound the wife, that no flefh 
 might glory in his fight; but both high and 
 low, rich and poor, flrong and weak, might 
 remain in that acceptable felf-abafement and 
 humility, which will not fail hi" due time to 
 exalt them to honour, through their being 
 made partakers of the ciown immortal ; and 
 notwithstanding by the teftimony of Jems, 
 and fpirit of prophecy which many have 
 received, they arTuredly know falvation to be 
 come to their houfes, yet in every rightly 
 difpofed mind, this comfortable fenfe will 
 tend to promote circurnfpect walking under 
 the power of the daily crofs ; that by the 
 virtue thereof becoming more and more 
 .crucified to the world, and their affections 
 gradually weaned and loofened therefrom, 
 they may have a certain, diftinft knowledge 
 that their falvation is nearer than when they 
 
 firft 
 
( *4 ) 
 
 firfl believed, through the abundant increafc 
 of love towards the brethren ; and this love 
 working into a conftraint upon our minds, 
 would, f were it poffible) compel Ifrael to be 
 gathered ; and confident with the Sowings of 
 divine good- will leads again and again to offer 
 reconciliation through the blood of Jefus; yet 
 to the grief of our hearts, this teflimony is not 
 received by many among us, but the workings 
 of a contrary fpirit have fo prevailed, that to 
 deal plainly and honeftly we are neceffitated to 
 adopt the general language of the fpirit to 
 the feven churches, that though there may 
 be a few who have not defiled their garments, 
 and thefe may be permitted to walk with the 
 Iamb in white, for they are worthy; and to 
 whofe prevailing intercession it may be owing 
 that the candleftick is not yet removed out 
 of its place; neverthelefs, " there are many 
 things againft thee;" through the fpreading 
 of the fpirit of error and deception, it has 
 unhappily fo happened: you know it as well 
 as I; and I doubt not are daily fufferers in 
 fpirit thereby; fo that however it has fared 
 with you hitherto, yet it is much to me if 
 in the courfe of your journey, the language 
 
 of 
 
( ** ) 
 
 of your hearts be not fometimes, " Darknefs 
 covers the earth, and grofs darknefs the 
 people:"- and fo thick is the cloud there- 
 of, that the teftimony the Lord has given 
 us to bear, does not pierce it 5 neither is 
 it fcattered : the dead are not raifed, and 
 our preaching is in vain. But, dear friends, 
 be fervent and patient in fpirit, and deep 
 in travail for heavenly help, to enable you 
 to roll the ftone from off the mouth of the 
 well ; that living water, pure and unmixed, 
 may be drawn therefrom, and the little 
 tender remnant being refrefhed thereby, they 
 with you, and you with them, may afcribe 
 all honour and praife, thankfgiving and glory, 
 to the bleffed Father and Shepherd of the 
 flock and family. 
 
 I long to conclude, which I fhall now do 
 with defiring to hear from you: and with 
 the falutation of dear love, in which my wife 
 joins, remain your affectionate^ friend and 
 brother, 
 
 Thomas Melhuish. 
 
i *6 ) 
 
 Although it appears he wanted not for 
 opportunity to engage more extenfively in 
 worldly concerns, with a profpect of advan- 
 tage, yet his religions care not to exceed 
 the bounds of true moderation in this re- 
 flect, is evinced by the following letter. 
 
 To 
 
 Having thoughtfully confidered thy pro- 
 pofal, feveral reafons concur in my appre- 
 iienfion to render fuch an union not advife- 
 able : but notwithstanding a partnerfhip in 
 the retail trade mud be attended with con- 
 siderably more difficulty than is likely to occur 
 where an opportunity offers for engaging 
 in a wholefale bufmefs, and my defire of 
 your continuing in town, would induce me 
 readily to concur in any well founded fcheme 
 to that purpofe, did I look upon myfelf at 
 liberty to enter fo far into the active purfuits 
 and bufy fcenes of life as fome others may 
 commendably do, without infringing on the 
 rule of duty pointed out by the wife director, 
 who is not wanting to imprefs the mind with 
 
 a language 
 
< *7 y 
 
 a language of this kind, " This is the way, 
 walk in it:" but, as from a careful observa- 
 tion, I find much of the comfort and happi- 
 nefs of my life, as well as the profpect of a 
 future reft in glory, depends on my not 
 neglecting the gift that is in me, the mod 
 fatisfa&ory reafon I can give for my declining 
 to accept of thy offer is, that a growing 
 concern has for fome time fixed on my mind 
 txrvifit the nation of Ireland; and though 
 the prefent fituation of things with me ren- 
 ders my taking fuch a journey aim oil im- 
 pofiible, yet I am in hopes that the fame 
 good hand who has been my fupport in 
 many a trying feafon, will, in his own time 5 
 work a way for my difcharge of that fervice, 
 which begins to lay as a debt on me, Under 
 fuch circjamftances, I mould be culpable to 
 fubmit to any farther entanglements, (how- 
 ever advantageous the profpeft may be) 
 which had any tendency to hinder my being 
 in the way of co-operating with the grace of 
 God, towards fetting me more at liberty. 
 
 % M. 
 
 8-2 
 
( «* ) 
 
 As the time drew near for accomplishing 
 his intended vifit to Ireland, his mind feems 
 to have been more and more deepened and 
 humbled under the exercife which attended 
 him on that account: the following ejacula- 
 tion or prayer, found among his papers, ap- 
 pears to have been penned on this occafion. 
 
 O Lord God Almighty ! the blelTed Father 
 and provider for thy children., and who hath 
 abundantly promifed to preferve and uphold 
 thofe that rely upon thee; my foul bends 
 in deep reverence before thy throne, and 
 looks towards thee with the voice of fuppli- 
 cation and prayer, humbly begging, that, 
 for thy dear Son's fake, thou wouldefl be 
 gracioufly pleafed to remember every tolTed, 
 tried, and exercifed foul, and enable them to 
 bear the turning of thy hand in judgement. 
 And, O Lord! as thy controverfy is againfl 
 ail unrighteoufnefs, let thy holy fan winnow 
 clean, entirely drive away and feparate the 
 chaff, that nothing may remain that is of a 
 nature contrary to thy pure holy will. And, 
 O Lord! thou who heardeft the didrefTed 
 cry of Ifhmael in the wildernefs, and who 
 beheldeft him when ready to faint, and 
 
 caufedfl: 
 
( 2 9 ) 
 
 caufedfl thy holy angel to adminifter to his 
 neceiTitics, be near in every tryirig hour, 
 fupport under every exercife, comfort under 
 every trouble, and fan&ify affliction, both 
 of body and mind, to thofe who have begun 
 to walk in the way of regeneration ; and 
 keep them from falling either on the right 
 hand or on the left $ that, O bleffed Lord! 
 thefe poor fouls may live as monuments of 
 thy mercy and gracious care; may have to 
 acknowledge to thy praife, that thou haft 
 made way for them when there was none, 
 haft fet their fpirits at liberty, haft difengaged 
 them from the mire and clay, the (licking 
 frith of the world, and haft been pleafed to 
 put a new fong in their mouths, and to* 
 eftablifh their goings in righteoufnefs. 
 
 And I pray "thee, O Father! if fo unworthy 
 a creature may pre fume to approach thee 
 wider that appellation, as thy regard is ex- 
 tended to all thy workmanfhip, be graciouily 
 pleafed to afford a little fuccour to my totter- 
 ing foul ; deliver me from temptation, and 
 preferve me from the paw of the bear. And 
 Lord! as thefecrets of all hearts are open 
 to thy view, and the folitary track in which 
 b 3 I ara 
 
'( 3» ) 
 
 I am led along is known to thee, open the 
 way for my enlargement, and help my bur- 
 dened heart, filled with the burden of thy 
 word, and drawn to a aidant land to dis- 
 charge the growing debt to fas glory of thy 
 great name, the edification of thy church, 
 and the confo.iation of my own poor foul : 
 thou knoweft all my tremblings ; nor are 
 my fecret meanings hid from thy all penetra- 
 ting eye; look with pity upon me. 
 
 And thou who called!! Samuel of old, and 
 vcuchfafedli to reveal thy fecrets to him, fo 
 make my way plain before me, remove 
 every ftumbling block, and keep me from 
 doubting in thy holy fervice. And now, 
 Lord, with a humbled heart, I afcribe unto 
 thee glory, and greatnefs, thankfgivings and 
 praife, to the Lord God and the Lamb, 
 who through the eternal fpirit, art worthy 
 •for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 In the year 1774, he accomplifhcd his 
 vifit to Ireland ; having part of the time the 
 acceptable company of James Gough, then 
 
 a refident 
 
( S? ) 
 
 a refident of Briflol, who arriving in Dublin 
 after him, they both attended the fpring 
 national meeting there, and afterwards tra- 
 velled together through moil of that nation. 
 Of this vifit we are not able to give fa 
 complete an account as' we could wi(h; but 
 hope the following extracts of letters from 
 T. M. to his wife, will be acceptable to our 
 readers. 
 
 Dublin, 11th of 4th- Mo. 1774. 
 
 I wrote to thee from Liverpool kft fourth; 
 day evening, by which thou wilt be informed 
 of my journey to that place, and the extra- 
 ordinary care and kindnefs of Friends there,, 
 in furnifhing the more than neceilary accom- 
 modations for the paffage. We failed from 
 Liverpool fifth day morning about 9 o'clock, 
 and had a long paflage, (jhe wind being con- 
 trary) and through the favour of Providence, 
 got fafe here feventh day evening, abour, the 
 9th hour, and met with a very kind reception 
 at the houfe of my friend William Taylor, in 
 Dame Street. Yefterday, after the morning 
 b 4 meeting,- 
 
( 3* ) 
 
 meeting, I received thine with great fafis- 
 fa&ion and thankfulnefs, in that thou waft 
 brought into a degree of refignation and 
 quiet fubmiifion at my thus leaving thee ; I 
 hope the favour and kind notice of the ever 
 bleffed Father of the family will be over thee 
 for good, and that thy health will be con- 
 tinued in the additional fatigue which falls to 
 thy lot. 
 
 I expect to leave this city on fourth day, in 
 order to take fome meetings in the country, 
 and go on my way to the Province meeting, 
 for M under, to be held at Clonmel next 
 firft and fecond day week, and from thence 
 to come directly back to Dublin to the 
 national meeting, to begin on the fourth 
 day following; where I expect -to meet my 
 companion, and to join him in fuch fervice 
 as may be pointed out to us. I am willing 
 to be as particular as I w r ell can, that thou 
 mayft be informed of my journeying along ; 
 which I have thankfully to acknowledge, 
 has in degree been under a fenfe o^ beft help 
 being with me, to my folid comfort, attended 
 with an evidence of my being in my right 
 place : and I am induced to hope, that he 
 
 who 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 who has engaged me in the fervice, will be 
 near to fupport me through every trial, and 
 bring me to my native land in fafety. 
 
 Dublin, 5th Mo. 5th, 1774 
 
 I returned to this place lad fixth day, hr 
 company with many friends from the country, 
 to the national half years meeting, which- 
 began on feventh day, and ended laft even- 
 ing. The meeting was very large, and a 
 favoured opportunity. Rachel Wilfon found 
 her mind drawn to attend it; and fhe landed 
 lafl fixth day morning, and took up her quar- 
 ters at my lodgings : her company was very 
 inflru£tive, and (lie had excellent, fervice in 
 the meeting. James Gough landed laft fe* 
 cond day evening, well. Rachel Wilfonj. 
 Efther Tuke, Hannah Wigham, Thomas 
 Colley, and poor I from England; Thomas 
 Green, Samuel Neale, with many other 
 friends of this nation, were at the meet- 
 ing, in which I thought it my place to be 
 filent, except a little matter which opened' 
 b 5 ia 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 in the felecl meeting. Rachel returns the 
 firft opportunity; and the reft of us are dif- 
 pofed of in different routes. My companion 
 and felf intend fetting off to-morrow on our 
 journey ; which I hope we may get quite 
 through in ten weeks at furtheft: I mention 
 this, that thou mayft not be difappointed in 
 frequent expectations to no purpofe; and 
 hope to travel diligently, and get through as 
 fast as I can: for although my mind is mer- 
 cifully preferred in a fettled calm as to every 
 thing in this world, yet I am often induced to 
 look towards my wife and habitation with a 
 nearnefs and affectionate longing beyond ex- 
 preffion ; begging for thy prefervation every- 
 way, and fupport under every exercife. 
 
 Tullamore, 5th Mo. 16th. 
 
 Whenever favoured to return, hope it 
 will be to mutual fatisfa&ion, as I feel re- 
 newed affiftance from day to day in my 
 ftepping along ; opening into fervice, and 
 preferving my mind in humble quiet, and 
 refignation to divine difpofal. 
 
e 33 ) 
 
 Cork, 5th Mo. 30th. 
 
 I reached this city with my companion 7 th 
 (fay afternoon, having rode lafl week 182 
 miles, and been at fix meetings; and yeflerday 
 morning, much to my fatisfaclion, received 
 thine; and may now inform thee, that through; 
 the continuance of djvine favour, I have in 
 general been helped along with a degree of 
 peace and true comfort. After the week 
 day meeting to-morrow, we intend to fepa- 
 rate for about three weeks; my companion 
 inclining to ftay here longer, and I propofmg 
 to go by Youghal, Clonmekand Shurebank, 
 to Waterford, by £rft day; where I intend 
 to reft fome days, and from thence through 
 the counties of Wexford and Wicklow; 
 after which we think to join, and go through 
 the province of Ulfler together, which will 
 finifh the journey. I have had, through di- 
 vine favour, on the whole, a good fhare o£ 
 health: but have fome what of a cold*, which* 
 expect- a few days will carry off. 
 
 *§. 
 
( 3<5 ) 
 
 The cold he here fpeaks of appears to have 
 increafed, and to have brought on a com- 
 plaint,, which confined him for about two 
 weeks ; .after which he fet forward, his 
 companion accompanying him for fome time, 
 and purfuing the track fpoken of in the 
 above letter to his wife, appears to have 
 completed his journey, and to have returned 
 home in fafety without his companion, after 
 an abfence of about 18 weeks. 
 
 The near afFeclion and fympathy which 
 fubfifted between thofe two friends, and 
 fellow travellers in the work of the gofpel, 
 appears not to have terminated with their 
 vifit to Ireland, but to have continued un- 
 fhaken through the remaining viciffitudes of 
 life. 
 
 "We apprehend James Gough not long 
 after performing this vifit, removed from 
 Briflol and fettled with his family in Ireland, 
 and that the following lines from Thomas 
 Melhuiih were addreffed to him foon after- 
 wards. 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 Taunton, lft Mo. 1ft, 1775. 
 
 Dear Friend, 
 
 I began to be uneafy at not hearing from 
 thee; when I received thy very acceptable 
 letter of 9th ult. The account of thine and 
 family's welfare, of thy peregrination, and 
 the kind notice of our dear friends, was 
 truly pleafmg j which I have no doubt will be 
 continued; as there is a mutual keeping on the 
 bottom of fincerity and humility, and as thofe 
 difpofitions prevail, and a true friehdfhip is 
 eftablifhed on this foundation, it will be 
 more ftrongly Kvetted by the ownings of 
 divine regard, and the fheddings abroad of 
 the love of God - 9 in which we rejoice 
 together as brethren of the fame family, who 
 have but one common interefl in view ; and 
 this naturally leads us to fhare one with 
 another in the feafons wherein fufferings 
 may be neceflary for a farther refinement, 
 and more meet preparation for that kingdom 
 the joys whereof are divinely fuited to the 
 nature of pure and perfect fpirits, made fo 
 through fuffering: and in our travail in the 
 
 way 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 way towards this kingdom, I have feen, I 
 was about to fay, in the light of the Lord,, 
 there mufl be no claiming of pre-eminence, 
 no contefls about priority or feniority ; but 
 even thofe who through divine favour have 
 fo far advanced as to know what it is to be 
 in the fpirit on the Lord's day, mufl in the 
 fame meeknefs and humility, adopt the lan- 
 guage of the favoured apoftle, " I John, 
 who alfo am your brother and companion in 
 tribulation and in the kingdom and patience 
 of JefusChrift." 
 
 Thefe remarks, as at many other time?, 
 very unexpectedly flip from me; but I con- 
 sider the gofpel as an inexhauflible fund of 
 durable riches, and though we can preach no 
 new dofhrine, yet there is a beautiful difplay 
 of divine mercy, in the variety of gifts it 
 communicates to thofe who in fimplicity 
 embrace it: and whilfl we thankfully admire 
 the Lord's goodnefs in making us partakers 
 of the fellcwlhip of the myftery, let the 
 ardent breathing of our fpirits be for prefer- 
 vation on this innocent, child-like^ foundation. 
 
 It is not worth my while to take much 
 notice of the little uneaiinefs which occurred 
 
 at 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 at Briftol before thy leaving it ; but I am 
 very glad it is removed, and be affured, my 
 dear friend, my heart is often with thee; 
 and though we may not meet again in muta- 
 bility, the Lord grant we may meet where 
 we may part no more. 
 
 I have moved but little from home fincc 
 my return from Ireland; but from a gentle 
 draught in my own mind, have been at Cla- 
 verham, and Exeter meetings, which were 
 feafons worthy of deep commemoration ; but 
 I am much fhut up about home; and I believe 
 thou knoweft that in our poor little meeting 
 the life of truth is too little fought after, 
 and we fare accordingly; but I labour after 
 contentment in my allotment, with defires to 
 be kept free from entanglement, that fhould 
 there be, in the motion of life, a command 
 given, " Go fee how thy brethren fare," I 
 may be at liberty fo to do. But of any thing 
 of this kind, I have yet no expectation, nor 
 fcarcely any view. 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 The following, though without date, ap- 
 pears to have been written fome time after 
 the foregoing, to the fame friend. 
 
 Dear Friend, 
 
 I may now acknowledge the receipt of 
 thy two letters; the firft by a friend from 
 Dublin, and brought to me by T. P. on his 
 return from London, the other in ufual 
 courfe, by poft, both which were very ac- 
 ceptable: and I truft, to hear from thee, 
 will always afford fatisfaction to my mind. 
 
 I am truly glad that our valuable friends, 
 > and have been fo emi- 
 
 nently owned in their vifit to your nation, 
 and hope the fame confoling protecting care 
 will attend them to the conclufion of their 
 labour with you; and indeed to the end of 
 
 their race. I do not wonder at Y 
 
 filence with you, as I apprehend her principal 
 bniinefs in leaving home, was from a concern 
 to vifit the nothcrn counties; in which being 
 
 joined by , fhe found a freedom from 
 
 the fame draught of love and nearnefs, to 
 
 accompany 
 
( 4" ) 
 
 accompany her to Ireland. And fuppofe> 
 whilft under the feeling of unutterable mercy 
 yet extended to a people forgetful of their 
 duty, fome may be conflrained to lift up 
 the voice like a trumpet, in order to fhew 
 them the ftate of alienation they (land in, and 
 livingly to point out the caufe thereof: if 
 others equally loaded with the burden of 
 their perverfe ipirits, under a clear di fcerning 
 of the long fuffering of God, mould find 
 it their duty to move up and down among 
 them as figns and wonders; being dumb, 
 and no otherwife reprovers, than by the 
 deep, inward, mournful exercife of their 
 fpirits; does this point out any inconfiftency 
 in the orderings of infinite wifdom? Nay fure- 
 ]y, let thee and me, my dear friends, ftedfaftly 
 move in our proper allotments, having no 
 will or defire, but to be found doing the 
 will of God, as it may be clearly pointed 
 out, and the way clearly opened. 
 
 I feel a little with thee in thy prefent 
 fettered ftate, being myfelf under ties of that 
 kind; which whilft I at times feel the incon- 
 venience of, I lament the too general indo- 
 lence, amongft fo many, who have every 
 
 wilted 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 V/Ifhed for opportunity to do good ; bnt 
 their own wills not being mortified, that 
 difpofition is alive, in which the will of God 
 can never be acceptably performed. 
 
 In the years 1776 and 1777* he was en- 
 gaged with divers other friends* appointed by 
 the Quarterly Meeting, in paying a rcligiaus 
 vifit to the families of Friends belonging 
 thereto. Of this vifit our friend kept mi- 
 nutes: by which it appears he had his fhare 
 of the weight and fervfce thereof. One 
 circumftance it may not be amifs to mention, 
 that whilfl in the neighbourhood of Briflol, 
 Thomas Melhuifh went with fbme other 
 friends, his companions, to fee William Fry,, 
 of that city, who was then thought to be 
 near his end ; and concerning whom, he gives 
 the following account. 
 
 In tranfcribing the foregoing notes of this 
 vifit, I think it may not be improper to re- 
 mark in this place, that our dear friend W. F. 
 
 departed 
 
C 43 ) 
 
 departed this life in about ten weeks after : 
 whofe removal as a valuable member of 
 religious and civil fociety, muft be fincerely 
 regretted by all who knew his worth. As a 
 Chriftian, he was deep in experience in the 
 hidden, inward life: and although he was 
 rich in this world, through faith he over- 
 came the world, and was far removed from 
 the fpirit and nature of it. And as a minifter 
 of the gofpel of peace, his conduct to all 
 that know their foundation and keep on it, 
 muft appear truly amiable and inftrucb've; 
 exceedingly deep in travail, his fpirit longed 
 to feel the bubblings of the living fpring, 
 and in true filence to enjoy it and be made 
 partaker thereof: and as he knew that 
 nothing but what comes from God, can 
 gather to God, he was remarkably cautious 
 in his appearances; being filled with a reli- 
 gious care that no likenefs might be formed, 
 he waited to feel the burden of the word; 
 and when he flood up, the fpirit of wifdom. 
 was with him, and the power of his God 
 was upon him : fo that it was abundantly 
 evident, he was a minifter, not of man, but 
 of God. How I loved him! — and in this 
 
 reccJletTioa 
 
C 44 ) 
 
 recolle&itm of him as a Chriflian, a minifterv 
 and a friend, my mind is much afFecled, but 
 yet comforted in a renewed feeling, that as 
 his life, when in this world, was hid with 
 Chrift in God, he now triumpheth over fin, 
 death, hell, and jhe grave, and is entered 
 into his man Hon. 
 
 In the year 1778, we find him travelling 
 towards Northamptonfhire and Leiceflerfhire, 
 and that in the year 1781, he vifited the 
 meetings of friends in Lincolnfhire and York- 
 (hire. The following extracts of letters, 
 which he wrote to his wife while on this 
 journey, will convey fome account thereof.- 
 
 Wycombe, (in Buckingham/hire) 
 3d Mo. 24th, 1781. 
 
 I wrote to thee lafl fecond day evening, 
 from Marlborough, which we left third day 
 afternoon; and have had meetings at New- 
 bury, Reading, Henley, and this place, 
 which we leave this afternoon, in order to be 
 
 at 
 
C 45 ) 
 
 at Aylefbury to-morrow, and at Leighton in 
 Bedfordshire in the evening, and from thence 
 to Ampthill into Lincolnfhire, as direclly as 
 we well can. We are favoured with health, 
 and attended with bell help, opening the 
 way to edifying labour in many places, mu- 
 tually comfortable to friends and us. 
 
 Spalding, (Lincolnfhire,) 4th Mo. 2d. 1781 
 
 Since I wrote lad we have been at meet- 
 ings at Aylefbury, Leighton, Ampthill, Hunt- 
 ingdon, Ives, Earith, and Ramfey, and came 
 here feventh day evening; were at two meet- 
 ings here yeiterday, and have been this day 
 to Gedney, (about 12 miles) to a meeting, 
 and back here again, in order to go forward 
 with other friends to the quarterly meeting. 
 Here are in this county about 14 particular 
 meetings, fome of them a good diftance from 
 each other, fo that it will be two weeks hard 
 work to get through it; in about which time, 
 I hope to enter Yorkfhire. We have been 
 favoured with health, and my mare carries 
 me bravely along; being helped from place 
 
 to 
 
C 46 3 
 
 to place to caft a little bread on the waters. 
 under the reaching influence of divine love; 
 which hope may be mercifully continued, and 
 that we may be favoured to meet again ig 
 the enjoyment of beft peace* 
 
 mm 
 
 Hull, (Yorkfliire,) 4th Mo. 19th. 
 
 Laft evening we fet our feet in Yorkfliire, 
 having crofled the large river Humber, from 
 Lincolnfhire, about five miles over to this 
 town; and had a pretty good paflage. At 
 this place we have had a meeting this morn- 
 ing; a confiderable number of friends belong 
 to it, and fuitable doctrine opened with a 
 degree of baptizing fweetnefs and authority, 
 tending much to open our way for further 
 fervice in this county. As we did not get 
 into this county at Thorn, as at firfr. intended, 
 I had an opportunity to fend by a friend to 
 N". D. to requefl him to forward the letter 
 directed to him to this place ; which came to 
 hand this morning, and rejoiced I was to 
 hear from thee, and to find thy health mer 
 cifully continued, as we Jiave thankfully to 
 
 acknowledge 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 acknowledge ours has been ; and that beft 
 help has greatly favoured us, owning the fer- 
 vice in which we have been and are engaged ; 
 and enabling us to preach the gofpel in de- 
 rnonftration of the fpirit, and with power, to 
 our great humiliation and abafement, and the 
 praife of him who upholds and preferves, 
 and who alone is worthy both now and for 
 ever. Amen. 
 
 Scarborough, 4th Mo. 27th. 
 
 I often feel for thee with much affectionate 
 nearnefs, in hopes that as I am thus feparated 
 from thee, (not of choice, but apprehenfion 
 of duty) divine protection will guard thee, 
 and make thy flepping along eafy, as with 
 deep thankfulnefs I have to acknowledge it 
 has been gracioufly extended to me in this 
 journey, affording fuccour and fupport in 
 the needful time. W e have been helped on 
 in this county much to our own and friends 
 fatisfa&bn : after fpending about three weeks 
 more in it, I hope to get a difcharge, and 
 to fet my face homewards. 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 York, 5th Mo. 4th. 
 
 After a reafonable repaft, fucceeding a la- 
 borious exerciling meeting at this place, this 
 forenoon, being recruited in my ftxength and 
 quiet in my mind, I fit down to inform thee 
 that we came here on fourth day evening, 
 having had that day two meetings, at Mal- 
 ton and Thorntoa, both fpending and ex- 
 ercifing as to bodily ftrength, but favored 
 with bed faccour and fupport. We left 
 York yeflerday morning, in company with 
 feveral friends, to attend the monthly meet- 
 ing for this diflrift, about 15 miles off, 
 which was a profitable feafon ; and returned 
 w T ith them in the evening, in order for the 
 meeting this day. We propofe leaving this 
 to-morrow morning, a meeting being appoint- 
 ed at a place about ten miles off; after w r hich 
 we propofe going on about 15 miles, to 
 North Cave, in order to be there on firft 
 day. 
 
 I wrote this day week from Scarborough: 
 fin.ce, I begin to feel a comfortable releafe 
 from my burthen, and hope in fomething 
 more than a week to get out of this county 
 and to haften homewards. 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 After performing this vifit he appears to 
 have been for feveral years at and about 
 home, being diligent in the attendance of 
 religious meetings both for worfhip and dif- 
 cipline; and in the year 1784 was again en* 
 gaged with divers other friends in vifiting 
 families in the county, which, as well as the 
 former vifit of the like kind, appi ars to have 
 been attended with fatisfacYion and profit. 
 
 We apprehend he travelled about this 
 time in company with our ancient valuable 
 friend John Thomas, of Winghill, on a vifit 
 to friends in Devon and Cornwall, but of 
 this not having any certain account, fhall pro- 
 ceed to fay that the next vifit we find him 
 engaged in was in the year 1 795, when he 
 vifited the meetings pretty generally in mod 
 of the midland and northern counties: this 
 took him up nearly three months, and being 
 winter time, he appears to have been a good 
 deal expofed to the weather in the northern 
 parts, and to have fuffered in his health j 
 but was enabled to difcharge the fervice re- 
 quired of him to his own folid peace, and we 
 doubt not to the comfort and edification of 
 friends, as will more fully appear by the fol- 
 c lowing 
 
( 5° ) 
 
 lowing extracts of letters to his wife, while 
 on this journey. 
 
 Melkfliam, 10th Mo. 23d, 1795. 
 
 I got here laft evening, agreeable to my 
 expectation; I have been at meeting to-day, 
 and felt a fecret evidence accompanying my 
 mind, that by waiting in faith and patience 
 in a fteady humble feeking after divine help, 
 all will be w r ell, and that I am going in the 
 way of my duty. Thus, amidft the various 
 toflings I have lately palfed through, am now 
 favoured with a calm peaceful mind. 
 
 Ackworth, 5th Mo. 11th. 
 
 We got here lafl evening, about five 
 o'clock, thirteen miles from Doncafter, where 
 we had an appointed meeting in the morning, 
 favoured in a good degree by the great Maf- 
 ter of our aflemblies ; indeed, it is with hum- 
 
 ble 
 
( 5* ) 
 
 ble gratitude I thankfully acknowledge the 
 continued renewal of his gracious regard 
 from meeting to meeting; opening as it were 
 into the (tore-room of his inexhauftible trea- 
 fury, and furnifhing therefrom every needful 
 fupply. 
 
 J. H. recovered fo fpeedily as to be able 
 to attend the meeting at Nottingham on firft 
 day, which was large, and after a time of 
 deep inward exercife, I was enabled to (land 
 up, and began to the following purport: 
 
 Suppofmg this to be the beginning of a 
 time of general calamity; fuppofing the over- 
 flowing fcourge, which had fpread defolation 
 upon defolation in many other places, fliould 
 be permitted to reach the inhabitants of this 
 highly favoured land, in a manner different 
 from what it had hitherto done; and fuppofing 
 the Almighty, in his unfpeakable compaflion, 
 fhould commiffion his angel or meffenger to go 
 forth as with a writers ink-horn, to fet a mark 
 of deliverance on thofe who loved him in, 
 fmcerity, and really feared his name, my very 
 foul within me was grieved to confider how 
 fmall a number of thofe under our name, in 
 many places, were likely to become the 
 
 favoured 
 c z 
 
( 52 ) 
 
 favoured objects of his divine prote&icn and 
 companionate regard. 
 
 In further opening this affecting fubjecl, 
 folemnity covered the meeting, and though I 
 was filled with confolation, yet my mind was 
 fo affected, that my fpirit almoit funk within 
 me, and I retired to my lodgings and wept. 
 
 I propofe to go to York on feventh day, 
 and from thence to proceed through the 
 county of Durham into Northumberland, 
 and fo to return through Cumberland. 
 
 His next letters give an account of his 
 getting to York, and from thence through 
 Durham, &c. into Cumberland, with but 
 little remarkable, except that of getting 
 along to good fatisfaclion. In a letter from 
 Cockermouth, dated 12th of 12th Mo. .he 
 writes thus : 
 
 My movements through this county have 
 been as quick as feemed prudent, and with a 
 deep fenfe of humble gratitude have thank- 
 fully 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 fully to acknowledge the continued merciful 
 aid of the bleffed Head of the church, fo as 
 to anfwer the purpofe of the vifit in calling 
 bread on the waters, with the fweet returns 
 of confolation to my own mind. 
 
 The meeting at on fifth day was 
 
 fo remarkable, that as I make no minutes 
 of my journey except as to distances, I am 
 inclined to mention it here, as it may be 
 preferved when I am gone to where the 
 wicked ceafe from troubling, and where 
 the weary foul will rind reft. I began thus ; 
 " The hiflory of our fociety furnifhes us 
 with an account of two friends, who after 
 the dawning, or rather clear breaking forth 
 of gofpel light in the laft century, after a long 
 night of apoftacy, and thick darknefs, were 
 prepared and fent forth from this part of the 
 nation, towards thofe pans where my accuf- 
 tomed habitation now is^ this fubject, with 
 the beginning of a teftimony which one of 
 them had to deliver, has particularly impref- 
 fed my mind in this meeting, and if my recol- 
 lection is right, was to the following pur- 
 port : I proclaim fpiritual war againft the in- 
 habitants of the earth, who arc in the fall 
 c 3 and 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 fcparation from God : and (as if he would 
 have enforced the found of his voice from one 
 end of the earth to another) added, and I 
 prophefy to the four winds of heaven. 
 
 This beginning opened the way to profi- 
 table labour, in which doctrine diftilled as the 
 dew, folemnity covered the meeting, and 
 filled my mind with thankfulnefs, and a con- 
 folation I cannot exprefs. 
 
 The paffage alluded to may be found in 
 the account or journal of J. Camm and 
 J. Audland, or in C. Marfhall's works. 
 
 His next letter, dated 16th of 12th Mo. 
 after giving fome account of his journey, and 
 the lafl meeting he had attended, goes on 
 thus : 
 
 I took leave of Cumberland with a quiet 
 peaceful mind, and of a valuable elder, who 
 had accompanied me to the laft meeting, 
 with near affection. 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 In a letter from Kendal, ,12th Mo. 24th, 
 he gives an account of his being laid up 
 with a cold, taken through riding in violent 
 wind and rain; but by the kind care of the 
 friends where he lodged, foon recruited, and 
 fet forward for Lancafter; in a letter from 
 which place, dated 12th Mo. 27^ he writes 
 as follows : 
 
 I am now in the way towards home, and 
 this is caufe of rejoicing to me, as I doubt 
 not but it will be to thee and others of the 
 family ; for fo oppofite to my natural inclinati- 
 on is this mode of travelling, that were it not 
 that the love of Chrift conftraineth and that 
 amidft its inconveniences, it is attended with 
 a peace which the world knows not of, the 
 entering on a journey of this fort feels as the 
 bitternefs of death ; but fo refigned at pre- 
 fent is my will, that I fubmit with cheerful- 
 nefs to the lengthening out of this and even 
 taking my life as in my hand, and going on 
 another if it again become necelTary. 
 
 From Lancafter he pafTed on to Manchefler, 
 Coalbrook Dale, and Worcefter, having ac- 
 ceptable fervice, and fo returned home in 
 fafety. 
 
 G 4 
 
( 56 ) 
 
 Towards the latter end of the year 179S, 
 he found his mind engaged to vifit again 
 many of the counties through which he had 
 pafledj in his former journey, with this dif- 
 ference, that in fome parts he parTed on with- 
 out having many meetings 5- and feeling him- 
 feif comfortably difcharged from this fervice, 
 returned home. The following (hort extracts 
 from fome of the letters, written to his wife 
 while engaged therein, may not be Unaccept- 
 able. 
 
 9th Mo. 17th, 17&8. 
 
 I have not found any occafion to lay by 
 on account of my health j and through deep 
 wading exercife of mind to be dipped into 
 a clear fenfe of the (late of things, way hath 
 opened to my great relief, and my foul 
 magnifies the fuccouring arm, (till at times 
 made bajre for the help of thofe who truft in 
 it. 
 
( S7 > 
 
 10th Mo. 18th. 
 
 Having" met with feveral of my old ac- 
 quaintance, to whom I was in the lad journey 
 nearly united, we have rejoiced in feeing 
 each other j and parted in the renewed feeling 
 of that love which is the bond of Chriftiari 
 union and fellowship. 
 
 Without entering into many particulars, 
 which cannot convey much information to 
 thee, with humble thankfulnefs I may ac- 
 knowledge the ever bleffed Father's care, 
 fnftaining in every trial, fupporting in every 
 conflict, and furnifhing flrength fufficient for 
 the day; may my life be devoted to his 
 fervice, and every thing within me; all the 
 faculties of the mind unite in bleffing the 
 ever worthy name. 
 
 I2'tfi. Mo. 6th.- 
 
 Bleffed for ever and' ever be the God of my 
 
 life, for the merciful fupport vouchfafed in 
 
 this journey, preferring in the heights and in 
 
 c 5 the 
 
C S3 ) 
 
 depths, enabling in reverent humble gra- 
 titude to fet up another Ebenezer or (lone 
 of memorial, with an infcription that he who 
 runs may read, " Hitherto the Lord hath 
 helped/ 1 
 
 The only remaining vifit in which he ap- 
 pears to have been engaged at a diftance 
 from home, was in the fpring of the year 
 1800, when he vifited the meetings' in the 
 county of Suffer, with fome others in his way 
 out and home; a letter from him to his 
 wife, while engaged therein, gives the fol- 
 lowing account. 
 
 Lewes, 4th Mo. 22d. 1800. 
 There are only fix meetings in this county, 
 five of which are now paifed much to the 
 relief of my mind, and I contemplate a 
 fpeedier return to thee than I expected, with 
 heart felt gratitude; for although when under J 
 a clear apprehenfion of being called forth | 
 and engaged in the fervice, and under thel 
 influence of divine conftraint enabled to found 
 
 the 
 
C 59 ) 
 
 the alarm, and endeavour to roufe the lethar- 
 gic from their beds of eafe, I have fometimes 
 thought it would be pleafant to end my days 
 therein; yet when the duty is difcharged, 
 whether at a greater or lefs diftanee, or at 
 home, to feel the dedication accepted, and 
 ChriftVs legacy of peace fealed as it, were on 
 our fpirits, what caufe of heart felt thankful- 
 nefs: and although deep exercife hath often- 
 attended my mind, yet I reverently rejoice 
 in the merciful fuftaining fhare thereof vouch- 
 fafed to me. 
 
 Having thus attended our friend through 
 mod of his religious labours, we fhall now 
 fubjoin extracts from fome of his letters, &c. 
 on religious fubjects: the following appears 
 to have been written to a friend and his wife^ 
 in the north, after his vifit to thofe parts, m 
 the year 1781. 
 
 c 6 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 Taunton, 7th Mo. 16th, 1781. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 Soon after my return, I thought of writing 
 to you, having often had to remember you 
 with gratitude and near affection, and as 
 your hearts were open to receive us as dif- 
 ciples, and plentifully to minifter to our 
 wants, as fuch in looking towards you I 
 have frequently wifhed that both the pro- 
 phets and difciples reward may be yours ; 
 and as my life was, when in your parts, a 
 life of mourning, and the bitternefs of the 
 meffage was often as the bitternefs of death : 
 in this flate of deep humiliation and abafe- 
 ment, your kindnefs and near fympathy 
 were as the healing balm, or a reviving cor- 
 dial. Thus it is poor travellers are led along : 
 fometimes the hand or power of the Lord is 
 upon them, and very evidently to their own 
 underflanding, and that of others, accom- 
 panies them in their fervice : in times of 
 w r eaknefs their judgment becomes more cloud- 
 ed, their faith faileth them, and they go as 
 for their life, from the power of Jezebel; 
 
 they 
 
( 61 ) 
 
 they feek to hide themfelves by a- day's 
 journey in the wildernefs; the juniper tree 
 affords a fhadow, but yet in this (late of 
 emptinefs unto death, and fpiritual defection, 
 as wilful tranfgreflion is kept clear from, 
 weaknefs is not imputed as a crime, and he 
 whofe unfpeakable mercy is over all his 
 works, confiders them as proper objects of 
 divine regard: thus it fared with the prophet 
 Elijah, after an extraordinary fervice, before 
 his appearing upon the mount of God at 
 Horeb, where his faith was renewedly con- 
 firmed, and his underflanding more clearly 
 opened as. to the true flate of things; and 
 thus it fares with many now, for as the Lord's 
 melTages by his fervants fpring from the fame 
 ground, and are intended to promote the 
 fame caufe now as formerly, the fame prepa- 
 ration is neceffary to bring the poor creature 
 into a proper degree of fitnefs to go on his 
 errands, to plead with, to invite, to expof- 
 tulate, and finally to proclaim his controverfy 
 with a ftiif-necked and rebellious generation ; 
 and although for their obflinacy, for the 
 clearing of themfelves and him who fent 
 them forth, fome may be permitted to (hake 
 
 off 
 
C 6z > 
 
 off the duff of fheir feet againfl them, and turn 
 to the Gentiles, yet the day of their vifitation 
 not being finally palTed over their heads, 
 others may be raifed up amongfl them, and 
 as a fign, may be directed to take their bread 
 weeping, and mingle their drink with their 
 tears: and there is no doubt with me in the 
 prefent (late of things, that whoever is pre- 
 ferved in the true line of fervice, will have 
 very narrow tracks and deep wadings to pafs 
 through ; but in and under all this, my 
 beloved friends, is caufe of rejoicing, that 
 they who fuffer with Chrift, are to be ad- 
 mitted to reign with him, and what a painful 
 ministry did he pafs through! how long was 
 his preparation j how fimple his entrance 
 upon fervice, and in the profecution of it ; 
 how contrary was he led to the fpirit of the 
 times in which he made his appearance. A 
 few fimple fifhermen; fome who by reafon 
 of their maladies were the objects of public 
 fcorn ; a few poor women feemed to be the 
 chief of his profelytes; for though many 
 thoufands from curioflty at times followed 
 him, though in mercy he fed them by an 
 amazing miracle, yet the far greater part 
 
 were 
 
C H ) 
 
 were clofed up in unbelief, and perhaps fame 
 of thofe who had tailed of his miraculous 
 bounty, joined in the cry, " Crucify him; 
 Crucify him." 
 
 It is now about 24 years ago that being 
 a ftranger ye took me in and admitted me 
 to a place in your friendfhip, and although 
 the acquaintance formed in confequence 
 thereof was near, yet being foon after fta- 
 tioned in my allotment at a diftance from 
 you, I had but feldom an opportunity of 
 manifefling how much. I felt myfelf obliged, 
 or of difcovering my grateful attachment to 
 you, in confequence of favours repeatedly 
 conferred: thus circumftanced-, I have be- 
 held five of the much loved family one after 
 another, paying the debt of nature, fome 
 of whom I may truly acknowledge, in 
 Solomon's language, ftuek clofe to me than 
 a brother; but the lait forrov/ful event, the 
 removal of thy dear brother, was particularly 
 
 affe&ing, 
 
C H ) 
 
 affecting, arid the cireumftances attending it, 
 loudly proclaim the uncertainty of all human 
 enjoyments - y retired from bufinefs, and bleff- 
 ed with a heart to communicate and do good,, 
 innocently difpofed to mare in the pleafures 
 of fociety , and relifli the fatisfa&ion of vifit- 
 ing his acquaintance and near kinsfolks, ac- 
 cording to the flefh : behold him on this 
 journey, amidft all the fatisfaclions attending 
 it, fummoned to a more delicious banquet, 
 and to drink to the full of thofe rivers of 
 pleafure that are at God's right hand for 
 evermore: under this confederation, though 
 his friends lofs be to his gain, yet as in times 
 of weaknefs it is difficult to dwell in the 
 true fpirit of refignation, without which we 
 may mourn our lofs too much. And view- 
 ing thee now in thy retired fituation, depriv- 
 ed of his agreeable fociety, my mind has 
 affectionately remembered thee in very near 
 fympathy, with fervent defires that this trial 
 may be truly fanc~tified, and thy mind pre- 
 ferred thorougoly awakened to feek after 
 comfort and fupport from that hand which 
 alone can minifter the fame to any purpofe; 
 this, my beloved friend, was the joy of thy 
 
 younger 
 
( 6 5 ) 
 
 younger years, and this I doubt not at all, rs 
 now the alone fource from which thou art 
 expecting to derive confolation; and were 
 the fpirit of grace and fupplication poured 
 forth upon me, and were it in my power to 
 direct the language thereof upon this occa- 
 fion, it would run in the channel of mod 
 earned affectionate willies, that the bitter 
 potion might be fweetened with a double 
 portion of the coniblations of the Holy Ghoft, 
 wimciTed as a precious pledge of your again 
 meeting where there is no more forrow, no 
 more death, or feparation, but where the 
 Lamb, who is in the midd of the throne, is 
 known to feed his redeemed flock, and to 
 lead them to the fountains of living waters. 
 Accept, my dear friend, in the reviving 
 of the fpirit of true friendfhip, this little 
 tribute thereof; and although we are fo cir- 
 cumdariced as not to be likely to be much 
 in one anothers company, yet let me have a 
 fhare in thy remembrance ; being, refpecting 
 the nature of the fervice I am engaged in, a 
 man of forrows and acquainted with grief; 
 feeling the increafing weight and burden of 
 the word, frequently to call from the teu~ 
 
 derdl 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 dereft connexions in human life, and to leave 
 every concern in it 5 dipped under a painful 
 fenfe of the working of the myftery of iniqui- 
 ty; and led to bear the iniquity of the houfe 
 of Judah and Ifrael like the prophet formerly, 
 lying on his fide; under this concern, an 
 exercifmg journey through part of divers 
 counties, lately fell to my lot, but pointed 
 more particularly to Lincolnshire and York- 
 fhire; from which, through the merciful fuc- 
 cour of him, who called forth, we were fa- 
 voured to return with great peace of mind. 
 
 Under a renewed feeling of the Father's 
 love, a frefh uniting and reviving former very 
 tender feelings, do I falute thee, and con- 
 clude, 
 
 Thy very affectionate friend, 
 
 T. M. 
 
 To 
 
 Taunton, I lth Mo. 18th, 1783. 
 Esteemed Friend, 
 
 If refpecling our own growth a deep at- 
 tention to have the foundation well laid, and 
 
 to 
 
( <7 ) 
 
 to build thereon according to the direction 
 of the great mailer builder, is neceflary; if to 
 ftand clofe in our ranks, and watch with 
 diligence the direction and orders of the 
 captain, is to deferve the appellation of good 
 foldiers, let us of the foremofl rank be ex- 
 emplarily confpicuous herein, and endeavour 
 to awaken in the hindermoft claries an inward 
 fubjeclion to the principle of regeneration, 
 which in its progrefs in the mind, gradually 
 feparates from the love, the fpirit, nature, 
 and friendfhip of this world: for although a 
 conformity to the truth has generally efta- 
 blifhed a reputation among men, yet it has 
 been by a conduct which has been the means 
 of opening that eye in them which can fee 
 the beauty of holinefs, though themfelves 
 are not in the nature of it. In this rambling 
 of my pen, a mournful profpect prefents, as 
 to the fucceeding generation : here, were my 
 head waters, and mine eyes a fountain of 
 tears, I might weep night and day; but what 
 will this avail, or can the torrent of corruption 
 be ftemmed thereby? but fo much has the 
 gloomy profpect overwhelmed my mind, that 
 I am aimoft finking under the load, and if I 
 
 have 
 
C 68 > 
 
 have at any time been furnifhed with weapons 
 to wield in the warfare of the Lamb, they 
 are now ready to fall out of my hands. 
 
 To perfevere in thofe times with becoming 
 (lability, to magnify the gift, the grace, in 
 careful improvement to the honour of the 
 bleffed giver, I affectionately w 7 ifh may be 
 thy happy experience; and the over£ght of 
 the flock, brought under thy notice, be at- 
 tended to in the fpirit of a true feeder; and 
 difcipline in the power of it, endeavoured to 
 be maintained in a zeal, cultivated by that 
 wifdom, which difcovers how to lay judge- 
 ment to the line, and righteoufnefs to the 
 plumline •, and as far as my capacity reaches, 
 I defire fincerely to unite with thee herein on 
 this ground, and fhould rejoice whilft the edge 
 of it is turned to prune and lop off a variety 
 of fuperfluous branches, if it is alfo directed 
 powerfully to ftrike at the root, from whence 
 thefe evils fpring, w-ithout partiality* 
 
 To conclude; let unity, a onenefs of heart 
 and mind in the life, prevail in minifters and 
 elders, to the banifhing all fhynefs and dis- 
 tance, and as brethren of the fame family,, 
 children of one father, let us unite in lifting 
 
 UP 
 
( 69 ) 
 
 up the Lord's ftandard, and bear the ark in 
 the bottom of Jordan ; and with fpirits 
 clothed with humility and fervent zeal, fup- 
 plicate the Moil High to fpare his heritage a 
 little longer, and take away the reproach 
 from his people. 
 
 I am, with near affection, 
 Thy friend, 
 
 Thomas Melhuish^ 
 
 To Friends in tfee County of • 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 I cannot eafily forget the deep exercife 
 which attended my mind in my late travel 
 through that part of your county I was 
 again led to vifit , and the remembrance of 
 the near unity I felt with many livingly con- 
 cerned friends in their trying allotments, 
 hath been very precious, as well as that the 
 rawnefs, leannefs, and barrennefs of many 
 in profeffion with us fo painfully affected me 
 
 that 
 
f 70 ) 
 
 that my ftrength feemed taken from mc, and 
 rottenncfs, as it were, entered into my bones. 
 Now to thofe who were partakers with me in 
 my bonds, does the falutation of that love 
 reach, which being the product of a divine 
 principle in the mind, leavens every thing 
 into its own nature ; and oh, may fuch in 
 whom this birth has taken place, be careful 
 not to indulge or nurfe, either in themfelves, 
 or thofe under their care, any thing oppofite 
 thereto ; for this wounds the pure life, and 
 hinders its growth ; and this care and con- 
 cern as it is abode under, will manifeft itfelf, 
 and its exercife will break forth on all occa- 
 fions; how will the minifters, rightly anointed 
 and renewedly qualified for that purpofe, 
 blow the trumpet in Zion ! how will the 
 elders aiTemble and endeavour to gather the 
 children ; and when thus affembled and 
 gathered, humbled under a fenfe of their 
 own weaknefs, and the need they have of 
 that care which can alone preferve, looking 
 towards thofe who (land at a diflance, and 
 are yet ungathered! how earned at times 
 will their intreaties be to the throne of 
 grace, in a language fimilar to this, " Spare 
 
I 7 1 ) 
 
 thy people, O Lord, and give not thine 
 heritage to reproach." 
 
 An anxious defire has attended my mind 
 that the youth may be brought more clofely 
 under the notice of their parents or thofe 
 more advanced in years, and that more earn- 
 eft endeavours may be ufed to bring their 
 tender minds into an acquaintance with and 
 fubje&ion to the principle of truth ; if this be 
 eife&ed and their attention thereto quickened 
 by the confiftent example of, thofe who ought 
 to be watching over them for good,, one 
 great point will be gained in the profpecl: of 
 future (lability, and their understandings be 
 likely to improve in things ufeful in religious 
 and civil fociety; and as we differ from 
 others in principle and practice, the ground 
 of .this diffent (of which none need be 
 afhamed) will be clearly underftood, and 
 thofe who are now behind hand in every 
 refpeft be able to give a reafon of the hope 
 that is in them with meeknefs and fear, and 
 the fatal tendency of mixed marriages be 
 clearly feen, and carefully avoided. 
 
 The grace we recommend the attention of 
 the people to, is a lively inftru&ive principle, 
 
 and 
 
C 72 ) 
 
 and being a free gift, in mercy communicated 
 as it is believed in and occupied with, won- 
 derfully opens the underftanding ; by this 
 many of the worthy ancients in your county 
 became wifer than their teachers, and were 
 made eminent inilruments in their day for 
 promoting the knowledge of the truth and its 
 fpreading amongft mankind, by which many 
 were turned frcm darknefs. to light, and 
 from the power of Satan to that of God: 
 and I feel an increafing concern on your ac- 
 count, that the line of fucceiTion may be 
 preferved, and by the power of living faith 
 many may beroufed to inquire, " Where is 
 the Lord God of Elijah?" 
 
 You will accept thefe few hints as pro- 
 ceeding from a real concern for all your 
 growth and increafe with the increafes of 
 God, from 
 
 JTour affectionate friend, 
 
 Thomas Millhuish. 
 
 Taunton, 3d. Mo. 11th, 1759. 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 The following eight were addrejjed to the 
 Jame Friend. 
 
 12th Mo. 25th, 1799. 
 
 Although the weight of my own exercife, 
 feems enough to fupport under, yet thou 
 wilt perceive by this thou haft been the com- 
 panion of my thoughts, and it has been with 
 iincere defires that thy way may gradually 
 open to difcharge the little truft repofed in 
 thee with fidelity ; and do not feek to get from 
 under the Mailer's hand or eye, and be cau- 
 tious to whom thou opened thy exercifes, or 
 before whom thou fpreadeft the many diffi- 
 culties with which thy progrefs feems embar- 
 raffed, and be fure guard againft unreafonable 
 difcouragement or defpcndency, becaufe if 
 we have been favoured with the knowledge 
 of the truth, the gracious defign of being fo 
 favoured is to introduce into the liberty 
 which it gradually eftabliflieth in, a willing- 
 nefs to ferve the Lord in the way of his 
 requirings. May this be thy comfortable 
 d experience, 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 experience, and the grace or favour magnified 
 through thy co-operation therewith. 
 
 12th Mo. 28th, 1799. 
 
 If I notice thee with affe&ionate regard 
 and fympatby, it is my duty to do fo ; were 
 it in my power, I would lead thee into the 
 green paftures, and caufe thee to reft befide 
 the ftill waters; but the bieffed Shepherd of 
 Ifrael will do this for thee in his own time, 
 when he has led thee about^and inftru&ed 
 thee, and taught thee wifdom and patience, 
 by the things thou haft fuffered : it may be 
 a feafon of darknefs, and thou mayft be ready 
 to inquire with earneftnefs, " Watchman, 
 what of the night?" Why, behold, the morn- 
 ing cometh, and may it be to thee a morning 
 without clouds: difpelling, for a feafon, thy 
 doubts and anxious fears ; for I long to hear 
 thee adopt this language, " He brought me 
 into his banquetting houfe, and his banner 
 over me was love." 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 1st. Mo. 16th, 1800. 
 
 Thy little communication was very ac- 
 ceptable, pointing out a little return of love, 
 of light and life, from him who is the ador- 
 able and inexhauftible fountain of it. I knew 
 he had not cad thee off, and that when 
 judgment had humbled and produced a 
 thorough willingnefs, to be any thing rather 
 than forfeit his favour, he would yet remem- 
 ber mercy, ftrengthen the weak hands, and 
 confirm the feeble knees ; but. the true fol- 
 diers are to be inured to difcipline, and 
 gradually learn to endure hardnefs; in a flate 
 of infancy thou waft dandled upon the knee, 
 and the breaft of confolation was held forth, 
 and thou drank as it were thy fill ; but this 
 feafon is paft ; thou art now to work for thy 
 bread ; and the more willingly thou takeft to 
 labour, the eafier thou wilt find it; and be 
 fure mind it be under the Matters direction, 
 for I expect thou wilt not be allowed the 
 privilege of chufing for thyfelf. I have 
 known fome, as feemingly weak as thee, who 
 have fo improved, that in time they have 
 been put to threfh the mountains* 
 
 D 2 
 
C 76 ) 
 
 2d Mo. 28th, 1800. 
 
 And now, my dear friend, a dcfire attends 
 rny mind on thy behalf, that wherever thou 
 art, or in whatever flation thou mayft for the 
 prefent fix, a fleady care may reft that the 
 day's work goes on with the day, and as 
 thy former omiffions are blotted out, and the 
 judgment feat fo covered with mercy that no 
 charge of difobedience is retained againfl 
 thee, and much having been forgiven, that 
 fuch a degree of love may be excited, and 
 gratitude fo awakened, as that a thorough 
 resignation may take place, to follow where- 
 ever the ever-blefTed Shepherd may lead; in 
 this ftate of mind, he will not be unmindful 
 of thee, if in the line of thy duty thou pafs, 
 as through the fire, the names thereof (hall not 
 kindle to thy hurt; or if through the waters, 
 the floods fhall not overwhelm. Be fervent 
 in fpirit, diligent in bufnefs, and of good 
 cheer. 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 10th Mo, 29th, 180O« 
 
 Such an opportunity offering, I am in- 
 clined to addrefs a few lines to thee, left 
 thou fhouldefl in a feafon of poverty and 
 weaknefs, indulge a thought/that my friend- 
 fliip and affectionate refpect are in any degree 
 leffened; this is by no means the cafe; if 
 thou art poor, I am fo likewife, and defire 
 to be thy companion in tribulation, and in 
 the kingdom and patience of Jefus Chrifh 
 Now it is worthy of remark, and affords 
 encouragement, that when that eminent fer* 
 vant of the Lord, John the baptifl, being in 
 prifon, and in a (late of doubting, although 
 he had feen Chriff, and borne ample tefti- 
 mony to the permanency of that difpenfation 
 which was ufhered in by him, fentto inquire,- 
 " Art thou he thatihould come, or look we 
 for another ? " Our bleffed Lord, to remove 
 his doubts, directed the meffengers to go 
 and tell John the things which they faw and 
 heard, referring to the miracles daily wrought 
 by him, and clofmg the lift with this mark 
 of favour, that " to the poor the gofpel is 
 preached. Now this preaching of the gofpel, 
 d 3 as 
 
C 78 ) . 
 
 as it is received and believed in, being the 
 manifeftation of its power unto falvation, 
 what an encouragement to the poor, on 
 whom this privilege feems in an efpecial 
 manner conferred: now to us, my dear friend, 
 this gofpel hath been preached ; let us, 
 therefore, rejoice in our poverty, and in 
 humble confidence, apply to him who is the 
 friend of publicans and finners, who takes 
 thofe into his protection that are poor and 
 contrite, and tremble at his word. 
 
 6th Mo. 23d. 1801. 
 
 When we may meet again, is uncertain, 
 and however deep my future plunges may 
 be, yet if it be in Jordan's purifying dreams, 
 it will, as to myfelf, end well; but I fome- 
 times think that long before this no fpot or 
 blemifh ought to have remained with me ; 
 if any of Lebanon's heights remain, I feel 
 willing at times that all the doors maybe 
 opened, and every obftru&ion removed to 
 the fires entering and devouring all the ce- 
 dars y 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 dars ; amidft all this weaknefs and infirmity 
 attending me, my defires for thee are, that 
 IfraePs God may blefs thee indeed, and 
 enlarge thy coaft. Should we be favoured 
 to get into and continue in that difpofition of 
 mind, to which the bleffing will aifuredly 
 extend, may we not indulge a humble hope, 
 that the fame mercy and companion, which 
 relieved the impotent man, who had long 
 waited at Bethefda's pool, will in due time 
 reach us, with " Arife, take up thy bed, 
 and walk." 
 
 9th Mo. 25th. 1802. 
 
 I was pleafed to find thou hadft been fa- 
 voured with courage and ftrength to get out 
 a little amongft thy friends, and I affection- 
 ately defire for thee fuch an increafe of it as 
 that the day's work may keep pace with the 
 day; that thy dedication to the caufe of truth 
 may be accompanied with refigned willing- 
 nefs to fubmit to every conftrained endeavour 
 to promote it, and by moving in the inno- 
 d 4 cencc 
 
'( So ) 
 
 cence and fimplicity of a child, gradually 
 feel thy capacity for fervice a little enlarged, 
 and thy obedience rewarded with an increafe 
 in the joy of God's falvation, in thy own 
 particular experience. Oh, my dear friend, 
 let nothing move thee from the fure founda- 
 tion; may the conilraining love of Chriil be 
 the ground of all thy labours, and prove a 
 fort of check to that forward fpirit which is 
 lamentably fpreading in our borders. 
 
 12th Mo. 18th, 1802. 
 
 And now, my dear friend, as thou haft 
 been prevailed on to put thy hand to the 
 plow, take care thou do not look back;; in 
 all thy movements, may the pillar of cloud 
 by day, and pillar of fire by night, be thy 
 direction, and fure defence ; and as fupplies 
 of ftrength will often, in mercy and unfailing 
 kindnefs, unexpectedly open, fo let it increafe 
 a greater degree of dedication and devoted- 
 ncfs of mind to purfue every gentle yet clear 
 opening in the line of duty. 
 
( 8t ) 
 
 The following four are to another Friend* 
 
 Such is the nature of the Chriftian warfare, 
 if I underftand it right, that every progreflive 
 advancement therein, is accompanied with 
 its peculiar difficulty or trial, wifely intended 
 to keep the creature humble, and to excite 
 fuch a conflant watchfulnefs, that it may 
 never be off its guard: now it is not eafy for 
 me to defcribe the fatisfaclion I felt when 
 
 laft at — , at the evidence conveyed 
 
 to my mind, that a living child was brought 
 forth, or the fervent defires which attended, 
 that the pure birth might not be hurt by 
 unlkilful nurfirig. I very often cad a mourn- 
 ful eye over the (late of things in this county 
 in this- refpeel:, on feeing fome who were 
 likely at one time to ripen into ufefulnefs, fo 
 imprudently pufhed forward, as to have far 
 overgrown their ftrength, and from their 
 fize appearing as men, yet as to capacity and 
 judgment, are on trial found to be fcarcely 
 children; but, my very dear child, I am con- 
 fident thou hail otherwife learned Chrift, 
 and k no weft that his conflraining love is the 
 d 5 only 
 
( "82 ) 
 
 only ground of all true miniftry, and have a 
 comfortable hope, that thou wilt fettle on 
 this foundation: and however fmall the offer- 
 ing may be, yet when brought forth under 
 the power of divine constraint, how edifying, 
 how comfortable to the living in Ifrael; and 
 oh! may the pure life in thee falute, and 
 thereby ftrengthen the fame immortal birth 
 in others ; but in order to thy growth in this 
 root of living miniftry, learn to bear in pa- 
 tience, the turnings of the Lord's hand, and 
 the winnowing of the fan ; cleave to him 
 with all thy heart, and although he will 
 humble and reduce, and bring felf into fub- 
 jeclion, and may permit Satan to buffet, and 
 fift, and as it were to hedge up the way, 
 yet he will mercifully open the way, where 
 no way appears, and a well of refreshment, 
 as in the midfl of the defert. 
 
 I was pleafed to receive a few lines from 
 thee y further than this I know not what to 
 fay, unlefs to exprefs the travail of my fpirit 
 for thy prefervation, and that thou mayft be 
 
 fo 
 
( 3 3 ) 
 
 fo fupported and ftrengthened in every trial, 
 
 and againft every temptation, as to add 
 
 dignity to the caufe, on the behalf of which 
 
 thou had been called to lift the ftandard ; if 
 
 thou art pairing through the furnace, heated 
 
 in thy apprehenfion feven times more than 
 
 ufual, bear it, my dear child, with patience; 
 
 the defign of Infinite Wifdom therein is to 
 
 purge away all the drofs, take away all the 
 
 tin, -and remove all the reprobate filver, that 
 
 nothing may remain but what may be fit to 
 
 bear the royal impreilion. At about thy age 
 
 I met with flatterers, and was fometimes be- 
 
 fet with falfe friends, who, in feeming kind- 
 
 nefs, tried to pufli me forward into what 
 
 they called fervice, out of the right line ; if 
 
 any fuch come in thy way, beware of them, 
 
 and let me conclude with the remark of one 
 
 formerly, " Trufl. in the Lord with all thy 
 
 heart, and lean not to thy own underflanding ; 
 
 acknowledge him fincerely in all thy ways, 
 
 and moil affuredly he will direct thy paths/' 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 11th Mo. 1ft. 1801. 
 
 I expect, my dear child, thy prefent fitua- 
 tion is as trying as thou canft well bear from 
 fatigue of body, as well as exercife of mind ; 
 but allow me to fay, the Shepherd of Ifrael 
 has taken thee under his care, and he will 
 deal as gently with thee as will be proper 
 for thy real good, and the attaining that 
 experience which will be every way profit- 
 able. When thy flrength feems utterly to 
 fail, and all the pow r ers of nature give way, 
 he will carry thee as in his arms ; and if 
 thou prove (ledfaft in thy love, refcue from 
 the lion and the bear. If the kingdom is to 
 be entered through many tribulations, and 
 the right to fonfhip afcertained through chaf- 
 tening, who would wilh to loofe the earned 
 of this precious inheritance, or being called, 
 fo Hide from under the yoke, as not to be 
 admitted amongil the few chofen? How co- 
 pious is this very interefting fubject, my heart 
 is full of it, with ardent wifhes for thy 
 fafety, and that though the battle prefs hard, 
 and there be fears from without, and doubts 
 within, yet clothed with humility, as a gar- 
 ment 
 
( 8 5 ) 
 
 mcnt in the reverent dependancc and pa- 
 tient refignation it leads into, thou mayeft 
 witnefs a being made more than a conqueror, 
 through him that hath loved thee. 
 
 5th Mo. 2d. 1802. 
 
 As to myfelf, I think fometimes from in- 
 firmity of body, and exercife of mind, I am 
 juft worn out, and could quietly refign to 
 the grave, but from an apprehenfion that 
 fome part of the day's work remains undone, 
 although fufficient clearnefs to warrant an 
 attempt for fetting about it has not hitherto 
 been afforded; but, my dear child, there is 
 perhaps fometimes a little matter for thee 
 and me to do at home, and I am ftrongly 
 inclined to prefs on thy mind a fubmiffive 
 attention to every clear command to labour; 
 for if in thy progrefs unfaithful nefs is fuf- 
 fered to prevail, an effectual bar is laid in 
 the way to a going forward, and any attempt 
 to ilep out of the right line frequently en- 
 tangles amongfl: briars and thorns, which 
 
 tear 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 tear and wound feverely, and many have 
 long borne the fmart thereof, till divine mer- 
 cy has interpofed on their behalf. 
 
 The prefent ftate of the miniftry amongfl 
 us, and in forward fpirits, the prevalence of 
 a difpofition to recommend themfelves to 
 notice by meddling with unfelt truths, re- 
 quires a ftrong guard on all the rightly 
 anointed for this fervice, that their conduft, 
 as well as weight of expreffion, may as far 
 as in them lies, be a check to that fpirit, the 
 tendency of whofe movements is to exalt 
 felf, and to lead to a complacency and a kind 
 of rejoicing out of the crofs of Chriflj but, 
 
 dear , let wifdom, divine wifdom, (that 
 
 which is faid to dwell in holy fouls, and 
 to make them friends of God and prophets) 
 be thy guide, and then divine flrength will 
 affift thy trembling fteps, and furniih the 
 neceflary aid for every occafion, 
 
( 8 7 ) 
 
 Taunton, 4th Mo. 11th, 1802. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 Such has been the opprefTed finking (late 
 of my health for the lad month, that I have 
 been induced to look more towards the 
 grave than to entertain profpe&s which re- 
 quire more ability of body, and perfevering 
 firmnefs of mind than I am now favoured 
 with; not that I am painfully difcouraged, 
 for though infirmity of body, accompanied 
 .with a diflreffing gloom over the mind be 
 very trying, yet fo fuited are thofe feelings 
 to a flate of probation, that it is unwife not 
 to expect them; or having entered on the 
 Chriflian race, to fuppofe we fhall find the 
 path conftantly ftrewed with rofes, and hav- 
 ing engaged in the Lamb's warfare, to think 
 we fhall not feel the difficulties attendant on 
 a fituation expofed to Satan's fiery darts; 
 fince it is by watchfulnefs, by faith, by pa- 
 tience, accompanied with divine aid, that 
 victory is obtained. Whatever the ifTue of 
 this concern may be refpecting myfelf, whe- 
 ther being called to mourning, it may end 
 
 only 
 
( 88 ) 
 
 only in folemn filent interceffion on behalf of 
 thofe on whofe account it originated, or may 
 yet fo fpread and ripen, as to make it necelTary 
 to give up all to follow in the path of duty ; 
 whatever way it may turn, I defire to leave it. 
 Thus, my dear friend, I open my heart 
 without referve, on a fubjecl: which has 
 proved a clofe trial, and my mind being 
 favoured with refignation, have no other 
 defire but to go or {lay, as bed Wifdom may 
 direft. 
 
 Although it appears our dear friend was 
 making fome arrangements in his family con- 
 cerns, with a view to have proceeded on 
 this vifit in the fpring of the year ^803, 
 had' life and health permitted, yet before 
 that period arrived, it pleafed Providence to 
 remove him from works to rewards, after a 
 fliort illnefs. About a week before his de- 
 ceafe, he attended a monthly meeting, held 
 at Taunton, in ufual health, in which he ap- 
 peared in teflimony in a lively weighty man- 
 ner i and the following day was taken ill of 
 
 a diforder 
 
C 8 9 ) 
 
 a diforder, of a very painful nature, which 
 foon confined him to his bed, but which he 
 bore with patience and compofure of mind, 
 expreffing but little to thofe about him, 
 except repeating that faying of our Lord's, 
 " In my fathers houfe are many manfions, " 
 and that he trufted there was a manfion pre- 
 pared for him,, and that he was going to join 
 many of his dear friends who were gone 
 before him. 
 
 He departed this life the 16th of 12th 
 month, 1802, and his remains were interred 
 the 20th of the fame, in Friend's burial 
 ground, near Taunton, aged about 6$, 
 and a minifler upwards of 40 years. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 London : Printed uy Phillips Sf Farbon^ 
 George Yard, Lombard Street. 
 
BOOKS 
 
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 The Faith of the People called Quakers, in our Lord 
 .and Saviour Jefus Chrift, fet forth in various Extra&s from 
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 Thoughts on Reafon and Revelation, particularly the 
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 A Refutation of forae of the more modern Mifreprefen- 
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 A Summary of the Hiftory, Doctrines, and Difcipline 
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 A Defence of the Chriftian Doclrines of the Society 
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 An Abftract of the Old and New Teftaments, contain- 
 ing thofe PafTages in the Hiftorical Parts which are mofr. 
 efpecially inftructive, as well as the many edifying Exam- 
 ples and difcourses in thofe excellent Writings. By John 
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 An AbftracT: of that excellent Treatife, intitled, Of the 
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 Letters of Ifaac Penington, written to his Relations and 
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 In the Prefs. 
 
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 Letters on Religious Subjects, written by divers Friends 
 deceafed. Vol. 2. By John Kendall. 
 
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