to make room for her husbands own horses) that he said to his wife, this was the way to be eaten out, and that thus they themselves should soon be in want of hay. But to this Margaret said in a friendly way, that she did not believe when the year was at an end, that they should have the less for that. And it so fell out; for this ́year their stock of hay was such, that they sold a great parcel of what they had in abundance. Thus the proverb was verified, that charity doth not impoverish. The truth of this was also experienced by those called Quakers: for though many people at first were shy, and, would not deal with them, because of their nonconformity with the vulgar salutation, and their saying Thou and Thee to a single person, instead of You. &c. insomuch, that some that were tradesmen lost their customers, and could hardly get money enough to buy bread; yet this changed in time, when people found by experience that they could better trust to the words of these, than to those of their own persuasion. Hence it was, that often when they came into a town, and wanted something, they would ask, where dwells a draper, or tailor, or shoemaker, or any other tradesman that is a Quaker? But this so exasperated others, that they began to cry out, If we let these Quakers alone, they will take the trade of the nation out of our hands. Now the cause of their trades thus increasing, was, be

cause they were found upright in their dealing; for integrity did then shine out among them above many others; to this the true fear of God led them, and to this they were exhorted from time to time. G. Fox also writ a general epistle to them, which was as followeth :

To you all, Friends every where scattered abroad.

'In the measure of the life of God, wait for wisdom from God, even from him, from whence it comes. And all ye, who be babes of God, wait for the living food from the living God to be nourished up to eternal life, from the one fountain, from whence life comes: that orderly, and in order, ye all may be guided and walk : servants in your places, young men and young women in your places, and rulers of families: that every one, in your respective places, may adorn the truth; every one in the measure of it. With it, let your minds be kept up to the Lord Jesus, from whence it doth come; that a sweet savour you may be to God, and in wisdom ye may all be ordered and ruled; that a crown and a glory ye may be one to another in the Lord. And that no strife, nor bitterness, nor self-will may appear amongst you; but with the light, in which the unity is, all that may be condemned. And that every one in particular

may see to, and take care of, the ordering and ruling of their own family: that in righteousness and wisdom it may be governed, the fear and dread of the Lord in every one's heart set, that the secrets of the Lord every one may come to receive, that stewards of his grace you may come to be, to dispense it to every one as they have need; and so in savouring and right discerning, you may all be kept; that nothing that is contrary to the pure life of God, may be brought forth in you, or among you; but all that is contrary to it, may by it be judged; so that in light, in life and love, ye may all live; and all that is contrary to the light, life, and love, may be brought to judgment, and by that light condemned. And that no fruitless trees be among you; but all cut down and condemned by the light, and cast into the fire; so that every one may bear and bring forth fruit to God, and grow fruitful in his knowledge and in his wisdom. And so that none may appear in words beyond what they are in the life, that gave forth the words; here none shall be as the untimely figs; and none shall be of those trees, whose fruit withers: such go in Cain's way, from the light; and by it are condemned. And that none amongst you boast yourselves above your measure; for if you do, out of God's kingdom you are excluded: for in that boasting part gets up the pride, and the strife, which is con

trary to the light; which light leads to the kingdom of God; and gives every one of you an entrance thereinto, and an understanding, to know the things that belong to the kingdom of God. And there the light and life of man every one receives, Him who was before the world was, by whom it was made; who is the righteousness of God, and his wisdom: to whom all glory, honour, thanks, and praise belongs, who is God blessed for ever. Let no image, nor likeness be made; but in the light wait, which will bring condemnation on that part, that would make the image: for that prisons the just. So to the lust yield not the eye, nor the flesh; for the pride of life stands in that, which keeps out of the love of the Father; and upon which his judgments and wrath remain, where the love of the world is sought after, and a crown that is mortal; in which ground the evil enters, which is cursed: which brings forth briars and thorns, where death reigns; and tribulation and anguish is upon every soul, and the Egyptian tongue is heard; all which is by the light condemned. And there the earth is, which must be removed; by the light it is seen, by the power it is removed, and out of its place it is shaken; to which the thunders utter their voices, before the mysteries of God are opened, and Jesus revealed. Therefore all ye, whose minds are turned to this light (which

brings condemnation upon all those things before mentioned, that are contrary to the light) wait upon the Lord Jesus for the crown, that is immortal, and that fadeth not away.

G. F,'

This epistle he sent to be read at the meetings of his friends. Not long after, a certain priest of Wrexham in Wales, whose name was Morgan Floyd, sent two of his congregation into the north of England, to inquire what kind of people the Quakers were. These two coming thither, found the doctrine of the said people such, that they became convinced of the truth thereof, and so embraced it; and after some stay, they returned home. One of these was called John ap John, and continuing faithful, became a minister of the gospel he had thus received; but the other afterward departed from his convincement

Let us now take a short view of state affairs in England. We have seen already Cromwell's power so great, that he ventured to dissolve the long Parliament, and that he called another in its room. But before the year's end, this Parliament resigned the power into the hands of Cromwell, from whom they had received it. Thus he, with his council of field officers, saw himself again in the possession of the supreme government; and it was not long before this