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she thought she had done innocently, or from a sense of duty, seemed now to be accounted unto her for presumption (such was the depth of that season of deep trial.) She also said she had been thinking about inoculation, but could not see any cause to repent that she had not joined with it. In the morning following, she seemed as if she would have fainted away, which was thought to be occasioned by the depth of exercise she underwent during the night; but she soon revived.

On the 6th of the 2nd month, she mentioned to a friend, that she had passed through a sore conflict, being tempted to believe she was bound in chains of darkness; also spoke of the great sympathy of a friend whose expressions she believed had been of much use to her; adding, that she was finely got over that trial. Being asked if she expected to be raised up again amongst us; after a solemn pause she replied, "I can say, the Lord's will and not mine be done. If he hath a work yet for me to do, I desire to be obedient; but if not, it is better to go now than to stay here without his presence." To another friend she said, "Oh! I love my friends yet: and though I am now in a low state, if it be the Lord's will so to do, he is able to raise me: but I can say, his will be done. And though some faithful labourers are taken away, I believe others will be raised up in such a manner that the testimony of Truth will be advanced, to the honour of his great name. Oh! that young, convinced Friends may keep their places and be faithful. Be thou faithful." At another time she said, “Oh! the trials and troubles that are in the world. They that will not be brought down by one means, must by another."

Being told that her brother Aaron was there, she desired him to come to her, and said, "Thou seest, brother, what a poor condition I am in: and thou as well as I have seen how it has lately been with brother Isaac. It is a great satisfaction that I am quite easy: I feel nothing to lay heavy on my mind. Do remember our dear parents; comfort and support them in their old age;-remember, they have had a great care and toil on our account; do nothing to grieve or cross them. It has been my care these fifteen years, to smooth and make their passage easy through the descent of life. Remember our little sisters and brothers: I feel an engagement of mind on their account. They have the stamp of virtue on their countenances; set them a good example in plainness and sobriety. Thou knowest not how soon thou mayst be in my condition; and then it will be a great satisfaction to have an easy mind."

In the early part of her illness, she expressed uneasiness with some things in the house, which she believed did not consist with primitive simplicity; and gave directions how to dispose of her own property, giving some of her clothing to the poor neighbours.

She expressed a desire that her friends about her would feel and sympathize with her in spirit; saying, "I have need of the help of your spirits in these trying moments." The day before she died, she said to her brother, " My heart unites with thee." The next day, being that on which she died, she uttered many weighty expressions, though it was difficult for her to speak so as to be heard. Calling to her cousin who attended on her, she said, "I see a light exceeding the brightness of the sun." AppreVOL. XII.-21

To one

hending her end drew near, she desired that her younger brother and four sisters who lay sick with the small-pox below stairs, might be brought up to her, so that she might take her leave of them: which she did in an affecting manner, one after another, as they were brought to her bed-side; giving them a charge to be dutiful and kind to their parents, and endeavour to live so as to end well at last. of them she said, "Farewell, dear sister; don't grieve for me; my head will be laid safe. Do not forget this trying time; don't forget these trying moments; and do not mind pride or high-mindedness, for it is an evil and a hurtful thing: but live in the humility of the spirit of Truth, and in meekness, for that is the bond of peace." They all manifested their love and near affection for her by their grief and tears at their solemn parting: may they ever remember her advice and example. She likewise took a solemn leave of her parents, with tender affection bidding them farewell.

Some time after, being thought near her end, she said nearly as follows: "I am passing through the valley and region of the shadow of death; and desire your prayers that I may have an easy passage." After this, she revived a little; which afforded some small hopes that she might yet be carried through. A few hours before she departed, she seemed under a close exercise of spirit to be fully given up to her heavenly Father's will, and that her friends might freely give her up; and said, "Oh! how hard a thing it is to give up!" Some minutes after, she said in a solemn manner, "Oh! give up;-for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: therefore give up to him." After which, she lay in a quiet frame of mind,

several times saying, "I feel easy." A short time before her departure, her brother Joshua inquired how she was; she answered, "I feel quiet and resigned, which is a favour; but am looking for every minute to be my last." After which she asked for her brother Benjamin, to lean on him that she might breathe more easily; then requesting to lie down again, after a short time she quietly expired, on the 11th of 2nd month, 1780, in the thirty-first year of her age, leaving a sweet savour behind her.

"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." We may observe this verified in the end and conclusion of the pilgrimage of this innocent lamb, whose conversation and deportment added lustre to her profession; she being adorned as becometh women professing godliness, even with "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." She was indeed a sincere-hearted Friend,-a lover of Truth and of those that abode in it; being concerned that those who make profession of it, might live and act agreeable thereto; and enforcing her gentle precepts by a plain, pious example, which speaks louder than words. The loss to the church is great: and oh! that a sense thereof may profitably affect the minds of the youth and others who are left behind, and have a fruitful tendency to stir them up rightly to consider their latter end; so that they may become truly wise and industrious in improving the precious time, while they have it lengthened out to them, so as to have oil in their lamps and their lights burning. This, I believe, was the happy situation of my dear sister; whereby she was prepared to answer the aw

ful summons," Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye forth to meet him." And I have no doubt, she obtained an admittance into his chamber, and received the answer of "Well done; good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

2nd month 18th, 1780.

BENJAMIN SHARPLESS.

Letter from Joshua Sharpless to his sister Re

bekah.

Dear sister, My mind has been drawn toward thee for several days past, in a degree of that love which ought to abound among the followers of Christ; and therein I find freedom to visit thee with a few lines. I have been led to admire the goodness, long-suffering and tender kindness of a merciful Creator, even unto myself, who am unworthy of the many favours I have received beyond what I could expect. And notwithstanding I have felt the temptations of the adversary that sometimes seemed like a flood which would sweep all before it, yet I have felt the preserving hand underneath. So that I find in seasons of .23 proving, it is not good to murmur nor grow weary of seeking the Lord, though he may many times permit great poverty and very close trials of many kinds to come upon us. Under these, I have sometimes been almost ready to doubt whether I have ever been acquainted with the right way. But in this wilderness state, the Lord hath been pleased to appear, at times, as the light at noon-day, to the removing of all my doubts.

Thus I find, dear sister, that it is good not to give out following the Lord, though it may be through the wilderness; but cleave close to him and endeayour to renew our acquaintance with him oftener

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