name, that the teachers of the people had caused them to err; and that the true primitive and apostolical religion and ministry they were strangers to; feeding themselves, not the flock, and seeking their gain from their quarter, instead of seeking the lost sheep. Nor could these for conscience' sake comply to pay for the support of such a ministry. For this testimony my husband suffered with cheerfulness, and valiantly bore the imprisonment of his body, the loss and spoil of goods, standing over the power of the oppressor, in the authority of Christ, whereby others were affected and strengthened to be faithful, in keeping up their testimony against tithes. I pray God his example in that, and all other branches of his testimony, wherein he was kept faithful unto death, may be a motive to all to follow the Lord fully; then will God have his honour, and our souls the everlasting comfort.

And as he was thus given up for the spiritual welfare of all, so was he made instrumental of much temporal good to many. He was a lover of the poor, and a friend to the rich; often putting the latter, at their well-furnished tables, in mind of the former; recommending self-denial and hospitality, instead of high living. Nor was he wanting in example, any more than in advice; often visiting and inspecting poor families; always sympathizing with them in tender compassion, and true Christian charity, which were inseparable companions in him; supplying the sick with advice and physic; the hungry with bread, and the naked with clothes, according to his ability; so that with Luke, who was both evangelist and physician, he was made serviceable in his generation, in both respects, to the relief and comfort of the souls and bodies of many.

He was a man of a self-denying life: he would not

be moved by abuses or injuries when offered, imputing them to ill nature or ignorance, which he did not think worthy of possessing the mind. He approved himself a long-suffering, patient, meek and humble man, as became a minister of Christ; always trusting in the goodness of God, to whom he delighted to pour out his supplications, in full assurance of faith, that he would have regard to the oppressed, to the afflicted and bowed in soul and spirit; and that he would bring them into the divine bosom, where their souls should be filled with heavenly joy, [and enabled] to praise, magnify and bless his holy name.

What shall I say! He was a loving husband to me, and a tender father to his children, for whose welfare he travailed in spirit night and day, in a great sense of the design of the enemy upon them and the offspring of Friends, to obstruct the prosperity of Truth; often being drawn forth, with the apostle Paul, in great concern for his kinsfolks after the flesh, that they might be made partakers of the goodness and mercy of God. He was a kind master to his servants, an affectionate friend, well respected and of good report in his neighbourhood.

It pleased the Lord, after his return from visiting Friends of Bristol and the western parts, to afflict him with a long sickness; and notwithstanding his physicians had hopes of his recovery, yet he often declared his distemper would prove mortal; which indeed ended in his death.

Thus was his life finished, (after about four months' sickness,) in sweetness and the enjoyment of divine life. In this long sickness, although attended with extreme pain, he had his senses continued to the last; in which time I accompanied him night and day, hardly allowing time for necessary refreshment, and

heard the weighty expressions that fell from him upon the visits of Friends and otherwise; some of which I shall here add, they being some of his last words, viz. that he had not handled the word of the Lord deceitfully, nor done his work negligently; earnestly desiring, that Friends might live in love, and keep in the unity of the Spirit, as the only bond of their peace; and signified, that though some might put the trying day he had seen and declared of, afar off; yet it would come, and on such as a thief in the night.

As his last moments drew near, he closed his eyes with his own hand, and with cheerfulness and composure of mind, as one that had the sting of death taken away, resigned his soul to God, the 15th of the Ninth Month, 1698, in the sixty-second year of his age. Well! he is gone to his rest, which he often desired he might, before me; and I may say, he was taken from the evil that was to come. However it will be but a little [time,] if we continue faithful in our measures, ere we shall arrive at the same haven of rest, and port of joy, where all sorrow, sighing, and tears will be done away; which is the travail and desire of my soul for all the visited of God,

Who am your ancient and deeply afflicted Friend,
HANNAH MARSHALL.

London, the 1st of the

Ninth Month, 1703.

JOURNAL

OF

THE LIFE AND TRAVELS

OF

CHARLES MARSHALL.

CHAPTER I.

Charles Marshall's Birth-His early religious impressions-He associates with some who devoted one day in the week to fasting and prayer-John Audland and John Camm's visit to Bristol-The effect of their ministry on Charles Marshall-Various exercises-The importance of humility and retiredness of spirit.

I was born in the city of Bristol, in the Fourth Month, 1637. My education and bringing up was after the strictest manner of religion, my parents being such as feared the Lord. I was kept much from the company of other children, and attained about the fifth and sixth years of my life to read the Scriptures of Truth, in which, in a little time, I took delight. In my very tender years I had an abhorrence of swearing and lying, and such like sins; and not only so, but many times I had inward desires

B

and breathings to know God; so that about the eleventh and twelfth years of my life, I not only longed to know the true and living God, but also sought after him, and loved and esteemed sober, honest people, who feared the Lord.

I went with my mother to the Independents' meetings, in the days of that people's tenderness and sincerity; and sometimes I went to the Baptists' meeting, and in public, to hear those men who were esteemed most zealous in their day. Among those people, and in those assemblies, there were awakenings inwardly, through the stirrings and strivings of the gift of God, under the sense of which, living pantings and breathings were in many of their souls, after the true, spiritual knowledge of God who is a Spirit. But they went out from that [state,] into a profession of the saints' words, works and enjoyments, and left this pure principle of light, life and truth behind. Now, as I advanced in years, I grew more and more dissatisfied with lifeless, empty professions and professors, feeling the burden of the nature of sin, which lay on my spirit; in the sense whereof, I became like the solitary desert, and mourned like a dove without a mate. And seeing I could not find the living among the dead professions, I spent much time in retirements alone, in the fields and woods, and by springs of water, which I delighted to lie by and drink of. And in those days of retirement, strong, great, and many were my cries unto the Lord; and sometimes being retired into places free from passengers, to ease my heart, I did cry aloud, because of disquietness of spirit. And I had openings of the miserable fall and inexpressible degeneration of mankind, and the captivity and bondage which my soul lay in; in the sense of which state of bondage and thraldom, I cried