Wind and weather favoured us, we came in due time to Bristol yearly-meeting, where I met with William Edmundson, and was truly glad to fee him, with many more at that place; but my companion falling fick, I was made willing to leave him, and travelled to London with John Watson of Ireland, and a fweet spirited man he was; we got to London yearlymeeting, where I discharged myself of what I had upon my mind, and came away in peace, and in the feeling of the love of God. John Haydock and I came from London together, and had meetings in our way to York yearly-meeting, where I was glad to fee my home-friends, and to enjoy the love of God once more with thein; for this is our principal crown and kingdom in this world, to enjoy the favourable countenance of the Lord, and one another in his living and internal presence; and when I looked back upon all the mercies and deliverances I had received from the mighty God of heaven and earth, feas, and rivers of water, whofe hand made all, and whose eye and watchful providence attends all, and is over all, my foul was filled with thanks and praises to the great and most excellent name of Him who lives for ever, and hath helped my foul to overcome many ftrong temptations, and hath borne up my head under many deep afflictions and tribulations, renowned for ever be his holy name. I came 是 I came home the 18th of the Fourth Month, 1703, and found my children well; and now I was under a thoughtfulness how to walk and demean myself so, as that I might be preferved near the Lord, and in due reverence and true fear before him; that inasmuch as I found there was something of holiness unto the Lord imprinted or engraven upon the fleshly table of my heart, that now in this time, when I was not so particularly and immediately concerned in the like daily travel on truth's account, I might not lose the favour, relish and sensation of heavenly things. Some will read me here, in this fhort furvey I have been taking of my present state and thoughtfulness, that if I could not make it better, I might not make it worse, either in doing, or not doing any thing that might prove a hurt to me; for a vessel had better be laid by, if it can be fpared, than used to its hurt. Now in this careful and watchful frame of mind, I have found prefervation from time to time to this day, by retaining the falt of the kingdom in the foul or the inward man, which is of a preferving quality, with which the veffel is, and can only be kept fit for the Mafter's ufe: if we lofe this, the creature foon grows out of order and unfit for the Mafter's ufe. Read and confider these things in time, whilst thou haft the prize in thine hand, and time to do, and receive good at the hand of Him who is truly full of good, and is all good; to Him be the offerings of praise and renown now and for ever. Whilft Whilft I remained at home, as my ufual manner was, I attended First-day, and week-day, and monthlymeetings, as alfo quarterly and other meetings for the fervice of truth, and vifited many meetings up and down in the country, and had good service and much fatisfaction in being given up to the service of truth; but did not fee it convenient (as my children were well placed) to fettle to keep a family, until my way appeared clear to marry, which did now draw on, and after I had been near seven years a widower, I married Anne Robinson, who defcended of a fubftantial family at Hutton in the Hole, in the parish of Leftingham, not far from Kirby-moorfide, in Yorkshire. We had not been married much above two years, before my wife began to appear in the publick work of the ministry, and indeed very comfortably and acceptable to friends, and fhe grew in understanding both of the difcipline of the church of Chrift, and alfo in further knowledge in the work of the living ministry, &c. And about that time it came upon me to visit friends in moft parts of the northern counties in England; and fome fmall time after my return, I had a concern to visit friends in feveral parts of the fouthern counties, Thomas Beedal, being my companion, who grew in the truth, and alfo in the ministry: we had many good meetings in that journey, good service and great fatisfaction, and I returned home in peace. Now Now I may fay with forrow of heart, the time drew on apace when my virtuous wife and I must part, and be no longer meet-helps to one another, which we truly were, and never had either evil word or evil thought against each other, I am fully fatisfied; but lived in peace and true love one with another, and were glad when we could either one or both ferve truth and friends: therefore I find it on my mind, in this place, to infert the following relation concerning her, viz. A SHORT A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE Life, Convincement, Qualifications, and dying Sayings O F That faithful HANDMAID of the LORD, ANNE RICHARDSON, Who departed this Life the 18th of the Twelfth Month, 1711, aged about Thirty-three Years. HE was defcended of an honeft and confi SHE CC derable family of the Robinson's, at Hutton in "the Hole, in Yorkshire, and was convinced in her young years, and received the truth in the love of "it, and it became valuable and precious to her above "all things in this world; and through the bleffed "work and operation of the grace and Holy Spirit "of truth, fhe was weaned from the world's plea"fures, vanities and recreations, and from taking any "delight in them; and through the virtuous and most precious |