ot I the words of
eternal life? Soon after this he attended a neighboring meeting, when a
ministering Friend, who was a stranger, stood up with the words which he
had received as an answer to his inquiry, and enlarged upon the subject in
a manner suited to his tried state of mind.

In the year 1779, in the twenty-ninth year of his age, was his first
appearance in the ministry, in great fear and broken-ness of spirit: but
being obedient to the manifestations of truth, he experienced an
advancement therein, and was a good example, adorning his profession by a
circumspect life. His testimony was not with the enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Neither was he
forward to offer his gift, patiently abiding in the deep till he felt the
holy fire burn. He was at times led in a plain close manner to the
unfaithful professors of truth, but had the word of consolation to the
rightly exercised, unto whom he was indeed a nursing father. He was
especially useful to such as the Lord was gathering from the barren
mountains of an empty profession to the knowledge of the truth, and he was
frequent, in solemn supplication for these, and for the awakening of those
who were at ease in Zion. His heart being enlarged in gospel love, he was
anxious for the salvation of all, and was frequently engaged to appoint
meetings amongst those not in profession with us. For this service he was
eminently gifted, and his ministry on these occasions was often attended
with the powerful baptizing influence of the Spirit, to the convincement
of many. He was concerned to impress on the minds of his friends the
necessity of a due attendance of week-day meetings, believing that such as
were negligent in this duty never experienced an attainment to the state
of strong men in the truth. That our dear friend was zealous for the
proper support of discipline in our religious body was sufficiently
evident from the part he took in the exercise of it in his own Monthly
Meeting; for active service in this important branch of church government
he was eminently gifted.

In the course of his religious labors, he visited the meetings of Friends
generally in most of the Quarterly Meetings in England, and many meetings
within the principality of Wales; and divers of them repeatedly.

During the latter period of his life, feeling his bodily strength decline,
he was anxiously desirous that no service required of him should be
omitte