pendent creatures, from his bounty manifested to us in the many instances of unexpected supplies and wonderful support amidst temptations. We are induced to place our confidence on him alone, so that notwithstanding our natural connexions may forsake us, and all our pleasing expectations on human aid be nearly expiring, yet we shall have reason to magnify that power who hath wonderfully and invisibly been making provision for our wants, and hath guarded us from danger. This, dear Clement, has been and is the foundation of true worship and adoration; and under a sense of these favours and mercies, we are brought to prostrate ourselves in his presence, with mental, and sometimes as we find ability, vocal expressions of praises and thanksgivings, as David and others have done. For to be rightly qualified for worship, it is evident that some previous recollections of the mercies and favours of God to our souls, and of our own unworthiness of his mercies, are necessary. In order to this, Friends sit down together in silence, and sometimes it is so ordered that some one has something to say, either by way of instruction, exhortation, reproof, &c. or perhaps in supplication or thanksgiving, as the spirit giveth them ability and utterance. This is a mystery to the wise and prudent. Let me remind thee what our Lord said to his disciples, "that where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst;" and when we consider that it is not the God of the dead but of the living that we worship, and that he is with such, can it be strange that he should inspire his people with sentiments suitable to such an occasion. To me it appears rational, consistent and scriptural, and by having our

minds turned inwards, to wait upon him, we find that he is pleased with these marks of our affection and devotion, by the favours we experience; hence we perceive that he delights to be sought unto, and that worship is required at our hands, in a spiritual way, such as our Saviour told the woman of Samaria, "that the hour cometh and now is, when those that worship the Father, should worship him in Spirit and in Truth, and that he seeketh such to worship him."

Now, my dear Clement, I have just hinted these things to thee, as thou art among a highly professing people that would tithe mint and anise, and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the law,in order that thou might not be led captive by a routine of forms; but that thou might come to seek for thyself, and not rely upon the opinions of others. There is an infallible guide which I wish thee to attend to; for God hath not left himself without a witness in our hearts, and this, if attended to, will lead us into the knowledge and understanding of spiritual things;-will give us a clear view of the duties we owe to the Supreme Being as well as to one another; will prove a source of comfort when every other hope or consolation may fail,—and will not leave us until it lands us safe in the mansions of unfading felicity. To this principle of light and grace, dear Clement, I commend thee, with sincere. desires that thou may cleave to it through the remainder of thy life; and may thou, when thou readest any religious books, be favoured to see the necessity of having the key of David to open thy understanding, so as to comprehend them aright. And now I would recommend to thee a frequent perusal

of the Sacred writings, as being they that testify of Christ, and to his keeping I wish to recommend thee, thy dear mother and father; to whom please to present my affectionate love, and I should be pleased to hear from them and thyself when opportunity suits.

Since the date above, our dear father, thy grandfather, has been removed by a short illness, and was interred in Friends' burying ground the 31st inst. in a good old age. My wife and family have been mostly favoured with health since my last, till lately, when a disorder called the influenza, had nearly deprived me of thy aunt, but through mercy she is on the recovery; the rest are well. Adieu nephew.

my dear

OWEN BIDDle.

Brief account of the last sickness and death of Hannah Wickersham.

Hannah Wickersham, daughter of Abel and Sarah Wickersham, of Chester county near London Grove, departed this life the 31st of 7th month, 1780, aged about thirteen years and six months. During her last sickness, she expressed herself, at divers times, after such a manner that her parents thought it their duty to preserve some account of her exercises for their own benefit, as well as for that of her brother and sisters;-that they might keep in remembrance what a concern she had for their welfare and prosperity in the things appertaining to everlasting happiness.

About the third day of her sickness, she desired that several of her near relations of her own sex migh the sent for;-and in conversation with her parents, seemed to signify that she thought she was on her death bed, and desired her mother to bring up the rest of her children in due obedience and subjection, and not let them have their own wills too much. "For," said she, "children should render their parents due obedience. That is what I am afraid I have not done to my parents-nor have been submissive enough to them in some respects." But she hoped her Maker and her parents would forgive her.

As her sickness increased, she seemed desirous of her change; "for," said she, "my pain is more than I can well bear," and she hoped the Lord would take her. Her parents desired her to pray to her Maker for support in this time of trial; she replied, "how shall I pray? I have neither strength nor power to pray." She then covered her face for a few minutes-and then uncovered it again. Now she seemed as if in these few minutes new life had been added to her soul, and transported her into the spirit of prayer, so lively as though her pains were taken away; and she expressed after this manner. "I pray the Lord to have mercy on my poor soul— and send my Redeemer to me, to help me, that I may not sin; for I am afraid I have committed some sin against him. And I pray that my good Lord and Redeemer will forgive me for my disobedience against him, and let me have a seat with him in his fine heavenly place, where all good and just people go to, so that I may rest with them. And VOL. VII.-31

I pray that my brother and sisters may go to as good a place as I shall go to."

At another time she observed-"It is a great sin for one person to despise another"-and added-"I have been despised and derided by some of my playmates-and if such go on and do not repent, satan will come and carry them away, and vengeance will take hold on them when it will be too late to repent." Soon after, she desired her father not to pay any of those muster fines demanded of him, for she thought it was not right for him to do so.

Observing her parents to be affected with the prospect of her departure,-she said she did not know but that it would seem pleasant to her, if it should be pleasing to the Lord to raise her again, so that she could be with her parents and brother and sisters and acquaintance. But added, if that should be the case, which she had no expectation of, she never would do as she had done heretofore: for if young people came to entice her to their diversions, she would not consent, but would stay at home with her parents. She then signified, she did not desire to live longer, except it was to live better-but said she was afraid she never should be fitter to die, than she was now, and for that reason she would not desire to live.

She told her mother she desired when she got any body to help her in the house, to be careful not to have such as are of bad repute and corrupt conversation, for such often corrupt and spoil children.

She was frequently engaged in prayer and supplication, and her soul seemed at times so redundant as to overflow beyond her strength to utter. After a considerable time of repose, she aroused up, and