CONSISTING PRINCIPALLY OF

JOURNALS

AND

Extracts from Journals and other Writings

OF MEMBERS

OF THE

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

VOL. III.

LINDFIELD:

PRINTED AT THE SCHOOLS OF INDUSTRY,

AND SOLD BY LONGMAN AND CO. PATERNOSTER-ROW, LONDON;
HARVEY AND DARTON, GRACECHURCH STREET; J. AND

A. ARCH, CORNHILL; W. DARTON, Hholborn; EDMUND
FRY, BISHOPSGATE STREET, AND BY ALL THE

BOOKSELLERS.

1837.

MEMOIRS

OF THE

LIFE, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE,

AND

LABOURS IN THE GOSPEL,

OF

JAMES GOUGH,

Compiled from his Manuscripts, by his Brother,

JOHN GOUGH.

SECOND EDITION.

W. EADE, PRINTER, LINDFIELD.

5-27-1933 INTRODUCTION.

FOR my own future benefit, and for theirs too into whose hands it may fall, I am induced to commit to writing the following review of my days, now in the 66th year of my age: for since we are launched on the ocean of life, our principal care ought to be to steer our course through it to the port of rest, and unmixed felicity, though it were through all kinds of hardships and self-denial; since, if we fail of this at at last, it is then too late to amend it.

Could all the pleasures and advantages of this life be attained and enjoyed perfect and unmixed to its period, even so they would be no compensation for the loss of happiness in a fuBut those pleasures ture and immortal state. and advantages never can be so enjoyed by any one, unless his passions and inclinations are subject to the government of God, who alone ought to govern his creatures, and who diseovers his will, to the humble attentive mind.

Indeed the temporary enjoyers of the good things of this life, may shew a face of pleasure to ignorant spectators, while they seem to float without interruption, in the midst of gratifications and amusements: yet a secret worm is