let your own house get into confusion, and go abroad for happiness; for if you find it, it will be at home in well ordering yourselves and families. Live in love and harmony one with another, visiting and assisting one another what is in your power. Visit your father; make his solitary hours as happy as you can; consult him on all occasions, as a sure friend.

I would have you set apart some time for meditation and prayer. I have been struck with a pleasing thought at the note of time mentioned by the prophets, about the evening sacrifice. I have made it a rule, as much as possible, between day light and candle light, to lift my heart in silent thanksgiving and prayer to the Lord for the mercies and blessings of the day, as well as to implore pardon for weakness and frailties. If I had company, I mostly retired to a window; if not, I sat as much in silence at that time as possible. There will be interruptions; but accustom yourselves often to meditate on the Lord; it will be the most effectual means of drawing near to him. "Acquaint thyself with God, and be at peace." Oh! that peace, that none can take away; which is my support and comfort at this time, beyond what I can express: may you all be gathered into it, is the prayer of your loving mother,

Mount Holly, 29th of 7th mo. 1782.

MARGARET BISPHAM.

A short Account of Deborah Bond.

DEBORAH BOND, daughter of Joshua and Ruth Bond, near Goshen meeting house, White Water, Indiana, deceased on the 4th of the 8th mo., 1833,

in the twenty-fourth year of her age. About three months before her death, she appeared in the ministry in Friends' meetings, which were then held at her father's house. Her public communications were lively, often in them bearing a testimony against self ånd selfish motives,-saying they must be subdued, and that the great Creator requires the whole heart and mind given up to him, that he may prepare it to do his will. Previous to her last illness, she expressed an apprehension that she had not much more. time to stay in this world; but said she had given up to suffer all her days, so that she might be happy at last; that she was resigned unto the will of the Lord, and that if she was taken off it would be happiness to her.

During her illness, she called her two little brothers, William and John, to her-charged them not to forget her,-to be good boys,-to be kind to one. another, and to their father and mother, and to every body. She desired all the family to be faithful in the attendance of their religious meetings-to be faithful when there, and at all times; saying, that she ought to have warned the people ever since she was fourteen years of age, to forsake their evil ways; and since she had given up to the requirings of the Lord, she had found the crown to be greater than the cross. She particularly charged her elder brother, Abijah, and her sisters, Anna, and Phebe, and Mary, to be faithful; and gave good advice to her relations that came to see her, saying there might be more valuable ones amongst them, if they would be faithful. At another time she said, "Behold the Lamb of God is within you, that taketh away the sin of the world."

In the latter part of her sickness, her father asked her if it would be too much for her to have Friends hold meeting in the house where she was?—and it being agreeable to her, it was accordingly held; and she had a good testimony to bear, saying, There is honey enough for all that will come taste and see how good the Lord is all that will come may come; and that she often wondered all the world does not seek after an acquaintance with God their Creator; for he is with them that seek him, and far transcends all other things; and that he is able to unite all nations and people, and take away the partition walls; saying that her love to the souls of the people reached to the ends of the world. After the meeting closed, she said to her father, "I feel stronger than I did before meeting;"-adding, that Christ, the bread of life, was her support.

Four days before her departure, Amos Peaslee and his companion, Benjamin Griscom, had a precious opportunity in the family, and she said to them, "By the grace of God I am what I am.— Though I am but a youth, yet I have had to shout for joy, as on the banks of deliverance."

On taking an affectionate farewell of the family, she said, "My dear mother, happy am I:" a while after added, "Is not the happiness of heaven to be felt while in this body?" After requesting her love to be remembered to divers of her connexions and friends, she lay still a little while, and then said, "I have seen the angels of God standing with my white clothing, ready to receive ine.-Come, most Holy One, and clothe me with thy wedding garment." Soon after, she requested her father to pray for her

that she might have an easy passage-then lay pretty much still till she departed.

The following was found in a letter written by her to her aunt and cousins, when about the age of eighteen, dated 16th of 6th month, 1828.

"I have often thought of the young and rising. generation, and of my cousins in a more particular manner, with desires that they may be preserved through this trying season: though the billows roar, and the raging of the waters is great, yet I believe if we will wait for the still small voice, we shall be preserved through all."

In a letter to her grandmother, Hepzibah Coffin, written probably in the forepart of her last illness, she says:

"This body lies here, a poor suffering worm. I often think of thee; my soul salutes thee in that love that knows no bounds. May the Lord bless thee in time and in eternity, and give thee strength to bear all thy afflictions with patience. Remember it was the poor and needy, the lame and the blind, which the Lord of life came to save. Then let us not be discouraged; but seek the Lord with all our might and strength. Whilst we remain here, we are liable to pain and misery-we have many battles to fight, and many thoughts to command. My pen cannot express the love my soul bears toward thee in thy lonely situation. May the Lord be with thee to the end, and give thee the reward of peace, is the desire of thy poor suffering grandchild,

DEBORAH BOND."

346

WILLIAM MATTHEWS' EPISTLE To Warrington and Fairfax Quarterly meeting, and the monthly meetings thereunto belonging.

Dearly beloved friends, brethren and sisters,-In the love of Christ Jesus, our holy head and high priest, do I dearly salute you; fervently desiring that we may so improve by the mercies of God vouchsafed to us, as to be found in a state of acceptance at last, and receive the welcome sentence of "Well done, good and faithful servant-enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Although I am far separated from you in body, yet are you often brought near to me in spirit, with secret breathing desires that you, my dearly beloved friends, on whom the weight of the burden lieth,who have been my companions in affliction, when by the one spirit we were baptized together into the fellowship of the sufferings of the true seed,-may live under an humbling sense of his adorable mercy and goodness to us, who forsook us not in the day of distress, but remembered us with an everlasting kindness. He suffered not the discourager to prevail, so as to hinder from a faithful discharge of duty, nor to frustrate the gracious designs of his Providence towards you. And now, by daily abiding in a watchful care over your own spirits,minding the gentle openings of Truth, and following the leadings thereof, may you be found as faithful watchmen upon the wall,-sounding a certain alarm in the camp to the awakening of those that are asleep in sin, and dead in trespasses; that so they may arise, and come to Christ who giveth life. Look not too much at your own weakness, nor seek great things for