CONSISTING PRINCIPALLY OF JOURNALS AND Extracts from Journals and other Writings OF MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS VOL. 3. LIND FIELD: PRINTED AT THE SCHOOLS OF INDUSTRY, AND SOLD BY LONGMAN AND CO. PATERNOSTER-ROW, LONDON; HARVARD COLLEGE LIDRARY C. GREENE, PRINTER, Lindfield. 35-243 3 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE, AND LABOURS IN THE GOSPEL, OF JAMES GOUGH, Compiled from his Manuscripts, by his Brother, JOHN GOUGH. 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 hardship and self-denial; since, if we fail of this 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 future and immortal state. But those pleasures 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 discovers 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 |