in religious profession with us, whether for benevolent purposes or otherwise, she evinced a lively concern for the steady maintenance of our various Christian testimonies. In the exercise of her gift as a minister, she was careful to wait for the fresh evidence of the Divine anointing, and being thus renewedly qualified for service, her ministry was lively and instructive, and her gospel labours acceptable to her friends." May He who is often pleased to accept and to own the ministry of the pen as well as of the lip, render these evidences of the faith and devotedness of his handmaid, subservient to the good of his people, to the praise and glory of his grace, who made her "accepted in the Beloved." The short memoirs of two daughters of the writer, will, it is believed, be interesting and instructive, particularly to the youthful reader. 3rd mo. 10th, 1842. EXTRACTS, &c. 3rd mo. 4th, 1787. YESTERDAY I was seventeen years of age. Went to meeting, where help was given to breathe to the Almighty for strength and assistance to follow Him in the way of his requirings. 14th. Prevented going to meeting, but took a walk in the afternoon with the New Testament, and was favoured with strong desires to serve the Lord. 19th. Attended the Quarterly Meeting; Rebecca Wright was present, who mentioned that in her early years, when she attended our Meetings for Discipline, she was led to consider the great importance of the queries, with desires that she might come up to them in every point; and that she had found much satisfaction in these meetings: these observations led me to reflect how unconcernedly I have often sat in them. At this time a desire attended my mind that I might endeavour after greater solidity on these occasions, as well as in meetings for worship. 4th mo. 15th. At Ware meeting; where I was concerned to lay my low and miserable state before the Lord, with desires that He would assist me the remainder of my days to overcome temptation-that I might bless and praise Him who has delivered me from manifold dangers of being drawn away by the de * A Friend from America. ceiver, who lies in wait to destroy all appearance of good; and I had faith to believe that I should get the victory, if my heart were staid on the Father of mercies. 5th mo. 23rd. In the early part of our meeting I was much tried with drowsiness, which I strove to overcome, and the Almighty was pleased to break in upon my soul, and to raise desires that I might be purified, and made what He would have me to be. 6th mo. 13th. Prevented attending meeting by indisposition. Had desires after the right way, but indulged in some unprofitable reading. 14th. Again indulged in unprofitable reading, which my mind retained after I had laid aside the book, and considering how precious time is, I thought it would have been safer for me, had I read something of a religious nature, from which wholesome and instructive reflections might have been elicited. : 7th mo. 10th. At Ashwell. Walked before breakfast, and read in the Archbishop of Cambray's Meditations I had strong desires to witness that humility which is so frequently enjoined by him. I went to meeting with cousin E. T., (with one aged friend we composed our meeting.) I was led fervently to supplicate in the secret of my heart for those in this place who are under our name, and that during my short stay I might be a good example to them. Blessed be the name of the Lord, He was pleased to make good his promise, that, where two or three are gathered together in his name, He will be in the midst of them. 11th. Walked out, and took with me the Archbishop's Meditations, which excited in me still greater desires to witness true childlike simplicity, and submission to the heavenly will, and that I might take up my daily cross, and follow Him who was "meek and lowly of heart." 7th mo. 9th, 1789. Walked in the morning witla Thomas à Kempis's "Imitation of Christ." My mind was humbled by a consideration of my own deficiency, and a cry was raised, I trust in deep humility, for strength to devote my whole heart to the service of the Most High. Went to meeting, where I sat in great drowsiness and poverty, endeavouring in vain to get the victory; till recollecting the promise of our dear Lord, "Whatsoever ye ask in my name, believing, ye shall receive;" I petitioned for strength, with full assurance that it would avail; and immediately the clouds dispersed. I was enabled to be truly thankful for so great a favour, although at intervals wandering thoughts disturbed my devotion. 24th. I have been daily concerned that self may become of no reputation; but, alas! how little progress do I make; trifles, self-love, vanity, and a desire to gain the world's esteem, greatly retard my progress. I was deeply exercised this morning in a retired walk before breakfast, under a sense of my great neglect, and how far I am from that disposition which our Saviour enjoins, and pronounces blessed: "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; Rejoice, and be exceeding glad." I am so far from rejoicing at the reproaches of men, that I am desirous of avoiding the mortifica tions and frowns of the world, and wish not to forfeit its friendship, though I am anxious for the attainment of a better inheritance. How unreasonable are these desires, seeing that "the friendship of this world is enmity with God!" [In the year 1792, Mary Brown left her father's house at Hertford, to reside as teacher in a friend's family at Staines in Middlesex, and from many of the intervening memoranda, she appears deeply to have felt the importance of this situation, and earnestly to have sought for the needful supplies of divine strength to enable her to perform her duty therein.] 1st mo. 16th, 1796. I felt this morning when assembled with my friends for the solemn purpose of worshipping the Almighty, such a flow of gospel love towards some individuals, as it is not easy to express ; particularly such as have been visited with the dayspring from on high, and have conformed in exterior to our self-denying principles. Ah! how did I long that these might not forget the day of their espousals, and sit down contented with the form of godliness, without experiencing the power thereof to cleanse and purify from all manner of uncleanness. I experimentally know the danger there is of this being the case, for in the year 1790, after long and painful conflict with the spirit of this world, I was enabled in deep humility to make such a total surrender of my own will, that for the space of two years, I think I scarcely acted contrary to my belief of duty; my desires to serve the |