more than yours; be sure to give it a due weight, then upwards of ninety years of age, evidently in your minds, that the blessing of Him who lives forever, may rest upon all your dwellings. Your affectionate parent, W. HUNT. TO THE SAME. Amsterdam, 17th of 8th mo., 1772. My dear children.-Being desirous to maintain an intimate acquaintance with you, in every distant land where my lot is cast, for the work's sake, whereunto divine Wisdom in the riches of his mercy, has seen meet to call me on his errands, that my care for you in all things may fully appear, I send you a token, not only of regard, but of deep concern, that you may grow up in the fear of the Lord, and have his holy dread always before your eyes, that thereby you may be enabled to refrain from all youthful lusts and wrong things. Keeping in innocency, you will feed in the valleys of deep humility, and drink of the brook, which is the fountain of living waters in the truly humbled heart and bowed mind; wherein the Lord delights to dwell by his power and spirit, to refine, wash and purify from all the leprosy of sin and vile affections, that rule in the children of disobedience, who are led by the spirit of this world. O my children let these things sink deep in your hearts, and treasure them up in the secret of your minds; that I may have joy in you, and that you may rejoice in time to come, in that you gave up the bloom of life to serve the Lord. Remember the former advices which I have given you. Adhere, I beseech you to the repeated counsel and admonition of your affectionate mother; and count it none of the least of favours to you, that she is still continued with you through much weakness and affliction of body. This is the Lord's doing and ought to be humbling to your minds. We are well in every way, blessed be the great name of our God, who is our staff and shield, bow and battle-axe, whithersoever he directs our feet. His sweetening power and presence accompany our minds. Glory, worship, and praise to Him that lives forever, Amen. We intend to take shipping to-morrow for England. Your affectionate father, W. HUNT. By recurring to the narrative in our 18th number, we find that only eleven days intervened between the date of the last of the above letters, and the time when the writer was seized by his final disorder. This communication was therefore, probably the last which he addressed to his children. Nearly eighty years have passed away since the last of these letters was written, and of the children to whom they were addressed, one still is, or recently was among the living. His son Nathan, a worthy and highly valued minister, attended some sittings of the Yearly Meeting at New Garden, North Carolina, in the autumn of 1849, which the Editor of this paper had the privilege of attending. Our friend Nathan Hunt, retained his religious sensibility unimpaired, though from the encroachments of age his physical as well as mental powers in other respects had greatly declined. He was manifestly regarded by his friends as a patriarch in the church, worthy of double honour. Dublin, Ireland, 26th of 4th mo., 1772. To the Quarterly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, at New Garden, Guilford County, North Carolina. Most dear and inwardly beloved Friends, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, companions, and yoke-fellows in the pure mystery of the gospel relation with whom my life in Christ remains hid, so that time and distance only serve to strengthen the cords, and renew the cordial notes of celestial converse, in the fresh spring and unction of true love. God only knows you are written on the table of my heart, and printed in the secret of my mind, where I often read with great consolation in the midst of many trials; which indeed have not been few since we parted with you, and every connection in this world. But he who raised our Lord from the dead hath strengthened us, by the renewing of our inward man in himself, in whom we experience sufficiency, which still remains equal to every allotment pointed out in his wisdom; I also, at times, feel the help of your spirits ascend as sweet incense from the holy altar. The concurrence, also, of faithful brethren here with our service hath been truly comfortable and confirming, that the God of all grace and glory hath not only called us into a strange land, but hath owned our labours of love, in the hope of the gospel, to the joy of the sincere in heart: To Him that is all in all I desire ever to dedicate the first fruits of all my labours, who is worthy of salvation and glory forever, Amen. And now dearly beloved, and longed for, in the holy union, where the covenant of our spirits stands firm; though far absent in body, yet being fitly framed according to the rule and measure of glory, which our God in his abundant mercy hath revealed unto us through the spirit of his beloved son, we cannot be separated; but as we draw sap from the root that bare us, we are grafted in the vine, and remain members one of another, feeding at the same table. Still I have nothing to communicate but that which you have known from the beginning. Hold fast, I beseech you, that which you have received, improving in the gift as workmen that need not be ashamed; learning how to divide the word and work aright; discerning when to speak, and when to be silent. This I still find to be a close thing; and O that they, who are elders and companions of those that bear the ark before the congregation, may go down with them into Jordan, and see the wonders of the Most High in the deep, dividing the waters, in the holy mystery, hither and thither; and casting up a way for the seed of promise: so shall they be endued with a sound judgment, and a good understanding; being able to speak a word in season to the weary travellers, who may be sometimes halting behind their gifts; also, to offer a hint of advice, caution, and counsel to such as are in danger of moving before the true anointing of the pure word, which was in the beginning. Thus all may be preserved in the comely order of truth, and you flourish as by the fountains and fresh springs of Shiloah, in the unity of the spirit, and perfect bond of consolation, one in another. And, dearly beloved, I entreat above all things, that you let nothing cold or shy prevail among you, under any pretence whatsoever; for that eateth as a canker in the mystery of iniquity, to mar the beauty of our fellowship, wherein is beauty and strength. I speak freely, because I love with unfeigned regard, and believe you will receive this little offering, though mean. Yet it is a fragment of the abundance which is often treasured up in my heart toward you. May it be received, from your younger brother in the faith and patience which hopeth and endureth to the end. Farewell, in Him in whom all fulness dwells. WILLIAM HUNT. For Friend's Review. DYING HOURS OF THE FAITHFUL. The labours of the servants of God ought always to be precious in the eyes of his people, and for that reason the very fragments of their services are to be gathered up for edification. We have always found the Lord ready to second the services of his worthies upon the spirits of their readers; not suffering that which is his own, to go without a voucher in every conscience; I mean those divine truths which it hath pleased him to reveal by his own blessed spirit, without which no man can rightly perceive the things of God or be spiritually minded, which is life and peace. In the Apostles' day, true religion and undefiled before God and the Father, consisted in visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keeping unspotted from the world; not merely a godly tradition of what others have enjoyed, but the experimental enjoyment and knowledge thereof, by the operation of the Divine power in their own heart, which makes the inward Jew and accomplished Christian, whose praise is not of men, but of God.-Preface to J. Banks' Journal by William Penn. John Banks of Sunderland in the county of Cumberland, was born in 1637 of parents in a humble station of life. He bears his testimony, that they, and especially his "dear mother, who was a zealous woman," were careful to restrain him from evil, and this care had a good effect on him, and "so it will have upon all who perform their duty as they ought to their children," which if they do not, it is feared they will be found guilty in the day of account. About the 16th year of his age it pleased the Lord to reach his heart and conscience by his pure living spirit in the blessed appearance thereof, in and through Jesus Christ-whereby he says "he received the knowledge of God, and the way of his blessed truth by himself alone in a field, before he heard any one called a Quaker preach. In this frame of mind, and in the dread of the Lord, he was constrained to give up his formal practice of religion, and it was opened to him that he should "go to the meeting of the people in scorn called Quakers, for they were the people of God." He was obedient to this intimation, and being present at an evening meeting soon after, says, "Oh the godly sorrow that took hold of me that night in the meeting, so that I thought in myself every one's condition was better than mine." The work of faith thus begun in his heart, was carried on by the all-sufficient power of God and his quickening spirit, to which he makes this acknowledgment; "I overcame the wicked one through a diligent waiting in the light, and keeping close to the power of God, waiting upon Him in silence among his people, in which exercise my soul greatly delighted." "Oh the comfort and divine consolation we were partakers of in those days; and in the inward sense and feeling of the Lord's power and presence with us, we enjoyed one another and were near and dear one unto another. But it was through various trials and deep exercises with fear and trembling, that thus we were made partakers. Blessed and happy are they who know what the truth hath cost them and hold it in righteousness." "My prosperity in the truth I always found was by being faithful to the Lord in what he manifested, though but in small things; unfaithfulness in which, is the cause of loss and hurt to many in their growth in the truth." Towards the latter part of his life he suffered much from painful disease, but would often say, until the last, that notwithstanding all his pain, his soul did praise and magnify the Lord and his goodness towards him, though he thought his pain sometimes sharper than death, and said how well it would be if the Lord would be pleased to remove him hence. In a letter to a friend written not long before his close he remarked, "That which makes us near and dear one to another, is, that we have received a certain knowledge that we are children of one Father who is holy and heavenly; begotten again to a lively hope in and through Jesus Christ, by the quickening of his eternal spirit, to serve him the true and living God in newness of life." "He has instructed us by the teachings of his all-sufficient grace and holy spirit, how we may wait upon, worship and serve him, and in what; even in the spirit and seed of life by which we can cry Abba Father.'" "In a day never to be forgotten by us, he did not only bring to the birth, but gave power to bring forth; and as a tender Father from the time of, our infancy, by his helping hand has always waited to be good and gracious to us, giving us rain and heavenly dew, which he hath caused many times to descend upon us, that we might grow from one stature and degree of holiness and strength to another; that so in our day and time we might come to answer the good end for which he has made us a people. This was not only that we should meet together to wait upon, worship, and serve him in spirit and truth, though chiefly therein, but that we might grow up together according to our several gifts of his pure holy spirit to the degree of elders and fathers, to do work and service in the Church of Christ; and in a more public manner amongst God's people, where there is much to be done. Happy are they who can say in truth, what they do in that service they do it unto the Lord, and for his worthy name and glory; great shall be their peace and comfort here, with a heavenly blessing in Christ Jesus, and more abundantly and eternal in the heaven of Heavens." To another, in giving an account of his weakness, he wrote, "Howbeit all is well, I live to God through it all, and that as a full cup, supplies all my wants and sweetens and makes my afflictions easier to be borne; glory, honor, and everlasting praise unto him who lives forever." Many friends visited him while he lay sick, some of whom he addressed as follows, "Friends of Glastonbury and Street, my love to you hath been so great that I have ventured my life in riding through deep waters, to come and visit you, when I have had a concern from God upon my mind, so that you can say I have been a good example to you in keeping meetings as well as in other things; although I am weak in body and do not know whether I may live much longer or no, I am, however, strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, and have nothing to do but to die; for I am rich in faith towards God, and my cup is full of the love of God." To a young man lately convinced of the blessed truth he said, "The Lord be with thee; and I desire thee in his love to give up in obedience to the workings of the spirit of God in thy heart, and then he will do great and glorious things for thee; and do not stumble at the cross, for the more thou lookest at it and puttest it off, the harder it will be for thee to take it up." He earnestly desired Friends to keep in the unity of the spirit which is the bond of perfect peace. Some few hours before he died, he said, "Well it is, to have nothing to do but to die." "It is well with me, and I am assured it will be well, and I have nothing to do but to die, and shall end in the Truth, as I began." His pains left him at the close, and he had an easy passage to a glorious eternity on the 6th of the 8th month, 1710. The Lord fit us and prepare us all more and more for the entering thereinto, through the alone merits and mediation of his dear son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Testimony of Sidcot (Ireland) Monthly Meeting concerning PHILIP H. L. THORNTON, deceased. The subject of this memoir was a native of Kingsbridge, Devonshire; and was educated among Friends. He was not by birth a member of our Society, but was received into membership a short time previous to his death. Having been adopted by his uncle, he was taken to Ireland, when about fourteen years of age, as an apprentice to one of the Provincial Schools, of which his uncle was the superintendent. Endowed with natural abilities well adapted for the acquisition of knowledge, and possessing a taste for various branches of literature and science,-gifted, too, with engaging manners and affability of disposition-he became, as he grew up, a general favorite amongst those with whom he associated, and his immediate relatives indulged in fond hopes of his becoming an honourable and useful character. His best friends, however, were sometimes anxious on his account, lest the caresses of the world should turn aside his feet from the path of safety, and prevent that entire surrender of heart and life to the requirements of the gospel, which alone consists with true Christian discipleship, and affords a well-grounded expectation of real usefulness and permanent well-being. But he was open to the admonitions of his friends, and there is reason to believe that the voice of Christian counsel was instrumental to his good. He was never very robust; and his application to study, in addition to his stated duties, was, perhaps, not favourable to bodily vigour. Before the expiration of his apprenticeship, he became so enfeebled, as to cause his relations much anxiety; and as his uncle and aunt had withdrawn from the Institution, the Committee of the School kindly acceded to their proposal to remove him to their own house. Here he soon rallied; and in the summer of 1848, applied for the situation of teacher of Sidcot School. He entered upon the duties of the station with earnestness and zeal; and the notice and encouragement which he there received, tended both to render his occupation a delight, and to draw forth the more hidden depths of his character. His heart was in his work, and the field of labour particularly congenial to his taste. A few months, however, sufficed to bring on a return of delicacy, and rendered it advisable that he should retire for a while from active duty; but the following year, apparently with renewed powers, he again resumed his post. For a while, he appeared to think that his health was becom ing confirmed; but about the commencement of another year, he was rapidly brought low, and. nearly disqualified for the performance of his, of faith. Alas! I feel the little I have fail school duties. He was however retained in his sometimes." office, with delicate attention to his known wishes, until in the 4th month, 1850, he was obliged to withdraw, and again make his uncle's house at Mountmelick his home. The following extracts from letters and memoranda written previous to his leaving Sidcot, show the state of his mind at that period.. 6th. "Oh! that none of the Lord's intentions respecting me, may be frustrated by my disobedience and unwatchfulness. Oh! I feel that I am indolent and very lukewarm, if not cold altogether, in attending to my soul's salvation, and in doing all for the Lord's glory. Thou knowest, oh Lord! that I am very weak in body; 2nd mo. 10th. "I often feel,-oftener than but, oh! grant that I may not make that a cover ever, that the thread of life is in me weak,-very for indolence and lukewarmness. Thou hast weak! and, oh! I am sometimes almost over-known my peculiar trials, and I thank thee that whelmed with the retrospects and prospects this thou hast, through the dear Lamb, granted me feeling opens to my view. I feel that I have strength to bear them." been pursuing false jewels, sometimes those which have no appearance even of external brilliance, and the Pearl has escaped my notice. I have, I believe, earnestly desired that I may be enabled to see the true and real beauty of the Pearl, and its inestimable value, in such a light, that nothing may again warp my attention from it." After his return to Mountmelick, this dear youth lived seven weeks, and during this time his company was most sweet and instructive; the tenor of his conduct and conversation being beautifully regulated by the influence of the divine Spirit, bringing, in great measure, as there was reason to believe, every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and the composure and serenity of his countenance, clearly indicated the sweet peace which pervaded his mind. About the end of Fifth month, it became evident that the final change was drawing near. This he was enabled to look to without dismay; saying, when a fear was expressed that he could not continue long: "I cannot say that I have any fear." 2nd mo. 23rd, 1850. "My weakness of body, and frequent illnesses, have brought before my mind the great uncertainty of my continuing long in this scene of probation. I feel that I have lived hitherto without God in the world,' plunged in sin and darkness; that my sins are a greater burden than I can bear; and unless my all merciful God and Father, through his dear Son, forgive them, and relieve me from them, I fear they will draw me with them to the low-said: "I wish I could feel a stronger assurance est grave. "I believe my heart's desire is, to walk in the narrow way, to be the Lord's on his own terms, and to be humbled even in the dust. The evil one suggests, that I can never be forgiven, and fills my soul with doubts and fears; but, oh Lord! thou hast said, 'He that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."" On the night of the 2nd of 6th Month, he of acceptance with the Almighty;" and afterwards he requested to have the 23rd Psalm read to him. "I want more The next morning, sitting up in his bed, he remarked: "There remaineth a rest for the people of God;" and, after a pause, of that faith, of which I fear I possess so little; and yet, when I have asked for what was proper 2nd mo. 24th. "Strong desires are in my desire to be enabled to pass through the valley and needful for me, it has not been denied. I heart, that I may be favoured with an assurance of humiliation, without much conflict; and then of forgiveness; but, oh! I fear that my repent- comes the valley of the shadow of death:-only ance is not sincere, that the pride of the world still holds place in a shadow! the finger of God will guide safe my heart. Oh Lord! I pray through, all those who put their trust in him: thee that thou wilt use thy sharp threshing in-Yea, though I walk through the valley of the strument, and break in pieces all that is at va- shadow of death, I will fear no evil; thy rod riance with thy holy will." and thy staff they comfort me.' The rod to chasten, the staff to support! Oh! all that is of the world, and all that is in it, are worthless in my sight. If the Lord has any work for me to do on earth, I trust I am willing to do it; but if not I have no wish to stay." "This is First-day. Be pleased to keep the door of my lips, Oh Father! and reign absolutely in my thoughts; grant that meeting may be a time of favour and visitation, and that I may be enabled to wait patiently for thee. Oh! that I could keep the world from pouring on me as a flood, at such times: Thou, gracious Father, canst enable me to do this." 3rd mo. 1st, "Struggles seem to be my portion, in which the world, the flesh, and the devil often seem likely to get the victory. Lord, grant through the blessed Saviour, that if I have found the good part, nothing may be permitted to take it from me. I greatly desire an increase In the afternoon, the beloved invalid broke forth with the following expressions: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want;" emphatically adding, "What a very precious promise!" and, after a short pause," Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool," remarking, "and this was under the old dispen sation. Oh! I hope my sins are gone before- the brain remains in a state of irritability, which hand to judgment; but there seem to be so renders the individual liable to renewed attacks, many fresh sins, I have so much time that I do it may be for the remainder of life. It is in not improve as I ought; but the poor weak body this way that the large proportion of readmisand this weak mind too!" On its being remark- sions in most of our Institutions for the insane ed that we did not serve a hard master, he seem- may be, in part, accounted for. In general, the ed comforted, and continued, "Oh! that I could time required for the cure of any case of insanity, see the pearl gates; but I fear that I have not will depend on the promptness or delay with faith enough, nor love enough to love Him per- which the patient is submitted to proper treatfectly who first loved me, and died for me! Oh! ment; the earlier the treatment is commenced, I desire to throw myself at his feet; how I wish the more speedy will be the recovery,-and the I could love him better, and serve him more." reverse. We occasionally, however, meet with The whole of Fourth day he seemed fast sink-cases of long duration, in which the condition of ing, and calmly spoke of death as very near. the patient has been much neglected, or where He craved for patience, again and again, making the disease may have been kept up by improper use of many sweet expressions as his end drew treatment, which recover rapidly when placed near. "O Jesus, sweet Jesus, come!" and under different circumstances. An instance of placing his hands together, supplicated thus: this kind, was that of a young man from one of "Oh, dear Lord! if it be thy will, be pleased to the interior counties of this state, who was distake me, for the sake of thy dear Son." And, charged during the last year. He had been inagain, "Thy will be done." He remarked, "I He remarked, "I sane for two years previous to his admission, believe I am passing through the dark valley of and at the commencement of the attack had the shadow of death;" and on the hope being attempted to take his own life by leaping into expressed that he would be supported through, a well, and afterwards had been kept bound with he responded, "Through mercy!" Soon after chains. Under our care he recovered in the this, he sank into a quiet sleep, which lasted course of a few months; and during the period some hours; and, shortly after waking, the un- of nearly a year that has elapsed since his return fettered spirit took its flight so gently, as scarce- home, he has continued entirely well, and been ly to be perceptible to those around.-Annual usefully employed in the management of a farm. Monitor. Extract from the Report of Dr. Worthington to the Managers of Friends' Asylum, Frankford. About one-half of all the cases discharged "restored," leave the Institution at or before the expiration of three months residence; yet I am convinced, that in many if not in most of these cases, this is too short a time for the patient to receive all the benefits that the Institution is capable of conferring. It is scarcely reasonable to expect that so sensitive an organ as the brain, especially after having suffered from disease, should be able on the first resumption of healthy action, to bear with impunity the excitement to which it must necessarily be subjected, upon the return of the patient to his accustomed scenes and occupations; when in convalescence from diseases of the lungs or stomach, the importance is admitted of carefully protecting them from causes of disturbance, until time is allowed for the cure to be fully established. Yet it is often extremely difficult to convince the friends of patients, when they find they have become calm and rational, and their delusions have vanished, and they manifest a natural interest in their families and affairs, that there can be any risk in leaving the Institution. Under these circumstances, when the advice of the physicians is disregarded, and the patient is removed, a relapse not unfrequently ensues; and in some cases, though this does not take place, There The experience derived from all Institutions for the Insane, shows that by far the greater proportion of cures are effected, in the early stages of the disorder affecting the manifestations of mind; and the opinion seems at one time to have been entertained, that every case which was certainly of less than one year's duration, might be restored by proper treatment. are cases, however, of which the incurable character may be said to be fixed from the commencement of the attack. Such are those which have their origin from structural disease of the brain or its membranes, the result of inflammation; and those which are complicated with general paralysis. Other cases occasionally occur, produced by insolation; by blows upon the head; or by violent moral emotions; such as fear, or intense grief, which may be placed in the same category. This class of cases will always prevent the maximum of 100 per cent. of cures being reached in any collection of recent cases, which may be presented for treatment. This rate, however, may be very nearly approximated, in Institutions where the power of selecting cases, leaves the physician at liberty to receive those in preference, which promise the most favourable results, and where he is free to pursue his treatment, until he is satisfied of its ultimate effects. In this Institution, with the reception of all classes, and the disadvantage of premature removals, the per centage of cures of recent cases, since 1842, is 72.25, there having been received since that time, 191 cases of that description, of which 138 have been restored.— |