As to my little testimony at Purchase, I have for several days, been easy and satisfied that it might all be well, though when I wrote before, I being under the very hour and power of darkness, as it were, every suggestion of the doubtful kind, was like a fiery dart of the adversary; but I hope the shield of faith will enable to resist them all, and do believe those buffetings and trials, have worked to my good, and to my unexpected enlargement. Oh! how unsearchable are the Master's judgments, and his ways past finding out by human investigation! May I ever lie low before him, patiently endure his chastisements, and cheerfully obey his commands.

With renewed feelings of affection, and renewed wishes for thy increase of spiritual health and salvation, I conclude thy constant friend and brother in the sufferings and rejoicings of this our earthly pilgrimage,

To his Wife.

JOB SCOTT.

Dear wife,

Cornwall, 3d of 8th month, 1784.

bur

I am glad I can inform thee that I am pretty well as to bodily health; though my inward conflicts, have, much of the time since I left thee, been such, as I can better acquaint thee of when I am permitted to return to thee, than to write here. Daniel is comfortable, and goes on cheerfully, having some valuable service, I believe, in nearly all the meetings; while poor I go bound as it were in fetters of iron, silently bearing my den in many of them. The Lord only knows how and why. However, I have at a few times, been very largely and unexpectedly comforted; and I do not see but my being here is in wisdom. We are very kindly received by Friends, from place to place; and in very low times, some sympathizing words have been spoken by exercised pilgrims: and though this don't often mend the matter as to me, yet it shows their kindness. I have wondered how any that have gone out on such an errand, could

be proud and puffed up. Surely, it must be, because they don't go down, where some seem as if they cannot avoid going. Oh! what an alteration must take place in my mind, from the present state thereof, when I feel high-minded. But, no doubt, abasement is best for me; and the greatest desire seems to be, that I may be enabled to bear it as I ought, without quite sinking. I have this confidence, however, that as my tribulations in Christ abound, my consolations will much more abound: though I cannot at all times so fully believe it, as at present. My good wishes have often been wafted over the lands and waters that separate us, for the welfare of thyself and the dear little babes, as also of father and friends in general. Mention my love to them as opportunity offers. Accept this as a token of neverfailing affection from thy constant friend and loving husband, JOB SCOTT.

Try to bear my absence patiently, that so our reward may not be lost, and that we may meet again in fulness of affection. Meanwhile I pray the Lord of hosts preserve and bless thee and the family.

Dear wife,

To his Wife.

Oblong, at Aaron Lancaster's, 8th month 17th, 1784.

I wrote thee from David Sands's, over the North River, the 3d of this month, informing more particularly than time will now admit, of exercises deep and trying: but I am at present very comfortable in mind, having since then been unexpectedly favoured, and made to rejoice through sufferings. I wish thee to bear my absence with patience; it may not be more than four or five weeks, and I shall rejoice to return to thee again, when peace of mind will admit. I have no reason to doubt my being in the way of my duty at present, and am owned by the Master therein, and also by his servants. My dear love is ardent toward thee and the dear babes. May Israel's Shepherd be with

and watch over you. We expect soon to go northward, to Cloverick, and the new countries, having been at all the meetings in Oblong and Nine-Partners, but one, and that I must hasten to in a few minutes, and then, two Monthly Meetings, and so away from these parts. Farewell, saith thy constantly affectionate husband,

To his Wife.

JOB SCOTT.

Dear wife,

East-Hoosack, 8th month 29th, 1784.

I am at present in good health, and have been so, except a few days, since I left thee. I have written thee twice, but have not heard a word from home till yesterday, by father Anthony, who came into meeting very unexpectedly. He was, till after meeting as a messenger of death to my poor mind; for I could not conceive what drew him here, unless to bring the sorrowful news of death, or sickness nigh unto death. Imagination soon strongly fixed on thee, and Oh! how I felt! I could scarcely keep my seat through the meeting, and though I strove to put such fears away, they would immediately return with piercing grief, as a reality. I made out to sit through the meeting, I hope with a degree of decency, but not without the loss of some tears. Oh! I hope it was a profitable season. It taught me to feel the place thou had in my heart, and to strive to give up all. Before I rose from my seat, father told me you were all well lately. And now, if thou canst feel the joy I felt, I believe it will enable thee to bear my absence a little longer, with patience, which I dearly beseech thee to strive for. I often remember thee with sincere desires for thy preservation; and also for thy growth in the truth. May the Heavenly Father watch over thee and all thine, by day and by night. My love to all my dear friends. Ups and downs attend me. Heights and depths 1 witness the day of adversity being set over against the day of prosperity. I hope I shall still be kept low and humble. Farewell,

farewell, my dear wife, says thy rejoiced husband, whose joy is great that he can yet call thee his own.

JOB SCOTT.

To Joseph Mosher, White Creek.

Gloucester, 27th of 5th month, 1785.

My dear friend, Joseph Mosher,

Thine of the 16th of 1st month came duly to hand, and was truly acceptable, and also refreshing. I have often thought of writing to thee since, and have delayed it principally that I might know the right time, for, truly, my time is not always ready. But this morning, (being our Monthly Meeting day,) I felt willing to try to sketch out some of my feelings, having had to pass through proving seasons of late; wherein, after close exercises, and deep dippings into painful poverty, I have divers times had to see clearly, and even been ready to cry out and say, "his name that sat on him was death, and hell followed with him." This, my dear friend, may possibly seem strange language, though I am ready to think it may not to thee; for I believe each exercised traveller, who holds on his way, must know something of this within himself, or else I think he will not witness the opening of the seven seals so as to read and understand them in the lines of his own experience. And confirmed I am, they may be, yea, and I think must be, thus witnessed; and though this "death," and this "hell," seem almost too much to endure at times, yet the enlargement that follows is unspeakably comfortable, when we come to see and feel, that he who leads us through all this for our good, has possession and command of the very "keys of death, and hell;" and not only so, but even of a truth to witness" death, and hell too, to give up their dead." Here opens a field of rejoicing, with glorious prospects, may I not say, visions of light, even in the light of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. But though he surely was, and is slain, in a certain sense, when

ever the world, or worldly spirit, comes to have a foundation laid in the mind, and to gain foot-hold and dominion there, yet will he live and reign in every soul that bows to his sceptre. For, though in a sense he was dead, yet to such he is known to be alive, and that he lives forevermore; yea, more than that, for because he lives they live also, and that in spite of death and hell, for death cannot hold him, the grave cannot confine him. He will, in rightly devoted souls, burst the bands of death; lead captivity captive, yea, and, blessed be his name, he will give gifts unto men.

I don't know but I may enlarge too far, seeing something at this time attends which makes words very easy to come at; so, hoping thou wilt read me in that love which plentifully flows towards thee, thy wife, children, and many more in your land, I'll turn to a subject which affected my mind when in your western parts, as well as since; that is, so many Friends' children not being members. This I mourned about, and did believe it might in some degree be remedied, were Friends rightly engaged to request the care of Friends for their children: and why parents who desire to bring up their children in the way they should go, can choose to omit it, is hard for me to conceive. For though I know, the care of mere men, the simple sitting in meetings for discipline, &c., cannot convert the soul, yet the care, advice, and oversight of real men of God, the advantage of sitting in our meetings of church discipline, where Truth's baptizing influence often attends in a very instructive and preserving manner, are such valuable blessings and privileges, that I would not for all earth's treasures and enjoyments, that my dear little babes were deprived of them. I thought some wellminded Friends had let in a fear of disadvantage rather than advantage, in their children's being members. Oh! this, I am confirmed, is a mistaken apprehension, a very delusion; and that which, even in the minds of goodly Friends, is almost ready to persuade them, that a time will come, when there will be no more birth-right members, (as this spirit is ready to call them,) and that that will be a better time. I greatly fear this is the very voice of the stranger whom the sheep ought not to hearken to. And if ever this language gathers the children, and those that