Soma Buckley MEMOIRS OF ELIZABETH COLLINS, OF UPPER EVESHAM, NEW JERSEY, A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, Philadelphia: NATHAN KITE-50 NORTH FOURTH STREET. A TESTIMONY OF THE MONTHLY MEETING OF UPPER EVESHAM, NEW JERSEY, Concerning our beloved friend, Elizabeth Collins, deceased. THIS our dear friend was born the fourth of the first month, 1755, her parents, Joshua and Naomi Ballinger, being members of our religious society. It appears by her own account left in writing, that her father died soon after she was six years of age; which, notwithstanding the care of a watchful and affectionate mother, subjected her to many trials and difficulties. But she found her gracious helper to be near, although like Samuel, when called of the Lord, she knew not what it was, that then tendered her mind, causing her at times to wet her pillow with her tears. But yielding in measure to this divine influence, she experienced the supporting arm to be underneath, and was strengthened to resist many of the temptations incident to youth. In the eighteenth year of her age, she joined in marriage with John Mason, a member of Evesham Meeting, who, in about four years, was removed by death. Being thus left with two small children, under a humbling sense of her afflictions and trials she was brought very low in body and mind; but she remarks, "the Lord in mercy was near to support, and bear up through all, that I did not sink below hope, but was enabled to put my trust in him, who had promised to be with the widow and fatherless." In the year 1778, she was married to our friend Job Collins, and became a member of Upper Evesham meeting, where, in the twenty-fourth year of her age, her mind became exercised under an apprehension, that she was called to bear public testimony therein. And after a season of deep baptism, she was enabled to yield obedience to the divine requirings, by expressing a few words in meeting, which afforded her great peace of mind. Notwithstanding this, she had often to experience times of close stripping, when she was ready to call all in question. But he who regardeth the sighing of the needy, and satisfieth the hungry soul with bread, condescended in mercy to favour her with the light of his glorious countenance, to the strength and consolation of her drooping spirit, qualifying her, as she attended closely to the manifestation of duty, and persevered in unreserved dedication to the divine Master, to become a useful instrument, in publishing the glad tidings of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As a minister, she was skilful in dividing the word, labouring zealously in the authority of truth, to stir up the lukewarm, and indifferent, and speaking a |