These are internally revealed through communion with Him, the spring and source of all good, when the mind is abstracted from every inferior feeling or consolation, and knows the various streams of comfort to be as it were swallowed up and lost in the ocean of ineffable love.

66

Surely the Christian believer is invited to experience redemption, not only from the pollution of sin, the love of the world and its spirit, the false ways and worship of man's ordaining; but from all mixture of creaturely choice, wisdom, or willing. And the heart which unreservedly yields to the refining process does witness redemption from self-seeking, so as not to be moved by the praise or censure of men, but in humble resignation uniformly breathes the acceptable language, Thy will be done.""

CHAPTER XVI.

Visit to Kent, Surrey and Sussex-Religious service within the Quarterly Meeting of London and Middlesex-Journey into Essex, and Family Visit in the Meetings of Peel and Westminster-Visit to some parts of Yorkshire-Family Visit in Southwark, &c. From 4th Month 1815 to 12th Month 1822.

IN the spring of 1815 my beloved mother ob

tained the necessary concurrence of her own Monthly Meeting for religious service among Friends and those of other denominations, within the bounds of the Quarterly Meeting of London and Middlesex, and in the counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Although considerably indisposed at the time of entering upon this engagement, she was enabled to perform it without much interruption, and greatly to the relief of her own mind.

In the course of it she travelled upwards of six hundred miles, held about thirty Public Meetings, many of them in places where none of our Society reside; besides visiting all the Meetings of Friends, and most of the families which constitute them, in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

In some of the Public Meetings in the vicinity of London, she was joined by her dear friend W. F.

whose company and gospel labours were acceptable to her; and it may be safely said that in her ministerial engagements she always evinced a tender care for the feelings of others, rejoiced in the dedication of her brethren and sisters, and endeavoured to make way for their obtaining relief of mind in Meetings which were appointed at her request.

In the summer of 1816, she paid a religious visit to Friends in Berks and Oxfordshire, holding Public Meetings in many parts of those counties, and some places in Buckinghamshire. During the following year, she had a large number of Public Meetings in the city and neighbourhood of London; among these one at the west end of the town, which was held in the Argyle Rooms, and attended by many of the nobility and higher class of society. For this description of persons my dear mother's mind had been long exercised, but although several Meetings had been appointed, with a view to having their company at our own Meeting-house, no attempt had succeeded so as to relieve her of the burden. Friends of Westminster entered very feelingly into the concern, and many Friends attending from other Meetings also their joint sympathy proved strengthening under the prospect and performance of what she considered an awfully important service; while her spirit bowed in thankful acknowledgment of Almighty help, and the peace which resulted from this sacrifice.

In returning the certificate of her Monthly Meeting she wrote as follows:

"TO FRIENDS OF THE MONTHLY MEETING OF SOUTHWARK.

"DEAR FRIENDS,

"Feeling unequal to the personal attendance of our Monthly Meeting, I adopt this method of returning the minute which was kindly issued a long time since, leaving me at liberty to move, in fulfilment of the avowed prospect, as truth might direct, and health permit. While the latter was favourably afforded I hope there was attention given to the apprehended discoveries of duty, by appointing many Meetings in the city and its vicinity; finding in the general not only a willingness to lend suitable places for such to be held in, but much openness to receive these visits of gospel love, to my humbling relief. I may thankfully acknowledge, that with respect to this engagement a peaceful retrospect is vouchsafed; and as it seems unlikely I should be enabled to avail myself of the liberty given, by attempting further service of this sort at present, I resign the minute, and conclude beloved friends your very affectionate interested friend,

"14th of 12mo. 1817."

Towards the conclusion of the

MARY DUDLEY.

year she was much

confined to the house by illness, and while thus circumstanced wrote some observations relative to the

state of her mind from which the following have been extracted.

"When I contemplate the years of deeply trying probation through which I have been sustained, the bereavements dispensed, the anguish experienced, whilst links most tenderly binding to the natural part, and in some instances sweetly cementing to the best feelings, have been severed; what waves have rolled, and billows followed in succession; I may well query where had a stay and support been found but in Him, who under the early visitation of His love was graciously pleased to seal the sacred promise, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' To the LORD's adorable mercy be it ascribed that He has not left, or I had uttered the reprehensible language, what doest thou?' under His dealings with me a poor feeble and naturally erring creature; disposed to cleave unto the dust,' and centre in the gifts of divine love.

"The hand of inexplicable wisdom has been laid, in the line of judgment, upon the very closest ties, so that nearly through my pilgrimage thus far, that which clung the nearest has been called for, or crucified by death passing upon even apparently allowable possessions. The life has been so shaken in desirable things, that I am consumed by the blow of thy hand,' has been a language well understood in the line of my experience.

"Oh the depth of that repugnance to the heartcleansing work of religion which is hid in the human