In his young years (having been educated in the established religion or Church of England fo called) he had conceived a very contemptible opinion of the people called Quakers and their principles, and at a public house or inn, falling in company with fome others of the like fentiments, this people became the subject of their difcourfe; and as they were expreffing their fentiments of contempt and diflike of them pretty freely, a perfon of fome note, who had been an officer under Oliver Cromwell, came into the room, and overhearing their difcourfe, obferved to them in substance, "That he apprehended their preju"dice towards this people arofe from their want "of knowing them: for my part (continued he) "I entertain very different fentiments of them;" and perceiving them ftruck with admiration to hear him, whom they looked upon as a man of sense, as well as confequence, exprefs himself after this manner, he proceeded to the following purpose. "You feem to wonder that I express a favourable opinion of the Quakers, I will inform you the "reafon. After the battle of Dunbar, as I was

riding in Scotland at the head of my troop, I "obferved at fome diftance from the road, a "crowd of people and one higher than the reft;

upon which I fent one of my men to see, and

bring me word what was the meaning of this

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gathering, and feeing him ride up and stay there, "without returning according to my order, I fent a second, who stayed in like manner, and then I "determined to go myfelf. When I came thither, I found it was James Naylor preaching to the people; but with fuch power and reaching energy, as I had not till then been witness of. I could not help staying a little, although I was "afraid to ftay; for I was made a Quaker, being "forced to tremble at the fight of myself. I was "ftruck with more terror by the preaching of

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James Naylor, than I was at the battle of Dun

bar, when we had nothing else to expect, but "to fall a prey to the fwords of our enemies, "without being able to help ourselves. I clearly "faw the cross to be submitted to, so I durft stay "no longer, but got off, and carried condemnati

on for it in my own breast. The people there, "in the clear and powerful opening of their states, "cried out against themselves, imploring mercy, "a thorough change, and the whole work of fal"vation to be effected in them. Ever fince, I "have thought myself obliged to acknowledge on "their behalf, as I have now done.”

This, James Wilfon faid, proved the first step towards his convincement of our principles, inclining him to go to our meetings, which before he

had an averfion to the thoughts of, from the prejudice above hinted. In those days the meetings of friends were more eminently favoured with divine power, as they lived more devoted to Chrift, and confequently more abounding with his love flowing in their hearts.

I was ready to think that Ifaac Alexander had been inftrumental to his convincement. I find it recorded in the third volume of the Dying Sayings, that faid Ifaac died at his house. Of him he gave me the following account, that being in himself an illiterate ruftic, foon after "his convincement, he appeared in the ministry lively and powerful. A neighbour of his, having heard of his becoming a preacher, could

not tell how fufficiently to express his admi"ration; he made it the subject of his discourse "from place to place, deriding him who had no learning for prefuming to preach, and the people for fuffering him."

"This man attended the funeral of that great "and good woman, Ann Camm. The meeting proved an exceeding enlightening, tendering opportunity: and even this derider was " contrited and humbled therein. Ifaac Alex"ander was eminently raised up in his gift, to

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"fet forth the goodness, and justice of God; "the glory of truth; the happiness of obeying "it; and the lafting infelicity of neglecting and rebelling against it. The man was so thoroughly penetrated with a clear fight of his own "cafe, that after Ifaac had done, he stood up in “that very assembly; acknowledged the crime "he had been guilty of, and begged the prayers "of all good chriftians, that it might be forgiven him."

I mostly finished my service in England in this journey, with the quarterly meeting for Lancashire, at Lancaster, and that for Weftmoreland, at Kendal, held in fucceffion. At the former, I met with Abraham Fuller, of Dublin, who had accompanied Mofes Aldridge from New England, in his religious vifit to friends in Scotland, and was now, as well as myself on his return home; our meeting being quite unexpected, was a pleasing furprize to us both; especially, as we were like to be companions to Dublin. Here alfo, I met with Samuel Fothergill, then young in the miniftry: but even then appearing with that folemnity, brightness, and gospel authority, as gave friends lively hopes of his proving, as he did, through the fucceffive ftages of his life, a bright and shining light, a veffel of honour indeed, of eminent fer

vice in the church of Chrift. The public fervice in the faid quarterly meeting, fell to the share of us who were young, (though many weighty experienced ministers prefent,) and our good Mafter being with us, it proved a refreshing, fatisfactory, and edifying meeting.

From Lancaster we went directly to the quarterly meeting at Kendal, which was also a good meeting, and the begining of the fucceeding week, we proceeded to Whitehaven, in order to take fhipping for Dublin, where we arrived on feventh day following, and I lodged at Jofeph Gill's. I attended the meetings there the next day, and heavenly help being near, I was furnished with ability and matter, to minister to the general fatisfaction and edification of friends, and the ease of my own mind. And my being at that time quite a ftranger to most friends in that city, and coming quite unexpected, occafioned pretty much enquiry among them.

From Dublin I proceeded toward Limerick, by Mountmelick, Mountrath, and Kilconimore, where John Ashton was then living, a valuable good man, little inferior to most I have known, in my estimation. Although not eminent for great and fhining parts; yet he was a fhining light in the