been an Independent preacher; but I, being so much hurried, and having an eye out to the exercise some were under, was but a little reached; yet had a great desire to have spoken with the Friend; and went into the inn among Friends, hoping to get some discourse, but being not in the same room with him, was frustrated. And

though I was but a little reached, yet what he said was afterwards brought into my remembrance, and it wrought like leaven, and I searched the Scriptures, and thought to have rest there.

Another meeting being appointed about a mile off, there was full notice of it, to which many went; and Robert Barclay, going northward, hearing of the meeting, came, and spoke the word of truth excellently to the people, that I could have said amen to several things; and amongst the rest he said, " If a man could begin at Genesis, and repeat all the Scriptures to the end of Revelation, and was not led and guided by a measure of that Spirit by which the Scriptures were given forth, it would avail him nothing." And then I saw all that I had availed nothing. After the meeting was over, and Friends and people about to part, there came a young priest, and offered some discourse; and I being forward, having read much of the Scriptures, was willing to join with the priest against Friends; but Robert Barclay perceiving there was little good to be done, for there was like

to be an uproar among the people, some shouting and making a noise, for there were many sorts of people, he took his horse and went away. But some Friends perceiving I was forward in discourse, cast themselves in my way; and another young priest that had been at the meeting, took part with me; and in the hearing of many, we discoursed about many things. I saw clearly that Friends were too hard for us, though I would not acknowledge it; and I put on a resolution, I would never more dispute publicly with Friends.

Being come home, under great exercise what to do, I searched the Scriptures, and read much; and I wanted to be informed concerning many things that Friends held. In this time Friends appointed another meeting about a quarter of a mile from my abode, and I had many serious thoughts what to do. At last I resolved I would go to the meeting, and get near the public Friends, and hear every word they said; and if I liked them well, I would invite them to my house, on purpose to discourse with them privately about several things. While I was under this resolution, one that had professed truth, but had proved unfaithful, coming to work at my house, we presently began to discourse about religion, though I took little notice of him, because of his miscarriages; but when he perceived I was dissatisfied with the priests and

their doctrine, he went away home, and brought me a little book written by Francis Howgill, the title of it was, "Mystery, Babylon, the Mother of Harlots." The reading whereof

satisfied me much, and drew me nearer in my mind to Friends; and after I began to say to him, "Dost thou think if I should invite your friends to my house, they would come with me?" He answered, if I did so, I would do well; and further added, that they that gave but "a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, should not lose their reward." The meeting-day came, and many people flocked to the meeting; and diligent I was to hear the testimony of truth: and Thomas Carleton, one of a sweet countenance (as I remember) spake concerning the spirit of truth being come, that convinceth the world of sin, and that this being taken heed unto, would lead out of all sin; of which words I was heartly glad, for I said in myself, "I have had that from a child that condemned me for sin; and if this be sufficient to lead out of sin, this was what I long wanted." The meeting parted, and people going homeward, I went away serious; and when gone about two hundred yards from the place where the meeting was held, it suddenly came into my mind what I had been thinking of the week before. I stood still to consider what to do; and began to reason they were strangers to me, and it was not safe

to meddle with them. I began to go homeward, and had gone but a little way till I met one tha t was convinced, that I knew, and he asked me about the meeting; and speaking of my satisfaction, I asked him if he thought the Friends (who were Thomas Carleton and Thomas Langhorn) would go home with me, for the thing was pressing upon my mind. Said he," Shall I tell them?" I said he might. After he was gone, I began to reason, and I was much afraid I should have missed my way, but thought I would stand still to see what they would do. When they came near, a mighty dread seized upon me, and I had much ado to contain from shaking and trembling, that I abhorred myself. But when the Friends came and took me by the hand, and asked me if I was willing they should go with me? when I replied, I was my strength came to me again; and going home to my house, though my wife was so near to be delivered, that in four days she brought forth a son; and the report spread abroad I was turned Quaker, and the Quakers gone to my house. In a few hours, it being in the winter, and the nights about the longest, many neighbours came to hear and see; and the house being pretty well filled, Thomas Carleton and Thomas Langhorn advised me to speak to the people to sit down, and we would have a meeting. I did so, and we had a meeting; and afterward several of us, Christo

pher Taylor, William Graham, of Sikeside, and and Francis Story, who was clerk and schoolmaster, with some others, went to an upper room, and having written some queries came down. When the Friends perceived what we aimed at, Thomas Carleton, being pretty quick and expert in answering questions, called for a Bible, and did not so much argue with us, as endeavour to let us see what the Scriptures said, putting us gently by, for we were much for arguing: we parted pretty well satisfied. Next morning the Friends going to Carlisle, Christopher Taylor and I went with them; and we queried many things which they answered to our satisfaction. In our going along, a heavenly melodious song sounded through Thomas Langhorn and we were affected with it. After we had parted, in our return home, we said one to another, "If there be saints upon earth, those men are two of them."

Friends hearing of these things, J Wilkinson appointed another meeting in two or three weeks after; and coming to the place, it being a wet season, Christopher Taylor was desired that it might be on his ground, on a little hill called Megg's Hill, (now Friends' Burying-ground,) which he readily granted. There was a very glorious meeting, and many were convinced.

That night Christopher Taylor invited John Wilkinson to his house; and he, his wife, and his brother Andrew, all received the truth in the love