A change of heart is necessary to be experienced by every man, from a state of nature to a state of grace; from earthly and sensual dispositions and affections, to holy and heavenly, in order to be fitted for the fruition of, as well as the admission into the kingdom of heaven. It is then the greatest wisdom, while time and opportunity are afforded, to use all diligence to attain that state of mind, whereby we may be prepared, when all the transitory delights, amusements and desirable objects of this world fail, to be received into everlasting habitations: and how ought our hearts to be filled with thankfulness to God, who in his universal love to mankind, hath provided for them a physician, able and willing to heal all nations, to create clean hearts, and renew right spirits in all who submit to him, and follow his directions.

But in order to attain this desirable state, we must make a total surrender of ourselves to the divine will revealed to us, in daily self-denial and fidelity; persevering therein to the end of our days, ardent in desire to do good, and to be conformed to the mind of our Creator.

The less we look out unnecessarily into the world, or covet its honours, favours, friendship and greatness, and the more we look to God with a single eye, and covet his honour, favour, friendship and riches, the more shall we experience a growth in the very root, and in all the

branches of the divine life, that we may be as a chaste spouse to Christ in every desire and aim, in every motion of the mind, and its companion the body too, and surely he ever merits it from us, even he who has graciously visited, and from day to day invited, and called us out of the spirit and ways of the world, to join himself, in order to partake with him and his, of pure peace and joy in the present, and more infinitely in a future state. His call is "Come "out from among them, and be ye separate, “ touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a father to you," &c.•

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By this call were our honourable predecessors in the beginning, separated from the spirit and ways of the world, and incited to refuse touching the unclean thing or whatever sprang from an impure source, what persecution soever that refusal might cost them, knowing that he whom they obeyed and in whom they trusted, would carry them thro' all opposition, which they experienced (to their unspeakable joy) to be fulfilled, and livelily testified to the world, many of them, both living and dying.

Those happy men and women left the Lord's vineyard (thro' their faithful labours with the divine blessing upon them) well fenced and cleaned (having gathered out the stones thereof) and

* 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18.

abounding with the excellent fruits of the holy spirit of Christ.

After this, degeneracy stole in, revolting to the world, reimbibing its spirit, resuming its customs, language and manners : which has since widely spread and overflowed like a deluge, broken down the fence, and introduced an unhappy change in the state of our society.

Yet there is no change in God or his laws. Oh! then that we may speedily return back to him and them, and to that state from whence we have fallen, else great, it is to be feared, will be our condemnation.

Having premised these brief and most important observations, I now proceed to the narrative of my own life.

OF THE

LIFE, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE, &c.

OP

JAMES GOUGH.

I was born at Kendal in Westmorland on the 27th of 12th month, 1712, and my parents John and Mary Gough, professing the Truth as held by the people called Quakers, I received my education in the same profession. My mother, who was an industrious, careful, well-minded woman, taught me to read; and when I was a little turned of five years of age I commenced a scholar in friends' school in my native town, under the tuition of Thomas Rebanks, at which school I continued till my fifteenth year. Having a good genius and a propensity to learning, I attained with facility and readiness the Latin and Greek languages; and my quick proficiency therein, (I being of little stature for my age) exited admiration, procured me the fame of a great scholar, vastly magnified my little stock of attainments; and also introduced me to the notice of several persons of eminence in the town, who would frequently question me in respect to my learning, and were generally pleased with my ready answers.

In particular a distinguished justice of peace, with his wife, took a singular notice of me admitting me (young as I was) to free conversation with them, and introducing me at times into grand company, which frequented their houses. The said justice would say, that if my parents would give me up to him, he would send me to the university to receive a proper education. This flattered my ambition, as it was what at that time I heartily wished for.

By these means the seeds of wild nature, the noxious weeds of pride and vain conceit (the produce of every soil) received strength and nourishment in my early minority, and shot up high for my present childish age.

But in some sort to counterbalance these incentives to pride and airy notions, I had the advantage of receiving my education in a place, in and about which there lived many worthy friends, whose exemplary lives, and religious care and labours, often in my early years made good impressions on my mind, which (though my own propensities soon effaced them) left fixed upon my breast an honourable esteem for those truly good men and women, with painful reflections under the sense of my own infidelity, and secret wishes for that happy condition, which, I really believed them to be established in, by Christ their Redeemer and Sovereign.

My understanding was enlightened when very