Fuller*; and having his parents' entire approbation of his choice, he applied for her hand about the twenty-second year of his age. The state of his mind at that time, is best expressed in his own words, as he related it to a dear friend. "I received a kind of refusal, which I took; my mind being awakened in a most extraordinary manner, from the time of my application to that period, and possessed with doubt and dread, so that I feared, if we went together, the divine blessing would not crown our union. In this season I sought solitary places to weep in, and pour out my tears to the Lord. Many wondered that I took the disappointment so to heart, supposing my dejection to proceed from that. I let them suppose what they would, and being favoured to keep inward, my covenants were renewed. In about six months from this time, I found a liberty to renew my suit."

They were married the 2d of 2d month, 1749, and settled in a pleasant dwelling, in the village near their parents, who looked forward with joyful,hope to future prospects for their children, whom they beheld walking in the path which leads to happiness.

About this time, a little band, young in years, but increasing in the experience of those things which belong to peace, became closely united. Amongst these, Mary Peisley, Samuel Neale, Elizabeth Pike, Richard Shackleton and his wife, and Elizabeth Carleton, often met, and were a strength and encouragement to each other. Their union is expressed thus, in a letter from

* Deborah Fuller was the daughter of John Barcroft, one of the proprietors of the lands of Ballitore, and Elizabeth, his wife, who was an acceptable minister. She died in 1740, having survived her husband several years. Near the close of life, she overflowed in sweet counsel to her children, and testified of her early experience of the Lord's goodness, which had been continued through life.

Richard Shackleton to Samuel Neale: "My cry was today, dear friend! for us who are young, who are known by one another, to have good desires begotten in us for the blessed cause, that we might be preserved, and plentifully filled with divine wisdom, of which I saw a great necessity, that the Lord would take us, being children, and teach us himself; and that we might be drawn into near unity with one another." Samuel Neale, who had been forgiven much, loved much; and having been obedient to the heavenly vision, became a vessel of honour, replenished with good, and pouring it forth for the refreshment of others. He was one, who, remembering the trials which attend youth, compassionated them; and in advanced life, his winning affability towards young persons, his fatherly love and care, his heart and house open to receive them, made a deep impression on their minds, from which many received lasting advantage.

The following extracts from letters written in the year 1752, instructively depict the state of R. Shackleton's mind at this period.

"7th of 4th Month.

"Had I kept, as I believe thou dost, to my first love, and not suffered the wisdom of the fallen nature to blind and deafen, and, in appearance, almost totally quench in me the second Adam, which is a quickening spirit, I should not now be without true wisdom, in a captious, deceitful world. May the harms of others teach thee to beware. Prize, O prize, the jewel which I believe thou art possessed of. It is indeed the pearl of price. I should rather possess the least portion of it, than all the wisdom of this world. Knowledge, indeed, puffeth up; but charity, which is this pure love, edifieth. Take William Penn's advice to his children: 'Part with all for it, but part not with it for all the world.'"

...

"14th of 6th Month.

"I have had a pretty deal of Mary Peisly's company since my last. She proves, by her conversation, that text, "The words of the wise are as nails fastened in a sure place." As there is no company so agreeable to me as that of such dear instruments, I find myself not out of danger in indulging myself in it. My mind is too apt to be drawn out in these opportunities, from a still, quiet frame, into a flutter and commotion; and the affections of the creature to steal gradually into the room of the pure love of the Creator, who is ever jealous of his just right: and this wounds the life, and defeats the true satisfaction and benefit which might accrue from such conversation; and instead of parting from our friends with a sweet savour, we make that parting doubly uneasy, by losing the company of the invisible as well as visible friend."

"25th of 9th Month.

"Oh! how I love uprightness and plain dealing; a heart which loves its friends sincerely; that will not harbour and conceal a self-pleasing, envious, injurious thought of its friend, nor bear to hear it uttered by another without rebuke. May the virtues of integrity and simplicity, and single and honest-heartedness, be ours, for they are truly Christian. Yea, may it please Divine wisdom more and more to purge out the sour leaven, and leaven our hearts with the leaven of the kingdom; even the leaven of meekness, long suffering, and tenderness of spirit: so shall we be disciples indeed; contrite, humble, and faithful followers of the Lamb, whithersoever he leadeth. May the Lord

preserve us as innocent, tender, and babe-like children before him, hungering to be fed by him, and growing up as goodly plants under his hand. Oh! this child-like nature: when shall I get enough into it? It is only as a measure of this is effected in us, that we can cry, 'Abba, Father.'

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Though, as thou sayest, 'things look bad,' let us look well at home; and as we are incapable, in a great degree, of doing any thing to make matters better, let us not make them worse, and the breach wider in the enmity, by saying or doing any thing in our own unregenerated wills, and natural heat of temper, which may hurt instead of furthering others. For the enemy works in us with the engines and tools of our corrupt nature, which he finds there: and so crafty is the serpent, that he will seem to employ these weapons for the good cause, against himself; whereas, he works in a mystery for himself, against the cause, by raising heats, and divisions, and hardness of heart between brethren. But let us endeavour, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, and if we see a brother offend in breaking any branch of our Christian testimony, and by the fire of pure zeal warming and cleansing our own hearts, we find that the truth (as will often be the case) calls for a witness to it, let us wait to be guided by the spirit of love and meekness, to bear our innocent, faithful testimony; and if it be not received, stand in the counsel of the same spirit, and let not that get up which would render evil for evil, but overcome evil with good."

"14th of 10th Month.

"I have, I confess, been favoured at times, since my last, with the washing of water to repentance and regeneration; not through any instrumental help, but through the powerful operation of the spirit of judgment and of burn

ing, in my solid retirement in and before my family. We are too apt, after such washing times, to run like sheep, skipping and leaping from the washpool, and so are in danger of being bespattered with mire again, instead of being weightily concerned that a sense of that power may rest upon our spirits, which is alone truly comfortable, and can keep us solid, steady, and fruitful. For as the sheep is washed, in order that it may be shorn; so are we washed and cleansed, that we may bring forth fruit meet for Him who has dressed.' My desires are strong in my measure, that we, several of us, who are known by one another, and known to our heavenly Father to have, at times, living desires raised in us for the glory of God and the eternal happiness of ourselves, and one of another; and sometimes a further concern that our backsliding brethren may no more revolt, but return and live: my desires are that we may come up nobly and boldly in his cause, and be absolutely (I see no other way to be of service) resigned to the will and disposal of the great Lord of the harvest, dedicating freely and cheerfully, as our forefathers did, all we have, internal and external, to his service."

The following is an extract from the only letter which has been found, from Richard Shackleton to his wife. They were not often separated: they probably hoped to pass a long life together, and therefore might not have been so careful to preserve such memorials of affection as he afterwards became; and he often regretted his not having one letter by him, of the few he had received from the dear object of his youthful days, who was tenderly remembered by him through the whole of his succeeding life.