appreciation of the truths preached by George Fox and his friends.

Edward Burrough was born in the barony of Kendal in the county of Westmoreland, England, about the year 1635. His parents had the reputation of honest and upright persons, and brought up their son with as good an education as the neighborhood afforded. He was a boy of very good understanding, and of knowledge far beyond his years. His intimate friend Francis Howgill testifies of him, that "he had the spirit of a man when he was but a child. I may say, gray hairs were upon him when he was but a youth, for he was clothed with wisdom in his infancy. He was inclinable from his youth upwards, to religionalways accompanied the best men, who walked in godliness and honesty-was never known to be addicted to any vice or bad behavior-but feared the Lord, and walked uprightly according to the light and knowledge received. In his natural disposition, he was bold and manly, dexterous and fervent, and what he took in hand, he did with his might; loving, kind and courteous, merciful and flexible, and easy to be entreated. His delight was always among good people, and to be reading the Scriptures, and his very strength was bent towards God."

This was his character among his associates. But he himself, under a sense of his deficiencies, says that he was wanton and light, and lived in pleasure, without the fear of God, or knowledge of Him but by hearsay or tradition. When, however, he grew up towards twelve years of age, something stirred within him, and showed him that there was a higher religion than that which he was exercised in. He then inquired after the Presbyterians, under the idea that they were nearer the truth than what he had known; and would go several miles on a First-day to hear the best of their preachers. As he grew into favor with them, he left off some of his lightness and vanity; but instead of it,

spiritual pride crept in, and he became puffed up in some degree with his attainments. It pleased the Lord, however, in mercy, not to let him rest here; but he was struck as with a terror by the convicting power of Divine Grace; and after his exercises in prayer, he often heard this voice speaking to his soul: "Thou art ignorant of God; thou knowest not where he is, nor what he is: to what purpose is thy prayer?" Fear and dread came upon him, and he was made to give up even "to the moles and to the bats" his formal exercises, performed in his own will, and all reliance on his attainments in human learning. He lost also his dependence upon the preachers, in whom he had so much delighted, and was favored with some experience of joy and peace, and of water from the living fountain, to the refreshment of his soul. But even in this state, the enemy of man's happiness was busily intent on spoiling the work, and infused into his mind the poisonous leaven of self-righteousness and self-activity. "Thus," says he, "being ignorant of the Cross of Christ, to keep low in it, I ran before my Guide, and grew up into notions, to talk of high things; for it was my delight to comprehend in my busy mind." This was a very dangerous state, of which, at length, in great mercy, he was made sensible. "The witness," he says, "which lay slain in me, would give me no rest. Something which shined deep in me, showed me ignorance in all profession, and I was put to a stand many times in myself at those things which were come to pass." About this time, which was about the 17th year of his age, he met with George Fox, who had much reasoning with him and others, at the house of one Miles Bateman, at Underbarrow. Edward says, "it pleased the Lord to speak to me by him, that I was in the prodigal's state, and above the cross of Christ; not in the pure fear of the Lord, but full of corruption and the old nature. I saw myself to be in bondage to my own will, and to my own lust, and full

of airy notions and imaginations. Then trouble and distress came upon me, such as I had never known; and I separated from all the glory of the world, and from all my acquaintance and kindred, and betook myself to the company of a poor despised people called Quakers. And now am I one in that generation, which is and ever was hated by the world, the chief priests and pharisees." Being thus brought freely to an acquaintance with that which he had long sought in vain among the hireling teachers and high professors of what they themselves knew not, in a short time (even that same year, viz. 1652,) being as George Fox declares, "endued with power from on high," he came forth in the work of the ministry, and approved himself a faithful laborer therein, travelling up and down, and preaching the gospel freely.

CHAPTER V.

CONVINCEMENT OF THOMAS THOMPSON-AND FURTHER TRANSACTIONS OF GEORGE FOX.

WE

E are not informed who were the parents of this individual, nor of the place of his birth, but this is supposed to have been in the north of England, and probably between the years 1630 and 1640. His own account relates, that even when he was very young, it pleased the Lord to incline his heart to seek after Him, and that when he was about eight years old, he was deeply impressed with this language, which sounded in his mental ear: "Now is the axe laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down and cast into the fire." Strong desires were

raised in his youthful mind, that he might become one of the trees bearing good fruit; and listening to the voice of the Lord in his soul, He discovered to him the evil of many things practised generally by such as he then was, excited in his mind an abhorrence of sin, and preserved him from much of the wickedness which prevailed around him. For several years he was earnestly engaged, both by frequent attendance on those who were accounted the most able preachers, and by a diligent perusal of the Holy Scriptures, which he much loved, to obtain an understanding of the things of religion; but his mind nevertheless was too much outward, knowing not the Light of Christ Jesus to guide him, and depending unduly on instrumental helps. But, alas! as he grew up and increased in knowledge, his heart was not kept so near the Lord as formerly, nor was his care so great to walk in holiness of life before Him; for he began to take up with a false rest, apprehending that all was well with him, because he knew much of the Scriptures, and could repeat great part of the sermons and other exercises of the priests. These blind leaders of the blind also increased his danger by flattering him with smooth words, telling him that he was a hopeful boy and needed not to doubt that it would be well with him. The Lord, however, in great mercy, showed him that his soul was still in want, and that all was not right with him, though he could speak so much of God, Christ and faith. Good desires were again raised in his mind towards the Lord; his false rest was broken up; and he hungered for the bread of life to satisfy his longing and weary soul. This was not however to be found among the hirelings and formal professors amongst whom he had been seeking the way of truth. He says, "then I went to some meetings of the people called Independents; but neither there could I find what my soul wanted, viz. the Life of Jesus, which I could not be satisfied without the enjoyment of. So, being

tired out with going from one to another, the Lord in his goodness was pleased to make known to me that the manmade ministers were not of Him, but were such as ran, and he never sent them. Therefore they did not profit the people at all, but were Babylonish merchants, which made a prey upon the people. And this word sounded in me: 'Come out from amongst them my people; be not partakers with them in their sins, lest ye also partake of their plagues.' So in a little time I left them, and grew retired in my mind, delighting much to be alone, meditating on the things of God, or reading such books as were published, of the experiences of those that had any openings in the way of life.

"And in the forepart of the year 1652, it pleased the Lord to order his faithful and valiant servant and messenger, dear George Fox, into these parts; but I had not then opportunity to see him, though I greatly desired it. But some of my familiars that were with him, gave me an account of his manner of life, and also of his doctrine. They told me, that in his behavior he was very reserved, not using any needless words or discourses that tended not to edification, and that he used not respect of persons; very temperate in his eating and drinking; his apparel homely, yet decent; and as for his doctrine, he directed people to the light of Christ in their consciences, to guide them to God.

"At the hearing of these things, though at second hand, the Lord was pleased mightily to work upon my mind, and brought me to a wonderful retiredness; and my mind was truly turned inward to wait on him and desire his teachings. So by degrees, the Lord manifesting one thing after another, by the working and power of God, self came to be denied, and I was, in many things humbled to the cross; so that several of my neighbors and acquaintances marvelled to see me so changed, and some said I would be distracted. But their words were little to me; for as I obeyed the Lord,