THOMAS CHALKLEY.

"The 22nd of the said month, I, being weary, laid me down to rest, and fell asleep, and was awakened out of my sleep by these words, 'Oh heart in Heaven! it is an excellent thing to have an heart in Heaven!' which words were comfortable to me, and left a sweetness on my mind all the day after."-THOMAS CHALKLEY'S JOURNAL.

"WHY do you weep Tommy?" was the question addressed to Thomas Chalkley, when he was about nine years old, by the mother of some children, with whom he had been playing. "I can't tell, except it is because I am a naughty boy," he answered. "Oh!" she said, "the devil tells you so, for you are the best boy in the street." Although she thus lost the opportunity of explaining to him that the Holy Spirit was showing him his sinfulness in order to lead him to the sure shelter of a Saviour's love, her unwise reply did not efface the impression made on his young heart, for he knew that she was mistaken.

His parents, who were Friends, resided at Southwark, where he was born in 1675. One day, whilst still a child, he secretly bought a pack of cards to take to Woodford, where he was going to spend Christmas at the house of some relations. On his way thither he attended a meeting at Wanstead, where he heard a minister speak on the evils of gaming, which he had already thought it wrong to indulge in; and when that evening his uncle called him to take part in a game of cards, he had, he says, "such strong convictions" that this would be wrong, as caused him to lift his heart in prayer that he might be kept faithful to the Lord. Just then his eye rested on a Bible which was lying in the window

probably the only book in the room-and quietly sitting down, he employed himself in reading it. When his uncle observed this, he said to a clergyman, who was his guest that night: "Come, doctor, you and I, and my wife and daughter will have a game of cards, for I see my nephew is better disposed." Then, looking again at the boy, he said he was himself "better disposed also." "So," remarks Thomas Chalkley," their sport for that time was spoiled, and mine in that practice for ever."

The Bible now became a delight to him, as he prayed that God would open its records to his understanding. "I also begged earnestly of the Lord," he says, "that He would be pleased to be with me, and make me like to those His children and servants of whom I read in the Holy Scriptures, who faithfully served Him all their days. And when I read of the crucifixion of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, it would break my soul into tenderness. 'Thus I went on for several years, feeling that peace which passeth natural understanding, which many times accompanied my poor and needy soul."

When Thomas Chalkley was about twenty, he was seized by a press-gang and carried on board a vessel that belonged to a man-of-war. The night was spent in the hold, lying on casks, and shut up with companions whose conversation he described as "dark and hellish." In the longed-for morning, when the lieutenant asked him if he would serve the king, he replied that he was willing to do so in any business according to his conscience, but not for war, which Christ had forbidden. "Gentlemen," exclaimed the lieutenant," what shall we do with this fellow? He swears he will not fight." "No, no," answered the commander of the vessel," he will neither swear nor fight!" Whereupon, to his great satisfaction, he was set on shore.

It has been well said, that "the only spot in the wide world, where we can find rest to our souls, is under the cross." Yet to how many an earnest life there comes a time when much that has been held dear must be counted loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. The choice is not palpably at this crisis between God and Mammon, for if it were so the soul which has tasted the love of its Lord could hardly hesitate in making its decision. The question is rather this although too many refuse to recognise it as such, and thereby lose more then they even conceive of the yielding of the whole heart to Christ, or something less.

As Thomas Chalkley grew up to manhood, and engaged in business, he found himself too much absorbed in the pursuit of gain, and learnt that Satan can tempt with lawful things when he finds that the unlawful have lost their power to attract. Lured for a season from his "first love," he lost the light of God's countenance, the abiding presence of the Comforter. Then, in his sorrow, he prayed with tears," "O! that it might be with me as it was before! I am willing to let the world go rather than grace and God's glory." And his prayer was fully answered. Keeping under this exercise," he writes, "The Lord appeared to me again, and many times refreshed my heart with His goodness. And when I was in my business among men I did witness the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, to be near me, which was more to me than all the world, or the riches, glory, and beauty of it. The love of God being so sweet to my soul, my breathings, prayers, and supplications were to the Lord, that my neighbours, acquaintance, and relations might partake of the like precious faith which I enjoyed; and that the children of men might answer that great and good end for which the Lord did create them."

Soon after this dedication of himself to God, Thomas Chalkley tells us how he felt "the Gospel power of our Lord Jesus Christ" working in his soul; and adds, “I clearly discerned that all ministering out of Christ's power was neither edifying nor efficacious unto souls: therefore I did earnestly beseech God for the continuance of the gift of His Spirit. The concern that was upon me on this account, is hard to be expressed in words."

Soon after the expiration of a seven years' apprenticeship to his father, he visited the meetings of Friends in the south and west of England, in company with another minister. After an absence of four months, they returned to London. Thomas Chalkley writes, "I went to my calling and got a little money-a little being enough-which I was made willing to spend freely in the work and service of my great Master, Jesus Christ." His next journey extended to Edinburgh, where he held a meeting in the street, as the Friends were locked out of their Meeting-house. A great number of people were present; and when the news of this reached the Provost, he shrewdly remarked, "The Quakers will do more hurt out of doors than within," and gave orders that their key should be given back to them. "That dispensation," writes Thomas Chalkley, "which I had freely received, I freely handed forth to the people, devoting my strength and time to serve Him that had done so much for me." He visited several parts of England, where the Gospel message, of which he was the faithful bearer, was often welcomed with gladness, and his own heart was warmed with the consciousness of God's love.

At the age of twenty-two, Thomas Chalkley left his home to visit the Friends in America. He sailed from Gravesend, and whilst waiting off the Downs for a favourable wind, William Ellis, Aaron Atkinson,

and another minister, also bound for America, came on board. The voyage was an extremely stormy one, yet meetings were held by the Friends twice a week, which were attended by many of the passengers, and were times of blessing. In the midst of the tempest, Thomas Chalkley realised the peace of a mind stayed on God. "Oh!" he exclaims, "for ever blessed be the living and eternal God who kept my soul above the fear of death, hell, and the grave; for my trust was in Him, and He did bear up my spirit above the waves of the sea; and in the times of tossing with tempests I was comforted and cheerful, praising the Lord in my heart, both in the day time and in the night season.

There was a good deal of severe illness amongst the passengers and sailors, which it was feared would be fatal. Thomas Chalkley's heart was drawn out in sympathy for the sufferers, and he did all that lay in his power to alleviate their distress. As there was no doctor on board, he administered to them the medicines, &c., which he had brought with him; whilst, to quote his own words, he "cried to the Lord to heal them in the name of His dear Son, that it might be a means to convince them of the efficacy of love to and faith in Christ Jesus, the Physician of value; and the Lord was pleased to heal them." One of the passengers called him "The blessed doctor," and a sailor said that he was bound to pray for him as long as he lived, assuring him of the Lord's blessing; nor were others slow to express their gratitude. "I was satisfied," he says, "and gave God the glory."

After twelve weeks the stormy winter voyage came to an end, as the ship anchored at the mouth of the Patuxent river, in Maryland. After holding several meetings on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, the Friends sailed across to the eastern side. Thomas