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Near the close of the year, that increased "dedication of heart," which Sarah Ann Doeg had a year before prayed for, was given her, and the Lord's strength prevailed over her weakness. At the Monthly Meeting at Barnsley, held Twelfth month 29th, 1839, it appeared to be her duty in the Women's Meeting publicly to acknowledge the goodness of her Heavenly Father," fear not, I am with thee." "I was made willing to submit," she says, but the pause of silence was so short, that I let the meeting break up. I felt almost overwhelmed. Just at this crisis, a message came from the Men's Meeting, requesting us to wait awhile. We then settled into solemn silence; and I could not but regard it as a fresh invitation not to quench the Spirit. I knelt, and though in a faltering voice uttered the following petition: 'O most gracious and merciful God! I feel bound before I leave this place, to acknowledge that Thou art indeed a God hearing and answering prayer. Oh, be pleased more abundantly to pour out Thy spirit upon our Society, that there may yet be sons and daughters raised up among us, who shall be jealous for the honour of Thy great and excellent name.

In the course of 1840, our dear friend was led into further ministerial exercises, and

speaks of walking to Wakefield Meeting, eight miles, on a First-day afternoon, after attending meeting at Ackworth in the forenoon. On another occasion at Pontefract, though under a temptation not to engage in prayer, lest she should be appearing too often in that manner, she had faith given her for the service: and her faith was much confirmed by receiving a very kind letter from a friend, who acknowledged that after her offering in that meeting, he felt a ray of encouragement dawn upon his fettered mind. But the hand of Divine providence was now leading her to another sphere of labour; in view of which she writes on the last day of the year the feelings of her heart, as follows: "I have often felt it a privilege to belong to York Quarterly Meeting, and the unwelcome truth that I must soon leave it, will sometimes cause sadness to come over my spirit. From my beloved friends in Yorkshire I have received unbounded kindness. May the Lord reward them abundantly!"

In the second month of 1841, Robert and Sarah Ann Doeg removed from Ackworth to Wigton School, where the duties of housekeeper, under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty, devolved upon the latter. After a few weeks' experience in this new position, she writes:

"Last month we left our sweet home and our dear friends in Yorkshire, to enter on new and untried paths. Hitherto many have been our discouragements, some of which are known only to the great Searcher of hearts: but if they tend to our further purification, they will prove blessings in disguise. O Heavenly Father, thou knowest all our wants and weaknesses. Be pleased to administer to our necessities, as seemeth good in Thy sight. I do at times earnestly long that we may be made a blessing to this Institution, where I believe Thou, O Lord, hast called us to labour. Do Thou qualify us, and enable us to glorify Thee in our lives and conversation. Clothe us with humility as with a garment, and may all the praise and all the glory be Thine for ever."

They remained at Wigton rather more than four years, when they retired under the pressure of adverse and trying circumstances, and Robert Doeg commenced a school on his own account in Carlisle, which neighbourhood was afterwards their English home.

Sarah Ann Doeg, still watchful and prayerful, was enabled under all difficulties to pursue her Christian course. In 1844 she writes, "O my dearest Heavenly Father! Thou hast been pleased measurably to stain in my view all

earthly possessions, and to create at times in my heart ardent desires after holiness and Thee, and the enjoyments of heaven.

"To Jesus, the crown of my hope,

My soul is in haste to be gone.

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"But why do I wish to be gone?

Do I seek from temptations to flee?

And shall I do nothing for One,

Who was once such a sufferer for me?"

Near the end of the same year, she records a day of heavenly rejoicing. "Eleventh month, 3rd. How have I been helped and sustained this day! praises, high praises to Israel's Shepherd, who still condescends at seasons sweetly to refresh even the least of His flock. May I be encouraged to trust and not be afraid, even though the waves and the billows may threaten to overwhelm for the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters; yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.' In our morning meeting I ventured on my knees on behalf of those prevented from assembling with us by sickness. Sweet peace followed, which in the afternoon was permitted, through adorable condescension, to flow as a river in that heart, which has of late known what it is to be 'tossed with tempest

and not comforted.'

O the sweetness of the

calm, when it pleases our compassionate Saviour to arise and say, 'Peace, be still.'" The evening was spent in a religious visit to the poor people in the workhouse, and the whole day seemed full of the blessing of the Lord.

66

In a memorandum in 1846, she again speaks of the contriting influence of her Heavenly Father's love. 66 The query," she says, was addressed to my inward ear, 'Lovest thou me?' to which my heart could in truth reply, 'yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.'' Feed my sheep,' said the same gentle intimation, and the language of my soul was, ' Give me food for them, for I have nothing of my own to set before them.'" Thus was she continually led to the source and head-spring of spiritual strength. In one meeting, she says, "the expression of my dear friend H. B. was brought before me; who, when asked on her deathbed if she would like some Christian minister sent for, to pray for her, replied, 'nay, if there be a God in Israel, I will seek Him for myself." "

Being oppressed with domestic cares, owing to the illness of their servant, the following verses were brought home with instruction to her mind, with a prayer for faith practically to adopt them:

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