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In a small volume, entitled "Memoirs of the Rev. Thomas Halyburton, professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews," published at Glasgow, 1830, there is a passage, occurring in the death-bed experience of this individual, by no means dissimilar to the foregoing. He died in 1712, about twenty-two years after Peter Gardiner.-Upon one saying to him, "I thought, Sir, you was expressing your fears respecting the times," he answered, "Yes, indeed; I am no prophet, I am not positive on the head; but I greatly fear a heavy stroke is coming on this land, I fear the plague of God is coming on Scotland." One said, "The pestilence, Sir, do you mean?" He replied, Yes, indeed, and a bloody sword also. Nay, it is what I feared these several years, and I abide by it, I am of the same mind still; and I do not see what way it is avoidable without a miracle; and a miracle I do not expect:-but seek to be established in the Truth. These are like to be trying times." p. 365.

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CHAPTER XVII.

1680 to 1700: THE CHRISTIAN CONCERN AND CARE OF FRIENDS, DURING THIS PERIOD, WITH REGARD TO THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT, &c.-VISITS OF ROBERT BARROW AND JOHN GRATTON-1697: ANDREW JAFFRAY AND ROBERT BARCLAY JUNIOR TRAVEL TO THE HIGHLANDS-DEATH OF LILIAS SKENE AND PATRICK LIVINGSTON.

THE Comforts and advantages that attach to the liberty of serving God according to conscience, were now, as regards this Christian community, in full operation. The present chapter will be opened with some agreeable symptoms that have been collected, of their state and progress under these circumstances: showing, during a considerable space of time, what use they made of the clemency and toleration extended towards them.

In the year 1681, the little cluster of Friends in this northern region, insulated in great degree, as they then felt themselves to be, and cut off from the privileges of communication with more populous districts of their fellow-professors, concluded to establish two schools, one at Aberdeen and the other at Kinmuck, for the benefit of their children. On this subject, there is ample proof of the continuance of their enlightened and weighty concern. In the epistles issued by their collective assemblies, they hold out, in a manner very fit for a Christian society to do, the primary importance of training up children in the foar, nurture, and admonition of the Lord; "that they may, through the blessing from above, come to have an inheritance and portion in the heritage of Jacob."

They frequently urge, their being early made acquainted with what the Lord had done for this people, in separating them for Himself out of all other kindreds of the earth; and that, in the liberty and fear of God, the nature of that spiritual standard which they are called upon to uphold, should be explicitly conveyed to the tender mind. They also advert to the pernicious example and fellowship of ungodly children, and the great advantage of having their youth sheltered under the care of such Friends, as, being in the Truth themselves, would not suffer them to "be corrupted from the simplicity" of it, either by heathenish books, or other unsound sentiments. This exercise on behalf of the children of their members, in a particular manner rested on the mind of Christian Barclay; herself the parent of a large and interesting family, and "a mother in Israel." She addressed several epistles to her Friends, stimulating those who stood in this responsible station, to a steadfast zeal for the best welfare of their families; desiring they might feel themselves far more strongly bound to provide, so far as in them lay, for the sustenance of these in a spiritual, than in an outward sense. "Because," she remarks, "we have felt the virtuous Power of God, which hath visited us in our hearts, to be to our souls the Bread of life." Therefore, (she intimates,) should we rest at ease, while our children are feeding on the barren spirit of this world, without breathing to the Lord for their souls' provision, we are much below the very infidels. She expresses the belief, that the Lord is near, and ready by his power to help the upright-hearted, in answering his righteous will in these important respects; and that we, of all people, are left without excuse, since He has given us to know the fountain of strength and goodness in

ourselves, so that we need never be at a loss, if we are but rightly retired to the gift of God, and submit ourselves to his holy ordering.-Her "well-accomplished" mind was, in the like earnest manner, directed towards those in the relation of master and servant, as well as towards her poor neighbours.

On the subject of a wholesome administration of church government, the origin and nature of which, has been somewhat explained in a previous chapter of this history, we find that, early in the year 1680, so soon as the long interruption occasioned by persecution would permit, they quickly resumed their former practice, of meeting monthly or oftener for the regulation of such affairs.

Towards the close of the year 1690, they received a letter from George Fox, just before his own removal by death; recommending to them, in common with the Society at large, a design so fraught with extensive and permanent benefit, that it may be called a legacy of no common value. It was his wish, they should separate certain of their number whom they approved, to have upon them the express charge of corresponding with Friends in London on the state and welfare of their brethren; that thus, in this corner of the camp, as well as elsewhere, they might be reciprocally cheered, as George Fox expresses himself, by a continual report of the prosperity of the church, and the spreading of the Truth in all parts of the world; while they would be in the way of receiving that sympathy and help, in cases of difficulty or distress, which the Friends of London, from their central position and other circumstances, were especially qualified to render. A further purpose, which he had in view by this excellent systematic connexion, was the circulation of books, tracts, and epistles, which

might serve either to edify their own members, or to inform others. The sound wisdom and excellent feeling, which first prompted these arrangements, are indisputable; the advantages, also, resulting from them, have been very great, even to the present day; but we are scarcely competent to say, what might be the effect of these measures, were they carried to the full extent, which the projector seemed to have in

view.

In the year 1693, another commendable practice was concluded to be adopted by the Friends at Aberdeen, a practice then prevalent, as they state, both in Ireland and in many parts of England—that two weighty Friends in the meeting should be appointed from one quarter to another, to have more especially upon them the care and oversight of their members. They were to visit them in their families, and to give them advice, in meekness, wisdom, and love, as they might see needful. With regard to the minutia and the routine of these things, it is obvious, that circumstances will occasion variation of practice, in different ages and in different places; but the savour and intent of them will ever be uniformly the same. And in proportion as the gathered churches, that profess faith in Christ Jesus, more purely come into the Spirit of their holy and blessed Head, the management of their affairs of this description will become more simple, more efficient,-tending to the honour of God, the preservation, the restoration, and the growth one of another in spiritual things, as well as to the admiration of those that are not of the same "fold."

A further instance of the zest with which those of this generation pursued the imperishable things that pertain to life, and peace, and godly edifying, is that

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