I was here until the 3d month, 1751, when I went to New England, in company with my beloved friend and shipmate Jonah Thompson, who was from Old England, on a religious visit to Friends on this continent. It was a time of improvement to me in this journey. We were out about four months; when I returned, I opened a store in Bristol, and continued it about four months. Then I took to wife, Mary Knight, daughter of Joseph and Abigail Knight, of Byberry township, in the county of Philadelphia, and settled upon a farm of hers near the meeting-house, where we have lived together ever since, now near forty years.

I

Things as to religion among Friends here, was very low. Little concern prevailing for the maintenance of the discipline of the church; which made me very thoughtful, and much exercised in labour to stir up Friends to a more deep attention to the necessary labour for a revival of care, that if possible, the church might be cleansed of many defilements. cannot set forth the weight I felt, and load of suffering I underwent on truth's account, from those who had gone from the truth, and from those who by their profession might have been help in our Israel. But, alas! as they had failed in respect to their duty, and were necessarily reproved and excited to double diligence, they kicked against advice, and thought they knew what ought to be done as well as any body, reflecting as though some were now risen up from they knew not where, to turn the world upside down. This to me, a stranger was close work and full as much as I could bear, and more, had not the Lord been with me and helped

me through; so that I gained strength by labour and perseverance. Oh the many bitter draughts I have had to drink in this place, so that at times I have near fainted. However, I have had this satisfaction, that I gained the love and good will of those who wished to see Zion shine in her ancient lustre, and experienced a growth in the truth, centering in a full assurance of doing my duty.

I think I have not wilfully omitted any service I believed was required of me. I have been frequént in my visits to Friends, since I settled here, in divers places through this State, parts of Maryland, Virginia, East and West Jerseys, New York, Long Island, New England, and lastly to Old England. Always returning with the answer of peace in my mind-with thanksgiving and praise to the Lord, who was never wanting to supply what was needful to answer his requirings. I think I have not been idle. And now in the decline of life, under many infirmities which render me incapable of travelling far from home, I have this consolation, that I did what I could, when able. I have nothing before me at present to do, but after doing the will of God, to wait with patience for the recompense of reward.

May the Lord enable me to bear all things, and that all I meet with here may tend to further and complete my sanctification. That through all I may be able to sing Allelujah to him who rules and reigns forever, not only in heaven, but amongst the children of men either in mercy or judgment.

5th of 9th mo. 1791.

J. T.

JACOB LINDLEY.

On the afternoon of the 12th of the 6th month, 1814, Jacob Lindley being several miles from home in a chaise with his daughter, was, by running over a stake with one wheel, thrown from the chaise on the ground, which dislocated his neck, and in a few minutes put a period to his existence in a mutable state, without being able to utter any thing to be understood by his only daughter, whose distress on this occasion is not to be described.

On the 14th he was interred from his own house in Friends' burying ground at New Garden, Chester county, (the place of his nativity) being attended by a large concourse of connexions, friends, and people of all classes, whose feelings were deeply excited, and tears of sorrow copiously flowed, on the melancholy occasion.

He was an eminent minister of the gospel, diligent in the exercise of his gift; and, for the space of forty years, few pastors have more faithfully laboured with their flocks,-calling them to repentance, and warning them, in the most emphatical language, to have their accounts in readiness against the awful close of time.

Although zealous in promoting the various testimonies held forth by his own society, he was no bigot; but his mind being expanded with that universal love which is not confined to the narrow limits of formal profession, he was often led, both in private families, and in public meetings, to breathe forth, in gospel language, the desire he felt for the gathering

of all, into the one fold, of which Christ alone is the true shepherd. With this view he was at times led forth, (and more especially in the earlier part of his life) to visit the churches in distant parts; where he was eminently favoured in the exercise of his gift, as a gospel messenger. His agreeable manners, and engaging turn of mind, tending to open his way among all classes and denominations of people, rendered him more peculiarly useful in spreading the light of the gospel; his conversation being truly interesting and instructive wherever his lot was cast.

Being endowed with a benevolent mind, accompanied in an eminent degree with that philanthropy which characterizes the true Christian, he was a most distinguished friend to that poor and despised race of mankind, the African people, for whose emancipation from a state of bondage, he not only laboured in his own society, so long as the members of it continued to hold slaves, but on all occasions, where his lot was cast amongst those who continued to countenance the unrighteous traffic in human flesh, he was concerned tenderly and faithfully to warn them of the danger to which they were exposing themselves; and of the distress and misery it would bring upon them in a dying hour, if they continued in practices so repugnant to that righteous law held forth in the precepts of the gospel, "Do unto all men, as ye would they should do unto you.' And even since the abolition of the slave trade in these states, he seldom failed at the annual assemblies, (when he was present,) in his own society, to hold up to view, in a very affecting manner, the cause of this afflicted people; exciting in

his fellow members, a tender feeling for their sufferings under the hand of oppression, and recommending the exercise of the spirit of prayer to the great Controller of events, for their deliverance, and more general emancipation from a state of slavery; as also an unremitted attention to their guarded education, and religious instruction.

His expanded mind was also exercised for the welfare and civilization of the native inhabitants of America: divers tribes of whom he visited on the northern frontiers of the United States, at a time when hostilities existed between them and the white people, and was usefully engaged, with others of his own society, in conciliating the minds of the Indians, and dispos ing them towards peace.

Having survived two valuable wives, (both minis ters of the gospel) to whom he was an affectionate husband, he has left a son and a daughter by the for. mer, and two sons, by the latter, with many near connexions and friends, who will long feel their loss. But may they also with their sorrow, mingle this consolatory reflection, that "their loss is his eternal gain;" and that, as they submit to the same powerful influence of the Divine law, written in the heart, and obey its dictates, as he hath done, they may meet again in the realms of blessedness, where they may experience that comfortable language which was breathed from Heaven, saying, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.”

6th month 20th, 1814.