25x208 CONTENTS OF VOL. IV. Samuel Neale's Account of John Pemberton, Account of the last Sickness and Death of Robert Mott, Lines on her Decease, by John Baldwin, Tribute to her Memory, by J. Austin, Extracts from Job Scott's Letters to James Bringhurst, Ancient Record of Chesterfield monthly meeting, 49 Memorial of Ann Byrd, of New York, Travels through Pennyslvania, and New York, in 1778, FRIENDS' MISCELLANY. No. 1.] FOURTH MONTH, 1833. ISAAC ANDREWS' [VOL. IV. Account of the early part of his life, his religious exercises, and call to the ministry. Under an humbling sense of the great goodness, and inexpressible mercies of Almighty God, manifested to me, a poor finite creature, even from my childhood, my heart has often been affected, in such a manner that I thought I should be most easy to commit a few hints thereof to writing. When I was about six or seven years old, I was induced to believe there was a God, and that he loved good children, and was displeased with those who are naughty. This caused me to be afraid to tell lies, or be wicked. I likewise believed there was a devil, that had power to hurt bad children; and when I had done amiss, I was afraid of falling into his power. I loved to go to meetings: and when I sat still in them, I was easy in mind; but when I did otherwise, I was uneasy. I loved good men and women, especially ministers; and had a dislike to those who were wicked. When I was between eight and nine years of age, I was put apprentice to Jonathan Wright, near Burlington, about fifty miles from my mother, and all my relations and acquaintances. Being entirely among strangers, the Lord was kind to me, making VOL. IV.-1 me sensible of his love in turning my mind to seek him, alone, and to cry to him for the influence of his holy Spirit, that I might be preserved from evil; to which I found I was by nature inclined. And he did preserve me in his fear in a wonderful manner, until I was about sixteen or seventeen years old. Oh! the strict government that I was kept under, at that time! My greatest delight was, to be alone; to wait upon, worship, and praise the holy name of my God, for his goodness to my soul. I saw a necessity to use the plain language, as thee and thou to a single person, at all times, and in all companies; and whenever I did refuse or neglect this testimony for Truth, even to an animal, I was reproved for it. So that I firmly believe it is a testimony that Truth requires of all that make profession thereof; however light some may think of it. About this time, my mistress died. She was a woman of piety and virtue, and showed great tenderness and care towards me. On her death-bed, she warned me to beware of bad company; as though she saw the snare I was like to fall into. Notwithstanding her caution, I was caught in it; for I became acquainted with some young men and women, who took great delight in what the world calls innocent mirth; such as fiddling and dancing. But whatever some may think of such amusements, they did not prove innocent to me. I was thereby gradually drawn away into the wilderness of sin and transgression, where no light appeared. Although at my first going into this company, I was deeply distressed, and condemned for it; so that I concluded I would go no more, yet opportunity and importunity prevailed. Then was I again |