that by this inward law, they were acquainted with God, and so might have been happy, had they walked in obedience to him; for, Christ is "the author of eternal salvation, to all them that obey him." "But when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened," Rom. i. 21. God enlightened them, but they contracted darkness upon themselves, by their disobedience. He gave them his truth in their inward parts, but they "changed the truth of God into (or rather in) a lie," ver. 25. Now Christ is the truth of God. Christ the true light, that shineth in the darkness, though the darkness comprehend it not. The Gentiles' fault was, they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, therefore he left them, and gave them over to a reprobate mind, ver. 28. But those of them that minded the light, and law of God in their hearts, and gave up in obedience thereunto, show the work of the law written in their hearts, and did by nature, pure, uncorrupt nature, the things contained in the outward law.

Thus far the conference with the Hungarian.

Among those whom we formerly mentioned to have been instrumental in confirming and strengthening Richard Claridge in his early convincement, was Mary Gulson of Coventry, a faithful and experienced woman, of whom he disdained not to be instructed in the way of God more perfectly, any more than Apollos did to learn of Priscilla, Acts, xviii. 26. On the 18th of the Tenth Month, 1698, she came to his house to visit him, and he not being at home, (for he was gone to Newington, it being

the first time of a meeting being held there,) she spent some time in prayer with his wife, and some other Friends, and departed. Being informed of this, at his return home, he went the next evening to see her at a Friend's house in Lawrence-Lane, London; of which visit his own words are,

"We had sweet and heavenly converse together, for the Lord's power and presence was with us, in an eminent manner. I acquainted her with my present state, burdens, pressures, and exercises, and was mightily broken and tendered in the mentioning of them. She was effectually touched with my case, sympathized with me, and told me she had a sense of my condition in the country, and she was commanded by the Lord to come and visit Friends, and particularly E-- W—, and me. She said, this was the right way of the Lord, in bringing forth his minis ters and ambassadors; and it was sealed again upon her heart, that the Lord would bring me forth to be a preacher of his everlasting gospel. My soul was in an extraordinary travail, and she was sensible of it, and exhorted me to patience and waiting upon the Lord, in lowliness and humility. She signified how dear my soul was to her, and I desired her to pray for me, to wrestle with the Lord for me, that I might be kept by his mighty power, through faith unto salvation. We parted in the great love of God, and in a deep sense of his wonderful power, which is at work in our day."

It was now above a year since his mouth had been first opened, to preach in a meeting of the people called Quakers; nevertheless, he seldom appeared in that service, being very watchful over himself, lest at any time he should be too forward, and by that means insensibly fall again into what he had been formerly judged for, namely, preaching and praying in his own will and wisdom. His exercises of this kind, are best expressed in his own words, dated the 19th of the Tenth Month, 1698.

"These words have been often with me, 'The Lord hath spoken, who can but prophesy ?' And my weight and exercise

was very great, and I could hardly bear it. Sometimes these words were with me, 'Declare what the Lord hath done for thy soul. Go and preach unto this people, the preaching that I bid thee, for I am with thee.' And when fears have seized me, lest I should run before I was sent, then the Lord spake unto me by his in-speaking word, Christ Jesus, Fear not, I am with thee, and I will be unto thee a mouth and wisdom.'

"Sometimes it hath thus opened upon my spirit, in my silent waiting upon the Lord, 'Work in my vineyard, labour in my harvest; the harvest is great, and the labourers are but few.' Then the enemy hath suggested, They will not receive thy testimony concerning Christ.' And when this hath been removed, temptation upon temptation hath come in like a flood; but the Lord sustained me.

"Sometimes self would be exalting and getting up under the form of truth; and here was hard work, and great travail of soul, to beat it down; and I felt the Lord nigh to help, and his power was over all.

"Sometimes I have been just ready to open my mouth in a meeting, but durst not; for as I brought things to the standard, the light of Christ, I saw it was often but an image and false representation; a birth it was, but not of the immortal seed.

"Sometimes this word has come in great power, and I have been greatly shaken and tendered with it, I have made thee a minister, and a witness of the things which thou hast seen, and of those things wherein I will appear unto thee;' and I have had peace and satisfaction therein: but then the cares and concerns of the world have come in, and have choked the word; for as the Lord has been, and is nigh unto me, so hath the enemy: but, blessed be the God of my life, his succours and refreshments have been still greater than all my exercises and temptations.

"Sometimes the thoughts of death have awakened me; 'What! be idle, and do nothing for God, and thou knowest not how soon the thread of thy life may be cut? Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead. I will put a spirit of life into thee, and put my words into thy mouth, and thou shalt be my instrument to turn many from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.' But then it would open in me again, "The time is not yet come, the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come. Behold his soul which i

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lifted up, is not upright in him; but the just shall live by faith,' Hab. ii. 3, 4. Wait therefore, O my soul, and let thy expectation be only from the Lord. Sink down, sink down in the deepest poverty before him; be emptied of all thine own notions, speculations, righteousness, selfishness, and wait to be filled out of that fulness which is in Christ. Be stripped of all false coverings, and be covered with the Spirit of the Lord: 'He that entereth not by the door, but climbeth up some other way,' saith Christ, 'the same is a thief and a robber,' John, x. 1. For all that ever came before me, are thieves and robbers,' ver. 8. Wait therefore without fainting, for blessed are all they that wait for me. I have had great trials and exercises, and the Lord hath pleaded with me, both by mercy and judgment, for I have been sometimes disobedient to the heavenly vision; for the Lord hath appeared to me in dreams, and visions of the night, but I could not give up, my fears were so great: O Lord, pardon me herein, and remember me according to the multitude of thy tender

mercies.

"One fear hath continually attended me, namely, of going before my Guide and Leader, Christ Jesus. I bless the Lord, my heart is fixed in his blessed Truth, and I have his comforting presence with me, and I am glad of the least ray of heavenly light. O what great things he hath done for me! who hath redeemed my soul from death, and my feet from falling, and made his cup of love to overflow, and with honey out of the rock hath satisfied me: endless praises be ascribed to him, for his mercy endureth for ever!

"And still, this word of heavenly counsel is with me, 'Wait, wait;' for, though God is faithful, who hath promised, and will perform his promise; yet the times and seasons he hath put in his own power, and we are to wait to feel that power that raised Jesus from the dead.

"There is life and safety in waiting in the stillness; for when the natural man, or fleshly part is silenced, then is the season for God to work; and as dear Mary Gulson said to me, and I have experienced; when we are got into the true stillness, the enemy cannot come to hurt; for he hath nothing to work upon, when the flesh is silent."

We mentioned before, a conference he had in Latin, with an Hungarian, who residing for some

time after at Oxford, Richard Claridge wrote him the following letter in Latin, which, whether sent to him or not, we cannot determine; but the copy being found among R. C.'s manuscripts, we here insert the translation of it.

"To Paulus à Gyongiosi, an Hungarian, a Student at Oxford,

Anno 1699.

"Well advised, in my opinion, was thy coming over out of thy own country into England; not only to be acquainted with our manners and customs, which in several points are very commendable and worthy of imitation, and may requite the toil and difficulty of so long a journey; but also, which is the main point of all, to observe the religion maintained and used amongst us; and to make a serious enquiry into the variety of forms, and diversity of ceremonies, observed by the several societies of Christians; that whatsoever upon mature deliberation, thou findest agreeable to the primitive pattern, namely, that of the apostles, as recorded in the New Testament, thou mayst faithfully collect; and when it shall please God to restore thee to thy own country, mayst carry home to his glory, and the benefit of thy countrymen. Verily, a worthy undertaking, which from all virtuous and good men, deserves approbation and encourage

ment.

"But, purposely omitting all such things as relate to the customs and manners of our people in general; my mind soars an higher pitch,-that by the divine influence, thou mayst be instructed perfectly in the truth as it is in Christ.

"Many, I confess, are the opinions that bear the name of Christianity: many are the sects, and various the ceremonies used in performing worship, in which they differ among themselves, no less than in their opinions, some of which are diametrically opposite. The several sects of Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists, do all differ in some articles of faith, in their mode of worship, and administering the sacraments, (to speak after their manner,) namely, Baptism and the Supper; and lastly, in the form of church government. But though they widely disagree among themselves, yet they do unanimously, and I may say, with public voice exclaim against, and oppose the Romish synagogue; they condemn the