THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
 From the collection of 
 Julius Doerner, Chicago 
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MEMOIR OF 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 WITH 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM HIS LETTERS. 
 
 “ God only requires the present moment : and the right employment 
 
 OF THE PRESENT MOMENT PREPARES THE WAY FOR THE RIGHT EMPLOYMENT OF 
 THE NEXT.” i 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 A. W. BENNETT, 5, BISHOPSGATE STREET WITHOUT. E.C. 
 GLOUCESTER : JOHN BELLOWS, STEAM PRESS. 
 
JOHN BELLOWS, 
 
 STEAM PRESS, WESTGATE STREET, 
 
 GLOUCESTER. 
 
7.J1Y 3 3 
 
 T3 
 
 342.2 IjD l 
 
 preface. 
 
 The following simple memoranda, and ex- 
 tracts from letters of Benjamin Bishop, are 
 preserved to commemorate that grace, by which, 
 amidst many outward vicissitudes and trials, 
 through the baptism of the Spirit, and much 
 mental conflict, he became the loving disciple, 
 and humble follower of the meek and crucified 
 Bedeemer, endeavouring to serve Him with 
 the whole heart. 
 
 The Lord condescended graciously to honour 
 His faithful servant abundantly with the incomes 
 of heavenly peace and joy, so that, during the 
 latter years of his life, living praises to his God 
 and Saviour were often heard to resound in his 
 lowly dwelling. 
 
 May the record and remembrance of these 
 mercies stimulate many to a life of holiness, 
 and entire dedication of soul. 
 
 E. E. 
 
 Wellingham House. 
 
 703347 
 

MEMOIR OF BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
 I WAS born in London in the Fifth Month, 1780, 
 and at seven years of age was sent to Islington 
 School. During this period I had at times desires of 
 living in accordance with the teachings of the Holy 
 Spirit, and in this, it was the earnest endeavour of 
 our master J. Withers to encourage and instruct 
 us. His love and care are fresh with me to this day. 
 I left school at fourteen years of age, and was ap- 
 prenticed to a Friend at Malton ; where, there not 
 being much business except on market days, I often 
 read my Bible in the shop. Here I did not long re- 
 main, on account of a defect in my sight, but in my 
 sixteenth year returned to my parents in London. 
 Here I was exposed to the lowest company, but was 
 mercifully preserved in innocency, and as I did not 
 depart from the plain language, or alter my dress 
 materially, my company was not much sought by 
 these. The nature of our engagements rendered it 
 out of our power to attend meetings for worship re- 
 gularly, but my parents endeavoured to do their best, 
 my mother often saying, ‘No good can come from 
 
2 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 [1797 
 
 neglecting meetings.’ I do not recollect any deep 
 religions impressions being received by me, while 
 with my parents, only I was preserved in love and 
 endeavoured to keep myself outwardly consistent. 
 
 “In 1797 I went to live with a Friend at Strood, in 
 Kent; where I had to mingle with persons of various 
 classes; and acting strictly in accordance with my 
 principles, I believe I was the more respected ; being 
 assisted to behave with propriety, whilst preserved in 
 faithfulness herein. The remembrance of the sweet- 
 ness which at times covered my mind, is precious at 
 this time. Oh ! that our youth did more generally 
 consider who it is that requires of us, as a people, the 
 testimonies to plainness of speech, behaviour and 
 apparel, and labour to uphold them in the savour of 
 the Spirit ; how greatly would it tend to keep them 
 from many evils that are in the world, against which 
 these are as a wall. Would that heads of families did 
 more generally live day by day in the Lord’s holy fear, 
 that thereby they might train up those under their 
 care in His nurture and admonition. I often had 
 longings after a more certain knowledge of the teach- 
 ings of the Spirit, but not getting deep enough, the 
 old nature in me remained alive, and thus I was as 
 the door on its hinges, going backwards and forwards, 
 and getting no nearer ; yet the Lord’s watchful eye 
 was over me, and preserved me, though I knew Him 
 not as I might have known Him, had I walked more 
 circumspectly in His fear. I took great delight in 
 reading the Bible, and was very partial to the writings 
 of Friends, and those of Fenelon, and often retired 
 into a private apartment with my book. I well 
 remember some of the evenings spent in the loft, and 
 cannot but long that our youth were more careful 
 
1803] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 3 
 
 how they spend their first-day evenings. On one 
 such, as I was sitting alone in the kitchen, a Friend 
 came in to whom I was a stranger, and she to me. 
 To my surprise she addressed me in an exceedingly 
 encouraging manner, saying ‘Thy prayers are heard, 
 and thine alms are come up for a memorial before 
 God/ This was a favoured season, never to be for- 
 gotten, the remembrance of which draws tears from 
 my eyes whilst writing. 
 
 “In the Seventh Month, 1803, I went into busi- 
 ness on my own account, with the small capital 
 of £33. Soon after which I was married. I inwardly 
 requested of the Lord that He would favour us 
 with His presence on our wedding day, and that 
 I might be made fully sensible of it, which I 
 would take as an evidence that He regarded the 
 breathings of my spirit : and the meeting did appear 
 to me to be a time of great favour. 5 ’ 
 
 Disappointment and deep trials were the lot of our 
 dear friend in a pecuniary way, in the prosecution of 
 his business, and in the bringing up and providing for 
 his children. He suffered long and severely from an 
 asthmatic complaint, and his eyesight, always defective, 
 became gradually worse, until total blindness ensued. 
 He was also much tried, at times, with mental depres- 
 sion. Naturally active, and very industrious, desiring 
 to provide for his family without becoming burdensome 
 to his friends, he tried in various ways to do so, 
 frequently using exertions quite beyond his strength; 
 but he was obliged eventually to relinquish the idea, 
 and was a most grateful recipient of kindnesses of 
 which he largely partook. 
 
 It may be instructive to notice a season of 
 distress through which our dear friend passed in 
 b 2 
 
4 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 connection with the sale of milks in which he 
 was at one time engaged. He had yielded to a 
 temptation presented by the unwearied enemy of 
 our soul’s peace and well-beings to increases as he 
 thoughts his meanSs by adding water to the milks 
 practising it for a short time ; but was visited by 
 inward judgments and conflicts of spirit which he 
 thus feelingly describes : 
 
 “On one occasion of solemn waiting the language 
 seemed uttereds ‘Let Me be the Leaders and thou 
 the follower; then will I bring thee through and over 
 all.’ Having long stifled the Witness for God in mes 
 I knew not at first who it was that thus spake to me; 
 but leaning to the impression it grew stronger and 
 stronger until I believed it was the Lord. And being 
 now humbled by His Almighty chastening hand I 
 entered into covenant with Hims and He gave me 
 this rule to walk by: — ‘Whenever thou feels any 
 weight or burden upon thy spirits thou must not put 
 it off as thou hast dones but let it have its full weight 
 and place in thy minds 'until a way is opened to thee 
 in the quiet for thy relief.’ It was unfolded to me 
 that I must follow the pointings of the Lights and 
 take all the consequences. This I fully understood. 
 After this I went on from day to days endeavouring 
 to keep my mind as inwardly retired as I was capable 
 of. At length it was brought to my remembrance 
 that I had often felt uneasy about the practice I 
 had allowed myself ins °f putting water to the milk. 
 I recurred to a time when one of my customers had 
 saids ‘Dost thou put water to thy milk?’ To whichs 
 being unwilling to be humbleds I had replieds ‘No!’ 
 This had been a burden to me at timeSs and now it 
 settled upon me. And strong cries were raised that 
 
BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 5 
 
 I might be made clean in the Divine sight. I thought 
 on my ways and turned to the Lord., and sought 
 after a sufficient evidence from Him that I should 
 be enabled to stand in the day of trial, when I should 
 decline longer to follow so wrong a practice, and 
 mine eye was to Him alone for help, having none 
 on earth to whom I could open my troubles ; for 
 I had long rejected the counsel of my friends. As 
 I was going to meeting one first-day morning, I 
 was reminded from within to examine whether, if 
 the sacrifice of not putting water in the milk was 
 called for, I was prepared to make it ? I said, ‘ I 
 thought I was . 5 
 
 “Now before this time I had trembled at attending 
 meetings, feeling a dread of speaking with my 
 friends when they were broken up ; but on the 
 occasion above alluded to I was favoured with such 
 a calmness of mind, that I compared it to ‘lying 
 down beside the still waters , 5 (for I had long been a 
 stranger to such,) in which quiet this prayer was 
 breathed through my soul, ‘ Father glorify thy 
 name . 5 And whilst I was meditating thereon, be- 
 lieving nothing but the reluctance of the creature 
 would hinder this, a Friend stood up with these 
 words, ‘Speak to my people that they go forward , 5 
 adding, that He would take nothing from us that was 
 worth our keeping. Another Friend enlarged on the 
 deliverances and preservations experienced by Israel 
 in the wilderness. Again the first minister rose, and 
 revived the words, ‘When thou passest through the 
 waters, they shall not overflow thee, and through the 
 flames, they shall not kindle upon thee . 5 I cannot 
 describe what were my feelings under these testimo- 
 nies, yet well knowing that it was a very formidable 
 
6 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 [1841 
 
 enemy I was about to meet, I desired an evidence 
 from within also; and the meeting broke np with this 
 resolution on my mind; ‘ 1 will carry it home; and 
 weigh it in the silence of all flesh. 5 As I was walk- 
 ings the Witness queried of me,, ‘How dost thon know 
 thou, wilt be able to get into the silence of all flesh? 5 
 I was now not far from home; and another difficulty 
 arose^ How should I tell my wife ? When the time 
 came to carry the milk in to her, I simply said; * Do 
 not put any water to it. 5 ‘Why not ? 5 she asked : 
 ‘The milk will not hold out for thy customers without 
 it. 5 I said; ‘Because I do not wish it. 5 She put 
 none; and I felt a peaceful satisfaction in serving 
 my customers that afternoon; and in the evening 
 earnestly desired an evidence from the Lord before 
 morning; that this was His requiring; as this giving 
 up would throw me behind with my cow-keeper. In 
 the evening the Witness queried; ‘Could I not save 
 the money in my house-keeping? 5 I said; ‘I thought 
 not; 5 but He shewed me otherwise. After this; a night 
 of wrestling and exercise followed; — Satan telling me 
 it was impossible for me to serve so holy a Lord God; 
 and that I should fall away. The Witness for God 
 within me; replied; ‘God only requires the present 
 moment ; and the right employment of the present 
 moment prepares the way for the right employment 
 of the next. 5 These things bring to my remembrance 
 what I heard Thomas Scattergood express when I was 
 young : ‘ The Lord will chalk out the way; and make 
 it plain. 555 
 
 After a considerable time spent in the occupation 
 of milk-seller and in other ways; he kept a Tem- 
 perance Boom; in which he was made serviceable 
 to several of those who came to take coffee and pass 
 
1841] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
 7 
 
 the evening hours at his fireside. Amongst whom 
 were several young men from the Barracks. In the 
 year 1841, we find an interesting account of the illness 
 and death of one of these, W. Y., whom Benjamin 
 Bishop frequently visited. He had been a musician 
 in the Marine Band, Chatham Barracks, and had 
 passed through some mental conflicts. 
 
 10th Month 5 th, 1841. On Benjamin Bishop calling 
 on W. Y. he found him much exhausted from a fit of 
 coughing. B. B. remarked, “ This is hard work, but 
 it feels very pleasant to sit by thee again.” When able 
 to speak, W. Y. said, “ I am very happy to see you.” 
 After a solemn pause, Benjamin Bishop said, “ From 
 the feelings of my mind, I believe I may utter the 
 language, ‘0 Death! where is thy sting? O Grave, 
 where is thy victory ? 5 I would not flatter thee, but 
 I feel that all is peace. I believe thy sins are forgiven, 
 and that thou wilt be enabled to see it with clearness 
 before thou goest. Do not be discouraged at the 
 buffetings of the enemy and his temptations, even if 
 it should be to believe what is wrong. It is no sin to 
 be tempted. 
 
 “ { Ye feeble saints, fresh courage take, 
 
 The clouds ye so much dread, 
 
 Are big with mercy, and shall break 
 In blessings on your head.’ v 
 
 The invalid held Benjamin Bishop’s hand during 
 another solemn pause, after which he faintly, but 
 distinctly said, “I feel so happy — I feel so happy ; ” 
 his countenance at the same time bespeaking the 
 peace of his mind. Benjamin Bishop said, “1 do not 
 seem to have much to communicate; there is a feeling 
 which is beyond words.” 
 
8 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 [1841 
 
 At a later period; he visited an elder brother 
 of W. Y.j under similar circumstances^ who had 
 plunged even more deeply into wickedness. He 
 appeared to have been followed by strong convictions 
 from season to season ; partial reforms had been 
 succeeded by even more flagrant sins; when; drawing 
 near the solemn close he was again most mercifully 
 visited^ and his sins placed as in fearful array against 
 him ; and it was under feelings of deep remorse that 
 he expressed an anxious desire to see Benjamin Bishop. 
 With difficulty he reached the abode of the invalid 
 who received him thankfully. He was suffering men- 
 tally and bodily; and was affectionately encouraged to 
 bear the rod; and to consider the deep sense of sin he 
 then had as a renewed token of his Saviour’s love; and 
 a hope was expressed that he would soon see better 
 days. This hope was most mercifully realized; he 
 became calm and peaceful; and seemed favoured with 
 a clear evidence that his sins had passed before-hand 
 to judgment. He said; “ 0 \ I have had such a 
 night; much better than sleep. 55 A great alteration 
 was observed to take place in his manner; from being 
 high and irritable he became gentle and quiet; so 
 that it was a privilege to be with him. 
 
 It was after a long time of deep exercise; that 
 Benjamin Bishop believed himself called to engage in 
 the work of the ministry; and his service herein being 
 acceptable; he was recorded a Minister in the Eleventh 
 Month; 1841. He never travelled in that capacity; 
 but not long after his acknowledgment requested 
 liberty to hold a public meeting with the poor of his own 
 neighbourhood; especially for those engaged in fishing. 
 In the Eighth Month; 1845; another minute was 
 granted; liberating him to visit his poor neighbours 
 
1846] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 9 
 
 in their own houses, in which he was united by Joseph 
 Ashby Gillett. This unlooked-for help he viewed as 
 an especial mark of Divine favour, and condescension 
 to his low estate. The accomplishment of this service 
 afforded much peace to his exercised mind, and there 
 is cause thankfully to believe that the labour of love 
 was blessed to some of the objects of his care and 
 interest. He sympathised deeply and tenderly with 
 the poor around him, knowing from experience many 
 of their privations; he was especially desirous to 
 promote their religious welfare, and that they might 
 be directed to the sure source of consolation, which 
 had been his support under all his varied trials. 
 
 In the year 1846 he was called on to resign his beloved 
 wife. Great was his consolation under this close 
 bereavement^ in the belief that his loss was her eternal 
 gain. After her removal he continued to reside with 
 the family whose dwelling they had shared; and where 
 he was kindly cared for until his death. To some 
 members of it there is reason to believe he was 
 made an instrument of good in the Lord’s hand : he 
 sometimes remarked; “We have lived together in 
 much love.” The last few years of his life Benjamin 
 Bishop was afflicted with deafness ; this privation he 
 keenly felt at times, as it interrupted that converse 
 which he enjoyed to maintain with his friends. In 
 allusion to this he remarked, “ It feels very solemn to 
 be so shut out from all communication with the 
 world.” To a late period of his life, his attendance 
 of meetings was exemplary. His ministerial engage- 
 ments were deeply instructive, and his approaches to 
 the Throne of Grace in supplication were marked by 
 much solemnity and fervour. It was his delight to 
 dwell on the things of Christ’s kingdom, and to hand 
 
10 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 [1854 
 
 to those around him of that heavenly food of which 
 he was partaking. His path to heaven lay through 
 much tribulation, but in proportion to the heat of the 
 furnace did the gold shine brightly, his firm faith in 
 his God being united to deep humility. 
 
 In the Eleventh Months 1853; — he wrote to a Friend, 
 “ I do not see when I shall be able to get out to 
 meeting, because of my pain, which to the praise of 
 the glory of His grace is all I have to bear. Tell me, 
 my dear friend, if I am deceiving myself. It is a rule 
 given me to walk by, that when I feel peace, I may 
 go in peace. 55 
 
 The following are some of the expressions of 
 Benjamin Bishop during his last illness : 
 
 “ My dear friends, now let us sit in solemn silence. 55 
 After a pause, “ I feel as though I could not depart 
 in peace without telling you of the love I feel for 
 all my friends, those in our religious Society, and out 
 of the Society, who are looking to Christ. O the 
 love of God is inconceivable ! May you give up body, 
 soul, and spirit, into His hands. While the fleshly 
 lusts and desires remain there will be trouble, but in 
 the meekness and gentleness of the Lamb there is 
 peace. 55 On allusion being made to the triumphant 
 close of a dear friend, his countenance beamed with 
 animation, and he forcibly exclaimed, “ O the precious 
 Spirit ! I am favoured to feel the same will be my 
 experience, if I maintain the watch. I never before 
 so fully realized the awfulness of such a state. I can say 
 no pain of body. 55 One present observed, “I think 
 none of mind. 55 “ I can say so too, 55 he added, “ but I 
 have nothing to spare, — not a moment to spare. 55 After 
 another pause he took off his cap, and seemed engaged 
 in solemn prayer and praises. He distinctly said, 
 
1854] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 11 
 
 “ Thou hast taught me to pray that Thy holy will 
 may be done by me; in me, and through me.” Soon 
 after, “‘Expressive silence muse his praise/ I have 
 not words to do it. I thank thee; O God; that Thou 
 didst not take me until that which was to be done in 
 me is perfected. 55 A friend bidding him farewell; he 
 said; “My dear friend I am faring well. — Go; and 
 may the Lord go with thee. 55 Speaking of the abound- 
 ing love which he felt towards his friends everywhere; 
 he added; “ I want us to come into the fellowship of 
 the Father and the Soil; and one with another. They 
 who will not take up the cross to their own will; in 
 the way in which it is made manifest; cannot be the 
 children of God; but they that are willing to die on 
 the cross to their own will; are His children. O the 
 love; joy and peace which I feel. 55 
 
 12th Month 7th; 1854. — “My heart seems all love; 
 I cannot express it in words. It is right for us to 
 labour for the bread of life; but when that is obtained 
 for which we have laboured; it ceases; and we have 
 only to watch and wait. And that is my state; I am 
 waiting till the porter opens the door ; but the watch 
 must be maintained or the enemy will pollute the 
 covering of my spirit ; but Christ is stronger than he 
 is; and I am much favoured with strength to withstand 
 him. 55 
 
 12th Month 18th; 1854. — He seemed so raised in 
 spirit that much flowed from him in lively and 
 beautiful language; but so rapidly that little could be 
 retained but the precious savour which accompanied 
 it; and rested on the minds of those who felt it a 
 favour to sit by him and partake thereof. One of his 
 expressions at that time was; “It was a tempes- 
 tuous day; the day of my baptism into his love. 55 
 
12 MEMOIR OF BENJAMIN BISHOP [1854 
 
 Remarking that it was a trying time for the exercised 
 members of onr religions Society who were labourers 
 for the cause of Truth on earth; the cause of Christy 
 he added; “ There must be a seeking after the oneness 
 of His Spirit. The time will come to experience a 
 larger measure of this; if they keep waiting. You 
 that see eye to eye; if only as the two or three; who 
 feel for the Church of Christ; get close together; and 
 there will be an increase. * Jerusalem is builded as 
 a city that is compact together; whither the tribes 
 go up; the tribes of the Lord; unto the testimony of 
 Israel . 555 
 
 A few days before his death he sent a message to 
 his friends; “Give my dear love to them; and tell 
 them the enemy is very busy; but my dear Saviour is 
 near . 55 
 
 From this time his strength gradually declined; 
 and his peaceful spirit was gently released from its 
 afflicted tabernacle; to be gathered as we reverently 
 trust; through the blood of the everlasting covenant; 
 to the general assembly and Church of the first-born 
 which are written in heaven. 
 
 Nearly his last words were; “Come; Lord Jesus; 
 come quickly ! 55 
 
4£jttract£ from f)i£ Hcttcts?. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 I. 
 
 To 
 
 10th. month 9th, 1840. 
 
 There is One “that shntteth, and no manopeneth; 
 and openeth, and no man shutteth:” and truly it is a 
 precious thing rightly to discern when to abide in our 
 tents, and when to journey forward. “ Strait is the 
 gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life 
 but in the Life Himself there is no straitness, but 
 fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore. Your 
 offerings were, I believe, a sacrifice of a sweet smelling 
 savour unto God. Ye have refreshed my spirit; may 
 the dew of heaven rest upon you, the dew which 
 descended upon the mountains of Zion, where the 
 Lord commanded the blessings even life for evermore. 
 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, and blessed be His 
 glorious name for ever. He is gathering into one spirit 
 those who have made covenant with Him by sacrifice. 
 He will judge His people by His own eternal Spirit, 
 and before His power the sinners in Zion will be 
 afraid, and fearfulness will surprise the hypocrites : 
 but peace shall be upon Israel. 
 
14 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1840 
 
 II. 
 
 To J. AND S. R. 
 
 1840. 
 
 Those who feel this holy union and commnnion 
 between God and onr sonls and one with another, 
 whether in onr meetings or in onr closets when no 
 ontward eye perceives ns, belong, I believe, to that 
 holy city which John saw. New Jerusalem, coming 
 down from God ont of heaven, prepared as a bride 
 adorned for her hnsband. I believe there are many 
 in this kingdom, nnknown by face to each other, 
 nnder the preparing hand of the Lord ; and for these, 
 the living groan and travail in spirit, that Christ 
 may be formed in them. There is great encourage- 
 ment for onr fathers and mothers to wrestle for the 
 blessing, for it is written of onr holy Founder, “ He 
 shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.” 
 And as with onr Lord, so with His servants according 
 to their measure, for Christ has spoken it, “ he that 
 is perfect, shall be as his Lord.” I want to see all 
 the Lord’s servants and hand-maidens exceedingly 
 joyful in all their tribulations : for why are these 
 baptized unto death? Is it not that they through the 
 power of an endless life, should raise the dead, that 
 when our Lord cometh to meet us, we should through 
 Him, live together in Him ? Now I feel as a child, 
 and I speak as a child, that I may be instructed. I do 
 not want to seethe Lord’s baptized servants exempted 
 from, or lifted up above suffering. I believe our 
 baptisms must be in proportion to the glory that is 
 to follow. I began this without a single sentence 
 before me, only my mind felt overpressed with love, 
 and I have simply followed the drawings of my mind. 
 It may seem to you as though I was full and in need 
 
1841] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 15 
 
 of nothing : this, in a pecuniary sense, is somewhat 
 true; but in the inward, it is quite the reverse, being, 
 I was going to write, in the want of all things, and I 
 live by faith, and not by sight ; and I feel my strength 
 is to be still. I sometimes call to mind the words 
 which dropped from the lips of dear G. K., in his 
 late visit, “ I know thy works, and thy tribulation, and 
 thy poverty;” and this is my consolation, the Lord 
 knoweth me, altogether as I am. 
 
 o 
 
 III. 
 
 To 
 
 1st month, 1841. 
 
 True it is there is a being cast down, but not 
 forsaken; and blest are they who, in many tribulations, 
 are enabled to stand as on the sea of glass, having 
 the harps of God. We must be brought into tribula- 
 tions before we can come out of them; and seeing 
 that through many tribulations we enter the kingdom, 
 ought we not rather to rejoice, when our faith and 
 patience are put to the test, seeing He ever liveth to 
 make intercession for us, who hath endured, and 
 knoweth how to deliver the tempted. 
 
 o 
 
 IV. 
 
 To 
 
 4th month, 1841. 
 
 Times and seasons are not at our command. The 
 winds blow when and where they are sent of God. 
 Yesterday, as I was about retiring to rest, thinking 
 my labours of love were finished for a little season, 
 the ear of my soul caught the sound of thy name, 
 
16 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1841 
 
 and it remains with me as a dew from the Lord; and 
 believing it is the will of onr Heavenly Father, that 
 every empty vessel in His house should be filled 
 whilst the oil of love with faith is flowing, I herewith 
 send thee such as I have. I have had whilst writing, 
 
 a call from . Truly the countenance of a faithful 
 
 friend is as a brook by the way. The blind man has 
 written countenance , but I mean, the voice, in the love 
 and sweetness of Christ. It is written, “precious 
 in the sight of the Lord, is the death of His saints ;” 
 and it may be said, precious in the eyes of the 
 upright, are the lives of the Lord’s saints. How 
 precious then is our God, our adorable Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ, who filleth all, both Church 
 triumphant and Church militant ! His saints may 
 praise Him, and His ministers declare the glorious 
 majesty of His kingdom in His Spirit, the power of 
 which, their eyes have seen, and their hands handled. 
 o 
 
 Y. 
 
 To W. B. 
 
 7th month 3rd, 1841. 
 
 My dear Friend. — Jesus Christ, the great and holy 
 Head of the Church, our High Priest and Intercessor, 
 who is to be heard in all things, is everywhere present 
 with His children. His eye beholdeth their most 
 inward thought, and His ear is open unto their cry. 
 “ His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts 
 than our thoughts.” It is written of Him, “I lead 
 in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths 
 of judgment, to cause them that love me to inherit 
 substance, and I will fill their treasures;” and, “ Blessed 
 are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of 
 
BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 17 
 
 1841] 
 
 heaven,” There is in this kingdom of heaven which 
 Christ is setting up in the hearts of His obedient 
 children* power to believe* power to suffer* power to 
 love* and power to hate; and as the eye of the mind 
 is kept singly unto the glory of God* watching unto 
 prayer for the renewing of the Holy Ghost* there can 
 no evil befall them* for these dwelling in the “ secret 
 place of the Most High* are always under the shadow 
 of the Almighty.” As we “walk in the light* as 
 He is in the light*” — that is* as we are obedient 
 unto the manifestations of the Light of Christ in the 
 secret of our souls* — “we have fellowship one with 
 another*” and “we rejoice with them that rejoice* 
 and weep with them that weep;” and thou being 
 quickened unto these things that appertain unto life 
 and salvation by Christ Jesus* and a sufferer for His 
 name* art the object of our sympathy* and prayers 
 that God in the riches of His love and grace may 
 sanctify thy whole body* soul and spirit* and make 
 thee in all things comformable unto His holy and 
 ever blessed will* that His name may be glorified. 
 Thou hast “the anointing” within thee* and needest 
 not that any man should teach thee* for the same 
 anointing will teach thee all things* and is the Truth 
 and no lie* and as it has taught thee* so abide in Him. 
 
 Thy sincere Friend* 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
 * o 
 
 VI. 
 
 To 
 
 8 th month* 1841. 
 
 My love flows in streams more precious than life ; 
 a love which I believe to be a foretaste of those 
 eternal joys laid up in heaven for the righteous* who* 
 
18 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1841 
 
 through faith and patience shall be accounted worthy 
 to inherit the promises; when these tabernacles of 
 clay are dissolved. Through the kindness of our 
 friends we stand in need of no one thing that I know 
 of, except more watchfulness and greater dedication 
 of hearty to walk more circumspectly day by day 
 before the Lord; that we may glorify Him; and answer 
 the end of our creation. I want all mankind the 
 world over; to follow the same rule; and mind the 
 same thing; and the same God would give peace and 
 content unto every man in the station in which His 
 unerring wisdom hath placed him. May the Lord 
 hasten that day ! 
 
 o 
 
 VII. 
 
 The Following Letter was Addressed to a Poor; 
 
 Infirm; and nearly Blind Man. 
 
 I am very poor; but have great cause to be thankful; 
 having much more than I deserve; even outwardly 
 as well as inwardly; which I believe is thy blessed 
 experience also. In trials of my faith toward our 
 Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and afflictions of the 
 body; I abound; as also I apprehend thou dost ; and 
 what shall we say to these things ? Can we do better 
 than honestly examine ourselves; whether these light 
 afflictions which are but for a moment compared 
 with eternity; are working the end designed; viz. : — 
 that we should rejoice in and over them; under an 
 humbling sense of what our holy Redeemer suffered 
 for us ? There will be tribulations; for the flesh 
 lusteth against the spirit; and the spirit against the 
 flesh ; whence it is that they who enter into life 
 
1841] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 19 
 
 eternal, come out of great tribulation. They do not 
 sink down into despair under them, but they rise 
 above them and get the victory over them, through 
 faith in Him who hath loved us, and seen meet to 
 call us to virtue, and to glory, through and over all 
 the power of the enemy, in whatever shape he may 
 come. Thus it is that in the world we have a conflict ; 
 but as Christ exhorted, “ Be of good cheer,” so let 
 us, dear friend, be of good cheer, and number some 
 of our blessings, for they are too numerous to be told, 
 and all of them are the gift of God. The apostle 
 Paul admonishes us to covet earnestly the best gifts, 
 and I know none better than a grateful heart. It is 
 gratitude which makes the host of heaven sing 
 redeeming love and grace ; without gratitude on 
 earth the greatest blessings are turned into curses, 
 for they aggravate our guilt ; but he that is grateful 
 for all that he enjoys is like the earth that receives 
 blessings from God, spreading fragrance all around, 
 yielding “ bread to the eater, and seed to the sower.” 
 In suffering it gives thanks, because thereby our love 
 in all His dispensations is proved, evincing that 
 whatever afflictions we patiently endure in remem- 
 brance of the sufferings of our ever blessed Saviour, 
 will work for us “ a far more exceeding and eternal 
 weight of glory,” while we look not at the things 
 which are seen, and are temporal, but at the things 
 which are not seen, and are eternal. Oh ! the wonder- 
 ful love of God in sending His beloved Son into the 
 world to die for our sins, to heal us by His stripes, 
 and to give us grace, which, if received in faith, 
 prepares all that obey its teachings for an admission 
 into those glorious mansions, where “the wicked 
 cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.” 
 c 2 
 
20 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1841 
 
 Visible things are passing away from us, and we 
 onrselves with them; let onr hearts therefore be in 
 heaven, then no afflictions will be able to separate 
 ns from the love of God, and communion with Him 
 through the Holy Spirit. Our release from the cares 
 of life, owing to blindness, gives us many opportu- 
 nities to seek after this, and I rejoice in believing 
 it is the desire of thy heart to do so. Unto the 
 grace of God and to His blessing I commend thee 
 with my own soul, and in the love of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ I affectionately bid thee farewell, and subscribe 
 myself. 
 
 Thy Christian Friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 o 
 
 VIII. 
 
 To Lord Hill, on behalf of W. B. 
 
 9th month 30th, 1841. 
 
 It is in pure love to the authorities in power that 
 I now address our rulers on behalf of private W. B., 
 of the 3rd Regiment of Infantry, whose case has 
 already been laid before you, and who is now a 
 sufferer for conscience sake towards God, under your 
 hand, on board the Indian sloop ship, bound for 
 Calcutta, from whence he is to be forwarded to the 
 regiment he enlisted into ; when he must, according 
 to the instructions sent unto our friends by order of 
 Lord Hill, inevitably feel the consequence of what is 
 considered in the eye of military law, the heinous 
 crime of insubordination. It is “ righteousness that 
 exalteth a nation;” and when the people shall turn 
 from their iniquities, and love the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 
BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 21 
 
 1841] 
 
 the Lamb of God and Prince of Peace* with all their 
 hearts* and their neighbours as themselves* then they 
 “ shall beat their swords into ploughshares* and their 
 spears into pruning-hooks* and learn war no more.” 
 And my heart’s desire and prayer to God for our 
 •nation is* that she may not be the promoter of the 
 sufferings of the human family* but an instrument in 
 the Lord’s hand for the promulgation of the gospel 
 of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ* which proclaims 
 “ glory to God in the highest* peace on earth* and 
 good-will towards men:” and this is an individual 
 work between God and our souls* who hath spoken 
 by his prophet Jeremiah* “ I will take you one of a 
 city* and two of a family* and bring you to Zion.” 
 In order that Lord Hill and the authorities in power 
 may be rightly informed in this very important case* 
 it feels a duty incumbent on me meekly to present 
 you with a memorial thereof* lest through ignorance 
 you should be found even to fight against God. Sir 
 William Wane* Commandant of Chatham Garrison* 
 has supposed that our friends were the promoters* if 
 not the instigators* of private W. B’s. insubordination 
 to the military law. If this is true* I am the man : 
 but the matter is not exactly so. It is true I have 
 encouraged him to obey God rather than man* and 
 this is no more than one of the officers did when 
 W. B. put the plain question to him* who replied* 
 “ Obey God by all means.” And Sir William Wane 
 himself has borne witness of him* that “this W. B. 
 will do unto the laying down of his life.” And O ! 
 that our nation may not have to bear the guilt of a 
 Martyr’s blood through your hands. But I am not 
 the instigator of W. B’s insubordination* for this 
 thing is of God. W. B. came with scruples of con- 
 
22 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1842 
 
 science on his mind, and as he opened them to me, 
 I advised him according to the wisdom given unto 
 me at the time, how to obtain that peace which “ the 
 world can neither give nor take away. 5 ’ And this I 
 have further to say, that we who are believers in 
 Christ Jesus as the Saviour of the soul, are soldiers 
 as well as you. The Prince of Peace, the Lord of 
 Lords, and King of Kings, is our Law-giver, and our 
 Judge, before whom all armies and fleets, with all 
 their glory, power and might, are but as the drop of 
 a bucket, and from Him we have a law, and by His 
 law we ought meekly and patiently to suffer, even 
 unto death, whatever men are permitted to do unto 
 us. May the King immortal, the only wise God our 
 Saviour, guide you by His counsels, and gently lead 
 you from war and bloodshed, step by step, until He 
 make you the instruments in His hand for the promo- 
 tion of peace and happiness throughout the whole 
 universe. So desireth, and so prayeth. 
 
 Your real Christian Friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
 o 
 
 IX. 
 
 To — 
 
 7th month, 1842. 
 
 Thou, my beloved Friend, hast for some time felt 
 near my heart, and I do desire according to my 
 measure, to be thy companion in the deeps. Well, 
 suppose we are in the deeps, with the weeds wrapped 
 around our heads, and the earth with her bars about 
 us, the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of 
 many waters, yea, than the mighty floods which 
 
1842] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 23 
 
 Satan is casting out of his mouth to destroy us, and 
 He will with the temptation make a way for our 
 escape. Then we will cast onr anchor of hope, in 
 faith on the Lord Jesus, and we shall ride out every 
 storm ; and if at last we get safe on shore in the 
 realms of eternal peace and blessedness, though it be 
 on broken pieces of the ship with the loss of all but 
 our lives, it will be enough. If at any time thou feel 
 thy mind so drawn, a few lines from thee in the savour 
 of Life will be very precious to me, though it be by 
 way of correction, for “to the hungry soul every 
 bitter thing is sweet.” Our beloved will not always 
 be unto us as a fountain sealed, a spring shut up *. 
 after He has tried us, and we abide faithful, He will 
 bring us forth as gold. And it ariseth in me to say 
 unto thee in the fear of the Lord, thou hast compassed 
 this mountain long enough. “ Loose thyself from 
 the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion, 
 for great is the Holy One in the midst of thee.” “His 
 greatness is unsearchable, and His ways past finding 
 out,” but they are revealed unto babes and sucklings. 
 My love flows to your whole circle. May we all be 
 seeking day by day to be found of our Lord, walkers 
 in the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, whose inhabi- 
 tants see each other in the Light, and feel each other 
 in the Life of the Lamb, and through Him, and with 
 Him, reign on the earth, over all blackness, and dark- 
 ness, and tempest, and the voice of words, and over 
 death and hell itself. Is it not time, my dear friend, 
 to awake as out of sleep, to put on thy beautiful 
 garments and thy strength, and to come forth in 
 meekness and love, and mount upwards ? Is it not 
 written, “ Though ye have lien among the pots, yet 
 shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, 
 
24 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1842 
 
 and her feathers with yellow gold ?” Thou wilt say, 
 this can only be done through the Refiner with His 
 fining pot, and His furnace. True, but we are apt 
 to complain, — to remember God, His greatness, and 
 His holiness, and be troubled. But let our spirits 
 make diligent search. “Will the Lord cast off for 
 ever; will He be favourable no more?” Let us 
 remember the years of the right hand of the Most 
 High ; for if, whilst we were sinners, Christ died for 
 us, how much more will He not with Him freely give 
 us all things ? And who, and what shall separate us 
 from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our 
 Lord ? What though our walls are broken down, and 
 our gates consumed with fire ; what though there is 
 much rubbish, and the strength of the burden-bearers 
 of many in Judah is decayed, and the nobles put not 
 their hand to the work, yet in the name of the Lord 
 our God, let us arise and do that which our hand 
 findeth to do. Remember Nehemiah, thank God, and 
 take courage; for “do not I fill heaven and earth, saith 
 the Lord ?” 
 
 o 
 
 To 
 
 X. 
 
 Strood, 7th month, 1842. 
 
 I rejoice to suffer with the suffering seed of Christ, 
 wrestling for the coming and establishment of His 
 kingdom in the heart of man. But thanks be unto 
 the Lord, glorious things are still spoken of the City 
 of God, her counsellors have not all vanished ; yea, 
 the shout of a King is still to be heard in the midst 
 of her, and through the strength and majesty of her 
 God, Truth will yet spring up out of the earth, and 
 
1842] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 25 
 
 righteousness look down from heaven. The Pearl is 
 worth digging deep after, the crown is worth suffering 
 for, and when the set time is come for the Lord to 
 favour Zion, she will break forth on the right hand 
 and on the left, and the hand of the Lord will be 
 known towards His servants, and His indignation 
 towards His enemies. And Oh ! my dear friend, let us 
 remember each other in our bonds, in whatever way 
 we may be bound, for “ Behold how good and how 
 pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” 
 It is as the dew upon the hill which the Lord hath 
 blessed, — as the love of God shed abroad in our hearts 
 by the Holy Ghost. 
 
 o 
 
 XL 
 
 To 
 
 21st of 8th month, 1842. 
 
 I feel greatly obliged to thee for thine, it being my 
 soul’s delight to feel a perfect oneness of mind and 
 judgment in things that appertain to life and godli- 
 ness, through the mediation, sacrifice, and the cleans- 
 ing baptizing power of the Holy Spirit. I feel much 
 inclined freely to communicate to thee the way I take 
 to inherit eternal life, through the faith of the opera- 
 tion of God in the soul of man, by which thou wilt 
 judge for thyself whether we are so far agreed that 
 we can walk together towards that “ city which 
 hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” 
 I am a very little child, and I think as a child, and 
 consider myself now speaking to a child, of what 
 I am learning in the school of Christ, and I desire to 
 
26 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1842 
 
 be as brief as I can. When I was young I girded 
 myself, and went whithersoever I would, so far as my 
 power and self restraint, through shame, would permit. 
 I think I can, with as much propriety as Agar, say, 
 “ Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have 
 not the understanding of a man.” I did not learn 
 heavenly wisdom, therefore could not have the know- 
 ledge of the holy : but I was a Saul in my own 
 estimation, often head and shoulders above many, and 
 got upon the mountains of Gilboa, where there is to 
 be u neither dew, nor rain, nor fields of offerings . 55 
 Here, my enemies spoiled me, yet my life was still 
 whole in me, and anguish was upon me, because I was 
 so fallen that I could not do as I listed any longer : 
 but through adorable mercy I was still spared. And 
 after this as I was travelling from Jerusalem to 
 Jericho I fell among thieves, who wounded me, and 
 stripped me, and left me half dead ; and here I must 
 have perished, had not one come whom I knew not, 
 and spake comfortably to me, lifting me up and 
 carrying me to an inn, where I afterwards found he 
 had given charge concerning me. At this inn I was 
 taken good care of ; and when my benefactor came 
 again, he shewed me that I had procured these things 
 unto myself, and he told me that He was the 
 Almighty God : and if I would suffer Him to be the 
 Leader and I the follower. He would bring me through 
 and over all. And this covenant being entered into 
 between us, He shewed me the way wherein I must 
 walk, and how to know Him from all deceivers. He 
 taught me also to pull off my shoes when I was upon 
 holy ground, and gave me meat, for He said, the 
 journey was too great for me; and He bade me to get 
 into the Rock and hide myself, for hell from beneath 
 
1842] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 27 
 
 was moved to meet me at my coming. And when He 
 suffered the power of darkness to overtake me, then 
 He led me about and instructed me, and guided me 
 with his eye, so that I could say in a good degree 
 with Job, 66 I have heard of thee by the hearing of 
 the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee, so that I abhor 
 myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” And this 
 Scripture was strongly impressed on my mind, “ No 
 man shall see God, and live.” And I was given 
 clearly to see, the way of life was through the gates 
 of death; and deep were my baptisms, and awful the 
 judgments I had to pass through. Yet no tongue can 
 utter, nor pen describe the gracious visitations of His 
 love, which were from time to time vouchsafed accord- 
 ing as he saw need, sweetening every bitter cup, and 
 strengthening me to bear the purifying fire necessary 
 for me to pass through for my refinement. And now 
 with Nebuchnezzar, “I do extol and honour and 
 praise the King of Heaven, all whose works are truth, 
 and His ways judgment, and those that walk in pride 
 He is able to abase.” 
 
 Now with regard to learning to read the raised type 
 I am at a loss. I feel the privation, but believe I 
 must learn “ to be content with such things as I have,” 
 for it is written, “ I will never leave thee, nor forsake 
 thee ;” and I am persuaded that they who possess 
 God, possess the substance of all things. 
 
 God is love, and the Holy Scriptures are the fruit 
 of His love, and man is the work of His hands ; and 
 Jesus Christ of whom the Scriptures testify is the 
 Mediator between God and man; and the Holy Spirit 
 is the grace, wisdom, and power of Christ, which 
 worketh out in man our reconciliation with God. As 
 God by Christ Jesus created the outward heaven and 
 
28 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1842 
 
 the earthy so will God by Christ Jesus, create in man 
 the new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteous- 
 ness. 
 
 And this one thing I endeavour to do, — look up to 
 Him through the help of the Holy Spirit, for my daily 
 bread, even that bread which yieldeth Eternal life, 
 and thus I do, imperfectly as I do, labour to keep the 
 mind always susceptible of the smallest appearings of 
 the love of God, that I may discern whether it is by 
 way of reproof, correction, or instruction on my own 
 account, or to lead into a travail of soul on account of 
 others ; and this is a source of constant employment 
 for my time. 
 
 Precious indeed are the declarations and testimonies 
 of the love of God, when given forth in His Power and 
 Spirit; but still more precious is the eating and 
 drinking thereof in His internal presence in our souls : 
 and they that are thirsting after these things do 
 pray that His kingdom may come and His will be 
 done. But sometimes our Lord taketh a long journey 
 and we become very poor and needy, and then it is 
 good for us to give ourselves up to reading and medi- 
 tation, to watchfulness and prayer; for “we live by 
 faith and not by sight / 5 And so it is, I do not see 
 why I should be thus led, but in the stillness and 
 quiet, there often ariseth something like unto dew 
 from the Lord ; and when I feel my heart enlarged 
 and drawn here and there, I empty myself, as way 
 opens, and then I feel refreshed. 
 
 With child-like simplicity, and I trust, godly 
 sincerity, I desire to be thy sympathising friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
 [Note. — B. B. eventually learned the raised type, and much 
 enjoyed the perusal of the Scriptures through this means.] 
 
1842] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 29 
 
 XII. 
 
 To 
 
 Strood, 31st of 8th months 1842. 
 
 My dear friend. — It has been repeatedly on my mind 
 since the Yearly Meeting to send thee a token of my 
 gratitude, and also a manifestation of my sympathy 
 with thee under thy trials of faith, and exercise of 
 patience in a travail of soul for the prosperity of our 
 highly favoured and once dignified Society, that her 
 righteousness may go forth as brightness, and her 
 salvation as a lamp that burneth, and that she may 
 possess the gates of all her enemies, that Zion’s King 
 may reign over all, and her princes rule in judgment. 
 But from so doing I have felt discouraged on account 
 of my unworthiness and insufficiency; but as the thing 
 still continues with me, I have considered that I am 
 sufficient to write the truth, and that the precious 
 Truth must be brought into dominion over all, through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord, and that I shall never enter 
 into the kingdom of heaven through my worthiness: 
 therefore leaving judgment unto Him who only 
 judgeth righteously, I proceed. 
 
 I consider great responsibility rests upon me for 
 the many favours conferred upon me by our dear 
 friends, and for placing us above the want of any 
 temporal good thing which our state requires. This 
 calls for a daily deep dwelling with the Life, that 
 through the light and power thereof I may be 
 preserved out of all evil, that the end for which 
 these favours are bestowed may not be frustrated : 
 and this leads me to make a remark or two on my 
 belief of the power of religion on the mind in respect 
 to temporals. 
 
30 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1842 
 
 The primitive Christians had all things common : 
 and as pnre undefiled religion prevails in the hearts 
 of men, so must covetousness, pride, cruelty and 
 oppression cease out of the earthy on the part of 
 those who have power ; and on the part of the poor 
 and weak there will be truth, fidelity, industry, 
 economy, gratitude and love; and God will supply 
 every man’s need both temporally and spiritually, 
 according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, 
 in whom the fulness dwells. But every man in 
 his own order or proper station. Princes will rule 
 with justice; the rich will not overbear; nor the 
 poor defraud; and the one will be a blessing to 
 the other; and God will give the people pastors 
 according to His own heart, truth will spring up out 
 of the earth, and righteousness look down from 
 heaven : the zeal of the Lord will perform this. This 
 is my faith, and for this is the travail of my soul ; and 
 woe, woe, woe, unto the inhabitants of the earth when 
 God ariseth to judge the secrets of men’s hearts by 
 Christ Jesus, and to plead with all flesh by His fire and 
 sword. And I do believe the time is at hand, if not 
 already come, when the sinners in Zion will be made 
 afraid, and fearfulness surprise the hypocrites: and 
 O that the people may become Quakers indeed, 
 before the things that belong to their peace be hid 
 from their eyes ! And now, my dear friend, many and 
 deep are the exercises of my mind on the state of our 
 poor Society, and on the state of the unchristianity of 
 the professed Christian world, and because of the 
 great wickedness and oppression that is in the earth. 
 Many are the secret mourners because of these things; 
 and methinks I see the hand of the Lord bringing 
 about a work in the earth, that whosoever heareth 
 
1842] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 31 
 
 thereof both his ears shall tingle. Then shall they that 
 be wise shine as the brightness of the firmament, the 
 oil o± joy shall be given them for mournings and the 
 garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; and the 
 hand of the Lord shall be known towards His servants, 
 and His indignation towards His enemies, as it is 
 written, “ Behold he cometh with clouds, and every 
 eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, 
 and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of 
 him;” for the kingdom must become the kingdom 
 of our Lord and His Christ, which first must be known 
 in man before it will shine through him. And O 
 that men would suffer the Witness for God to arise 
 within them : how soon would He make them that 
 hate Him flee before Him ! 
 
 With my wife and self’s united dear love, thine 
 very affectionately, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 o 
 
 XIII, 
 
 To 
 
 9th month, 1842. 
 
 While desiring to comfort my friends with that 
 comfort wherewith I myself am comforted of God, yet 
 I believe if we take the gold and silver vessels out of 
 the house of the Lord, and drink wine out of them at 
 our own pleasure, when we are weighed in the 
 balances of the sanctuary we shall be found wanting. 
 O how sweetly and how safely doth the camp of the 
 Lord move forward through the wilderness of this 
 world, when the Pillar of Eire is their Guide and 
 Guard by night, and the Cloudy Pillar their covering 
 
32 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1842 
 
 by day, resting in their tents when that rests upon 
 them, and journeying forwards when it is taken off 
 the Tabernacle and goeth before them. 
 
 o 
 
 XIV. 
 
 To 
 
 25th of 12th month, 1842. 
 
 My dear Friend, — I need not make any apology for 
 not sooner acknowledging the receipt of thy humbling 
 epistle of love and unity, neither need I write in 
 commendation of it, for I believe our heavenly Father 
 hath sealed His approbation thereof on thy spirit. 
 My heart unites with every sentence it contains. 
 Thus far it appears we are baptized by one Spirit into 
 one body, both seeing with the same eye, and mourning 
 as with one heart, crying with one voice in the words 
 of William Penn in his prayer, put at the end of his 
 “No Cross, No Crown/ 5 * 
 
 May the Lord in His adorable mercy purely purge 
 from us, as a people, all filthiness, both from flesh and 
 spirit, and restore unto us judges as at the first, and 
 counsellors as at the beginning; that our walls may 
 be rebuilt, our gates set up, and our holy and beau- 
 tiful temple, even the Life and Light of the Lord God 
 and the Lamb, reared up in the sight of all nations. 
 
 * u O LORD GOD ! thou lovest holiness, and purity is thy delight 
 in the earth. Wherefore, I pray thee make an end of sin, and finish 
 transgression, and bring in thy everlasting righteousness to the souls 
 of men : that thy poor creation may be delivered from the bondage it 
 groans under, and the earth enjoy her sabbath again ; that thy great 
 name may be lifted up in all nations, and thy salvation renowned to 
 the ends of the world. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the 
 glory for ever. Amen.” 
 
1842] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 33 
 
 And we believe there are many yet among us baptized 
 by the one Spirit into this one body., perfectly joined 
 together in one mind and judgment. And seeing that 
 their life is eternal, their light clear, the law of their 
 God perfect, His testimonies sure, His commandments 
 pure, His fear clean, enduring for ever, and His 
 judgments true and righteous altogether, and the 
 Lord’s fire and furnace with them, — is it not time 
 for these to arise and change their prison garments, 
 that they may stand prepared to follow the Lamb 
 whithersoever He goes, that the scripture may be 
 fulfilled, “ Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand 
 of his saints, to convince all that are ungodly of all 
 their ungodly deeds, and of all their hard speeches 
 which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him ; ” 
 and that Zion may be redeemed with judgment, and 
 her converts by righteousness, which is of faith ? 
 But we are frail, weak in faith, and encompassed with 
 many infirmities, and our enemies lively and strong ! 
 “ Oh ! that my head were waters, and mine eyes a 
 fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night,” 
 because of the oppression of the enemy ! And if 
 weeping in secret was the only sacrifice the Lord was 
 requiring of me, I believe my heart could say, “ Thy 
 will be done.” But when I apprehend myself called 
 to arise, anoint the shield, and prepare for battle, 
 I feel the weakest of the weak, and like the worm, I 
 would creep out of sight. Yet this one thing cheers 
 me, that if any good is done by such a poor weak 
 creature as I, it must be evident it is not I that do it, 
 but the grace of God in me; and I am fully persuaded 
 that as Christ is seeking one so unworthy as I, he is 
 seeking all, and there is a cry raised within me, 
 “ What shall I render unto thee for all thy benefits ? ” 
 
 D 
 
34 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1843 
 
 And there is nothing better for snch as these than to 
 drink the cup which the Lord is handing to them, 
 whether it be to suffer or to reign, calling upon His 
 most holy name. I believe that seeing many among 
 us are making excuses, the servants will be sent not 
 only to the lanes and streets, but unto the highways 
 and hedges, for Jesus will not rest until His house is 
 
 filled 
 
 Thy sympathising and indebted Friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 o • 
 
 XY. 
 
 To 
 
 1843. 
 
 Thy last salutary epistle has quickened me in look- 
 ing more diligently to my own heart to see that it be 
 rooted and grounded in the love of Grod, and in that 
 faith which comes by Jesus Christ. I speak to my 
 own shame, knowing little more than my sins having 
 been forgiven me for His name’s sake. It is now 
 full thirty years since the Lord fully made Him- 
 self known unto me by His judgments, in ever 
 adorable mercy, and alas ! where am I at this day ! 
 But this one thing I have, I do love them that love 
 our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and our precious 
 Lord tells me that I cannot love these without loving 
 Him. But the question with me is, where are the 
 fruits of my love ? I both see and feel there is an 
 enemy at my heart, and I have great fears within, so 
 that when fightings are without, I love to creep into 
 some hole out of sight, saying as some others do, this 
 and that are too weighty for me. 
 
1843] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 35 
 
 I believe that there are very many in onr Society 
 that love onr Lord Jesus Christ in part, but are not 
 made perfect in love because of fear ; and many of 
 these I believe are falling away from the Truth, 
 because they fear the wrath of the enemy, not having 
 submitted themselves unto the baptism of Him who 
 teaches us whom to fear. And many I believe there 
 are preserved among us, and reserved for a time nigh 
 at the door, that fear to show themselves on the 
 Lord’s side through looking at their own weakness, 
 who are suffering for want of fathers and mothers to 
 lead them onwards as they themselves follow Christ. 
 Ah. ! my dear friend, doth not the Lord hear the 
 groanings of these prisoners of hope ? and in His own 
 time will He not arise for these, if they look unto Him, 
 with healing in His wings, and enable them to declare 
 the glory of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in 
 Jerusalem ? 
 
 It is very clearly seen by the eye, that is singly 
 directed to the glory of God and happiness of man, 
 that all the divisions among the different societies of 
 professors of Christianity are out of the life of Christ. 
 And it is also evident by the same eye, that all the 
 wretchedness, misery, and want among the poor, and 
 all the shakings that are now working in the state 
 and the commercial world, are the fault of men’s 
 alienation from the love of God, and from the power 
 of His Christ. And by the same way that man has 
 gone out from the paradise of God, by the same he 
 only can return. 
 
 God sent His Son into the world to save the world, 
 but man will not bear Christ’s yoke, and deny himself, 
 and take up his cross, no not though He died for us, 
 and made an atonement for the sins of the whole 
 d 2 
 
36 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1843 
 
 world, and is now sending His Holy Spirit into our 
 hearts, giving gifts to every one severally as He will. 
 And from the days of the apostles down to this our 
 day, how many are the precious promises fulfilled in 
 the experience of those that have believed according 
 to the measure of grace given unto them, and received 
 Christ in the way of His coming. We have testimonies 
 from the statesman down to the negro-slave, that in 
 Christ Jesus there is no want of any good thing. 
 
 Every man and every church will be judged accord- 
 ing to that which Christ hath made manifest in them, 
 and among them by his faithful servants. And is 
 not the Lord now calling, “ Whom shall I send and 
 who will go for us.” But I doubt whether the Lord’s 
 time is yet fully come. 
 
 It was when I was reading and meditating on 
 the eighth chapter of Revelation that I felt draw- 
 ings to write thee. We see that it was when there 
 was silence in heaven, that John saw the seven 
 angels, which stood before God, and seven trumpets 
 given unto them; but we do not read of their 
 moving from before God, until the angel at the 
 altar offered much incense with the prayers of all 
 saints ; and when the smoke of the incense ascended 
 up before God, then the angel took fire from off the 
 altar, and cast it upon the earth, and there were 
 voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earth- 
 quake, and then, and not till then, the seven angels 
 prepared themselves to sound. Surely here is deep 
 instruction for all the earth to keep silence before 
 God, until He ariseth to plead the cause of His poor, 
 and to make Mount Zion the perfection of beauty, 
 the joy of the whole earth. 
 
1844] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 37 
 
 And now, my dear friend, sing praises, sing praises 
 unto our God that dwelleth in Zion, declare His 
 doings unto the people, make mention that His name 
 is far exalted above all gods ! In that love that many 
 waters cannot quench, I affectionately bid thee fare- 
 well. Be of good comfort, saith thy unworthy Friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
 o 
 
 XVI. 
 
 G. Fox, in a testimony that was sealed and opened 
 after his death, writes thus, “ Friends, remember that 
 all your meetings, both men’s and women’s, were set 
 up by the Spirit, wisdom and power of God, and by 
 it they only can be established ; ” and he adds, “ And 
 ye do know that in them ye have felt His living 
 refreshing presence to be amongst you.” And I 
 remember William Dewsbury’s testimony, “I sat 
 down among them in silence, for they had no need 
 of words.” But now the Life and Power is so low in 
 our meetings that words at times appear almost 
 useless ; for if they will not hear Christ within them, 
 how can they hear His ministers that are determined 
 to know nothing in our meetings but Christ and 
 Him crucified ! 
 
 This declension hath not happened unto us through 
 any slackness of the love of God, nor from any want of 
 power in Christ to redeem, but through our departing 
 from our first love ; and if we refuse to return, the 
 
38 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1844 
 
 Lord will remove our candlestick out of its place; 
 I mourn on the one hand, and rejoice on the other. 
 I mourn because of the hardness of men’s hearts, and 
 for the woes they bring upon themselves through 
 unbelief, and I rejoice in the mercy and forbearance of 
 God, being assured that He will make all things work 
 together unto His own glory, and if any perish, their 
 destruction will be of themselves. Oh ! what breaches 
 there are in our holy and beautiful house of prayer, 
 wherein our fathers in the Truth praised God ! I 
 fear that the drawings and baptisms of the Lord’s 
 Holy Spirit are becoming as a byeword and reproach 
 to many in our Society, whilst I rejoicingly believe 
 faith in Christ within , as our hope of glory, is 
 increasing among other professors. 
 
 My health has of late been very nicely, but my 
 hearing has again become very hard. Through the 
 kindnesses of dear friends all my wants are richly 
 supplied; and above all I am favoured with great 
 peace within. With fervent desires that the Lord 
 may bless thee every way, I am thy grateful friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 o 
 
 XVII. 
 
 To 
 
 1844. 
 
 My dear Friends. — I incline to pay you a visit in 
 this way to enquire of your health, your prosperity, 
 and your peace, for my heart is with you, and strong 
 are my desires that the Lord may bless you with 
 
1844] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 89 
 
 His inward presence; which, is better than all things 
 from without^ and that He may sustain and bear up 
 under all your discouragements^ trials and temptations. 
 Remember my dear friends^ the race is not to the 
 swift; nor the battle to the strong; but unto them 
 who; through faith and patience; endure unto the 
 end; holding fast their confidence; calling upon Jesus 
 when their hearts are overwhelmed. Though His 
 presence is more dear to you than all beside; what a 
 crowd of hindering things are in the way; were it 
 not that Jesus lifts up a standard against the enemy; 
 when he comes in like a flood; we should be all carried 
 away with his temptations; but God giveth more 
 grace; and bindeth the force of the floods which 
 proceed out of the dragon’s mouth; with “ Hitherto 
 shalt thou come and no further.” Oh how high and 
 lofty are the blasts of the terrible one against our 
 wall; but remember the promise and exhortation; 
 “ I will fight for you; and ye shall hold your peace.” 
 I know not how it is with you my dear friends; 
 but thus my mind has felt drawn towards you; since 
 I sat down to write. Few perhaps have had to drink 
 more of the dregs of the cup of the Lord’s anger 
 than I have; for my rebellion against the clear shining 
 of His holy Light; and few perhaps have had more 
 cause to speak well of His name. I am not ignorant 
 of the snares and temptations of the wicked one; 
 neither am I a stranger to the judgments and 
 mercies of God; and I would encourage every weary 
 traveller to hold on his way; for “ God is love.” 
 
 I miss you very much; yet in heart you are still 
 with me. Your sincere Friend; 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
40 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1844 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 My dear Friend. — Sweet is the remembrance of our 
 close friendship in days that are past ; sweet it is still 
 to love, and it will ever remain to be in the endless 
 ages of eternity, if we love one another, because “ God 
 is love.” Thy letter was a welcome token of thy 
 remembrance, and the information of your dear 
 invalid charge pleasant, and now may I conclude 
 your winter season is past, “ the rain over and gone,” 
 and sweet gratitude sending forth her melodious notes 
 of thanksgiving and praise, in spiritual songs brought 
 forth by the healing wings of the Sun of Righteous- 
 ness spreading over you. This is my desire for you, 
 that every afflicting dispensation of infinite wisdom 
 may work for you a far more exceeding and eternal 
 weight of glory in the day to come. 
 
 This is lovely weather ; may I indulge myself with 
 the pleasing idea, that you are admiring the beauties 
 of nature, and the gifts thus bestowed on man by a 
 great and bountiful Creator, who year by year is 
 showering down His blessings, providing for the 
 animal creation, unto the glory and praise of His 
 wisdom and power, who giveth life and breath to all ; 
 asking nothing in return, but the heart of man, that 
 He may dwell therein, and rule and reign there, until 
 every foe is subdued that disturbs the love, peace, 
 and harmony of this wondrous whole, and in the 
 winding up of time, give us an inheritance eternal in 
 the heavens, “ where the wicked cease from troubling 
 and the weary are at rest.” For this end He is offering 
 
1844] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 41 
 
 forgiveness unto all for past offences, through Jesus 
 Christ, our Lord, that the things behind may not 
 hinder our pressing forwards towards the mark for 
 the prize. 
 
 My dear Friend, it is a very low season with me, 
 but love constrains me to write to thee, that if it 
 should be so with thee thou may’st know that thy 
 brother is living by faith, hoping in the mercy of 
 God through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 
 which quickeneth our souls, not only in an humbling 
 sense of our unworthiness, but also unto the consola- 
 tions which come through Christ to the weary and 
 heavy laden. And this one thing I do, I labour to 
 get into the silence of all flesh, and there to wait 
 that it may be shewn unto me, how it is with me in 
 His holy sight, craving that He will not let His hand 
 spare, nor His eye pity, until He hath made me 
 what He would have me to be ; unto Him and His 
 keeping, I labour to commit body, soul, and spirit, not 
 being over much cast down when Amalek prevails, 
 nor too confident when the word of righteousness 
 appears to be sealed unto me. Full satisfied I 
 am there is but 66 one Lord, one faith, and one 
 baptism/’ into the love of God, and as God made 
 of one blood all the families of the earth, so Christ 
 is making of one spirit all the children of heavenly 
 Jerusalem, which is coming down out of Heaven 
 from God. This is a mystery hid from the wise 
 and prudent of this world, but revealed unto the 
 babes and sucklings by the Spirit of Christ, which 
 dwelleth in His children. The evening shadows of 
 life appear to be fast gathering around us ; my dear 
 wife is perceptibly growing weaker, and my hearing 
 gets no better. We must labour after patience ; but 
 
42 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1845 
 
 with thanksgiving I can say,, I have not to labour 
 after patience and resignation on this account, for 
 it is already mercifully granted, but the loss of my 
 wife will be a great trial indeed. 
 
 With our united dear love, I subscribe myself, thy 
 sincere Friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 o 
 
 XIX. 
 
 To 
 
 19th of 2nd month, 1844. 
 
 I desire to sit with thee in spirit, under the 
 humbling sense of the awful weight resting upon all 
 who apprehend themselves called upon to speak in 
 the name of the Lord, that they neither add to, nor 
 diminish therefrom. And now whilst writing, the 
 encouraging language of the mighty God of Jacob 
 unto poor Jeremiah, has unexpectedly sprung up in 
 my heart, “ Say not I am a child, for thou shalt go 
 to all to whom I send thee, and all that I command 
 thee thou shalt speak and His word also is, “ Fear 
 not, thou worm Jacob, for I am thy God, and I will 
 help thee.” 
 
 o 
 
 XX. 
 
 To 
 
 29th of 1st month, 1845. 
 
 It is a low season with me. I have lately written 
 
 to to encourage her to bear up, and now I 
 
 want bearing up myself. Through the tender mercy 
 of our God, and the day-spring from on high which 
 
1845] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 43 
 
 hath visited my soul, I seem to abound in a good 
 degree to a dominion over many evils that are in the 
 world ; and when the love of God prevails over all 
 within me I have a peaceable habitation^ a sure 
 dwellings and a quiet resting place. But for all this 
 there is a something left unconquered; and though 
 through holy aid I have often bruised his head; yet 
 again he tears and bruises my heel ; it is of the flesh; 
 and I can plainly see; so long as anything of the flesh 
 is alive in me; there will be a lodging-place for Satan. 
 And now my dear friend; if I who have been brought 
 up from the lowest hell; and have in possession; by 
 promise of the word of God; all that my soul desireth, 
 and yet have thus to war and fight; to watch and 
 pray; or become a castaway; ought I not to feel deeply 
 for my fellow-creatures; who are sitting in darkness 
 and the shadow of death; carried away captive by the 
 devil at his will P Thou knowest; my dear friend; I 
 do feel a little; but my burden is greater than I can 
 bear alone ; and as thou; and all whose faces are 
 turned towards Zion; are as dear to me as my own 
 soul; I believe I may; in that liberty we have in 
 Christ Jesus; pour it out into thy bosom. It does appear 
 to me that the call of the Lord is going forth; and 
 will go forth louder and louder through His church; 
 in the words of the 50th Psalm; verses 5 and 6; 
 “ Gather my saints together unto me ; those that have 
 made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the 
 heavens shall declare his righteousness; for God is 
 judge himself. 55 Hath not the Lord already called; 
 and is calling His servants; to go as unto the 
 highways and hedges; to draw them by the compelling 
 cords of His love to come unto His supper ; and God 
 Himself is the only judge; when to send; and whom to 
 
44 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1845 
 
 gather. And whilst my heart rejoiceth in all this ; 
 for this is the first step, (I mean to call them with 
 the drawing cords of love,) yet there appears to be 
 something further, to see that they put on the 
 wedding garment before they go in, or they will 
 assuredly be rejected ; but who is sufficient for these 
 things ? And now is brought to my remembrance 
 the word of the Lord to me some years since, “ Go 
 softly, lest thou wake the children . 55 I have gone 
 softly many years, washing my face, and anointing 
 my head, whilst inwardly I have been clothed 
 with sackcloth, mourning and weeping over the 
 desolations of our Society, and now I am ready to 
 think it is time to touch some of the strongest of the 
 children and wake them up. The Lord is sufficient 
 for his own work. Now we believe that the Lord 
 will gather by those whom He hath gathered ; these 
 must stand still as servants in waiting, and follow 
 Him whithersoever He leads them, and He will lead 
 these according to their several gifts, in perfect order 
 and harmony, to His own glory. Now the Lord hath 
 given the word, and great is the company of those 
 that are publishing it. Our first Friends were born 
 of the incorruptible Seed of God, they were baptized 
 by one Spirit into one body, and counted nothing too 
 near or too dear to part with for the Lord’s sake. 
 They laid the axe to the root of the corrupt tree. 
 They slew both on the right hand and on the left, 
 and put to flight the armies of the aliens, for the 
 Lord God was their King, their Lawgiver, and their 
 Judge, and He brought them through fire and through 
 water; but they delivered neither son nor daughter, 
 they only delivered their own souls by their righteous- 
 ness; for though they had children of the flesh, yet 
 
1845] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 45 
 
 these were not children of the Spirit, until they were 
 born of the same Holy Spirit. Thus it was in the 
 morning of our day, with those that were born of 
 God ; being created anew by Christ J esus unto good 
 works, they became as a “city set on a hill/* and 
 meetings for worship and discipline were set up 
 among them, by the Spirit, power, and wisdom of 
 God ; and for a season Truth reigned over all disor- 
 derly spirits, for their rock was the inward revelation, 
 lights and power of God in their souls, being “built 
 upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, 
 Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone/’ 
 
 o 
 
 XXI. 
 
 To Joseph A. Gillett. 
 
 29th of 7th month, 1845. 
 
 It is truly comforting to a soul wading in the 
 deeps, to feel the sympathy and unity of a fellow 
 traveller towards the rest and kingdom of God. 
 This is a day for all who have made a covenant with 
 the Lord by sacrifice to gather unto the anointing 
 within them, and often to speak one unto another 
 that there may be no schism in the church, and 
 every man may be prepared for the task assigned 
 
 him in harmony and love I am aware of 
 
 the startling question, “ Who is sufficient for these 
 things ? ” God is sufficient for His own work. Christ 
 hath not died in vain, neither have we believed in vain. 
 I could write much on the state of the poor, but at 
 present I forbear ; for their sakes I feel thankful that 
 I am poor. When young I did nearly all I could do as 
 
46 
 
 LETTERS OE 
 
 [1845 
 
 a man to become rich, but could not, for the hand of 
 the Lord was against me, for my violence to convic- 
 tions. I am the man that had been wounded almost 
 to death, when one whom I knew not before as a 
 Saviour, took compassion on me and made a covenant 
 with me; through Him I am in a manner rich, 
 though without the burden of wealth, having none 
 of my own, and yet wanting nothing. Unity in the 
 faith is a very precious thing ; our strength consists 
 in it. 
 
 With dear love to thyself and your circle, thy 
 sincere Friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 o 
 
 XXII. 
 
 To J. A. G. 
 
 Strood, 18th of 9th Month, 1845. 
 
 My very dear Friend. — Seeing the great Head of 
 the Church was pleased to draw thy spirit into 
 sympathy and travail with mine, and through thy 
 obedience in the simplicity of a little child, the way 
 was made clear before me to accept the offer of the 
 fellowship of thy spirit, in discharging myself of a 
 debt of gospel love I owe to my poor neighbours, 
 I feel bound in the renewed springings thereof to 
 salute thee as a brother beloved, and to acquaint 
 thee how it fares with me towards the objects of 
 our earnest solicitude after so long a lapse of time. 
 As we had both to acknowledge that it was “the 
 Lord’s doing and marvellous in our eyes” that our 
 hearts were united in this labour, so I have still to 
 
1845 ] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 47 
 
 acknowledge the continuation of His marvellous 
 loving-kindness^ His mercy; and His truth to me^ and 
 which I feel persuaded flows also towards all the human 
 race; giving unto every one according to his works ; 
 that either by loving-kindness and tender mercy; or 
 by judgments; He may draw every one unto the 
 measure of grace in his own heart, that all may hear 
 and obey; and come unto the baptism of His well- 
 beloved Soil; and know His blood without them and 
 within them to cleanse them from all sin. Now God 
 the Father of all hath made His Son Jesus Christ 
 Lord of all, and put all things under His feet, and 
 given Him to be the head of the Church, through 
 whose quickening Spirit we live unto God through 
 faith in His requirings and in the revelation of His 
 Holy Spirit within us. His eyes are going to and 
 fro throughout the earth to shew himself strong in 
 behalf of those whose hearts are perfect towards 
 Him. Truly ^ my dear Friend; there is great cause 
 for those to rejoice in Him whose hearts trust in 
 Him. My soul feels humbled before Him to this 
 present day in remembrance of His mercy and of 
 His truth to me,, and also in the gracious fulfilment 
 of His word to my soul, when it was labouring for 
 clearness in the united travail of our spirits; “My 
 presence shall go with thee; and I will give thee 
 rest . 55 I mention it now for thy encouragement; 
 that thou mayest trust in the Lord’s openings at 
 all times,, walking in His holy Light, whithersoever 
 He leads thee. 
 
 Considering my infirmities^ I may not have much 
 to do for His adorable name but to sympathize with 
 the afflicted^ but the Great Head of the Church may 
 have various fields of labour for thee; and I have 
 
48 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1845 
 
 believed that our little labour of love was intended 
 for our strength and encouragement as well as for 
 those we visited. The trials and discouragements 
 we met with at the onset; the secret power which 
 attended us throughout in my extreme weakness; 
 the precious unity I felt with thy spirit; and the 
 peaceful close we were favored to make; the quiet 
 resting place which my spirit sensibly feels ; all 
 proclaim His wisdom, power, and love. And now 
 with respect to my feelings towards my poorer neigh- 
 bours, I feel the gracious promise fulfilled, “ I will 
 give thee rest ; ” for whilst my heart continues to 
 flow towards them in the drawings of our Heavenly 
 Father’s love, and to sympathize with them under 
 their various temptations and accumulating distresses, 
 through the Prince of darkness who reigns over them, 
 I feel peace in leaving them unto Him whose mercies 
 are over all His works, being satisfied that His 
 servants without Him can do nothing. “ O the 
 depth of the riches both of the wisdom and know- 
 ledge of God,” “Who maketh the clouds His chariot, 
 and walketh upon the wings of the wind ! ” What 
 is man that He should take account of him ? Doth 
 He not visit and re-visit? Were it not for His 
 adorable name and unutterable mercy, where would 
 some of us be, to whom He hath often manifested 
 Himself “ as the clear shining after rain.” “To whom 
 much is given, of him much will be required ; ” and 
 truly we can give Him nothing but what He first 
 gave us. And now words fail to express the raptures 
 of my soul in the contemplation of the wonderful 
 love of God in the gift of His only beloved Son, even 
 unto death, for the sins of the whole world. I am a 
 believer in the words of the Apostle Paul — that 
 
1845] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 49 
 
 nothing without ns will be able to separate ns from 
 the love of Christy and that all the trials and temp- 
 tations of this life are not worthy to be compared to 
 the glory which is at seasons revealed in ns. Speak, 
 ye who have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice, 
 and whose feet have through Him stood firm in the 
 bottom of Jordan, and who have brought up stones 
 of memorial from thence, is there any joy com- 
 parable to the joy of God’s salvation? Is there 
 anything too near or too dear to part with for His 
 sake, who asks, that He may give in this life an 
 hundred fold, and in the world to come life everlasting; 
 yea, eternal joy, no doubt beyond the power given to 
 finite man to conceive ? My heart salutes thee and 
 all thine in the love of the Gospel of life, peace, and 
 salvation ; and my spirit rejoiceth with yours in the 
 hope of the glory of God, through faith which is in 
 Christ Jesus our Lord. May we for ever be each 
 others joy and rejoicing in the Lord, is the prayer 
 of thy sincere little Friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 o— — 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 To 
 
 17th of 9th month, 1845. 
 
 I write to manifest my affectionate remembrance 
 of you all, desiring for you all, as well as for myself, 
 a steadfast abiding in the fight of the Lord, which 
 assures a fellowship with the Father and with the 
 Son, and one with another. I have but little to 
 inform you respecting our outward affairs, which to 
 me evidently appear to be in the hands of Him who 
 
 E 
 
50 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1845 
 
 doeth all things well ; we know but little variation, 
 neither do I know that I have a wish, or an anxions 
 care about them. In meditating on onr ontward 
 blessings I am often led sweetly, thankfully, to query 
 “ Who made thee to differ ? ” For plainly I know 
 who made me to differ, and that it is of His mercy 
 alone that “ I taste those gifts with joy.” But 
 inwardly I do not live under this serene sky ; many 
 are the changes my soul passes through, and that 
 oftener than the returning day, and this I find also 
 to be good for me ; for who can look up to God for 
 the blessings and precious consolations of the Gospel 
 without being willing to be a partaker of the afflic- 
 tions of it also ? And who can turn away from the 
 bitter cup, when we remember how largely our holy 
 and ever blessed Redeemer drank thereof for our 
 sakes ? 
 
 I think I gave thee in my last some account of 
 the little labour in which J. A. G. and myself have 
 been engaged, since which I have felt greatly relieved 
 of the exercise of my spirit, and have had sweet 
 peace. I was helped with a little help from the 
 Sanctuary in returning my minute, and a precious 
 covering I thought was over the meeting. Yet I 
 have not wholly lost sight of reading and instructive 
 conversation with those among the poor that have 
 an ear to hear, which this, our visit, may open a 
 door for, feeling now perfectly at liberty to exercise 
 myself in this way ; but there is much to suffer and 
 endure, patience must have her perfect work. Some 
 hesitate; some are too forward. I intend to visit 
 a poor man this evening with whom we met, and 
 will give thee a brief account of him. Through 
 a blow received from a vessel coming to the wharf, 
 
1845] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 51 
 
 the spine was hurt, and he is unable to move his 
 lower limbs, and is otherwise afflicted, besides being 
 so deaf that he keeps a slate by him for communicating 
 with those around. I was struck with love and awe 
 to find so heavenly-minded a man. He said he 
 had not one pain too many, his deafness was more 
 a blessing than an affliction. To live or to die, he 
 had no will of his own, Christ’s will was his. His 
 prayer was to be with Him, and to know more of 
 Him, and to be made more like Him. 
 
 It is probable thou hast been looking for a letter 
 from me, my dear Friend, earlier. I have been thinking 
 of thee; but in gathering up the fragments, such have 
 been the precious incomes of heavenly love, that I was 
 fearful of writing much, lest I should exceed or give 
 my strength away; and since, I have been so stripped 
 and poor, more particularly in meetings, sometimes 
 even to distress. I have written now and then 
 a letter, and that in great weakness. I feel it a 
 weighty thing to know the God of Jacob to be my 
 help and my shield. Were not His mercies great, 
 I must sink under a sense of my unworthiness to 
 look up unto Him in times of trouble, but so it is, 
 “He prevents me with the blessings of goodness,” 
 and does not mark all mine iniquities. Who can 
 utter His marvellous loving-kindnesses ; who can shew 
 forth all His praise ? He is righteous in all His 
 ways, and holy in all His works. 
 
 It will be pleasant to hear of your welfare. I 
 sometimes come and sit with you in spirit, and my 
 heart overflows with thanksgiving and praise unto the 
 Author of all our mercies, on your behalf, believing 
 He will teach you, and guide you with His eye, and 
 preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom. 
 e 2 
 
52 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1845 
 
 To 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 12th months 1845. 
 
 Thy letter was seasonable and valuable unto me, 
 who am unworthy of the least of all the Lord’s 
 mercies ; but so it is; the Lord doth think of me, 
 and putteth it in the hearts of those that love Him; 
 to think of me also; so that our blessings abound; 
 both spiritually and temporally. Words are insuffi- 
 cient to set forth the gracious dealings of my God 
 to me ; His loving-kindness and tender mercies over 
 all my weakness and fears. The enemy is; indeed; 
 very near; and very troublesome; but there are seasons 
 where He who is omnipotent reigneth over all. I 
 speak of His righteousness; even of His only; for 
 surely I am of myself more brutish than any man; 
 and have not the understanding of a man. I am 
 lost in wonder; love and praise ; and fully persuaded 
 I am; that all that will come; may come; and know 
 the Lord JesuS; to be made unto them of God; 
 wisdom; and sanctification; and redemption. When 
 thy salutation reached me; I was under some conflict 
 of spirit because of the adversaries; but in Christ 
 JesuS; we do rejoice; and in Him we will exceedingly 
 rejoice ; and whatsoever he saith unto US; let us do it. 
 My heart rejoiceth and my tongue sings for joy, in 
 believing that glory inconceivable to man; awaits 
 the Church ; but she hath a baptism to be baptized 
 with; and how is she straitened until it be accom- 
 plished. 
 
 It is very pleasant to hear that has had 
 
 a valuable letter from . It is no new thing 
 
1846] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 53 
 
 for “deep to call unto deep/ 5 at the noise of the 
 Lord’s waterspouts; and whilst with thee, my prayer 
 to God is, that all His baptized servants may be 
 preserved far from a party spirit, I earnestly crave 
 that they may know a patient waiting for His Word, 
 and a faithful surrendering of themselves unto His 
 blessed will in all things. I trust I feel for, and with 
 
 our deeply tried friend, and hope that has 
 
 been enabled to send him a present of the fruits of 
 the land, “a little honey, a little balm, and a few 
 spices,” that may prove cordial and healing to his 
 wounded spirit. I cannot say whether the Lord’s 
 time is fully come to turn His hand upon us, to 
 purely purge away our dross, and take away all 
 our tin, but I believe that He is preparing instru- 
 ments among us, by, and in whom, if they are 
 faithful. He will arise, and shake, not the earth 
 only, but also heaven ; and with fear and trembling, 
 my spirit is striving to say, “even so, come. Lord 
 Jesus,” until there is nothing remaining but that 
 which cannot be shaken. 
 
 — o — 
 XXY. 
 
 To 
 
 10th of 1st month, 1846. 
 
 I feel not only unworthy but incapable also of 
 entering into that sympathy with thee, which the 
 contents of thine seem to call for, from a brother 
 in travail of spirit for the promotion of truth and 
 righteousness in the earth. My spirit can answer. 
 Amen, to thine, in believing that not a finger must 
 
54 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1846 
 
 be put to the shaking ark, unbidden. But I would 
 not have thee be at all discouraged because all do 
 not see alike that love the Lord in sincerity ; for by 
 these things, the faith, the wisdom, and patience of 
 the saints are brought into exercise and proved. 
 God seeth the spring and motive of the action, and 
 regards the first more than the last, and as the eye 
 is kept single, and the ear open to the precious 
 admonitions of the Holy Spirit, we shall all be 
 gently and safely led on, until we all see eye to 
 eye, and know that union which Christ prayed for, 
 “that those whom Thou hast given me, may be one, 
 as we are one.” And it appears sealed upon my 
 spirit, that this oneness of heart and soul, with a 
 unity in the faith, is the first and principal thing 
 that must be laboured for by the baptized servants 
 and handmaids of our Lord; and that they must take 
 heed to their own spirits, and keep their own hearts 
 with all diligence, that they may be prepared, either 
 to stand with the Lamb upon Mount Zion, or to 
 follow Him whithersoever He goeth; and in quiet- 
 ness and confidence shall be the strength of these. 
 I believe that deliverance to the wrestling seed of 
 Jacob will be wrought through an inward travail of 
 soul before the Lord. Israel was as perfectly safe 
 when in their tents under the cloudy pillar, as when 
 it was taken up, and they marching towards the 
 promised land. My dear Friend, I could write of 
 weaknesses, of unworthiness, of ignorance, and of 
 blushings and confusion of face; but I leave all this 
 to God, and feel great peace in being willing to 
 appear as a fool. One thing have I desired of the 
 Lord, and that will I seek after, that I may have 
 fellowship with them that walk in the Light. May 
 
1846] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 55 
 
 these stand as servants in waiting for their Lord, 
 with their loins girded, and their lamps burning, 
 keeping their habitations in the Light, then their 
 dwelling will be safe. I am unable to express what 
 I feel on behalf of the wrestling seed of Jacob. My 
 heart’s desire and prayer to God is that He will not 
 suffer them to be dismayed; and fully persuaded I 
 am, that nothing without us can harm us, so long 
 as Christ Jesus is within us. 
 
 o 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 To 
 
 29th of 4th month, 1846. 
 
 Thy truly consoling salutation of affectionate and 
 Gospel love I received this morning, and my heart 
 unites with thine in ascribing honor, thanksgiving, 
 and praise, unto Him whose tender mercies are over 
 all His works. The words are forcibly with me, 
 “Except I wash thee thou hast no part with me.” 
 The mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord in 
 this outward afflicting dispensation of His unerring 
 wisdom, is unutterable unto me, who am of myself 
 altogether filthy, and unworthy of the least of all His 
 mercies. Yea, my endeared Friend, I feel unworthy 
 to utter that precious peace and solemnity which is 
 the portion of my cup from the hand of the Lord. 
 My dear wife is borne up surprisingly, and her 
 patient resignation is an evident token of divine 
 support. 
 
56 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1846 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 To John Dunstone. 
 
 13th of 5th month; 1846. 
 
 My very dear Friend. — Thine of the 6th inst. I 
 duly received^ and it was most seasonable and savoury 
 to my taste; such as my soul loveth; and in that 
 love in which it was indicted; doth my heart salute 
 thee; and respond to thy faith in; and testimony to 
 the love and power of redeeming grace in Christ 
 Jesus our Lord; and in the faith of Him. We are 
 brothers in tribulation; unknown in the flesh; but 
 well-known in the Spirit; in watchingS; in fastingS; 
 and in prayer; in which we are companions and 
 fellow travellers towards the rest and kingdom of 
 God. And through redeeming love; we are able to 
 sing together of mercy; and of judgment ; “Thy rod 
 and thy staff they comfort us. 5 ’ Thine to me speaks 
 strongly in the words of the Psalmist; “Come and 
 magnify the Lord with me; and let us exalt His 
 name together ; 55 and my heart responds unto God; 
 “Open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth 
 thy praise.” I have said we are brothers; companions 
 and fellow travellers together unto the rest and 
 kingdom of God: this we are on our own behalf; 
 having met together in spirit by the way; we have 
 passed through many similar outward afflictions and 
 inward conflicts of spirit. How let us also be brothers 
 and companions on behalf of the church in watchingS; 
 in fastingS; and in prayer; and when the Lord; by 
 the Spirit of judgment and of burning; hath purified 
 His Church from all her dross, taken away all her 
 tin and reprobate silver; then shall she again look 
 forth as the morning; “ clear as the sun; fair as the 
 moon; and terrible as any army with banners.” 
 
1846 ] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 57 
 
 Our religious Society has fallen from its first love 5 
 and the fire of the Lord’s jealousy is kindled amongst 
 us : and woe unto them that are covering with a 
 covering but not of the Lord’s Spirit, unless they 
 repent and humble themselves under His mighty hand. 
 The Lord is gracious^ slow to anger; and plenteous in 
 mercy; “His reward is with Him; and His work 
 before Him.” The Lord is good; a stronghold in 
 the day of trouble; and “ He knoweth them that are 
 His ; ” and His eyes are running “ to and fro through- 
 out the earthy to shew Himself strong on the behalf 
 of them whose hearts are perfect towards Him.” 
 Many of us are now preparing to attend our Yearly 
 Meeting; to look into the state of things amongst 
 US; and we know not what may befall us there. May 
 our Lord be gracious unto US; and may our God; who 
 satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry 
 with good things; condescend to be our Head; our 
 Helper; and our Shield. And may’st thoU; my dear 
 friend; help the suffering Seed by fasting and prayer; 
 that Amalek prevail not; yea; saith my soul; may 
 all who know the Lord cry mightily unto Him day 
 and idght; that He will not suffer His hand to spare; 
 nor His eye pity; until He hath made Jerusalem the 
 joy of the whole earth. 
 
 My dear wife; of whom thou so tenderly enquires; 
 is going on far beyond all our expectations; her 
 patience and resignation are consoling to all who 
 attend upon her. I must strive against being too 
 sanguine; but I think there is great hope of her 
 being spared to me a little longer. In all our 
 afflictions we are mercifully regarded from on high. 
 I am often very nicely; at other times very weak; 
 and thus I am carried on from one day to another; 
 
58 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1847 
 
 desiring to cast all my care on Him who careth 
 for ns. I sympathize with thee and thy dear wife 
 under your bodily afflictions, but thanks be unto 
 God, who comforteth us in all our tribulations, and 
 who will preserve all His humbly dependent children 
 unto His heavenly kingdom ; unto whom, with the Son 
 of His love, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, be 
 ascribed all honor and glory, thanksgiving and 
 renown, saith my soul. Amen. 
 
 o 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 To 
 
 6th month, 1846. 
 
 How wonderful is the love of God ! It is high, 
 we cannot attain unto it, but we are helped with a 
 little help from his Sanctuary to behold a part, and 
 the nearer we approach infinite purity, the clearer 
 the vision, and the fuller the enjoyment, until all 
 things become as dross and as dung in comparison 
 with the knowledge of God, and of His Son Jesus 
 Christ. O my spirit feels that God is love, and that 
 all His fatherly chastisements are in love unutterable ; 
 let all His works praise Him, in the heights and in 
 the depths. 
 
 o 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 To 
 
 1st month, 1847. 
 
 Oh my Friend, what can be done to draw the 
 people unto heavenly love ? It would soon do away 
 with all the wretchedness that there is in the world. 
 
1847] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 59 
 
 What can we do better than to suffer it to purify 
 us from all filthiness of spirit, as well as flesh ? May 
 we wait upon God to know His will concerning us, for 
 without Christ we can do nothing. And blessed be 
 His holy name. He hath preserved a little living 
 remnant in this our day, who do know their salvation 
 to be come. I hope these broken sentences will do 
 no harm. I believe it is well for us to get together 
 in spirit, that we may feel our fellowship one with 
 another, to be in the Lord. I seem not to doubt, 
 but thou, with myself, and many others, art crying, 
 “ my leanness, my leanness ! 55 Well, my dear friend, 
 the kingdom is promised to the poor in spirit, and 
 there are exceeding great and precious promises to 
 those that wait upon the Lord. He is gracious ; He 
 considereth our frame ; He remembers that we are 
 dust, and He hears the desire of the humble. 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
 o . 
 
 XXX. 
 
 To J. A. G. 
 
 13th of 5th month, 1847. 
 
 Through adorable mercy He who is higher than 
 the highest regards me, filling my soul with love to 
 the whole human family, and though I am outwardly 
 as an empty vessel at the side of the house, yet the 
 increase of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 in the hearts of the people, is my chief joy. “ The 
 meek the Lord guides in judgment, and the meek 
 He teaches His way.” “ Beautiful upon the moun- 
 tains are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings. 
 
60 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1847 
 
 that publisheth peace; that saith unto Zion 5 thy God 
 reigneth.” And perhaps never more beantifnl in the 
 eyes of the Lord; than when they are in the deeps 
 out of human sight, when wave upon wave; and 
 billow after billow almost make shipwreck of faith; 
 then it is that we see the wonders of the Lord; and 
 from thence it is that we are strengthened to proclaim 
 unto Zion, “ Thy God reigneth.” And that all the 
 wrestling seed of Jacob may reign with Christ upon 
 earth until all their enemies are subjected; and put 
 under their feet by the Spirit of our God; is my 
 fervent prayer. 
 
 o 
 
 To 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Stockport^ 11th of 6th month; 1847. 
 
 I may say that I am a worm and no man; so 
 that while I feel incapable of doing any good; I 
 strive to do no harm; striving to leave each day’s 
 work until the day comes. Poverty of spirit and 
 peace of mind is my favoured portion. When I 
 look at our manner of publicly assembling ourselves 
 together to worship God; I am often ready to cry, 
 “ my leanness; my leanness ! ” How shall I present 
 myself before the Lord ? O ! for a more watchful; 
 humble frame of spirit out of meetings ; then would 
 His life-giving presence be more eminently witnessed 
 in meetings; and the Lord would make many amongst 
 us lively branches; bringing forth fruit unto the 
 praise of His grace. O ! there wants nothing but 
 a total surrender of our wills to His holy and blessed 
 will. His hand is full of blessings ; I find it so. 
 
1847] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 61 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 6th of 7th month, 1847. 
 
 One thing have I desired, that will I seek after, 
 that I may always be in my right place, doing the 
 right thing. .As I am deprived of my books whilst 
 here, I have much time for inward retiredness of 
 spirit, which I feel to need more than books. My 
 hearing is not perfect, though better than it has 
 been, and my memory fails much in temporals, so 
 that I seem to myself to be of no use in the creation. 
 The travail of my soul grows stronger and stronger 
 that all the inhabitants of the world were as happy 
 as myself. The longer I stay here, the more I am 
 brought into sympathy with the suffering Seed of 
 Christ hereaway, without at all lessening the duties 
 I owe to my dear Kent friends ; and the cravings of 
 my soul are for us all, that we may more and more 
 put on the Lord Jesus, until in the unity of the faith, 
 and of the knowledge of the love of God, we bring 
 forth fruits unto holiness, unto the praise and glory 
 of the Father and the Son. Small as we are among 
 the valleys, and low as the life of vital religion is 
 amongst us, yet the unbelieving know not the 
 thoughts of the Lord, neither do they consider 
 that He is God of the valleys as well as God of the 
 hills, and He has enabled a small army to put to 
 flight the host of the Assyrians which filled the 
 country. 
 
62 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1847 
 
 To 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 12th month, 1847. 
 
 My beloved Friend, — whom I love in the Truth, 
 and for the Truth’s sake : grace, mercy, and peace, 
 from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, be multiplied unto all that love the Truth, 
 and walk therein, to the praise of the glory of His grace, 
 whereby and wherein He hath made us accepted in 
 the Beloved. Worthy, saith my soul, is the Lamb 
 that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and 
 wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and 
 blessings ! My soul travails for the fulfilling of 
 that vision which John saw, when he heard “ every 
 creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under 
 the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are 
 in them, saying, blessing, and honour, and glory, and 
 power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and 
 unto the Lamb, for ever and ever ! ” And what 
 hinders the coming of the kingdom of our God and 
 the power of His Christ ? Is there weakness in Him ? 
 Do His exceeding great and precious promises in 
 Christ Jesus our Lord fail towards the children of 
 men ? Nay ; blessed, praised, and magnified over all 
 the powers of darkness, be the ever adorable name of 
 Israel’s Shepherd, the Father of mercies, and God of 
 all comfort, who is in His children of Light, and by 
 His grace will work in them, through them, by them, 
 and upon them, until the beast, the false prophet, and 
 the whore is taken and no Canaanite be found in the 
 house of the Lord. True it is that the Jews were 
 taken captives out of their land which the Lord had 
 
1847] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 63 
 
 given them to have inherited for ever ; and every 
 visible Church of Christ under the glorious gospel 
 dispensation, hath to the present day been taken out 
 of their inheritance in Christ by the combined powers 
 of darkness, the beast and the false prophet. These 
 have robbed every visible Church, so that they 
 can no more see Christ coming unto them in His 
 inward and spiritual appearing, than the Jews could 
 see Him in the days of His flesh. And in all, and by 
 all that are under Egyptian darkness, Christ is 
 persecuted and crucified in His second coming without 
 sin unto salvation, as in the days of His flesh. He 
 was rejected by some who professed to believe in 
 Moses and the prophets. “But the foundation of 
 God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth 
 them that are His ! 55 
 
 My soul travails for the whole creation of God, it 
 mourns under the hard unbelieving hearts of men, 
 and it rejoiceth in the wonderful and inconceivable 
 love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. And seeing that 
 a measure of the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ is offered to every man, sufficient to make us 
 meet to be partakers of the inheritance with the saints 
 in light, from whence cometh this unbelief in Christ 
 and God, and the hardness of men’s hearts against 
 the offer of His love and mercy? We read that the 
 angels’ not keeping their first estate, was the primary 
 cause of our first parents being deceived. They fell 
 likewise and fled from the voice of God, but God 
 sought them and found them, and had compassion on 
 them, and though they had lost their innocency and 
 become dead to God, yet he promised them a Seed 
 that should bruise the head of the serpent. And all 
 that by faith live in Christ, the Seed of God’s promise. 
 
64 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1848 
 
 by which they overcome the wicked one, are brought 
 up again into the paradise of God. But some of these 
 also have left their habitations in the Truths and fallen 
 through their own hearts lusting after forbidden 
 things ; and these are the greatest enemies on earth 
 against the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus. 
 
 Our Society is mixing with the people, and strangers 
 are devouring our strength. Yet there is a little living 
 remnant sighing and crying to the Lord because of 
 these things. 
 
 I do hope, trusty and pray, that the Lord will hasten 
 the day when he will purely purge away the dross by 
 the Spirit of judgment and burning; and take away 
 all the tin; and restore judges as at the first and 
 connsellors as at the beginning — that the mountain 
 of the Lord’s house may be established in the top of 
 the mountains; and exalted above the hills; and that 
 all nations may flow unto it. And then this song will 
 be sung in our land; “ This is our God; we have waited 
 for Him; He will save us : this is the Lord; we have 
 waited for Him; we will rejoice and be glad in His 
 salvation.” And now, my dear Friend; I have 
 written much; and perhaps to but little purpose, being 
 pretty much to the same effect as that I have written 
 thee before, but Pharaoh’s dreams were doubled unto 
 him because the thing was certain. 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 o 
 
 XXXIY. 
 
 To 
 
 5th month, 1848. 
 
 The more perfect we are in love, the more the 
 grace of the God of love will be seen about and 
 
1848] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 65 
 
 among ns ; until we all come into the unity of the faith 
 and of the knowledge of the Son of God, in whom is 
 no death. The apostle Paul, when a strong man in 
 the Lord, had to feel his weakness; and he was glad 
 in being made sensible that he could do nothing of 
 himself, that the power of Christ might rest upon 
 him. Great and marvellous are the works of the 
 Lord, and His judgments are a great deep. “ He hath 
 His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and 
 the clouds are the dust of His feet ; 55 and blessed, for 
 ever blessed, will they be that stand still, until all 
 that the Lord maketh to pass on before Him are 
 gone by, and the still small voice is heard where to 
 go, and what to do. Some formerly were commanded 
 to keep a little way behind the ark, because the way 
 which they had to go, they had not gone before. I 
 want to see our Society, (professing as we do to be 
 led by the Spirit of Truth,) become members of Christ’s 
 mystical body, feeding only on the true bread which 
 cometh down from God out of heaven, that the Lord 
 may be the strength of our hearts, and our portion 
 for ever. 
 
 It is only when the Lord is exalted in judgment, 
 and God that is holy, sanctified in righteousness, 
 that the lambs can feed after their manner. Are 
 there not many in our Society, who have been 
 quickened unto God by His Word in their hearts in 
 early life, but by not taking heed thereto are become 
 like dry bones, without spiritual flesh and sinews ? 
 But O ! how encouraging to the Lord’s baptized 
 servants to labour in the little strength afforded, 
 is the assurance that even these dry bones can be 
 brought forth unto life and usefulness by the power 
 of God, if they will but hear the voice of Christ in 
 
 F 
 
66 
 
 LETTERS OP 
 
 [1849 
 
 the day of His shaking and visitation. O ! let us 
 seek a close and closer fellowship with the Father 
 in the Son, and one with another in Christ our holy 
 Kedeemer, Mediator, and ever-blessed Saviour, and 
 we need not fear what man can do unto us. 
 
 o 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 14th of 10th month, 1848. 
 
 My frame is altogether very weak, so that I am 
 much confined to the house, and through adorable 
 mercy, feeling no burden upon my spirit. I am 
 looking towards going to our everlasting home, 
 bounded by “not my will, but thine be done. 55 My 
 deafness increases very much. All about me feel 
 the loss of my hearing, and think it makes me dull, 
 except my wife, but it does not. 
 
 0 __ — 
 
 XXXYI. 
 
 To 
 
 2nd month, 1849. 
 
 What shall I say to thee, and how pour comfort 
 into thy wounded soul? The enemy of all good is 
 taking advantage of your distressed circumstances, 
 to drive thee to despair. I sorrow with you both; 
 and it brings to remembrance the days of my afflic- 
 tion, the wormwood and the gall which I have 
 
1849] BENJAMIN BISHOP 67 
 
 tasted. Thus it is God “wounds to heal, and kills 
 to make alive : ” yet, in our greatest distress, 
 “considereth our frame, and remembereth that we are 
 dust ; ” making our extremity His opportunity, to 
 teach us wisdom and the fear of the Lord. Thou 
 acknowledges that thou art in a tempted state, which 
 is an evidence that the Lord is near, for it is the 
 Spirit of Christ that shews thee this, and if His 
 Spirit is followed in all its leadings, He will bring 
 thee through and over all thy conflicts, trials, and 
 difficulties, and freely give thee an inheritance among 
 all them that are sanctified. But wilt not thou say 
 how can these things be? I answer, by trusting in 
 the Lord with all thine heart, giving up thy own 
 understanding, thy own will; having trusted to thy 
 own understanding, thou hast found it to fail; so it 
 will be thy wisdom to lean to it no longer. Now listen 
 to the admonition of a tender father, who hath 
 walked through (something like) the valley of the 
 shadow of death — who hath doubted of ever being 
 able to lay hold of the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, 
 unto life eternal; and thus it is with thee; but now 
 stand still, and gather up the fragments that remain of 
 the precious visitations of the love of God to thy never- 
 dying soul, from thy youth up. Let the reproofs of 
 instruction have their proper place and weight in 
 thy mind. Give Him the reins, and let Him be the 
 leader and thou the follower, then thou shalt know 
 the Lord to be thy Saviour, a very present help in 
 every time of trouble, and that in faithfulness He 
 hath afflicted thee. His fatherly chastisements have 
 not been for thy destruction, but for thy profit. 
 These things are foolishness to the wise and prudent 
 in their own sight, but as thou hast proved thy own 
 f 2 
 
68 
 
 LETTERS OP 
 
 [1849 
 
 understandings so now prove that which man de- 
 spiseth, the gentle checks of the trne witness of God, 
 and thou wilt find hard things to be made easy, and 
 bitter things sweet. Strength will be given thee to 
 bear every trial with patience, until the Lord saith 
 “It is enough.” Number your blessings, and employ 
 them with thanksgiving. 
 
 o 
 
 XXXYII. 
 
 To — — — - 
 
 28th of 8th month, 1849. 
 
 The love of God, shed abroad in the heart by the 
 Holy Ghost, is a treasure hid with the Son in the 
 Father, whose commandments are life everlasting. 
 Whosoever eateth His flesh, and drinketh His blood, 
 dwelleth in God, and God in him, by whose power, 
 invisible to the world, every member moves in har- 
 mony, to the praise and glory of God the Father, 
 and to the edification and comfort one of another. 
 In this love, according to my measure, my heart 
 salutes the whole family of Christ the world over, 
 hoping and believing, that as the eye is kept single 
 in Christ the head, and the heart steadfast in God, 
 there will be no need of one member’s saying to 
 another “I have no need of thee.” Great is the 
 mystery of iniquity, but its power is limited, and its 
 kingdom to come to an end, for great and glorious 
 is the mystery of godliness, — the gospel of God 
 working salvation in the earth, through faith which 
 
1849] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 69 
 
 is in Christ Jesns onr Lord. Now we see Satan 
 transformed into an angel of lights and his ministers 
 into the ministers of Christ, and one cannot read the 
 book because it is sealed, and another cannot read it 
 because he is unlearned ; so that the fear of God is 
 taught by the precepts of men! These kindle a fire, 
 and compass themselves about with sparks of their 
 own kindling, being deceived by means of the miracles 
 which the second beast, with horns like a ram, hath 
 power to do : and must receive of the plagues of 
 mystical Babylon, unless they repent and come out 
 of her. But grace, mercy, and peace, from God the 
 Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, be with all 
 that stand fast in Christ, in whom the whole body 
 fitly framed and joined together, groweth up into a 
 holy temple in the Lord, in which is no schism, nor 
 confusion of tongues ; for God is our Father, Christ 
 our salvation, and the Comforter, namely, the Holy 
 Ghost sent down from heaven, our guide, our life, 
 and our Light, who searches our hearts, and maketh 
 intercession for us, according to the will of God. 
 O my beloved friend it makes me exceeding joyful 
 in all my tribulations, to walk about this Holy City, 
 to which such glorious promises belong, and in which 
 the excellency of wisdom is so marvellously displayed 
 in the ascent of the house of God; the sitting of His 
 servants, and the fellowship of the Spirit, causing 
 every member to rejoice with them that rejoice, and 
 to weep with them that weep, being of the same 
 mind one towards another. It is with me a Sabbath 
 day, and I love to take a Sabbath day’s journey 
 sometimes. We have our railways, and travel very 
 swiftly, but not so swiftly as a glance of the mind. 
 But how can we but grieve when we turn our atten- 
 
70 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1851 
 
 tion on the world : we can but weep over the abomina- 
 tions, the cruelty, and oppression that are in the 
 earthy one generation bringing up another in the 
 same darkness and wickedness, deceiving; and being 
 deceived. And when we meditate on the blessed 
 privilege that we as a religious society enjoy, — that 
 of sitting down quietly together to wait upon the 
 Lord for the renewal of our strength, — what cause 
 have we to humble ourselves in His holy sight, for 
 all His mercies past and present, and with upright 
 hearts query, “ Lord, what wouldest thou have me to 
 do ? ” O the beauty and safety of keeping the eye 
 single to the glory of God. I think we do not read 
 of the children of Israel wavering in judgment, when 
 to take their journeys, and when to abide in their 
 tents. Now many are running to and fro, and know- 
 ledge is increased. May the God of all grace make 
 the wise to shine as the brightness of the firmament, 
 and they that turn many to righteousness, as the 
 stars for ever and ever. 
 
 -o- 
 
 To 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 1851. 
 
 I am much obliged for your information concerning 
 the illness of your dear father ; and what shall I say, 
 I sympathized with you in the first account, and I 
 rejoiced with you in the second. May goodness and 
 mercy follow you all, whilst here, and endue with 
 patient endurance unto the end, striving to love all 
 
1851] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 71 
 
 His dispensations, knowing that we mnst all put off 
 this mortal, before we can be perfectly clothed with 
 immortality : and blessed and holy are they that have 
 part in the first resurrection, over such the second 
 death hath no power. My dear love is to your 
 parents, and I pray God to bless them more and 
 more in Himself, and you increasingly in them, and 
 they in you, that when the awful moment of separa- 
 tion from the body comes, the Church triumphant, 
 and the Church militant may sing together new songs, 
 never so perfectly hymned before. Amen. 
 
 o 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 To 
 
 28th of 7th month, 1851. 
 
 My dear Friend. — A few lines revive, which sprang 
 up in my heart when writing to my dear friend, 
 John Dunstone : 
 
 “ How sweet to meet a pilgrim in the way, 
 
 With Jesus listening to all we say.” 
 
 What can such poor weak creatures as we do ? We 
 may sometimes say, we cannot hew wood for the fire. 
 This one thing we can do, — we can sit still at the 
 fountain head, grace assisting, until it is unsealed, 
 and then some of us carry water to the labourers 
 that are faint and weary ; and if I am not mistaken, 
 there are within your Quarterly Meeting, labourers 
 that can handle the axe, who will yet, at times, be 
 
72 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1851 
 
 ready to faint, and have need of the sympathy of 
 their friends, for it is harder work to grub np the 
 corrupt tree, than to cut off the branches, leaving 
 the roots and trunk standing. The Lord direct our 
 hearts into the love of God, and into the patient 
 waiting for Christ. 
 
 o— 
 
 XL. 
 
 To 
 
 1851. 
 
 The minute of our last Yearly Meeting, (1850) 
 respecting gravestones, struck me, and I believe many 
 more, with awe, for fear of the day of the Lord 
 that is coming upon us, and trembling has taken 
 hold of me in the day of trouble. Is it not time to 
 sound an alarm in the Lord’s holy mountain, to 
 gather His saints unto Him, those that have made a 
 covenant with Him by sacrifice ? It is not a lion 
 that is come up against us, then might his roaring 
 have made us afraid, but it is a subtle, twisting, 
 twining serpent, hiding himself in the grass. O my 
 beloved Friends, you who have made a covenant with 
 the Lord by sacrifice, u lift up your voices like a 
 trumpet, cry aloud, shew the Lord’s people their 
 transgressions, and the house of Israel their sins.” 
 May every one know the place where to wait, even 
 to attend at wisdom’s gate, and see that their eye be 
 single to the glory of God, and in His holy fear and 
 light, watch and wait until the cloudy pillar is taken 
 up, and the light shines upon the path whither we 
 
1851] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 73 
 
 must go. 0 how precious is it to participate together 
 in the life which is hid with Christ in God; being 
 quickened by His grace; and sprinkled with His 
 bloody thus travelling together in spirit unto the rest 
 and kingdom of God. I am one of the least in our 
 heavenly Father’s house; and willing to be SO; if I can 
 but behold the beauty of the Lord; in His attributes 
 of mercy and wonderful loving-kindness unto His 
 erring creature man; and enquire in His temple 
 “ Lord; what wouldst thou have me to do?” In 
 Jesus Christ we are one; and all members one of 
 another; and as the blood flows from the heart 
 through hidden channels to every member of the 
 body; so doth the love of God; from Christ the 
 Fountain; flow to every member of His church; 
 which; if interrupted in its course; giveth pain in 
 that particular part; and the members are thereby 
 more or less disqualified for performing their several 
 offices. Wonderful is the condescending love of God 
 to man in Christ Jesus our Lord; who for our sakes 
 humbled Himself unto the death of the cross. And 
 His ministers must put on the Lord Jesus; even to 
 the death of His cross; then will they rise in the 
 likeness of His resurrection; ministering life to every 
 quickened soul; giving milk to babes; and meat to 
 them of riper age; “ deep calling unto deep/’ at the 
 noise of the Lord’s waterspouts. This is a mystery 
 hidden from the penetrating of human wisdom; but 
 revealed unto the Lord’s babes ; and great and glorious 
 it is in the eyes of all those that have pleasure 
 therein. While I could wish “that my head were 
 waters; and mine eyes a fountain of tears; that I 
 might weep day and night for the slain” of the Lord’s 
 people; my heart rejoiceth in believing that the 
 
74 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1851 
 
 kingdom of onr Lord is advancing in the hearts of 
 the children of men, and many will be gathered nnto 
 Christy and sit down “ under their own vine and 
 under their own fig tree, and none will be able to 
 make them afraid / 5 I do believe the power of 
 the Lord will arise in our Society ; and as the feet of 
 His ministers are much turned unto the highways 
 and hedges, so there will be in the Lord’s time a 
 gathering unto the power of the Word, and the 
 kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ will be exalted. 
 O for those who have early enlisted under the banner 
 of the Captain of our salvation ! May the fathers 
 and mothers of the Israel of God, in this our day, 
 be guided by the wisdom of Truth in carrying such 
 in their arms, that they may grow up as plants 
 of the Lord in their youth, and as corner stones 
 polished after the similitude of a palace, and members 
 of that glorious church that has neither spot, nor 
 wrinkle, nor any such thing. Whilst I desire thus 
 for our youth, I also desire for the aged, that our 
 love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, 
 and in all judgment. I write not as one who has 
 already attained, but as labouring to attain, rejoicing 
 in the hope of the glory of God ; and with them that 
 labour in the same hope, I am almost ready to say, 
 my heart is continually bowed with thanksgiving and 
 praise to the Author of all our mercies for the many 
 blessings showered upon me by the members of His 
 church militant. The language of my spirit often is, 
 “ Why to me ? Why to me ? ” I feel afraid of my 
 own heart lest selfishness should get mixed with 
 these heavenly feelings of gratitude. 
 
1851] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 75 
 
 XLI. 
 
 To 
 
 9th of 9th months 1851. 
 
 My dear Friend. — I feel as though I need not 
 hesitate in replying to thy consoling letter. What 
 shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits towards 
 me ? Praise ye Him.; with me; in the heights; praise 
 Him in the depths; and let all the seed of Jacob 
 glorify Him; saith my soul; with yours ; yea; blessed 
 be the Lord God; the God of Israel; who only doeth 
 wondrous things, and blessed be His glorious name, 
 for ever and ever, and let the whole earth be filled 
 with His glory. Amen and Amen ! Now leaving 
 unto Christ our unworthiness and weakness, and all 
 the infirmities of the flesh, we will get unto our 
 watch, and stand upon the tower, and there we will 
 watch to see what the Lord our God shall say unto 
 us ; and as for His reproofs, we love them ; for we are 
 sure, if we open to His knocks, let Him in, and 
 hearken to His voice. He will give us “ beauty for 
 ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment 
 of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” As the secret of 
 the Lord is with the righteous, the Lord requires it 
 of them, that they should keep His secrets ; dwelling 
 in their tents, when the cloud is resting on the 
 tabernacle, and when it is taken up, following it 
 whithersoever it goes. Though I am unworthy of 
 the least of all the Lord’s mercies, yet Jesus hath 
 begotten in me a travail of soul, not for our Society 
 only, but for all the inhabitants of the earth, that 
 they might be saved. How the Lord will bring about 
 His act, His strange act, I know not, neither desire 
 
76 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1851 
 
 to know ; one thing I desire of God; that will I seek 
 after — that I may have fellowship with Him; and 
 with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; through sancti- 
 fication of the Spirit^ and redemption which is in 
 Him. Though I am indeed small; and it may be of 
 many, despised; yet my soul doth magnify the Lord; 
 and my spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour : for He 
 hath not only brought me up from the depths of the 
 earth; but He hath also delivered me from the lowest 
 hell. He found me in a waste howling wilderness; 
 where there was no way. He led me about; He 
 instructed me ; He taught me to gO; holding me by 
 my arms ; and now by the streams of water He is 
 guiding me ! The lines are fallen to me in pleasant 
 places; in Him I have a goodly heritage. And now; 
 can I do otherwise than mourn in secret for those 
 that are out of the way; whose minds the god of this 
 world hath blinded; lest the light of the glorious 
 gospel should shine unto them ; and in my watchings; 
 by the eye of faith; I see a precious remnant of such 
 mourners; “weeping in secret for the abomination 
 which maketh desolate.” 
 
 XLII. 
 
 To 
 
 16th of 9th month; 1851. 
 
 Dear ; whom I love in the Truth; and to 
 
 the beloved of the Lord; being blessed with peace 
 on every side; through faith in the mercy of God; 
 which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; I feel drawn in 
 
1851] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 77 
 
 Gospel love to communicate with thee, on that which 
 I most of all desire, viz : — that the light of life, 
 which is now shining in darkness, may shine ont of 
 darkness throughout Zion, the perfection of beauty, 
 that the Gentiles may come to her light, and all 
 kings to the brightness of her rising ; and who is he 
 that will say, the time for the Lord’s house to be 
 built, is not come P The mighty God, even the Lord, 
 is calling the earth by His Son, Christ, from the 
 rising of the sun, to the going down thereof, and in 
 a special manner to His saints, who have made 
 a covenant with Him by sacrifice, to gather unto the 
 Lamb standing on Mount Zion, that they may follow 
 Him whithersoever He goeth. These two things are 
 certain, they that have heard the voice of Christ 
 and believe not, are not His sheep, and whosoever 
 taketh not up his cross and followeth Him not, 
 cannot be His disciple. In the outward court, “the 
 Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness compre- 
 hendeth it not.” “ They have eyes, but they see not ; 
 ears have they, but they hear not, neither do they 
 understand with their heart.” And such have we 
 been ; but they that dwell in the inner courts of the 
 Lord’s house, walk in the Light, as Christ is in the 
 Light, and have fellowship with the Father, and with 
 the Son, and one with another in Him; and such 
 may we be, through the washing of regeneration, 
 and renewing of the Holy Ghost. It is an awful 
 consideration that the publicans and harlots go into 
 the kingdom of heaven before them that hear and 
 believe not, and the hypocritical professors are the 
 greatest stumbling blocks in the way. 
 
78 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1852 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 To 
 
 lOth of 11th months 1851. 
 
 A beloved disciple of our blessed Lord wrote; “ by 
 this do we know that we have passed from death 
 unto life; because we love the brethren ; 99 and my 
 heart’s desire and prayer to God is; that we consider 
 the Apostle and High Priest of our profession Christ 
 Jesus; that we may always bear about in our bodies; 
 His dying; that so His life may be made manifest 
 by us before the eyes of the nations. O my dear 
 friend; how precious it is to feel a dying daily to 
 self; that Christ may reign over all; to those who 
 experience it; the Lord will be a spirit of judgment; 
 when they sit in judgment; and strength to turn the 
 battle to the gate. Be thou strong in the Lord; and 
 in the power of His might; for the Lord will make 
 a separation between the precious and the vile ; He 
 will have a people to His praise; and He will lay 
 judgment to the line; and righteousness to the 
 plummet; when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 
 
 o 
 
 XLIY. 
 
 To 
 
 5th month; 1852. 
 
 I remember the Friend that mentions; and 
 
 am thankful she is sitting by the springs of waters. 
 I should like her to know so much from me; with my 
 dear love. O how precious is the love of God shed 
 
1852] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 79 
 
 abroad in onr hearts by the Holy Ghost ; and blessed 
 are they that dig down nnto the spring thereof, the 
 streams of which make glad the whole city of God. 
 I am shut up, but I see the day approaching when 
 the Bridegroom will come forth out of his chamber, 
 and the bride out of her closet, and many shall be 
 called nnto the marriage supper of the Lamb ; and 
 the Lord shall be exalted in judgment, and God that 
 is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. I know 
 of none so small as myself among the Lord’s little 
 ones, and if I may but hew wood; and draw water 
 for such,, it is enough, with the peace which I feel 
 in my poverty. 
 
 Farewell my dearly beloved friends, in Him who 
 doeth all things well. 
 
 o 
 
 XLV. 
 
 To 
 
 5th of 5th month, 1852. 
 
 I am one dwelling in my tent, shut up by infirmi- 
 ties and outward privations, but my spirit is not 
 bound,except by this tenement of clay. I rejoice in 
 the Lord’s gracious dealings with me, and through 
 faith I glory in His holy name, who, methinks, I see 
 standing as a Shepherd, calling His scattered sheep 
 together into His fold, to feed in large pastures, and 
 lie down where none can make them afraid. My 
 spirit rejoiceth in beholding by the eye of faith, 
 many seeking the welfare of Zion with their faces 
 thitherward. 
 
80 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 XL VI. 
 
 To 
 
 In the love of the gospel and hope of eternal life 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord, doth my heart salute 
 thee,, greatly desiring to be thy companion according 
 to my measure, in bonds and imprisonments, even 
 unto the death of the cross,, that the life of Jesus 
 may be manifest in our mortal flesh. As thou wrote 
 in thine, there wants something more than a will, 
 to visit the churches of Christ to the edifying of the 
 body in love, through the help of the Great Head 
 thereof ; yet when the door is open before us we may 
 enter in to see how our friends fare, “and take their 
 pledge.” 0 the preciousness of that faith, which 
 worketh by love, and comes by Christ ! By it the 
 church militant overcomes the worlds the fleshy and 
 the devil ; and blessed is everyone that hath an eye 
 to see, and an ear to hear, the things that belong 
 unto their peace. Blessed are these, whether in the 
 tent, or in the field, and blessed shall be their basket 
 and their store : blessed shall they be when they 
 come in, and blessed shall they be when they go out. 
 The Lord, which made heaven and earth, will bless 
 His little dependent ones everywhere, and increase 
 them more and more in His love, them and their 
 children. The Lord has arisen, and will arise more 
 and more, by the might of His own power ; and He 
 will make them that hate Him flee before Him ; He 
 will bind up the broken-hearted, and set the captives 
 free, saying unto Jerusalem thou shalt be built, and 
 to the temple, thy foundation shall be laid : the zeal 
 of the Lord will perform this. 
 
1853] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 81 
 
 To 
 
 XL VII. 
 
 19th of 3rd months 1853. 
 
 As for myself, I desire to be pressing towards the 
 mark for the prize of the high calling of God in 
 Christ Jesns. I am often ready to faint by the way; 
 the hindering things are so many; and my soul’s 
 enemies so lively; and strongs and unwearied; and 
 often exulting^ that when I am watching on the one 
 hand; they break in on the other ; so that not only 
 my earth trembles for fear of the Lord; but my 
 heavens shake also. But this I do; when I present 
 my spirit before the Lord; I bring my omissions and 
 commissions before Him; for I love His judgments; 
 and patiently to wait all the days of my appointed 
 time when I have sinned against Him. 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
 o 
 
 XL VIII. 
 
 To 
 
 28th of 4th month; 1853. 
 
 It seems a long time since any communication 
 passed between us ; but for every purpose under 
 heaven there is a time and season; and as the branch 
 cannot put forth a bud until the sap ariseth from 
 the root; no more can we be a savour of life unto 
 each other’s life without the renewed quickening of 
 
82 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1853 
 
 the Spirit of life in us ; yet we love to hear of each 
 other’s welfare, and to sympathize with each other, 
 as the dispensations of an All- wise Providence pass 
 over us. I rejoice and sympathize with you according 
 to my measure, in all your afflictions and consolations, 
 as ye also do with me. And you will believe me 
 in saying, it is the travail of my soul day and night, 
 for the more perfect shining of the day, when the 
 wise and simple, the rich and the poor, will be each 
 other’s joy and rejoicing in the Lord. 
 
 The few lines expressive of your unity with me in 
 the faith, are precious to my soul. Praise and thanks- 
 giving often arise to the Author of all our mercies, 
 that there is yet preserved among us a fellowship in 
 the Spirit. 
 
 — o 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 To — 
 
 30th of 11th month, 1853. 
 
 0 how I long to see the believers in Christ abound- 
 ing in love towards each other, and as William 
 Dewsbury said, “ministers and servants built upon 
 the rock of the revelation of the Father and the 
 Son.” My love flows to all the wrestling seed of 
 Jacob everywhere. The Lord bless His people with 
 peace, is the prayer of thy sincere, grateful friend, 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
1854] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 83 
 
 L. 
 
 To 
 
 5th. months 1854. 
 
 I unite with you in prayer; that the presence of 
 the holy Head of the church may go with them that 
 gO; and stay with those that stay ; and which it 
 undoubtedly will; as we continue in watchfulness 
 unto prayer; keeping our habitations in the truth 
 as it is in Jesus ; for want of which; many among us 
 are weak in the faith; and the eyes of their under- 
 standing become darkened; so that they cannot see 
 the things that belong to their peace ; of which; in a 
 letter just read to me; I have a painful instance. I 
 have; however; had a sweet meeting this morning; 
 in which I briefly alluded to the “path which no 
 fowl knoweth;” where the glorious Lord will be 
 unto us a place of broad rivers and streams ; where 
 no lion or ravenous beast can ever come; and this 
 is my faith; that the just Lord is among us as a 
 people; and He will bring forth His judgments to 
 the light; and overturn; overturn; until there is 
 room for Him to reign; whose right it is. Thy report 
 of your dear father and mother is very pleasing. 
 How sweet is the Scripture which speaketh to this 
 import; “The Lord shall come down upon them 
 that fear Him; as the clear shining after rain.” So 
 let us wait upon the Lord; and be of good courage; 
 for He strengtheneth the hearts of all those that 
 trust in Him. I conclude with thanksgiving and 
 praise unto Him; who is able to do far more abun- 
 dantly for us above all we can ask or think ; in 
 whose love and fear; farewell. Your sincere friend; 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP. 
 
84 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1854 
 
 LI. 
 
 To 
 
 I find it is the hardest thing when I am in God 
 to abide in Him. When I sensibly feel His presence; 
 then I can say to my soul; “ 0 satisfied with favour; 
 and full of the blessings of the Lord ! ” But when 
 He goeth on one of His journey S; and commandeth 
 me to watch and keep the house; then the enemy 
 takes advantage of my weakness. I think G. D. 
 said; “Many who have begun well suffer loss; through 
 mistaking desertion for death, immediately we begin 
 to doubt of that which we formerly have tasted and 
 handled of the precious Word of Life, and are almost 
 ready to cast away our confidence.” 
 
 o — - — 
 
 LII. 
 
 To 
 
 11th of 9th months 1854. 
 
 My eye is very painful; and the whole frame weak; 
 yet I count myself happy. All is peace within; and 
 peace without; and we know Him who hath wrought 
 and done much for me; unworthy as I am of the 
 least of all His mercies. 
 
1854] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 85 
 
 From >, alluding to a visit to Benjamin 
 
 Bishop, during his illness. 
 
 23rd of 11th month, 1854. 
 
 I am quite unequal to convey, in this way, an idea 
 of the precious opportunity, of which I have been 
 mercifully favoured to partake this morning, at the 
 bedside of our dear invalid and truly happy friend, 
 Benjamin Bishop. When E. P. told him I was there, 
 he said, “ I am very glad ; now my dear friends, let 
 us sit in solemn silence.” He said, after a sweet 
 pause, “ I feel as if I could not depart in peace with- 
 out telling you of the precious love I feel for all my 
 friends, those in our religious Society, and those out 
 of it, who are looking to Christ. O the love of God 
 is inconceivable. May you give up body, soul, and 
 spirit, into His hands. While the fleshly lusts remain, 
 there will be trouble, but in the meekness and 
 gentleness of the Lamb, there is peace. Our Society 
 has been more favoured than any other in the world, 
 far more ; therefore more will be required of it. I 
 never before so fully realised the awfulness of such a 
 state. I can say, No pain of body.” To which I 
 added, “and I think, none of mind.” “I can say so 
 too, but I have nothing to spare, not a moment to 
 spare.” After another pause, he took off his cap, 
 and seemed engaged in solemn prayer and praises. 
 I could not distinguish all he said, but I clearly 
 heard, “ Thou hast taught me to pray, that Thy holy 
 will may be done by me, in me, and through me.” 
 Soon after, “ ‘ Expressive silence, muse His praise. 5 
 I have not words to do it. 55 On my bidding him 
 farewell, he said with earnestness, “My dear friend 
 
86 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 [1841 
 
 I am faring well; go, and may the Lord go with 
 thee. 55 “I thank thee, 0 Lord, that thou didst not 
 take me, until that which was to be done in me is 
 perfected.” 
 
 o 
 
 A Letter from John Dunstone to 
 Benjamin Bishop. 
 
 The following beautiful letter from a dear blind 
 friend in affliction, to Benjamin Bishop, was dictated 
 to, and transcribed by the late John Budge, who thus 
 adds in the P.S. ; u It is really animating and edifying 
 to witness the power and grace of Christ in thus 
 cementing and binding up together as in the bundle 
 of life, those who, in reference to everything else 
 under the sun, are wholly unknown, and strangers 
 to each other. C I in them, and thou in me, that 
 they may be one in us/ was the language of our 
 blessed Saviour, and to be witnesses of this sublime 
 and precious unity, is indeed, a favour transcending 
 the conception of men.” 
 
 Camborne, 6th of 7th month, 1841. 
 
 My dear friend and brother in the truth, and in 
 tribulation, and in bonds as prisoners of hope, 
 which hope maketh not ashamed, having from time 
 to time experienced the love of God shed abroad in 
 our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto 
 us. My dear friend, I do most tenderly salute thee 
 in the love of the everlasting gospel of Christ, 
 which is the power of God unto salvation to every 
 true believer in Him ; and every one that shall receive 
 
1841] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 87 
 
 the gospel^ believe in it; and become faithful to it; 
 shall thereby be enabled to live by it; and shall grow 
 up in it as sweet springing flowers in a well- watered 
 garden: and whoever these may be; or wherever 
 found scattered among the nations, they shall be so 
 many living stones in the spiritual building. These 
 are in a spiritual sense the salt of the earth, the 
 lights of the world, and cities set on a hill that 
 cannot be hid : these let their light so shine before 
 men, that others seeing their good works glorify 
 their Father who is in heaven : these spread a good 
 savour wherever they go, and whether they eat or 
 drink, or whatsoever they do, they endeavour to do 
 all with a single eye to the glory of God, having 
 no confidence in the flesh. 
 
 My dear friend, I feel glad in my heart in having 
 this favourable opportunity to inform thee that I 
 both received and heard read, with a degree of thank- 
 fulness, thy welcome and cheering letter, which came 
 to me under thy own hand, and as I believe from 
 thy very heart, as it reached the pure Witness not 
 only in my heart, but in the hearts of some others 
 also. It was and is to me as cheering and refreshing 
 as a morsel of bread and a cup of spring water are 
 to a weary traveller, when he is both hungry and 
 thirsty. And besides this, my dear friend, I can 
 assure thee that it afforded me no small comfort 
 to see thee, touching my experience, being an entire 
 stranger to me, hit the work so nicely, and to 
 hear thee read my heart page by page, as though 
 thou hadst seen in the light of the glorious gospel, 
 in a good degree, the whole travail of my spirit : with 
 this I was struck with admiration, to see such a 
 wonderful display of the infinite wisdom of Almighty 
 
88 
 
 LETTERS OP 
 
 [1841 
 
 God; and I am constrained to think that “ flesh and 
 blood have not revealed these things unto thee; but 
 my Father who is in heaven.” And now my dear 
 friend^ have I not some good ground to believe that 
 for many years that are past; though unknown to 
 each other as to the outward; we have in spirit 
 been travelling on hand in hand together; in that 
 new and living way which is opened by Christ in the 
 gospel; and cast up by the Saviour and friend of 
 sinners P This way is diverse from every other way. 
 Men in the wisdom of this world have sought out 
 many inventions; and have been; and still are; 
 pursuing many ways; contrary to the way of Truth. 
 Have we not seen; my dear friend; in the light 
 of the blessed gospel; which has shined in our 
 hearts; that the Lord our God is one Lord; and the 
 way of Truth one only way? Christ speaking of 
 this way saith; “I am the Way; the Truth; and the 
 Life : no man cometh unto the Father; but by me ; ” 
 and the prophet when moved by the Holy Ghost to 
 speak of this way says; “And a highway shall be 
 there; and a way; and it shall be called the way of 
 holiness ; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it 
 shall be for those ; the wayfaring men; though fools; 
 shall not err therein : no lion shall be there.” NO; 
 nO; my dear friend; no lion-like professors shall be 
 found there : they are all lambs redeemed by the 
 precious blood of the Lamb of God. “ Nor any 
 ravenous beast shall go up thereon ; it shall not be 
 found there; but the redeemed shall walk there ; 
 and the ran^( of the Lord shall return; and 
 come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon 
 their heads ; they shall obtain joy and gladness; and 
 sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” My dear friend; 
 
1841] 
 
 BENJAMIN BISHOP 
 
 89 
 
 what an unspeakable favour and matter of thank- 
 fulness is this, to be found walking in the way 
 amongst the redeemed ones, and to be numbered 
 amongst the little flock of God, whose good pleasure 
 it is to give them the kingdom ; and to be brought 
 off from, — “ Lo ! here is Christ ! and Lo ! He is 
 there/’ and to be gathered home to the fold of 
 Christy and to sit at the feet of the Saviour, to hear 
 the Good Shepherd’s voice, and to learn the sweet 
 and precious lessons of His grace. But; my dear 
 friend; I need not enlarge here ; I feel fully persuaded 
 that thou knowest much more of those things than 
 I ; therefore I do earnestly desire thee; when it 
 may be well with thee; to think on me; and shew 
 kindness I pray thee; and make mention of me in 
 thy prayers; not to Pharoah; but to the King of 
 glory; for He our God is the King of glory; the 
 King of saints; and of angels too. And now; my 
 dear friend; let us hold out in faith and patience; 
 and struggle on a little longer, and we shall soon 
 come to that blessed city of which it is said; “ There 
 shall be no night there;” and they need no candle; 
 neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth 
 them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever. 
 “ Then shall the righteous shine forth as Ahe sun 
 in the kingdom of their Father.” “He that hath 
 an ear to hear, let him hear.” 
 
 As touching my bodily health at the present and 
 for some weeks past, I have been much depressed, and 
 generally confined within doors. I ( <pl<Jom get any 
 sleep in the night season, the cop d eing trouble- 
 some ; my breath much affected, and my whole frame 
 being disordered, more by night than by day. I get 
 most of my sleep about the former part or middle of 
 
90 
 
 LETTERS^ &C. 
 
 [1855 
 
 the day; but I feel thankful; the Holy Spirit of God 
 assisting me; to be enabled to say with Job; “ All the 
 days of my appointed time will I wait till my change 
 comes.” My dear wife; who has been a faithful 
 sharer with me in all my afflictions; nnites with me 
 in sending her dear lore both to thee and thine; and 
 if thon hast opportunity to do SO; give our united 
 love to our mutual friend; B-. B.; and to any other 
 friend or friends thou mayst think proper. SO; for 
 the present; farewell. 
 
 From thy brother in the Truth; 
 
 JOHN DTJNSTONE. 
 
 ■o 
 
 Extract of a Letter from 
 
 16th of 4th month; 1855. 
 
 Last seventh day evening I had a sweet interview 
 with Benjamin Bishop. He said “ I wish my friends 
 to know I am in possession of peace and love. I am 
 almost afraid to say SO; so unworthy do I feel; but it 
 is the truth. I can say with Sarah Taylor; I am 
 carried on from day to day, not knowing how the 
 present dispensation may terminate; nor even desiring 
 to know. I have been comparing myself to the man 
 who fell among thieves; I have been so cared for; and 
 sometimes the Master calls upon me.” In allusion 
 to the present state of our Society; Benjamin Bishop 
 said; “ It is awful; but the Lord is very merciful.” 
 
Benjamin Bishop died on the 30th of Fifth Month, 
 1855, aged 75 years. 
 
 “ 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.”