of life: I hope this is a language my friends will understand." After this
he preached to them on the case of Nicodemus, saying that there may be a
time when our Heavenly Father, in his tender compassion for our infant
state, permits us to come to Jesus by night or in secret; yet when he is
pleased to say, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the
Lord is risen upon thee," danger will betide us if we then flinch from an
open confession. Some time after he had finished, a woman Friend rose and
uttered a few words. She had never before been able to overcome the force
of her natural fears.

In noticing this circumstance, J.Y. says he does so because, before he
went to Barnsley, he asked that if his small services were acceptable, the
Most High would give him a sign, by owning his labors with his sensible
approbation, and making him an instrument to help forward his work in the
hearts of his children.

On another occasion, in allusion to a similar occurrence, he has the
following reflections:--


"The Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach
Christ crucified." I am like the two former, because I dare even to ask a
sign and to seek after wisdom; but to be like the latter is what I covet
most sincerely--to preach Christ crucified, not only in words, but in life
and conversation. If I err in sometimes asking for a sign, I trust it will
be forgiven, because it is done in the simplicity of my heart, to know my
Father's will, and we have examples of this having been granted to the
worthies in times of old.--(12 _mo_. 8.)