Soon after her marriage, she began to be much employed in the service of the church, and in 1734 was appointed an overseer. In the year 1736, a gift in the ministry of the gospel was committed to her, which she exercised to the edification and comfort of the church. She was often engaged in religious labours at home and abroad, and was frequently concerned in visits to the families of Friends, sometimes to all the members of her monthly meeting, sometimes to those only who were negligent in the attendance of religious meetings. In these services she was often joined with her husband's sister, Elizabeth Shipley, who, as Elizabeth Levis, had traveled extensively with Jane Fenn, in the work of the ministry.(1) Of some of these family, visits they could report, they "found satisfaction'' in their labours," and "encouragement" to pursue them.
Elizabeth Levis found her mind much exercised on account of the free use of spirituous liquors, particularly in the time of harvest. She saw so much injury resulting from this practice, that she was constrained to open her mouth, and to employ her pen in opposition to its continuance. Whilst laboring under this concern, she asked her particular friend, Susanna Blundel, what she thought of Friends trading in and using spirituous liquors? Susanna said it had been a burden to her many years. She seemed much affected in consideration of the subject, and added "what can we women do? The men uphold it." This fellow labourer of Elizabeth Levis, died soon after, and leaving this concern as a heavy burden resting on her mind. When Elizabeth heard of her death, she says, "It took hold of my mind with sorrow, at parting with so near a friend, and one concerned for the honour of God.
"While my mind was thus affected concerning our dear friend, there seemed this voice sounded in my inward ear, 'there is no cause of sorrow, she has done her day's work and has gone to rest.'"(2)
Elizabeth Levis, soon after this, prepared the following essay, "Some friendly Advice and
Cautions, Recommended to the Serious Consideration of the Professors of the Holy Truth."
[Here The Friend inserts Comly's text of the essay.]
Two of the daughters of Elizabeth Levis, marrying, were settled with their husbands at Duck
Creek, and after the death of her beloved husband she was frequently drawn to that place, by
natural affection as well as Christian duty. It being to a good measure her meant and drink to do
her heavenly Father's will, she was careful even in her visits to her children, to feel after his
permission. In one of her letters to her absent daughters, written about 1760, she says:--
[Here The Friend inserts the text of the first letter.]
One of her grand-daughters at Duck Creek, was left a young widow about the close of 1773 or
the beginning of 1774. Elizabeth Levis on this occasion, addressed the following letter to daughter
and her husband.
[Here The Friend inserts the text of the third letter.]
Elizabeth Levis was now an aged woman. Her daughter Lydia, who had remained unmarried, had, after a short illness, been removed from the church militant, closing an exemplary life, by a holy, happy death. The mother desired to be with her daughters, and believing that she had the Divine sanction for such a step, she soon after writing the above letter, removed to Duck Creek. Her residence there was brief. The time of her release from the trials and labours attendant upon this earthly state soon came, and her end was peace. Her character, as given in her memorial, may be briefly given. She was a nursing mother to those seeking a heavenly inheritance, encouraging them, both by precept and example, to press forward in the path of piety, that they might attain it. She also fervently laboured to stir up the negligent in the performance of their duty. She was earnestly concerned to the last for the prosperity of the cause of Truth in the earth. Her life appeared to be one of mourning under a sense of the depravity of the inhabitants of the land, and their rebellion against God. She often expressed her belief that the Lord's judgments were hanging over us, and her fears, that if speedy repentance was not manifest, they would be laid on. Her exercise was increased by the prospect that many of her fellow members were running into the customs and manners of the world, actuated by its spirit, and as it were, buried in the earth.
Her last illness was short. On Fifth-day Third month 17th, 1775, she was taken with a heavy chill,
and lived but to the following First-day, when she quietly departed. She was upwards of eighty
years of age.
1. 2.