BX 7615 .K4 
 Kendall, John, 1726-1 
 Letters on religious 
 sub j ects 
 
LETTERS 
 
 OK 
 
 RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS, 
 
 WRITTEN BY 
 
 DIVERS FRIENDS DECEASED. 
 
 sow FIRST PUBLISHED 
 
 / 
 
 By JOHN KENDALL. 
 
 PRINTED AND SOLD BY WILLIAM PHILLIPS, 
 CEORGE-YARD, LOMBARD-STREET, 
 
 1802. 
 
THE Editor of this Volume intends, if it 
 fliould prove acceptable to his friends, to pub- 
 lifh another Volume of the fame fize, as foon as 
 convenient, containing letters of divers friends 
 on important fubje^ls, which have not hitherto 
 been pubHfhed. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 It is thought that the friendly and familiar 
 letters which are here collecled, would not 
 only be infirucftive and pleafant to thofe of 
 the fame religious fociety with the writers of 
 ihem, but might tend to fliew the difpofition 
 and views of this Society, better than a treatife 
 written purpofely in defence of the principles 
 profeffed by it. 
 
 - The reader will perceive an unfeigned love 
 
 and 
 
( viii ) 
 
 and afFe£lIon to have prevailed in the minds 
 of the v^riters, one towards another ; and that 
 their principal viev^ was to promote the befl 
 intereflis of their friends. It will be feen alfo, 
 that in thus expreffing their fentiments on reli- 
 gious fubje^ts, without any expecl:ation of having 
 them made public, they agree in all the effen- 
 tial principles of the religion of their great 
 Lord and Mafter Jefus Chrift, in whom alone 
 their hope of falvation was placed. It is true, 
 they more infifl upon the pra£lice of piety and 
 a virtuous condu^l, than upon fpeculative views 
 of the Truth, or ceremonial inftitutions; which 
 may be helpful to thofe who ufe them confci- 
 entioufly, but are not to be efleemed efTential 
 to our happinefs. 
 
 Though it is not ufual with thofe of the 
 
 Society 
 
Society of which the writers of the following 
 letters were members, to exprefs the names 
 of God and Chrift fo frequently in their 
 writings and converfations, as feme other 
 reh'gioufly difpofed perfons, it proceeds not 
 from any doubt, or difbelief in their minds, 
 concerning the great truths of the Chriftian 
 religion. They fully believe what is faid in the 
 Holy Scriptures of the miraculous conception 
 of Jefus Chrift, our Lord ; his fufferings, and 
 death on the crofs, his refurreclion and afcen- 
 fion ; as alfo his mediation, and intercelEon 
 with the Father for lofl: man; and, that there 
 is no falvation but in and through him. They 
 defire to think upon thefe awful truths with 
 great reverence, but are cautious of making 
 theni a topic of common converfation, left 
 
 their 
 
z 
 
 iheir weight and importance fliould be leffened ; 
 at the fame time they approve of religious 
 converfation, with a due regard to the fubje^i:, 
 and fenfe of their own weaknefs, and of the 
 need they have of wifdom to dire£l their 
 fpeech, left they fhould touch facred things, 
 as with unhallowed hands. 
 
 It may be remarked that though they do 
 not ufe thofe ceremonies which fome profeflbrs 
 of the Chriftian religion feem to think necef- 
 fary to retain, efteeming them not elTential, 
 and as being liable to abufe by too great 
 a ftrefs being placed upon them, to the ne- 
 gle£l of the more vital part of religion ; yet 
 they defire to be united to the living body 
 of Chrift, which confifts of members diftin- 
 guifhed by various names and profeflions, 
 
 and 
 
xi 
 
 and difperfed through different parts of the 
 earth. Thefe they defire to embrace, as 
 brethren in Chrifl: j partakers of the fame 
 excellent privileges, of which all the children 
 of the one univerfal Parent, and the one 
 Saviour partake. 
 
 It was found difficult to place the letters in 
 the order of time in which they were written, 
 but it may be obferved, they are all of the 
 lafl: century, and fome of them of very 
 late date. Many extracts from letters of our 
 late much efteemed friends John Rutty and 
 Richard Shackleton, of Ireland, are introduced, 
 which contain fuch fentiments on religious fub- 
 jedls, as, it is thought, will be very acceptable 
 to the reader. 
 
LETTERS. 
 
 LETTER 1. 
 
 THERE Is not one among thy forrowfui 
 acquaintance who hath felt the force of 
 fympathy with thee, on the prefent afflifling 
 occafion, with greater tendernefs than myfelf; 
 although I have not hitherto exprelTed it. — 
 I own, I feldom chufe to meet the painful guft 
 of forrow with calm advice ; I would rather 
 mingle the tear of fympathy, and aid the folema 
 tribute due to thofe who are no more 5 religion 
 allows it ; for his friend Jefus wept. But it is 
 now high time for the violence of forrow to 
 fubfide, and the m.ind to endeavour after a 
 calm acquiefcence in the difpofition of unerring 
 wifdom, which hath numbered the hairs of our 
 bead ; and aot one of them falls to the ground 
 
 A unnoticed 
 
( 2 > 
 
 unTiotlced of him. I know fome moiirnfal con- 
 Cderations urged for a place with thee: a be- 
 loved brother dead, on a diftant fliore, uncer- 
 tain whether every a6t of tender alTillance was 
 yielded him ; but remember, dear friend, the 
 provifion of the higheil reached him there, and 
 that the everlafling arm fupports and fuccours 
 the iflands afar off! I have not a doubt of his 
 being admitted where the wicked ceafe from 
 troubling, and the weary are at reft. 
 
 Endeavour, therefore, to fupprefs the figh 
 tnd the tear which border upon murmuring: 
 good is the Lord in all his works: he deals 
 \vith his family in a wifdom we cannot compre- 
 hend : my heart is too full for language to 
 difcharge, and my feeble hand hardly fuftains 
 this labour: but I wanted to mingle with thee 
 the tear of condolence, on account of the 
 dear deceafed ; and to endeavour to lead to a 
 -calm refignation, and to a purfuic of riches, 
 unchangeable in their nature, and everlafting 
 in tiieir duration. 
 
 LETTER IL 
 
iETTER If. 
 
 ^ roth Mo. 9th, lyyff, 
 
 DESIRES for thy welfare have frequently 
 fuggefted fentiments, which a variety of engage- 
 ments, or indifpofition, have prevented my in- 
 timating to thee ; this confideration hath alfo 
 prevailed, What can I fay to him which he 
 knows not, either with refpe^i: to his prefent 
 or future well-being ? the opportunities of in- 
 formation, outwardly, and the imprefiions of 
 effential truths, inwardly, have foreclofcd every 
 plea of ignorance, of duty, or of what makes 
 for peace. But remember, that happinefs con- 
 filteth not in knowledge ; the words of our 
 great Lord are, If ye know thefe things, 
 ^' happy are ye if ye do them." My foul feeks 
 earneflly, that the bleffing of faithfulnefs may 
 accompany the privilege of knowledge; other- 
 wife the greater will be the condemnation. 
 
 Thy lot is changed from the warm bofom 
 of fociety to a land of drought, where the dif- 
 tilling of heavenly do6i:rine outwardly as the- 
 dew, is little known, and with many httle de- 
 fired. Never thelefs, thofe who feek wifdom, 
 fo as to be made wife unto falvation, may find 
 in themfelves the flowiugs of that river which 
 makes glad the whole city of God. Feel after 
 this in thy own heart, to preferve thee, among 
 xhQ few aaraes io tbatSardis who walk in white, 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 and have not defiled their garments ; that fo 
 thy peace may be promoted, and others helped. 
 Think of this awful query, " What is a man 
 profited, if he could gaiff the whole world, 
 and lofe his own foul?" 
 
 . The climate is often unhealthy ; let it put 
 thee upon thy guard, in every refpecl, and raife 
 fervent care, that whenever the Mafter of the 
 houfe cometh, he may not find thee fleeping, 
 or worfe employed. 
 
 I am, with fincere defires for thy prefent and 
 .eternal happinefs, thy aflured friend. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 2d Mo. 1 8th, 1755. 
 
 I RECEIVED thy aw^akening epiftle, of the 
 30th of 1 2th month laft; the more acceptable as 
 it comes from one who feems to have undergone 
 difpenfations of Providence nearly like thofe 
 which have lately , fallen to my fhare. I can 
 truly fay, I concur with thee in wifliing, that 
 our being raifed up from the brink of the grave 
 in this the evening of our day, may occafion 
 our being more devoted to God, and lefs to 
 the world, and ourfelves. I have been long of 
 the mind that all our outward concerns fliould 
 be confccrated to God, and tranfacted w^ith a 
 
 conftant 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 conflant view to his will, in the feveral Nations 
 allignedus: and, that a multiplicity of bufinefs 
 is a great enemy to the fpiritual life, and pru- 
 dentially to be avoided in thefe our declining 
 days; vrhich, in an efpecial manner, fhould be 
 devoted to a preparation for another life, by 
 a vigilant introfpe£lion into our own hearts ; 
 and fubmifficn of will to the Divine will, in all 
 " things ! 
 
 The inward anatomy, that of the foul, and 
 its palTions, with the mental medicine, blelTed 
 be God, begin to gain a degree of afcendency, 
 never known before : and I humbly hope, for 
 us both, fiiall end in triumphing over the na- 
 tural, and corporeal, to which my endeavours 
 have hitherto been too much devoted. I con- 
 gratulate us, and thefe nations, that the expe- 
 rimental religion, amidd an almofl unexampled 
 depravity of manners, among priefts, and peo- 
 ple, is beginning to dawn. I will fay, in favour 
 of the do£lrine of immediate revelation, I never 
 was fo thoroughly convinced of it as in my late 
 illnefs: never had fo clear a fenfation of a be- 
 ing, diflinft from my own mind, immediately 
 and inflantaneoufly enlightening and enamour- 
 ing my foul with the love of eternal truth and 
 juftice, as then ! nor ever had I fo compleat 
 vi£^ory over the peculiar inordinate affections 
 of my mind as then : a time I cherifh the re- 
 membrance of with great delight, as having 
 Ihev/ed me the poffibility of a complete viclory 
 A 3 over 
 
< 6 ) 
 
 f^ver iln. I fee now the neceffiry of deep moN 
 tification, as a proper difcipline, penance, and 
 even condition of our being admitted into the 
 ocean of iindifturbed happinefs and glory. 
 
 Let me now obfcrvc, from the regard I have 
 to thy bodily health, (who art alfo but lately 
 j'^^merged from the moft iminent danger) that 
 on the pripciple of felf-prefervation, and with 
 , very good efte^l, I pra61ice great economy 
 ar.d cure ^of the fliattered bodily and mental 
 fabric; avoiding inclemencies of weather, eat- 
 ing and drinking moderately, and fometimes 
 falling ; reading, and writing lefs ; and taking 
 the air, on a favourable day, before dinner. 
 
 So wifhing us to ftudy peace and tranquillity 
 of body and mind, I conclude thine affe<^iojn&i 
 ately* 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 ad Mo. 14th, 170. 
 
 1 NOW begin, with fome degree of zeal an3 
 affeaion, and according to thy good refolutiofi 
 and exhortation, to adhere chiefly to fubje6l3 
 of a fpiritual nature, and fuch as may have a 
 dire^ tendency to prepare for a better and 
 happier (late; which it behooves us to have 
 frequently in profpefV, and to cultivate the 
 medidna mentis more, and that of the body 
 
 lefs 
 
t 7 ) 
 
 lefs : nn anxious purfuit of bufinefs iil the 
 medical way is very unfuitable to our fituation, 
 bn the borders of eternity. I have been greatly 
 favoured of late with an opportunity of retiring 
 to the country a night or two in a week, and 
 thus have fliaken oiT fuca a iliare of bufinefs as 
 was burdenfome, which fome of the younger 
 men get. I allure thee, I find no danger of 
 over doing it in fpirituals by fuch coudu^l ^ 
 for ftili natural and medical affairs are too apt 
 to encroach : divers infirmities of mind fliill 
 hang about me, and humble mc, but are not 
 indulged : on the other hand, a victory hath 
 been obtained, in fome confiderabie degree, to 
 the glory of the goodnefs of that omniprefent^ 
 omnipotent, and gracious being, which is eVe.f 
 prefent with us! 
 
 In the way of reading, I chufe rather tp 
 digefl and apply, than read much: among the 
 books that have lately fallen in my way, I 
 •much value fome of thofe written by Willian) 
 Law ; but I fear this excellent man has a little 
 blocked up his way by adhering fo much tp 
 Jacob Behmen; and as to his account of the 
 tranfa6lions of angels before the fail, I could 
 wifli he had never meddled with it. Thomas 
 a Kempis is another WTiter of good eflimation, 
 efpecially for his treatife of the following of Jefus 
 . Cbri/i, 
 
 Thus I have exhibited a fmall fample of a 
 £pirituai correfpondence ; and fliall be glad to 
 A 4 jeceiyc^ 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 ceive fometliing of this kind from thee: but I 
 defire thou mayefl; not conceive an opinion of 
 me beyond my defert ; I fpeak rather of my 
 inclination than attainment. I am thy loving 
 coufm and brother. 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 nth Mo. 1 2th, 1756. 
 
 I li^'lZ notice of thy recommendation of 
 Ifaac Pennington's writings, to which I am a 
 ftranger, but hope I fhall not long be fo. I lately 
 received by a friend from America, the life of 
 David Brainard, a milTionary to the Indians 
 publilhed at Bofton in New England, 1749, 
 being a fpiritual diary, or narrative of obferva- 
 tions on the ftate of his own foul. A fample 
 of fpiritual hidory, as much preferable to 
 natural (in thy and my view) as foul is to body: 
 'the narrative is folid, weighty, and candid ; he 
 tippears to have been divinely qualified for the 
 work ; and that he faved not only his own foul, 
 but the fouls of many others, awakening the 
 'dormant fparks of the divinity in them to a 
 flame! the fame tendering power being wit- 
 iieffed as we hear of among ourfelves ; and its 
 efficacy demonflrated in a change of heart, 
 affection, life, and converfation in the hearers. 
 
 Great 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 Great were the conflifts he underwent whiW 
 ftruggling with his various weaknelTes and 
 fms ; yet a ray of divinity fhines through thefe 
 clouds ; and he grows brighter, clearer, and 
 freer from thefe impediments as he advances 
 towards eternity ; and manifefceth, at his ap- 
 proaching, folemn, flowly advancing dillblntion, 
 (fuch as thine and mine) clear and juft concep-- 
 tions of that temper which renders acceptable to 
 God, and prepares for a happy tranflation ! 
 
 I am defiring to hear from thee, at thy lei- 
 fure, in this new language of Canaan, which 
 we are beginning to learn in our old days. 
 
 LETTER VL 
 
 6th Mo. 13th, 1 757. 
 
 THE fimilarlty of the difpenfations of Provi- 
 dence towards us feems happily to have laid a 
 foundation for a fpiritual correfpondence, which 
 I hope will be continued betv/een us, as long 
 as integrity of heart remains. I profcfs to thee 
 renewedly, that afHicling hand did more for me 
 by way of weaning from this v/orld, and quick- 
 ening ray attention for another, than all out- 
 ward arguments could have done: and 1 defire, 
 that we may ever be preferved obfequious to 
 the divine leadings in this refpe£l ! wcakneffes 
 A 5 and 
 
i 10 5 
 
 atld temptations flill furronnd, but I humbly 
 hope do not overwhelm. 
 
 I find no caufe to retraft what I have advan* 
 ced, in my hiftory of the rife and progrefs of 
 friends in Ireland, againft the Pope, as the 
 grand antichrifl and great corrupter of Chrif- 
 tianity; and in tracing the fteps and gradations 
 of the apoitacy, unto the midnight of darknefs ; 
 giving fome ikecches of the emerging of the 
 light of the reformation; which I am inclined 
 to believe fliall rife higher and higher, notwith- 
 itanding all difcouragements. In this view I 
 look upon the book of the Apocalpyfe, to be- 
 ©ne of the mod important of all the fs^ew Tefla- 
 ment : for unlefs the dreadful apoftacy and cor- 
 ruptions which have happened had been fo 
 foretold, and alfo a reftitution foretold by the 
 fame authority, our faith might have been 
 fhaken, which by this revelation is greatly 
 flrengthened and fupported : at the fame time 
 it is our proper province to believe m the 
 Supreme Providence, and humbly adore its 
 impenetrable wifdom ! 
 
 Thou wilt not fufpe6l me of being vifionary 
 on occafions wherein I have cenfured other 
 fliort-fighted honeft men ; but it looks to me 
 as if our dear country was well nigh arrived to 
 its Ne phis ultra as to diirolutenefs of manners :^ 
 and without the gift of prophecy, perhaps it 
 may be faid, there never was a period of time 
 moax teeixiing in great events : but JL proceed 
 
 \ ' 
 
BO further on this fubje£l; let us join with the 
 church in her progrefs in coming up out of the 
 wildernefs ; and in every inflance of the reflo* 
 ration of primitive fuiipHcity and purity! 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 1 2th Mo. I ft, 175^, 
 
 1 ACKNOWLEDGE kindly thy account 
 of the feveral editions of the bible among 
 thofe called catholics ; which book, where it 
 is read, rauft undoubtedly reprefent Chriftianitj 
 in a very different light to the people than that 
 in which the pr lefts have reprefented it. The 
 downfal of the Jefuits in two kingdoms, I would 
 hope bodes good : Vv^e have had of late, in thiss 
 city, many converts openly renouncing popery; 
 notwichflianding this, I heartily concur with 
 thee, th'^t the greatefl corruption of manners 
 may be accompanied with the rnofh orthodox 
 opinions : on the other hand, though I have 
 fpoken thus of the Jefuits, I have lately met 
 with a book wrote by one of this order, whp 
 feems to me to give evidences of a truly 
 Chriflian fpirit; and under the mofl heterodox 
 opinions (which are the worfhip of faints, and 
 tranfubflantiation) to maintain great pur-ity of 
 -heart, and a lively zeal for the promotion of 
 A 6 hoUaefe: 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 holinefs : and, moreover, under the prefent 
 dreary times of great defolation withirr the 
 narrow limits of our fociety, it gives me much 
 com.forr that God is here and there, awakening 
 the fame fpirit of true Chriflian fimpiicity which 
 animated our anceftors in the beginning ! and 
 I am abundantly fatisfied that many fhali come 
 from the eaft and weft^ and fit down with 
 Abraham and Ifaac. 
 
 In the mean time take the following fliort " 
 ^etch of Zion in diftrefs, and if thou canil, fend 
 me any word of confolation. Here is a large 
 congregation, formerly accuflomed to plentiful, 
 and very frequent fhowers of the dodlrine of 
 the kingdom, in purity ; now by the death of 
 thofe v^^ho were as the vehicles of it, left in a 
 manner defliiute of fupplies of that kind: info- 
 much, that we who are left, are forced either 
 to have recourfe to the invifible fountain, at 
 firft hand, or to fit dry and parched : the latter,, 
 I fear, is the Hate of many! fome of thefe are 
 going off, and others will go: however, at pre* 
 fent, many of us hold together. In the midft 
 of this, fometimes there ftarts up an ignif 
 fafuusy boafting of filperior light, but kindled, 
 if I miftake not, from below; reproaching thofe 
 who remain fteady with this language, " You 
 are dumb, btit I muft not be fo.'' Thus pro- 
 voking fome tender ones, who dare not move 
 without the proper qualification ; and, wlip 
 having much work to do at home, are necefilirily 
 
 kept 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 kept in that exercife, and hindered from going 
 abroad. 
 
 I give thee a fad pi£1:ure, but too true : had 
 not fome of us a fupply of a little faith, and a 
 little love, we had periflied in this wildernefs! 
 the confideration of the afflicled (late of the 
 church in ages pafl, and fome glimmerings of 
 the hope of the gofpel, alfo bring a little fap- 
 port. 
 
 LETTER VIIL 
 
 I ft Mo. 8th, 1761. 
 
 THY account of thy brother's death, and 
 of my brother's ftate of health, are both in- 
 ftruiStive,' and I acknowledge them as fuch. 
 
 As to the languiihing ftate of our Zion, I 
 have of late fuffered more fenfibly than ever in 
 my life before; at times ready to be deferted by 
 brethren I had an efleem for; however, bl eifed 
 be the Lord, I am not left quite difconfolate. 
 Upon perufmg the holy records, I find the 
 church has generally been in trouble ; and 
 often in m.ore calamitous circumliances tharv 
 any thou or I may have obferved, and yet wag 
 never wholly forfaken : the prophets will fur- 
 nilh thee with numerous inftances, which have 
 yielded me confiderable fatisfaction. That we 
 may be preferved from a participation in the 
 
 general 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 general dcfcftion and corruption, is the great 
 ipiritual objedl:. But again, I confider we are 
 perhaps more alarmed at thefe things than we 
 ought to be, in expelling too much from exte- 
 riors, by a conformity to our refined way ; 
 \v'hich really can effect no more than circum- 
 cifion to the Jew outward. 
 
 Thy mentioning a certain writer, fuggefts an 
 obfervation of the too much prevailing negledt 
 of reading the holy fcrlptures, even among 
 fome of our miniflers; I am far from denying, 
 on the contrary, I commend the imploring di- 
 vine help ; but at the fame lime wc ought to be 
 diligent in the perufal of thefe facrcd records; 
 comparing the frequent references and con- 
 nexions of the Old and New Teftament. I need 
 not tell thee that our chapters are, not unfre- 
 quently, badly divided, which if not attended 
 10 might prevent- our having a right underftand- 
 ing of what is before us. 
 
 Let reafon be exercifed ; not to pride and 
 oftentatlon of fcience, but as God's precious 
 gift : and let no man of fuperior talents and 
 opportunities, cover his fpiritual idlenefs, under 
 a fpecious claim to divine infpiration* 
 
 LETTER IX, 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 5th Mo. 50th, I'jCt, 
 
 THY obfervatlon of the preference of a 
 fuffering flare to that of being at eafe in Zion, 
 minillers fome comfort to one who knows him- 
 felf to be one of the leaft of many brethren. 
 
 Shall I mention to thee, in a fammary way, 
 the ufe I have made of my late reading of the 
 icriptures, after many and long omillions of this 
 exercife, whilfl bufy on natural fubjects, with an 
 honeft view to the promotion of ufeful know- 
 ledge, morality, and temporals, which were fet 
 up above evangehcal righteoufnefs ; faith, and 
 a view to another and better world, being in a 
 great meafure abforbed. At length did a gra- 
 cious Providence lead, and as it were allure me 
 to reading thefe facred writings; and now I have 
 a far gixater veneration for them than I had 
 before, not only as fetiing forth the majefty of 
 Chriil Jefus, but I have found them to be a 
 feafonable fupport to my faith, in reference to 
 the woful apoilacy overfpreading the Chriflian 
 churches, clearly foretold ; and the coming out 
 of it pointed at ! May thou and I be ranked 
 among them that are coming out, although \n 
 fome fort with the witnefTes that prophefied ia 
 fackcloth ! 
 
 The prophet Jeremiah was a man of fon*ows^ 
 raifed up iu the midft of an apoftarizing, idola- 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 trous people; faithful and conflant under the 
 fevereit trials, he manifcfted God's prefcience 
 in the accomplilhinent of events more remote, 
 and in thofe concerning the gofpel day, and 
 new covenant. May a degree of his faithful- 
 nefs attend thee, and me, under the prefent fad 
 ftate of the foci'^ty: although we be no pro- 
 phets, faithful witnefies Vv'e may be. 
 
 This prophet has Furnifhed me with a con- 
 viftion of the harmony, and connexion there is 
 between the Old and New Tefiament writers, 
 befides other inilru^llve leflbns. 
 
 Having thus given thee fome hints of ray 
 experience in fpiritual concerns as the mofk 
 important, I novv^ defcend to temiporals. 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 1 2th Mo. I ith, ij62» 
 
 THUS retired, I fit down to difcharge ray 
 arrear to thee : and firfl fhall fay, I join thee 
 in difcouraging an univerfal charge upon fome 
 of our modern reformers, as if, by mnftaken 
 notions of ChriU's righteoufnefs, they encou- 
 raged a perfifting in immoral lives; for from a 
 perfonai knowledge of fome of them, I have 
 the charity to think that their faith is a living 
 operative one, and fuch as hath produced an 
 
< 17 ) 
 
 entire change in their manners. Give me leave 
 further to fay, in their behalf, that a meer dry 
 raoraUty, Httle better than that of the heathens, 
 has been the general language of the pulpits : 
 the revival of the doclrine of faith in a ChriO:, 
 both external and internal, feems to me to be 
 doing notable fervice to the drooping caufe of 
 Chriilianity. Bad men, under the Chriflian 
 name, may profefs belief in Chrifl:, and his doc- 
 trine ; but I profefs to thee, I do not think they 
 really believe in them; but that unbehef is, in 
 a great meafure, the true fource of their wick- 
 ednefs. Give a man a due (hare of faith and 
 love, and I will warrant for his obedience. — 
 Legal men, among us, have cried, Do this, and 
 avoid that, in order that thou mayefl be ac- 
 cepted ; but, if I miflake not, God is teaching 
 fome better, and enabling them to lay the axs 
 to the root of the tree. Come to meetings, 
 lays the pharifee; but love God, fays the evan- 
 gelical man, and I will warrant for the confe* 
 quence ; but he alfo faith, put away thy idol$ 
 firft. 
 
 As to our fpiritual ftate here, as a people 
 fignally called out of the world, it is truly poor 
 and languifhing : Vv e have indeed been favoured 
 lately with an inilance of divine mercy, in a 
 vifit from the brethren, in confequence of a re- 
 commendation of the yearly meeting ; and as 
 far as I have been a witnefs to the condu6ling 
 of this vifit, it has been with an honeil zeal, 
 
 love^ 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 love, and Chrlftian prudence ; and I humbly 
 hope, that the word fpoken will not return 
 void. 
 
 But to conclude and take a review of our 
 ^analagous fpiritual circumftances. As we have 
 both heard God's alarming voice, in reftoring 
 us from the jaws of death, and taking or 
 being about to take our elder brother a little 
 before us, (and v/e are riding poft on the fame 
 road,) let us prepare to meet the bridegroom ; 
 and trim gur lamps, in higher di;gre j:3 of love 
 and zeal for his caufe oi earth: bei::g loofencd 
 from every worldly attachment how fpecioua 
 foever ; that we may be ready to enter th^ 
 chamber. 
 
 LETTER XI. 
 
 iGth Mo. 6th, 1755. 
 
 AS to our religious ftate in this place, as a 
 fociety, great is the defolation ! and the awfu! 
 feat of an elder is fallen to my lot. But amidft 
 all our backilidings, a gracious providence ha9 
 been extended in divers truly acceptable vifits 
 of miniders, and efpecially by the national 
 vifit ; which has had a tendency to improve 
 and eflablifli our difcipline, whilit it has fliaken 
 certain lifelefs forms which did more hurt than 
 good. 
 
 I would 
 
1 would gladly hope Providence is watching 
 over us for good, in putting it into the hearts 
 of fome to form a plan for ere(51:ing public 
 fchools for educating our youth in a manner 
 entirely felect, and feparate from thofe of other 
 focieties ( though here we are but poor, in 
 comparifon with you); and if thou knowefl of 
 any public fpirited friend, who has money 
 fpare, and would fend over ten, twenty, fifty, 
 or an hundred pounds for this pnrpofc, I would 
 be anfwerabie for the application to the valuable 
 end of preferving, and faving fome individuals, 
 -who without this means would be loft : for we 
 fee the children of thofe wdio embrace this way, 
 are running with a rapid career into the world 
 again; fome of whom, by this holy policy, with, 
 the co-operation of the divine blelling, might 
 .be prefer vcd. 
 
 In conclufion, I would remark, that th6 
 ^xercife of a wholefome Chriftian discipline lies 
 tieavy on the fhoulders of a few ; although 
 abfolutely neceffary to preferve the fociety from 
 Open contempt* 
 
 LETTER Xir. 
 
LETTER XIL 
 
 5th Mo. 8th, 1775. 
 
 I HOPE thou wilt excufe my delay of ac^ 
 knowledging the receipt of thine, when thou 
 fh'dh have heard how it has been with me. 
 
 It is now above a year and a half ago that I 
 was fcized with a paralytic (Iroke on my right 
 fide, and in my tongue, although not to the 
 higheft degree, nor my fenfes impaired; but 
 by the indulgence of Providence I have fo far 
 fiowly recovered my limbs as to be able to walk 
 a mile without refting; the ufe of my tongue is 
 alfo in a great meafure reflored. Now, reck- 
 .oning my feventy-fifth year, I commence a 
 downright old man. 1 am, however, very 
 thankful, and polTefs my mind with great tran- 
 s-quility in this happy exemption from the anxiety 
 and cares attending practice; and for the op- 
 portunity it gives me to revife, corre£]:, and 
 improve former labours. 
 
 I would gladly, at a proper opportunity, be 
 jnfornied of your fpiritual ftate : as to us, in 
 this city, a day of trial now attends' us, being 
 as to mmiilerial help, in a manner, wholly fhrip- 
 ped: it is true, fome attem.pts have been made 
 by intruders, but thefe have been filenced ^ 
 although for my part, I would be far from 
 flopping the mouth of the lead babe. 
 
 Amidft all difcouragements in a human way, 
 
 faith 
 
( «I ) 
 
 faith comes in to our aid, even trufl: in God, 
 who hath often brought forth events beyond all 
 human com.prehenfion. Some convincements, 
 are an inflance to this purpofe, and the children 
 of unpromifmg parents raifed up to eminent 
 fervice. 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 nth Mo. 20th, 1750. 
 
 IN Dublin I received a letter from thee. I 
 rejoice in this, that the Lord of heaven and 
 earth is vifiting by his truth, and working by 
 his power, to beget into his heavenly family ; 
 and blefs his people with that which conveys 
 all the happinefs mankind ever did, or ever can 
 tafle! too many are infenfible of it; others too 
 carelefs to be religious as they ought; but it is 
 our intereft to purfue our own peace, and tranf- 
 mit to others examples. It is an excellent thing 
 to be true fubje£l:s of Chrifl's kingdom, bap- 
 tized into his nature, and therein to abide. 
 Great has been his mercy in vifiting our fouls 
 with his blelTed truth, and it highly behooves 
 us to watch with all diligence. It is our duty 
 to look to him daily; this comprehends all; 
 here is our ftrength, and fafety; o.ther flays or 
 temporary help will fail, and leave us deflitute, 
 and inwardly lean : oh ! therefore, remember 
 
 often 
 
( 22 > 
 
 often the dew of thy youth, the tenderncfs ofi 
 thy heart when firfi: met with ; cherifh in thy 
 foul the frefh inflance of regard, and be it thy 
 care inwardly to look, and live to the Lord, fo 
 fhall thy hands be made ftrong, and thy head 
 be kept above the w^ata\ 
 
 There is a fpirit that is gone forth into the 
 camp, and is fplendidly deiufivc; it delights ii> 
 good words, and feeds upon them ; it cries out 
 help, help, but principally to the fervants, not 
 to the mailer; this fpirit leads into notions; it 
 fnuffs up the wind, and lives in commotions 
 itfelf raifes ; all that are led by it are fuperficial, 
 and know nothing, and muft lie down in forrow% 
 That holy fpirit which was and is the ground 
 of truth for ever : (which I truft has reached 
 thy heart) is a fubftantial operative principle j 
 its directions are not imaginary, nor its doc» 
 trines loofe and indeterminate; but it is life and 
 Jight to its polTelTors, and caufes them to inherit 
 fubftance; it teaches accefs in heart to God, 
 whofe attributes cannot be dcfmed fully, but 
 experience teaches them; fupplying their wants, 
 fupporting their fleps, opening their under* 
 (landing into thofe divine truths that are higher 
 than human wifdom; let this fpirit be leaned 
 upon above all ; this mil help us to fland up- 
 right, and walk lleadily in the faith delivered 
 to the -faints: retirement will be pleafant in 
 meetings, and out of meetings ; the inward 
 fceJings of the diviae power to Jive and a61 to 
 
( ^3 ) 
 
 Cod's honour and our own prefcrvation will 
 be dear and precious to us; and he that delights 
 to hear the language of his children, will not 
 be flack in the performance of his gracious 
 promifes; I found the free falutation of gofpel 
 love in my heart to thee, and earneftly intreat 
 thee to abide ftedfafl: in the truth ; feel after it, 
 live in ir, hope for its falvation, and it will 
 never fail. I falute ihee in the love, and 
 affe<5lion of Chrilf our holy and blell'ed helper, 
 and remain thy fciiihful friend. 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 UNDER a renewed fenfe of that love and 
 life which harh ever been the prefervation and 
 fupport of the Lord's children as they have 
 kept near unto it, hath my mind been nearly 
 united in tender love and fympathy to fome of 
 my dear friends at Sheffield; whofe minds have 
 been fenfibly wrought upon by the renewed 
 operations of the Lord's forming hand of 
 power, to prepare them as velfels for his own 
 ufe ; particularly thofe few who are lately come 
 forth in the miniftry. 
 
 Dear friends ; who have thus been pointed 
 out by the great Shepherd of Ifrael, and 
 
 brought 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 brought into the fchool of Chrift, to be trained 
 up under his hand and eye, that you might 
 thereby come to be prepared to do the Lord's 
 work and go his errands, after you had in 
 fome meafure improved the gifts and talents of 
 grace, which he had in mercy beftowed upon 
 you, in order for your falvation and redemp- 
 tion. 
 
 You received an additional gift, which was 
 begotten in you, and under which you travelled 
 many times in tendernefs of fpirit; and were 
 often deeply bapdzed into a feeling fenfe of 
 what was likely to be brought forth, and many 
 were the pangs, and deep fearchings of heart 
 that you experienced, until he that had brought 
 to the birth, gave ftrength to bring forth ; 
 which was done without your il<:ill, or contri- 
 vance, for it was the Lord's doings, and it was 
 marvellous in our eyes ; fo that you are fome- 
 what like that fervant who had received two 
 talents to improve: and this calls for greater 
 vigilance, circumfpe61ion, and care, than he 
 that had received only one talent ; that you may 
 have to fay, be ye followers of us, as ye fee 
 we follow Chrift; and as your gifts were not of 
 your own procuring, but according to the good 
 pleafure of him who hath the government of 
 his church upon his own {boulders, he faw meet 
 to intruft you with them, that tl.cy might be 
 occupied to the glory of his great name; but 
 \as they were not of your own procuring fo 
 
 neither 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 neither are they at your own command, but 
 mull be waited for in deep humility of mind, 
 in order to come at a right knowledge of when 
 to fpeak and when to be filent; and there need 
 not be much anxiety about it, if the mind is 
 kept in a watchful (fate, and careful that no- 
 thing, through our unwatchfulnefs or negle6^:, 
 deprive us of the fenfe of our gifts ; but thofe 
 who are thus brought forth, may have in their 
 infant ftate, (as well as thofe that are further 
 grown in experience,) many trying proving 
 difpenfations to pafs through ; for the dragon, 
 that withftood the woman in order to devour 
 her man-child, as foon as it was born, will 
 withfiand them; and try them many ways, that 
 he may warp them afide from the holy com- 
 mandments delivered to them; and thefe are 
 fometimes carried to a place prepared for them, 
 as in the wildernefs; where they are fecretly 
 fed, and fuftained, though their gifts may be 
 hid as in obfcurity for a feafon ; in which try- 
 ing time there is much need of patience, that 
 there is not an attempting to come forth from 
 the wildernefs before the right time, ere the 
 floods be fubfided which the dragon call: out of 
 his mouth, and fo be in danger of being carried 
 away with them. For it may not be one of the 
 lead of his temptations, when it may pleafe the 
 Lord to hide our gifts, for a trial of the love, 
 faith, and patience of his fervancs, and for the 
 better qualifying them to know their proper 
 B feufjns. 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 feafons, to endeavour to draw them out, 
 though the -clouds may not be taken off the 
 tabernacle, and fo lead them into confufion; 
 and their offering, not being feafoned with the 
 fait of the evcflafting covenant, it hath not a 
 right favour, nor is attended with a right evi- 
 dence; and when he hath effe6l:ed this, and 
 the mind comes to be made fenfible of it, (either 
 by the gentle admonitions of fome fenfible feel- 
 ing friends, or by the light of truth, or both,) 
 manifcfting their mis-ftepings, then his next 
 work is, if not carefully watched againll:, to 
 perfuade the poor creatures, that they arc upon 
 a wrong foundation, having been running when 
 the Lord never fent them.; and they fee that 
 their offerings are not accepted, and fo are 
 led into reasoning and confultations with flefh 
 and blood, thereby to lofe their ftrength by 
 hearkening to the voice of the enemy; audit is 
 to be feared that fome have been led into a. 
 wildernefs, out of which they have never more 
 found their way: there are alfo other ways 
 that he works with fome, by endeavouring 
 to perfuade them, that their gifts and capacities 
 are fo fmall, and weak, that it is never likely 
 they fliould be of any ufe: by which means 
 fome have been difcouraged, not confidering, 
 that it is owt of the mouths of babes and fuck- 
 ;lings the Lord ordaineth praife; and that he 
 hath chofen the weak and foolifli things of this 
 world, to confound the wife and ftrong. But, 
 
 dear 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 dear friends, wait daily to feel after the life 
 and power of truth to gather and fettle your 
 minds, under a fenfe of its holy influence; 
 and never move but under the neceffity, and in 
 the ©penings of truth; remember that Aaron, 
 our great type, under the law, was never 
 permitted to approach to minifter before the 
 Lord, until he was renewedly cloathed with the 
 hallowed garment, on which were placed both 
 the bells and pomegranates ; which teflify both 
 found and fubflance, or nourifhment; and it 
 will tend to your fafety not to make additions 
 to the openings of truth on your minds; but if 
 there fliould be only a few fentences that are 
 required, be content ; remember that under 
 the law, when they offered according to their 
 abilities, thofe that could only offer a pair of 
 turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, were ac- 
 cepted as wxll as thofe that offered their bullocks 
 and rams; and, as you keep in the fimplicity, 
 and near to your gifts, you will in due time 
 witnefs an increafe, if the Lord fee meet. 
 
 As thcfe things feemed to fpring in my mind 
 with a degree of gofpel love, I have in the 
 fame love communicated them, earnedly de- 
 firing your eflabliiliment and grow^th on the 
 everlafting foundation ; for the harveft truly is 
 plenteous, but the faithful labourers are few : 
 though I am far feparated from you, yet in 
 that which neither length of time, nor diftance 
 of place, can diminifli, I often remember you, 
 B 2 and 
 
■C 28 ) 
 
 and thefe will ferve as a pledge of my regard, 
 who remain your afFedionate friend. 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 5th Mo, 19th, 175S. 
 "WHEN 1 confider the good company yoii 
 fiave providentially been favoured with, and 
 the advantageous fituation you are at prefent 
 happy in, it virould feem unneceffary to offer 
 any thing by way of caution, or counfel, ref- 
 pedling your conduct, whilfl in this kingdom : 
 but though you are thus agreeably feated, I 
 take it for granted, in the courfe of j^ur (lay, 
 you will make fomc excurfions from the place 
 of your prefent abode, to different parts of the 
 kingdom, which mufl neccffarily fubje6i: you to 
 variety of company; in this cafe I do not 
 apprehend the worthy friend, in w^hofe houfe 
 you lodge, will be deficient in giving you the 
 neceffary advice, for your benefit; yet I do not 
 find this will excufe me from offering to your 
 confideration a few ca.utions, refpe^ling one 
 very material part of moral and religious con- 
 duct in life, which is the choice of company. 
 The faying of the apoflle Paul w^ill always re- 
 tmain true, " 1 hat evil communications corrupt 
 ^:ood manners/' The experience of many ages 
 
 has 
 
( 2a ) 
 
 has confirmed it : it is alfo truly faid, a man is 
 known by his company; and that, as his friend^ 
 fo is he. 
 
 Bad company, or vicious examples, are often 
 hurtful to men of years,, and fometimes to 
 thofe who had been formerly experienced m 
 good, when they come to be thus cxpofed: 
 but youth is more efpecially a dangerous period 
 of life, in w^hich we are more liable to embrace 
 things that are inconvenient, as well as un- 
 lawful, and to be drawn afid^ by the variou5 
 temptations, crafty allurements, and unprofit- 
 able friendfhips of the world. And I know 
 of no place on earth, where incitements ta 
 ungodlinefs and vanity more abound than in 
 this, kingdom- in g.eneral, and in this eiiy in 
 particular. 
 
 I make this obfervation as a hint to you, to 
 retire into your own minds, and confider how 
 neceflary it will be to your good, and well- 
 being, that you avoid the converfation of mer^ 
 of corrupt minds, who you will foon know by 
 their fruits; whofe fnares and temptations will 
 Iteal as infenfibly into the affeclions, as ths 
 venom of a ferpent creeps into the veins of tha 
 fubje61: it has wounded: therefore I adyife you 
 againfl making fuch men your inumates and: 
 familiars. 
 
 I have fometimes thought, that vicious ex? 
 amples have the fame effect upon the foul, at 
 leaft the affedions of it, that deformed bodies 
 B 3 have 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 have at tiie firfl view of them; they excite aa 
 unpleafant painful idea, but, by cuftomary 
 and familiar converfe, the difagreeable fenfation 
 ceafes, and we become quite eafy, and recon- 
 ciled to them: thus vice, in the firft appearance 
 affe^ls a tender innocent m.ind with horror and 
 dread; but being hardened by cuftom, and ha- 
 bit, the painful impreffion gradually wears ofl^ 
 and it becomes more eafy, and perhaps agree- 
 able ; and then the next (tep is to embrace it. 
 
 I would not have it underftood as if I 
 thought you would chufe to frequent the com- 
 pany of men of apparent dilTolute lives and 
 pra(^ices, v;ho are not afraid to glory in their 
 iliame; but I would caution againfl: aflbciating 
 with the more hidden and fecret foes of Chrif- 
 tianlty (fuch young men as outwardly profefs 
 the blelTerj truth, but hold it in an unrighteous 
 converfation, at clubs, and night-revels, fre- 
 quenting places of public diverfion, invented 
 by the imagination of fmful men, fome of 
 whom, we have reafon to fear, deny or at lead 
 call in queftion, the facred truths of the Chrif- 
 tian religion); from fuch men, though they 
 may call themfelves brethren, I counfel you to 
 turn away; and, as virtue and piety, as well as 
 vice and folly, are communicated by example, 
 I dcfire you will take every fuitable opportunity 
 of having the company of folidly religious per- 
 fons of our own fociety. 
 
 But as it is not fufficient, that \yc only 
 
 obferve 
 
C 31 ) 
 
 obferve the negative part of our daty, in ab- 
 llaining from evil, if we defire to be perfe^l,, 
 we mufi: learn to do well. Though the man is 
 blelTcd who walketh not in the counfel of the 
 ungodly, nor (landeth in the way of finners, nor 
 fitteth in the feat of the fcornful, yet he is not 
 fully fo, till he is found delighting in the law 
 of the Lord after the inner m.an; meditating, 
 therein day and night, obferving to do accord- 
 ing to all that is written therein. 
 
 Then thefe bleffed effecfls will follow, that he 
 lhall be like a tree planted by the rivers of 
 water, which bringeih forth its fruit in due 
 feafon. And, if this holy exercife of mind is 
 continued, he fliall receive of the lap and ncu- 
 rifliment from the Fountain of Life, fo that his 
 Jeaf (hall not wither, and whatfoever he doth 
 fiiall profper : " The fleps of a good, man ara 
 " ordered of the Lord; the law of his God is in 
 
 his heart, none of his goings fliall Hide in 
 order therefore to the performance of our duty, 
 it is necelTary we fliould acquaint ourfclves with 
 God, and feek to know his will concerning us,, 
 by believing in, and adhering to the good 
 principle we profefs, of the light of Chrid in 
 our confciences; it is this alone can give us 
 the faving knowledge of God ; and as we are 
 obedient to its teachings, wc lliall not only deny 
 ungodlinefs, but by living a godly life in all holy 
 converfation, manifefl we are loving God above 
 all things, aad our neighbour as ourfclves. — 
 B 4 And 
 
( 32 } 
 
 And if the delight and joy proceeding from 
 love (o God, and an evidence of his love to 
 us, be the only true and real bappinefs of 
 mankind, it neceflarily follows, that the fooner 
 we are come to the pofleffion of this ineftimable 
 bleffing, the happier it will be for us 1 I am 
 one, who have to lament, that I forfook my own 
 mercies, in that I did not remember my Creator 
 in the days of my youth ; that I negle6led to 
 acquaint myfelf with God in my younger years, 
 knowing that an early facrifice, and devotion 
 of heart, is acceptable to him: I have con- 
 fidered how many years 1 lofl in unprofitable 
 purfuits, delighting in things I am now afliamed 
 of: many precious moments I might have en- 
 joyed had I been fo wife as to have enquired 
 wherein true bappinefs confided: I have never 
 heard of any who thought they had fought 
 God too foon; but many mourn, that they 
 knew him too late. 
 
 But to return to what chiefly affe^led my 
 mind, and has drawn from me thefe cautions, 
 viz. the confideration of the temptations per- 
 fons are expofcd to, in the time of youth^ 
 (though in no part of our lives v/e can be faid 
 to be in a fcate of fecurity free from the attempts 
 of the enemy of fouls, and therefore a ftate of 
 watchfulnefs is necelTary to all ages and con- 
 iiitionsj it appears to me, that there is more 
 than ordinary occafion for circumfpedtion when 
 men are befet with enemies from all quarters^ 
 
C 33 ) 
 
 3PS is eminently the c^iferin this great city: things,, 
 men, and books, as it were, he in wait to 
 deceive, and cheat people of true happinefs: 
 ■with regard to books, if a vain curiofity fhould. 
 be indulged in reading many pubhcations of 
 the prefent time, whofe chief tendency is to 
 promote an undue hberty from the reftraints of 
 religion; the knowledge acquired by fuch read- 
 ing is evil, and will, by the unfound principles 
 and erroneous do6lrine, of one fort, and the 
 profanity, and licentioufnefs of the other, bring* 
 death to the foul ; as they will prevent the true 
 knowledge of God from taking place in the 
 heart, and hinder the growth of the feed of 
 immortal life, by which the foul is raifed from 
 earthly to divine and heavenly objects, 
 
 I write from a degree of my own experience 
 of the hurt received by means of fuch writings, 
 and am the more earned with you, as you 
 value your peace, to avoid the perufal of 
 them, as they can adminiiter no real benefit, 
 but on the contrary certain evil. 
 
 Having thus enlarged my letter, beyond, 
 expectation, I (hall only add,, that as yoa 
 profefs no lefs than the bleiTed truth, as it is 
 in Jefus, may you, by its divine affiftance, and 
 obedience to its holy dictates be made and kept 
 perfectly free from the entanglements of a vai-n 
 and fmful world, and be enabled to hold fail: 
 the profeffion of your faith in a good confcience , 
 iwithout waverings keep near to the teftimony. 
 
 B 5 of. 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 of Jefus, the fure word of prophecy in your 
 hearts ; whereby you will be able to refifl and 
 quench all the fiery darts of fatan, and his 
 agents. 
 
 To God I recommend you, and the word 
 of his grace, which is able to ftrengthen and 
 build you up in the moft holy faith^ and re- 
 main your fmcerc friend. 
 
 LETTER XVL 
 
 IT came before me this morning, with fomer 
 degree of fweetnefs, to vifit you with a line of 
 caution, and encouragement, in pure and un- 
 feigned love of the gofpel of Chrift: to you^ 
 the profelTors of ;t, my dear youth, to remind 
 you, who are capable of rcflecSlion, of the great 
 goodnefs of our God, in vifiting you with his 
 fal vation, and affording you the blefled privilege 
 of the knowledge of his unfpotted truth, not 
 only through the teaching and infl:ru6tion of 
 his blelTed ipirit; but you enjoy the advantage 
 of fitting under the do£lrine of his called, 
 chofen, and anointed minifters, whofe lips pre- 
 ferve knowledge, rendered convincing by the 
 ftrongefi: argument and proof of faith in Chrifl:, 
 viz. fuch an example and converfation as be- 
 comes 
 
C 3S ) 
 
 Gomes the gofpel. You have this help in a 
 double capacity, as well from the miniflry as- 
 in thofe you are fo happy to call father and 
 mother, who I make no doubt ufe their er^- 
 deavours to bring you up in the nurture and 
 admoniiion of the Lord. This k a bleiTmg I 
 once had an opportunity of improving to my 
 eternal advantage, from the inflru^lion and ad- 
 monition of my dear mother, who endeavoured 
 to inftil principles of the doclrine of Chriftianity, 
 to wit, the indifpenfible duty of felf-deniai, 
 without which we can in no wife lay claim to 
 that glorious tide of being followers of the 
 blelTed fon of God, who came to lay felf low; 
 to lay the axe of his power to the corrupt root,, 
 from whence proceeds pride, evil thoughts,, 
 which when conceived, and joined with, bring 
 forth fm. Pride is a fm produ(ft:ive (as I have 
 thought) of every other evil ; having obferved 
 that where pride is fufFered to predominate, 
 there we fee every evil work : pride excited me 
 to purfue worldly wifdom, and knowledge; 
 pride put me upon endeavouring after what the 
 world call accomplidiments: pride taught me 
 to emulate any that was fuperior in pomp, ftate, 
 or equipage : pride taught m.e to deck and 
 adorn my perfon, to be nice and curious in my 
 apparel, to carry my perfon delicately, and 
 walk with mincing (leps, and outflretched neck 
 pride taught me to be cautious left I fhould. 
 have burning inftead of beauty, and put me 
 B 6 upon. 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 upon wanting wafhes to improve my com- 
 plexion. Pride taught me the genteel carriage, 
 the foolifli jelling, the falfe cheerfulnefs (a 
 name now given to laughter, wantonnefs, and 
 fooHfh jeding): pride led me to read unedifying 
 and pernicious books: to fmg fongs, to pleafe 
 myfelf as well as others : in a word, pride led 
 me to defire the luft of the eye, and pomp of 
 life. 
 
 I know not that what I have mentioned is 
 any of your weakneffes ; but this I know, that 
 childhood and youth are vanity: not from a 
 propenfity or principle inftilled, or given them^. 
 by the wife Creator; but the enemy hath done 
 this, or by his agents, fown evil feeds of pride- 
 For though our parents may give us Chriftian 
 advice, and example, (as was my cafe) we are 
 furrounded by evil examples. 
 
 My mother was but one, and fo I defpifed^ 
 her admonition, and followed the multitude ta 
 do evil. 
 
 But now it comes before me to mention the 
 goodnefs of IfraePs God: whofe tender mercy 
 is over all his works, and will leave all without 
 excufes, and therefore affords all a day of 
 merciful vifitation, in which he manifefts his 
 bleffed will, and what he requires of us. He 
 would have made my dear mother an inftrument 
 in his hand of turning me from darkncfs unto 
 light! but I would have none of her felf-denying 
 
 counfcl. 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 counfel, and cafl: her words (which I have fincc 
 thought were from the Lord) behind my back. 
 
 And now 1 will tell you what I fufFered in my 
 very youthful days, in the refufal of the Lord's 
 kindnefs to my foul ; he was pleafed to vifit me 
 with fore and diftreffing ficknefs, which all 
 about me, as well as myfelf, thought would be 
 unto death; and in this trying feafon, when 
 not only all my delights forfook me, but the 
 wrath of God was revealed againft all unrigh- 
 teoufnefs, and my fins fet in order before my 
 face; the veil of obduracy with which the God 
 of this world had blinded my fpiritual eye, w^as 
 rent; 1 fawmy guilt, and was greatly condem- 
 ned in rejecting my dear parents admonition: 
 but upon promifes of amendment, the Lord 
 was fo merciful as to fpare my life, and reftore 
 . me to my ufual good fliate of health. 
 
 But let me ever lament what followed ; that 
 after this I fhould turn again to folly. 
 
 Yet, (for ever renowned and blelTcd be the 
 name of our God) after a feries of years, he 
 was pleafed eminently to vifit with his love and 
 offers of grace, and reconciliation; upon the 
 condition, that if I forfook the foolifh, I fliould 
 live : obferve, this was the fecond vifitation of 
 God's love and glory: who aflifled me by his 
 grace to be ©bedient to the heavenly vifion. 
 He let me not only fee him the dread, but 
 beauty of nations. 
 
 Then I was alliaraed in my own light, when 
 
 1 faw 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 I faw his purky : I could not delight to adorn my 
 body, when I faw the nakednefs of my foul, I 
 left caring immoderately for the body, and was 
 made willing in the day of God's power to be 
 flript of my delights, that I might be cloathed 
 with the righteoufnefs of Chrift. 
 
 And as 1 gave up to the Divine difcoveries,. 
 and prefcnt manifeftations, the reward of the 
 Lord attended my obedience to his will, even 
 that peace, which all the enjoyments of this 
 life never did, nor never could afford ; beings 
 all as drofs and dung in comparifon of this 
 tranfcendent enjoyment, this approbation of 
 God. 
 
 Dear children! I believe you know the truths 
 but this will not do for us, unlefs we obey the 
 dilates thereof: it will do us no fervice to hear 
 Chrift preached, and fet forth crucified before 
 our view, unlefs that, as he died for fm, we aifa 
 come to die to fin of all kind. 
 
 Be fober and watch unto prayer, that the 
 enemy fow not his tares, and choak the good 
 feed of the kingdom, and deprive you of the 
 bleffed privileges with which you are favoured. 
 As obedient children, fafbion not yourfelves 
 according to the lufts and vanities of the world : 
 look not out at others, who may profefs with 
 you, but lock continually to him, who is able, 
 (as you are willing) to keep you from the fpots 
 of the world. Remember if any love the world, 
 the love of God abides not in him: they 
 
 cannot 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 cannot fubfift together; what nourifhes the one, 
 dellroys the other. Therefore as an evidence 
 we are rifen with Chrifl from the earth, or 
 earthly things : the apoflle tells, our afFeclions 
 •will be fet on heavenly things, or things above, 
 for where our treafure is, as our dear Lord 
 fays, our hearts will be alfo. 
 
 Now my defire for you is, that you may be 
 endued with divine wifdom to chufe the better 
 part; not to cumber yourfelvcs, as you advance 
 in years, too much in ferring the body; but 
 may part with all that (lands in your way, to 
 purchafe the pearl of price. I can declare to 
 you, that with all my gettings, for which I had 
 been fo anxioufly concerned, I never got peace, 
 till I fold all to make this purchafe : and as 1 
 am careful to keep what is committed to me, 
 I rely on the gracious promifes of our God, 
 that it will accompany me beyond the grave, 
 and not me only, but all who love, and obey, 
 the appearance of our Lord and Saviour Jefus 
 Chrift ! to whofe bleffed teachings I leave you^ 
 dear children, and remain your true friend. 
 
 BETTER XVIL 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 LETTER XVIL 
 
 ift Mo. 24th, 1758*^ 
 
 T RECEIVED thy laft letter juft as I had 
 engaged to accompany a friend to two adjacent 
 country meetings, and therefore could give it 
 but a curfory reading: but after fome day? 
 interruption, upon giving it a fecond review, 
 my heart was comfortably affected, and mine 
 eye filled with tears of joy! as my faith is 
 further ftrengthcned and confirmed, rhat the' 
 thou art call down, the Lord has not left nor 
 forfaken thee, neither will he leave thee to the 
 will of thine enemy, though he is fuffered to 
 try thee in a near manner: he fhall not prevail' 
 again-fl: thee as thou keeps the faith, though' fmallT 
 a» a grain of muftard feed, by this thou wilt be 
 enabled to refill, and be made more than con- 
 queror : for I believe the Lord of compafTion will 
 increafe it, as thou improves the fmall degree, fa 
 that it will work powerfully in thy foul by love 
 unfeigned, to the thorough refining of body,, 
 foul, and fpirit; to the bringing into fubje<5i:ion,. 
 and putting all things under his feet, whofe 
 right it is to reign fovereign in our hearts, 
 
 I know this work will fo reduce our fpirits that: 
 we fhall indeed be willing to become fpc6i:acles ^ 
 ta the world, to angels, and to men, even a- 
 
 derifioai 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 deriTion to tliofe who are called by the name of 
 the Lord ; who neverthelefs are eating their 
 owa bread, and wearing their own apparel, 
 gratifying their fenfual appetites in whatever 
 their fouls luft after. As this is the lamentable 
 flate of many in our fociety, I plainly fee the 
 faithful in Ifrael are, and will be engaged to 
 call louder than ever, and in a more confpicuous 
 manner to bear witnefs to the truth, as it really 
 is, in the humble and lowly Jefus. 
 
 The Lord is working in a fecret manner, in 
 the hearts of fome of his fervants: who are 
 ready to queRion, why it is thus with me? why 
 is it neceffary that I fliould be fo reduced, and 
 clothed with fo great a degree of humility, and 
 felf-denial? it is in order not only that we may 
 be enfamples to the flock, and properly prepar- 
 ed and qualified to take the over-fight thereofj 
 but this work of the Lord (which in the eyes 
 of fome is marvellous), is further to difentangle 
 our afFe<flions from all vifibles, and that we may 
 ferve him without difl:ra<5i:ion ; and come up 
 more fully to the help of the Lord, in his great 
 work, which he has put on the wheels; which 
 are clogged at prefent, for want of fkilful, able, 
 and clean hands to fet them in motion. 
 
 Therefore, as thou art one of thofe whom 
 the Lord hath ckofen and appointed, to repair 
 the breaches in the walls of our Zion; keep, 
 as much as poflible, in a watching, waiting 
 poflure; as thou knows not how foon thy Lord 
 
 will 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 will return and fay, it is enough! releafe thee 
 from thy prison houfe, and reinflate thee in thy 
 office: I beheve a renewed call will go forth to 
 the willing-hearted in IfraeJ, to fuch as are 
 willing to be renewed in the fpirit of their minds 
 by deep baptifm: to thefe, I believe, there will 
 be a renewed call to vifit the feed (which to our 
 forrow is the lead of all feeds) in prifon, in 
 families; for in our afTerablies too many are 
 unwilling to come under the baptizing power 
 of truth, will not touch the burden of the Lord, 
 as declared by his fervants, with one of their 
 fingers; but are laying it on the flioulders of 
 their neighbour, faying, this is applicable to 
 fuch or fuch. Some are preparing, by the 
 hand of our God, to be as faviours on Mount 
 Sion! by divers ways, is God working to rc- 
 ftore our poor fociety to its primitive allegiance j. 
 fome will be again called to fearch the camp, 
 not only family by family, but the hufband 
 apart, and the wife apart, the fon apart, and 
 the daughter apart, and in the authority of 
 truth will be enabled to fay. Thou art the 
 man. When thou therefore feels the call re- 
 newed to minifters, publicly or privately, do 
 not make excufes, and fay, I am not yet fir, 
 I am of unclean lips, for God can fuddenly 
 change! in the twinkling of an eye the corrup- 
 tible have been helped to put on incorruption, 
 •and the mortal immortality; and the faying has 
 been triumphantly witneffed, " O Death, where 
 
 is 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 " is tliy fling ? O Grave, where is thy victory ? 
 BlelTed be our God, who giveth us the viflory ! 
 fuch a fudden, and happy change has been 
 known in a meeting, when the party has gone 
 for a long time, v/ithout witneffing what had 
 been earneftly panted after. Remember, if the 
 Lord call again to that fervice, he either fees 
 thee lit, or will make thee fo as thou abides his 
 preparing hand. And alfo if the Lord call thee 
 not to an outward abftinence, eat then thy 
 natural bread, though it be mingled with tears : 
 and do not flrengthen the bands of the enemy, 
 by weakening thy body, through an improper 
 abflinence from thy temporal food. Receive 
 likewife with humble gratitude, that portion of 
 fpiritual fuftenance, which, I am fure, the Lord 
 is daily adrainifbering to thee, till he is pleafed to 
 feed thee more plentifully with the dainties! 
 which fometimes are withheld, till we have 
 girded ourfelves, and ferved our Lord, and 
 then he is pleafed that we fliould eat and drink; 
 it being, in the mean time, our meat and drink 
 to do his will. And now, my friend, I would 
 wifh thee to bear in mind the inexpreffible 
 favour of our God : who affords light to fee thy 
 wants, and flrength to cry mightily to him for 
 relief: in fuch a flate, my foul has been bowed, 
 and made to v/orfhip at his footflool; in thar, 
 he vouchfafed the fenfe of want, and ability to 
 beg a fupply, and humbly to wait till he faw 
 meet to anfwer: I fince knew this ability could 
 
 be 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 be no lefs than the favour of God, and the way 
 to the Father; to whom no man can come unlefa 
 drawn by the fpirit of his fon Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Well then, my dear friend, be not cafl down 
 above meafure, fmce fo many favourable cir- 
 cumftances attend thee: bear in mind the bleffing 
 annexed to fuch as endure fuffering, and temp- 
 tation: among many which I have experienced^ 
 that of declining an attendance on the worfiiip 
 of the Supreme Being, has been often laid in- 
 my way by the fuggeflion of the enemy, to lead 
 me further out of the way of my duty, and by 
 perfuading me to add one error to another, 
 make the return more difficult, firft tempting, 
 and then upbraiding with the temptation. But 
 I have confidered, that however circumllanced 
 our minds may be, it is no reafonable excufe for. 
 declining the attendance of meetings; if they- 
 want to be rectified and ftayed, the greater need 
 of prefenting our bodies in the place of outward 
 gathering, to put ourfelves in the way, with 
 our brethren, of being inwardly gathered to the 
 fhiloh of our God; who, in his mercy, may 
 remember our low eflate of poverty, and may 
 prepare an offering in our fpirits ; a living facri- 
 fice, acceptable to himfelf: I fay, who knows 
 but this may be the cafe: therefore let us not 
 give way to the enemy, inflead of relieving the 
 malady by abfenting ourfelves from the place 
 appointed for religious worfiiip, we (hall but in- 
 ereafe it, and lead into a greater degree of dark- 
 
 aefs :. 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 iiefs : as I was helped to perfifl in the way of duty 
 in this refpe£l, I was fometimes favoured with 
 a glimpfe of that countenance, which is more 
 precious and defirable to a few, than the increafc 
 of any worldly treafure. And now I am fpeak- 
 ing of temptations, I would befeech thee, when 
 the enemy prefents objefls of thought which thy 
 Jfoul ever abhorred, do not flop to reafon with 
 fiefli and blood, or difpute with the tempter, 
 nor, as I have too much done, dwell upon and 
 brood over the temptation: for when I did, 
 the more frequently, and with greater flrength, 
 were his alTaults renewed; terrifying my fpirit, 
 and affe^ling me with horror and confufion; 
 and would have perfuaded me, I had joined the 
 temptation, and committed the fms I even fliould 
 have abhorred, when I was, almoft, his valTal, 
 and taken captive at his wilL But let me not 
 here forget to commemorate the mercies of our 
 God ; who would frequently interpofe, and 
 bring many comfortable fcriptures to my view, 
 and, with them, this encouraging reflection, 
 that it was no fm to be tempted; and notwith- 
 ftanding the charge of the adverfary againft me, 
 that I had admitted him, in this or the other 
 prefentation, the Lord was pleafed to encourage 
 me ftill to refifl:, by letting me fee, though he 
 had approached as far as the door, he had not 
 gained an entrance; and even the door-j)ofl:s 
 fhould be fprinkled with the blood of the Lamb, 
 w-hich was flaia from the foundation of the 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 ^orld, for returning repenting prodigals.—^ 
 At lengdi, I was mercifully inftrudled, and 
 helped to pafs by the temptation or prefen- 
 tation without much notice, deliberadon, or 
 confideration about it, but to depend wholly on 
 the mercy of God, and look only to him for 
 falvation in the hour and power of darknefs: 
 fmce which, his temptations have not been fo 
 frequent, nor his prefentations fo terrifying. 
 Neverthclefs, to be wholly exempt from trials 
 and befetments of this fort, is what we are by 
 no means to expert; whilft our fpirits are con- 
 nected with thefe bodies, and we remain in a 
 ftate of probation, it mud be fo; and according 
 to the nature of the tw^o kingdoms of Chrift 
 ■and Anti-Chrift, a continual warfare mufl be 
 maintained againft the invafions of the power 
 of darknefs : which, that thou and I may be 
 enabled to do, is tlie earned petition of my 
 fpirit. 
 
 To explain a litde what I meant by the fin 
 unto death; I apprehend, it is of that fort, or 
 nature, that the apoftle John fignifies, is not to 
 be prayed for ; and is the ftate of one who 
 hath made fhipwreck of faith, and a good con- 
 fcience; who not only rebels againfc the Spirit 
 of Chrift, but fins wilfully and ftubbornly; 
 faying, as the Ifraelites did of old, when arrived 
 to a high pitch of obduracy. We will do fo, 
 andfo: we will bake cakes, burn incenfe, and 
 even pour out drink-offerings, to the queen of 
 
 heaven ! 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 heaven! We will not hear, faid they, when 
 the Lord fpake to them in their profperity ; and 
 as for the words, which the prophets fpake to 
 them, in the name of the Lord, they fay, We 
 will not hearken unto them; but will certainly 
 ■do whatfoever goeth out of our mouth; in 
 fuch a cafe as this, people are paiTmg on, 
 adding fm to fm, till they arrive at a flate, in 
 which the Lord, in his juftice, leaves them to 
 their own delufions. 
 
 But, my dear friend, the Lord hath not thus 
 dealt with thee and me; becaufe, he that is 
 omnifcient, faw and fees our fiiding afide our 
 wandering a little out of the way, was not the 
 eifecl of ftubbornnefs, nor had we offended 
 willingly, but through inadvertency and un- 
 watchfulnefs : in this fituation, if any man iin, 
 we have an advocate with the Father, even 
 Chrift Jefus the righteous; a blelTed, and glo- 
 rious privilege! alfo prayers and intercelTions 
 are made by the brethren, to the throne of 
 grace according to the will of God: an humbling 
 and comfortable refieflion, that we were not 
 dead in trefpalTes: but we feel remorfe for the 
 fam€, and are faying, in deep contrition of foul. 
 To us belong blufhing and confufion of face : but 
 blelfed be our God, to him belongs mercy and 
 forgivenefs; as he himfelf declares, when the 
 l:nner forfakes his evil ways, with a full purpofe 
 of heart to cleave clofe to him, he will give us 
 our daily fpiritual bread. 
 
 I fay. 
 
( 4-8 ) 
 
 I fay, in the midft of the mukitudc of mjr 
 affli^lion, and perplexing thoughts, this was a 
 comfort, that my difobedience was not wilful. 
 Yet fo fenfible was I that I mud be again re- 
 deemed through judgment, that I was made 
 willing not only to kifs the rod, but to defire to 
 be fed with it. I rejoiced to feel the chaftifmg 
 hand of our gracious Father, which was both 
 rod and ftafF, as it afforded me comfortable 
 hopes of a future inheritance, and that I was 
 not cut off as illegitimate: but that after I had 
 fuffered according to the will of God, he might 
 again reflore me to a place in his houfe; if not 
 yet as a fon to fit at his table, and partake of 
 his dainties, at leaft as a hired fervant, to receive 
 food convenient and fufhcient for me: for if we 
 are but favoured to be admitted into his houfe, 
 and fervice, it is enough, the loweft feat and 
 meaneft ofHce is worth ail wc can do and fuffer 
 to obtain it. 
 
 LETTER XVIIL 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 LETTER XVm. 
 
 IN the fellow fhip of true and unfeigned love, 
 that unites the hearts of the faithful in a joint 
 communion one with another, do I dearly falute 
 thee ; even that communion which begets a 
 fympathy in fpirit, fo as to partake, in fomc 
 degree, of the ftate of each other, as members 
 of one body, in the myflery that the world 
 knows not of : for by this communion the 
 members are not infenfible of the flate one of 
 another, that if one member fuffers, the others 
 fuffer with it; and if one rejoice, or abound, 
 the reft are rejoiced by a degree of the fame 
 abounding love. Thus help is communicated 
 without partiality, according to the proportion 
 of that love that is boundlels, proceeding from 
 God, through J^s Chrift, and centering in the 
 fame eternal onSefs. 
 
 If I m.ay be ^ qualified as to be helpful to 
 
 thee in this, it will give me great pleafure: 
 
 and judging alfo that I have had experience of 
 
 various ftates and conditions in a Chriftian life, 
 
 and the manner of dealing of the Lord with his 
 
 people, I have learned in the deeps, and in the 
 
 filence of all flefhly reafoning, in the ftiilnefs and 
 
 quiet,^ where the mcmj approaches not, to cry 
 
 out, in admiration, v/ith the prophet, How 
 
 unfearchable arc thy judgments, O Lord, and 
 
 ' c llfY 
 
 ■0 
 
( 50 ) 
 
 tliy ways, pafl finding out! yet there is often a 
 long time ®f fufFering in hunger and thirfl, in 
 nakednefs and difl:re{s5before we can come here, 
 to ftillnefs; to the intent that God Almighty, 
 out of his infinite wifdom, may manifeft his own 
 arm of power, and bring deUverance, fometimes 
 without any means of our own propofing. For 
 I have often obferved, that he referves entirely 
 to himfelf the greateft deliverance : yet not al- 
 ways fo, as not to make ufe of any means at all; 
 but thofe means appear, on a jufl view, to have 
 fomething in them fo extraordinary and provi- 
 dential, as fliews them to be the efie£i: of the 
 firfh moving caufe : the inftrument is in fome fort 
 overlooked, though it is in fincerity acknov;ledg- 
 ed as the bounty of heaven in the difpenfation of 
 his Providence; yet the acknowledgment does 
 not terminate in the means or inftrument, but 
 jirifes in pure breathings as a divine flame to the 
 fource and fountain of all mercies. Thus his 
 judgments are to human attainments, unfearch- 
 able, and his ways, though ways that . lead to 
 peace, paft finding out: w^hen he correfls in 
 his judgments^ it is not in fore difpleafure, left 
 he fhould bring us to nothing : but by the 
 chaftifements, as of a moft merciful Father, he 
 uro^es and drawls a greater degfee of obedience 
 from his children, for it is in love. Our time 
 then is to be ftill, to bear all things, to endure 
 all things, to rejoice in all things that he fliall 
 lay upon us, as knowing that thereby we may 
 
 procure 
 
( 51 ) 
 
 procure to ourfelves, the mod laaing peace, 
 by being reftored again to his favour. And, 
 O how happy are all thofe that can fo quietly 
 fubmit in all things! In order thereunto, let us 
 Gonfider that they are diftributed to mankind in 
 his abundant wifdom and couufel. 
 
 But there is another fort of affliclion, that is 
 as bonds and imprifonments, as lying nights and 
 days in the deeps; more afflicting than bonds 
 outwardly, and the caufe entirely hid from us ; 
 wherein there is ftriving between life and death, 
 between hope and defpair; longing to be deli- 
 vered, with fhort ghmpfes of, if at all beholding, 
 the deliverer ! at times crying out with the 
 prophot, " Thou haft covered thyfelf with a 
 " cloud, that our prayers ftiould not pafs 
 " through." There appears no mediator, no 
 high-prieft before the throne of God. He for 
 ever feems to hide his blelTed countenance, and 
 his abfence is our greateft pain, for being de- 
 prived of his prefence all things elfe yield no re- 
 lief. O then how does the foul tremble 1 how- 
 does the heart faint! the tears are dried up ; no 
 vent then feems to eafe the anguifn of the foul. 
 
 We arc ready to fay, with Job, " O that my 
 " griefs were thoroughly weighed, and my cala- 
 " miities put in the balance together, for then 
 " w^ould it appear heavier than the fand of the 
 " fea, therefore my words are fwallowed up." 
 
 O that I could feel fo much foftnefs in ^uy 
 heart, as might affcd mine eyes, then fhould I 
 c 2 havii 
 
( 52 ) 
 
 have hope! if it were the efFe^i: of contrition, 
 •or confolation, it would yield me equal joy, 
 that my Redeemer had not quite forfaken me, 
 nor given me up to the rage of my mofl crue'l 
 enemy, but flill hath mercy for me in ftore. 
 Thus lamenting days and nights ; when it is day 
 we wifli for night, and when it is night we 
 defire day ; fear to be alone, fear to be m 
 company: we can neither read nor hear with 
 attention, nor meditate on God with any com- 
 pofed devotion. Yet let me tell thee, my friend, 
 -from experience, (as having waded through 
 ■thefe, and more afflidions, that are not to be 
 exprelTed) if fuch diflrefs is now, or has been, 
 on thee, God is near at hand, to bear up thy 
 drooping foul ; he is ever underneath, and round 
 about, though for a while thou feed him not. 
 
 J have always found, that after fuch times he 
 has appeared with more luflre and glory, to 
 iteach us not to attribute any thing to ourfclves; 
 nor fix our thoughts on any thing lefs than his 
 omni potency. For he that has made the fca, 
 and prefcribed bounds to the waves thereof; 
 faying, hitherto flialt thou come and no further, 
 and here fliall thy proud waves be flayed, is not 
 to be limited by finite creatures, as the befl of 
 anen are. 
 
 And though the fea may dafii againfl the 
 •fliore, and threaten an inundation, it cannot 
 .exceed its bounds, but by the direction, or at 
 lead hi^hXufFerance of Almighty wifdom ; whc^is 
 
 not 
 
c 53 ; 
 
 not lefs in regard to his cliildren^s well-berngv 
 than wife in his counlels to friidrate the proudeil 
 attempts of the wicked. Wherefore, by having, 
 an eye fingle to him in all times of tolhngs, and 
 fiu(fluations of the mind, proceeding from what 
 eaufe they may, is the mofl proper method ta- 
 attain to a fettled (late and condition. 
 
 When the difciples of our Lord were tolTed 
 on the fea, their help w^as near ; though to 
 them Jefus feemed to be aileep and undilturbed, 
 yet his inward apprehenfion as God, was awake 
 aiid ready to help them at their call: " Mafter" 
 ^' careft thou not that we perifli?" At which ke- 
 arofe, rebuked the wind, faid to the fea. Peace,, 
 be ftill: and the wind ceafed, and there was 
 a great calm: the admiration of his difciples 
 fecmed to be raifed more in that fignal deliver- 
 ance than in any other miracle, inafmuch as^ 
 they were, at that time, the immediate objeifls 
 of his mercy, and partook of the bleffing of his 
 powerful word: neither did they fail to return- 
 their acknowledgments, by faying, What manner 
 of man is this, that even the wind and the feas- 
 obey him? 
 
 Thus is he near, wdien he feems to be mofl 
 abfent; ready to help in every needful time of 
 trouble, as he is called upon in the leall: degree 
 of faith: fettling and quieting the mind in his 
 own time. His deliverance comes fometimes 
 entirely unexpected by the creature; but whether 
 itftjmes early or late in that ddiverance, there 
 c 3 is 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 is a looking b^ick with wonder and acknowledg- 
 ment to God, As Ilrael fang on the banks of 
 the fea, faying, The Lord is glorious in holinefs, 
 fearful in praifeSjdoing wonders: or again, Thefe 
 are thy wonderful works, O Loi-d 1 my foul 
 hath been brought down to the borders of the 
 pit, and thou haft dehvered it again from the 
 deftroyer, and haft once more fet my feet in the 
 juft man's path, in the bright-ftiining light, 
 that fliall fnine more and more unto the perfect 
 day. In thofe fliort intervals the foul gathers 
 flrength to afcend to its beloved, and rejoices 
 in her happy dehverance from bondage. 
 
 And it is agreeable to the experience of many 
 that there is no ftate that produces fuch con- 
 vincing proof of the regard of heaven, as that 
 wherein we are reduced to poverty and want, 
 in fuch a m.anner as that there appears nothing 
 but confufion ; the very brute animals feem in 
 the more defirable condition; they rove idly 
 unemployed, and have their food prepared in 
 feafon, and if they are flain, death is to them 
 an end of all their forrows. The trees, ftirubs, 
 and all the fpecies of inanimate things, feem to 
 difcover a greater beauty, and difplay a hvelier 
 texture of their great original than we; thefe, 
 though they fufter decay in nature by the fcythe 
 of time, and are foon reduced to .the earth from 
 whence they fprung, yet fufter an infenfible 
 wafte; and as they are not fenfible of pain, they 
 neither can, nor need cry out for fuccour. *But 
 
 man. 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 man, the noblefl part of God's creation, made 
 to adore and reverence the Supreme Being with 
 fublime intellects, is taught of God to truft in 
 him, to wait upon him, to be refigned to his 
 will in all things, and if at any time he is pleafed 
 to hide his face, it is in order to manifeft his 
 power, and bring forth more lafling fruits of 
 praife to him/elf, and more honour and dignity 
 to the creature, by virtue of his own prolific 
 word. For by death, life is perfedted. By 
 ftaining the glory of this world, the glory of 
 God is rendered confpicuous. By feeing our- 
 felves really as vre are, w-e have a.glimpfe of 
 what God is. By beholding our own emptinefs, 
 we defrre to partake of his fulnefs: by feelmg 
 our own poverty, we defire his riches ; by being 
 hungry and thirfby, we. have a true relifh of 
 the bread and water of life; by a real fenfe of 
 our own unworthinefs, we dare not munr.ur, if 
 we receive nothing; but in all ftates, with the; 
 holy apoftle, learn to be content. Thus God 
 becom.es all in all. And thus it is neceilary 
 that we have a fpiritual aflillance to diflingulfh 
 times* and feafons, as they are in the hand of 
 God: when we abound, not to be lifted up; 
 wh^n in poverty and want, not to repine too 
 much ; when afflifled, that we pray, and firil 
 feek for the fpirit of grace and fupplication that 
 wx may be direfted hew and in what manner to 
 pray. 
 
 For it is not always right that we fnould 
 c 4 have 
 
liave what we mofl: defire, as creatures, but 
 that which is mofl: profitable for us as Chrif- 
 tians, believers, and followers of Chrifl:, wha 
 was a mofl perfe61: pattern of humility and felf- 
 denial whilfl in the flcfh. And when - near to 
 offer up his life for the fms of the whole world, 
 and having an apprehenfion of the greatefl 
 agonies, he breathes, " O ray Father, if it be 
 " polTible, let this cuppafs from me!" But as 
 if he checked himfelf, adds with fubmifTion and 
 fiiial duty, " Neverthelefs, not as I will, but as 
 thou wilt/^ 
 
 We have need to w^ait in ftillnefs to be re- 
 newed with flrengtfi, by virtue of the holj 
 anointing, to know what to aflc, and temper our 
 longings by a perfect fubmifTion : fometimes, to 
 Vifk no more than to be endued with patience 
 and flrength to endure the prefent afBidlion, 
 that it may terminate to our advantage, ancl 
 acceptance to Almighty God. 
 
 At another time, when the days of captivity 
 are ended and the feed which has been oppreffed 
 is fet at liberty, the foul breathes as in open 
 air, and is enabled to afcend to the divine 
 majefly, with free fupplication, and an earnefl: 
 is, as it wxre, refounding back with heavenly 
 harmony, which gives a firm belief, that our 
 prayers are heard. 
 
 But when the emanations of this divine life 
 are abfent, (which is not to be accounted 
 flrange) tlic enemy of man's peace and happinefs 
 who wails all oppojt unities, like a reillefs and 
 
 indefatigable 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 Indefatigable foe, to befiege, and if poflible to 
 deftroy and lay wafle the whole city of God: he 
 is then ready to make his flrongeft attempts to 
 fhake the foundation. But the foundation of 
 God ftands fure,. having this feal, the Lord: 
 knows them that are his. 
 
 The enemy may tempt us, and raife great 
 diforders and fluftuations in the mind without 
 any caufe afligned; but he that was a liar and^ 
 murderer from the beginning, is fo flill; and as 
 he abode not in the truth, his envy is raifed more 
 particularly againft all thofe who ftrive to per- 
 ievere in it. Let us truft in God, who will not 
 fufFer us to be tempted above that we are able 
 to bear, but will with the temptation alfo make 
 a way to efcape it. 
 
 My dear friend: though I feem to have 
 exceeded the bounds of a letter, I am obliged; 
 to confine my thoughts, and can fend thee only, 
 a fliort abftra^ of what has prefented itfelf to 
 my mind with a fhare of warmth and fweetnefs. 
 1 ffiall add, it hath been my humble petition to 
 Almighty God, that he may vouchfafe to draw 
 nigh, with the vifitations of his pure light, and 
 in mercy caufe his brightnefs to appear, by 
 removing the cloud which hangs over the ta- 
 bernacle, and fo far favour thofe who have no 
 might of their own, as to guard them with his 
 own arm by day and night, gently leading thofe 
 that ai'c with young, bearing them in hi-s arms. 
 
 c 5 LETTER XIX 
 
( 5S ) 
 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 THOUGH time and (Irength feem to fail 
 more fully to vifit you in the exercife of that 
 part of the miniftry which the Lord hath beea 
 pleafcd gracioully to beflow upon me, yet I am 
 glad and thankful for this opportunity of feeing 
 -and converfmg with my dear friends in this 
 kingdom, who are preferved a tender and zea- 
 lous people, to the honour of God ; which 
 renders my vifit, under the many afflicling 
 circumftances attending, eafy and profitable to 
 me, in the befl things. Neverthelefs, it comes 
 upon me to make fome fhort remarks to you, 
 from a tender concern for the church's edifi- 
 cation and not difcouragement : and firfl:, iu 
 general, it is more than a little manifeft, there 
 is a great de( lenfion of true love and tendernefs 
 among us towards the Lord, and one another ; 
 and in too many elders, both in refped to their 
 own condition, and the tuition of their children. 
 In many of the youth there appears little fenfe 
 of truth : but as fome have already taken their 
 flight, more feem to be upon the wing: which 
 in a word, feeras to lie m.uch at the doors of 
 fuch elders who have not kept their firft love. 
 Is not blindnefs in part already happened to 
 Ifrael, through the fubtle workings and abound- 
 ings of the myllery of iniquity, and the preva- 
 lence 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 lence of the God of this world : let us therefore 
 as many as have the caufe of truth at heart, 
 offer our fupplications, v/Irh ftrong cries to the 
 Lord, (as good Jacob did when the enemy was 
 coming in like a flood, to deftroy the heritage 
 and feed of promife,) that he will be gracioiilly 
 pleafed, for his great name's fake, to turn the 
 captivity of his people, by the lenewing of his 
 powerful vifitation on many ; to the fearching 
 and tendering of deceitful hard and ungrateful 
 hearts, who cover and hide themfelves as Adana 
 did, after he had fmned: but they cannot hide 
 from the Lord, nor efcape his judgments. O how 
 hard, cold, and unprofitable do our religious 
 meetings often appear to be: which have for- 
 merly been our greatefl comfort and joy in the 
 Lord, and in one another, though at times 
 filent, and attended with difFicwlty. This is 
 lamentable to the living, who have knov/n it 
 otherwife, and fufficient proof there is a great 
 dcclenfion among us. 
 
 Further,our Chriftian teflimony againfl tithes, 
 which has coil us fo much fpoil of goods, and 
 hard fniFerings in pci*fon, even unto the death 
 of fome to maintain, feems now an infupportable 
 burthen ro many profefiing the fame faith; who, 
 by treachery and cowardly flight give it up, 
 and fiirrender it to the enemy, to the great 
 afIli61:ion of many valiants in Ifrael; both on 
 behalf of their condition, who fo do, and in 
 that the burthen lies heavier on the reih Such 
 e 6 perfifting 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 perfifting will never profper, but fliall be made 
 manifeH:, go where they may: yea, although 
 they fliouU fay in their hearts, we will go up 
 to a land of peace and plenty, where we fliall 
 fee no war, nor hear the found of the trumpet, 
 neither fuffer the lack of bread. How would 
 fuch, who cannot fuffer cheerfully for one 
 branch of the teilimony, have flood in the days 
 of our fathers? As the prophet Jeremiah faith, 
 " If thou haft run with the footmen, and they 
 " have overcome thee, how canfl thou contend. 
 " with horfes? and if in the land of peace, 
 " wherein thou troflefh, they have wearied 
 " thee, then how wilt thou do in the fwelHng 
 of Jordan?'^ 
 
 Again, it is affli(5ling to confider how our 
 Chriftian reputation is ftained in matters of 
 meum and iuumy whilfl we are the high eft 
 profeffmg people. Surely, the generality of the 
 unhappy failures that have happened among 
 us, are through unfaithfulnefs and negle61: of 
 the divine principle of light and truth within, as 
 well as repeated advice and warning of tender 
 concerned friends; who have at heart the 
 temporal and eternal happinefs of the fociety.. 
 1 fay, it is for want of an obedient ear and fleady 
 attention thereunto, which would produce faith 
 in him that feeds the ravens, and clothes the 
 lilies ; and has promifed the neceffary to his 
 humble depending children, giving fweet con- 
 tent therein: for he wlip murmurs at his little, 
 
 would 
 
( Ci ) 
 
 vrould be exalted in the enjoyment of much, 
 but they who trufl in the Lord, fliall not be 
 confounded; neither fhall they fall into difgrace 
 ©n the one hand, nor fnares on the other. 
 
 Now, dear friends, the fcnfe of thefe things 
 is very afflicTting to the faithful, both minifters- 
 and others, who difcern the fad figns of this 
 time; are found in judgment, fteady in Ipve, 
 ftrong in faith, and arc concerned to run to and 
 fro as upon Zion's walls ; vifiting public meet- 
 iags, and private families; rifmg early, and' 
 teftifying faithfully what the counfel of the 
 divine oracle is, as far as known to them ; and 
 that unlefs there is a laying to heart, and more 
 fruit of righteoufnefs, love to God, and tender- 
 nefs to the praife and glory of God, a fifting 
 rime will come, and not to fpeak prophetically, 
 is believed to be near, notwithftanding fome 
 may fay, " Every vifion faileth, and the days 
 " are prolonged: but thus faith the Lord, the 
 " days are at hand, and the efFc£l of every 
 " vifion," (Ezek. 12.) for the abominations 
 and daily prophanations of the people, and 
 for the great declenfion of many among us. 
 For many are the awakening teftimonies of this 
 day, which are, and have been delivered by 
 tlie affli£led fervants and handmaids of the Lord 
 who go bowed down in painfalnefs and weari- 
 nefs» But fome are ready to fay. The minillry 
 is nor what it has been. It may be fo with 
 refpecl to particulars but ble&d be the Lord, 
 
 there 
 
( 62 ) 
 
 there is flill a faithful, and free mlniflr}^: free 
 from felf-fceking, free from partiality and deceit, 
 in whom there is no ilraitnefs, but as faith the 
 apoftle, the ilraitnefs is in your own bowels 
 and confidering how great that (Iraitnefs is in 
 the hearts of many, I am thankful that the 
 true niiniilry is not yet fhut up towards Ifrael, 
 and the fiream of it turned other ways: many 
 love to hear, but not to do, yet the time is not 
 come, wherein it is faid, " Let them alone." 
 
 O that this lethargy and fleep of death may 
 be come out of through fpeedy repentance and 
 amendment; clfe I believe the Lord will not 
 continue long thus to expofe his fervants: but 
 the word of the Lord fliall be precious, and 
 many will fay, BlelTed is he that cometh in 
 
 the name of the Lord." A precious feed 
 neverthelefs is remaining in both elders and 
 young men, whom the Lord hath blelTed, and 
 will preferve as in the hollow of his hand, 
 until his indignation be over-paft: yea and his 
 holy arm of power, (ftretched forth in wrath 
 for the puniihment of the wicked) is alfo re- 
 vealed for their falvation, whofe prayers and 
 intcrcelTions with the great and mod merciful 
 God, have prevailed for prolonging his tender 
 vifitations, and fparing the nations, even in a 
 degree, as that of Abraham and Mofes did: 
 and I fully believe, that although the church 
 will fuffer, and the nations be affli&d, and 
 not only the earth but the heavens alfo will be 
 
 fliaken. 
 
C 63 ) 
 
 fiiaken, and that there will be many pained 
 hearts, and pale faces, yet afterwards, the air 
 will be clear, calm and temperate, the earth 
 fruitful, plenteous the dew of heaven, and great 
 the harvefl: ; even after Jerufalem is purged and 
 Zion hath fl^iaken herfelf from the dull: of the 
 earth, and hath put on her pure, and primitive 
 garments of faith, love, zeal, fnnplicity, tem- 
 perance and moderation. For I trulT: to die in 
 the faith of this, that the Lord will yet make 
 his church an eternal excellency, the beauty of 
 nations, and the glory of the whole earth: 
 whofe foundations Hand fare, (^though many 
 Hide therefrom,) other than which, believed in 
 by us, fliall never -be laid: that is, the light 
 and manifeRations of the fpirit of Chrid, the 
 true teacher and comforter, the infallible guide 
 unto life and peace, who promifed to be with 
 the faithful to the end of the world. 
 
 The fenfe of the life and virtue of this 
 principle, wherein fiands our fweet communioa 
 and heavenly fellov^'lhip, draws me towards you 
 the chofen of the Lord, to bear his name> 
 notwithftanding, I cannot but be thus plain. 
 To conclude, I declare my belief, the Lord 
 waits to be gracious : O therefore kt all prepare 
 to meet him, by a diligent improvement of their 
 own gifts: therein wait with ftar and reverence 
 in all your meetings, for the overfliadowing of 
 the pure pov/er and tendering love ; therein acl 
 in truth's concerns with cheerfulnefs and fuccefs: 
 
 for 
 
( 64 y 
 
 tor tile Lord' Almighty will give a bleffing,. 
 -fwhofe counfel and fecrets are with them that; 
 fear him,) even to the bringing to light the 
 hidden abominations, and'difcovering Humbling 
 blocks: and to the comfoning the weak, who 
 have been offended, and turned out of the way:. 
 to the reaching and tendering the youth, to the 
 recovery, at Icafl of fome backfliders, and poor 
 loft {heep: fo will the church in general be 
 eomforted, her afflidied rninifters relieved, and- 
 the Lord over all glorified, who with his SoJi; 
 the Lamb, is worthy for ever. 
 
 BETTER XX. 
 
 IN the fpring of immortal love Lgreet thee, 
 Wifhing thy fouPs welfare in Chrift Jefus. 
 
 Beloved, with whom my foul hath often been 
 \}omforted ; it is in my mind to exprefs to thee 
 the fenfe I have of the work, to which we are 
 called, which is very weighty. To be as the 
 mouth of the Lord to an affembly ; and to be as 
 the mouth of an affembly to the Lord, is a 
 matter of great importance, in which we have 
 l4Leed to take care to behave ourfelves wifely. 
 
 Minifters are as the watchmen fpoken of 
 in Scripture 5 if they warned not the people 
 
 faithfully 
 
( ^5 ) 
 
 fliithfully in the word of the Lord, he was to 
 require the blood of the people at their hands. 
 If miniHers are not faithful in the word of 
 reconcihation, the more will be their condem- 
 nation. 
 
 Now, as we ought to be faithful in the 
 dehvery of our teftimony, or as I may fay the 
 word of the Lord througli us, fo we ouglit 
 to be watchful, that we may not give entertain- 
 ment to what is not the word of the Lord to his 
 people : we ought to take heed that we go not 
 forth upon openings barely, although they are 
 witneffed in the life, which may be defigned 
 for cuf own intereit and ediueaLiuTT. 
 abide in the wifdom of God, it will be clearly 
 feen what we fhould join with, and what refufe ; 
 what to communicate to others, and what to 
 apply to ourfelves. 
 
 And in our teilimony let us keep to frefh 
 openings; even fuch as 'have the weight of the 
 living word in them, and be very careful that we 
 lay not hold of former openings, neither of our 
 own nor others; left it be like the manna which 
 was gathered yefterday, and left we be guilty 
 of Healing the word from others. 
 
 Above all things let us travail, for life ia 
 meetings: though there may be a dependance- 
 upon, and defire after, words in a meeting ;. 
 which we being fenfible of are not to go forth 
 with former openings, and what we have trea- 
 fiircd up in our m.cm.orics of our own, or the 
 
 oper.ingi. 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 openings of others, thinking thereby to fupply 
 the fervice of a meeting. This is but will- 
 worfliip, and an offering which the living God 
 \/ill reje6):. I have coniidered how it fared with 
 Saul, who being prefle^d with difficulties, viz. 
 the camp of the Philiftines near, and the people 
 of Ifrael like to fcatter, the prophet Samuel 
 being abfent: in this ftrait Saul offers a facrifice, 
 for which he was reproved by the prophet, who 
 told him he had done fooliihly, and that his 
 kingdom fliould not continue. Here is an 
 inftance of the danger of forward offering, 
 althouv^h there w^as a feeming neceffity for 
 fomething to be done. Let us bring the matter 
 home to ourfelves: let us not be hafly, but 
 keep clofe to the v/ord of life: and though the 
 dependance of the people may be upon thee, 
 and in all likelihood none to anfwer the fervice 
 in a publick way but thyfelf, yet if the power 
 of the Lord is not witneffed, and his word open 
 not in thee, venture not, but wait in the patient 
 fuffering, for it will do no good. Such reafoning 
 as thefe may attend ; here are divers comie in 
 that are fober, and well inclined, perhaps if a 
 teftimony was borne, they nnight receive benefit 
 by it; furely I m.ay take liberty to tell them 
 my own experience, and how the Lord vifited 
 me in their fhate; it may have no evil effe6l, 
 though I am not conilrained to do it; in anfwer 
 to w4iich I fay, the beft of this fort is but will- 
 worfhip, ^i^'hich finds no acceptance with God, 
 
 neither 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 neither will it in any wife promote the work 
 and fcrvice ; for the will of man mull come to 
 be laid in the duft, before the will of God can 
 be done by us. We may plead excufe that it is 
 done in a zeal for God and his truth; but that 
 will not do, whilft the moving caufe of our 
 performance is too much in active felf, and the 
 creaturely will. 
 
 Silent, painful, patient fiiiTering in rimes of 
 deffrtion, Vv'ill be much more acceptable to God 
 and beneficial to the people, and prove much 
 more to our own peace, and inward flrength. 
 O that we may keep to the power of God in 
 all things ; that, being feafoned therewith, w^ 
 may preach in our lives and converfations. 
 This will ■ adorn our dcclrine, beautify our 
 fouls, and make us comely in the eyes of our 
 beloved. 
 
 Great is the goodnefs and love of our God, 
 in that he hath condefcended to make known 
 the riches of his free love to poor ftriplings: 
 chooiing the weak, fmiple, and mean things 
 •in man's eftimation, for his ufe and fervice: 
 O that we may feel the weight of his love 
 herein, fo as to be humbly bowed before him 
 into nothingnefs of felf: that what we are, vv'c 
 may really be by the power and grace of God. 
 
 I fear fome rufli into things haftily, without 
 confidering their weiglit and importance ; 
 whereby their- (landing hath been dangerous. 
 It is the life of religion that ir, a Iheiter from 
 
 the 
 
( 68 ) 
 
 the hear, and a covert from the {lorms, and* 
 as the fhade of a mighty rock in a weary land, ' 
 
 LETTER XXI. 
 
 loth Mo. I'jCcS, 
 
 THE relation I fland in to one of thy little 
 Xciokars,. bi«d3 me in- duty to take all poiliblc 
 care, that fiie may be kept in infant innocence; 
 and inftrn^led in every moral duty, as well as 
 Chriftian virtue. I took early care to inftil 
 into her tender mind, a reverent and awful fenfe 
 of the Supreme Being; the former, as well as 
 great legiflator of all his creatures. 
 
 When amongfl: the moral and divine la\v5- 
 he enjoyed his early churchy the following was. 
 not the leafi: commandment (having a fpecial pe- 
 nalty annexed) " Thou (halt not take the name 
 " of the Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord' 
 
 will not hold him guiltlcfs that taketh his 
 
 name in vain." 
 
 This injunction remaining in force upon all- 
 Chriftians, I took care to put her in mind of it y 
 and whenever I obferved her uling expreffions 
 that in the lead by fimilitude of found bordered 
 
C 69 ) 
 
 ipon it, I always chid her for it: fo that upon 
 hefe admonitions, I kept her, as often as I was 
 vith her, innocent of this evil which, it is to be 
 emarked w^ith forrow, too many called Chrif^ 
 ians are not afraki to be in the daily commiHion 
 I "f, though they fo often hear the third command 
 epeated. 
 
 And now to come to the occafion of this 
 ddrefs to thee. When my grand-daughter 
 !/ent from fchool fick of the meafles, I was 
 :kh. her, till Ihe recovered. But to my great 
 irprife, in the courfe of her illnefs, the 
 epetition of plain O Lord, without difguife, 
 ame fo often from her, that it afflicted me 
 reatly : as I began to fear my labour would 
 I rove in vain, Ihe being out of the way of my 
 \ DunfeJ and admonition. I aiked her how flie 
 I ot that habit of fpeech j fhe anfwered, the girls 
 I fchool faid fo. 
 As it cannot be fuppofed that at thy advanced 
 the children fliould be always under thy 
 otice, yet I hope thou wilt give inftrudlions to 
 ly afhlfants to di (countenance fuch an evil 
 raftice among the children. We may remark 
 is a common proverb, " That manners make 
 the man,'* and confequently the agreeable 
 Oman. 1 do not mean a civil and becoming 
 ehaviour only, though that h indifpenfably 
 -^cefTary towards forming either fex, but a care 
 due to their morals, by obferving and corre6t- 
 g their early pajlions : I mean noi; by whipping 
 
 children 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 children out of their foibles, but, by a proper 
 authority, fiibjeifling their tempers, humours, 
 and inclinations to pride, and ill nature and 
 flubbornnefs. 
 
 I have no intention to give thee offence by 
 thefe remarks, but am obliged to fay thus much 
 in point of duty. 
 
 LETTER XXII. 
 
 7ih Mo. 1752, 
 
 IT is four years fmce it pleafed the Divine 
 Being to draw me in a manner (which is wonder- 
 ful to me, and which I cannot now comprehend) 
 to draw me, I fay into a confideration of my 
 (late, and repentance for my long backfiidings, 
 and a defire. for forgivenefs and acceptance 
 again. In the infancy of thofe times, many 
 were my fighs and tears, but many were the 
 promifes which encouraged iny perfeverance in 
 the path of judgment. As I went on, I found 
 the enemy of all good, after having in vain 
 alTayed to caft me dow^n below meafure, (by 
 adding imaginary fuel to that godly lorrow 
 which w^orketh true repentance,) endeavouring 
 in the progrefs of my travel to elevate me too 
 
 much. 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 nuich, by perfiiading me that now there was na 
 neceility for fo much mortification, felf-denial, 
 and retircdnefs, as aforetime. And in this, to 
 my fliame, I will confefs, he too often prevailed. 
 But through the tender mercy of the Father of 
 mercies, notwithdanding the working of the 
 adverfaryupon a difpofition naturally light, vain, 
 and inconftant, I have been preferved, if not 
 always in the midil of the right path, yet with 
 my face always fef that way. And though 
 inlfrumental helps do not afFecl me fo much as 
 formerly, yet is my fpirit often as much contrited 
 as ever, my heart as much enlarged in prayers 
 and tears, and my defires after invifibles, as 
 ftrong as ever. But, dear friend, here is my 
 flrait and ditHculty, that though I have as it 
 were palled from the watchmen, yet Ifili 1 find 
 not him, to my comfort, whom my foul loveth ; 
 but the iPiOrning feems to be as far off, as when 
 I firft perceived it was night : and in this diftrefs 
 I am. at times ready to cry out. Oh, wilt thou 
 ixever, never appear! furciy none have been fo 
 dealt with as II mufl I be the only one who 
 feeks thy face in vain? 
 
 One crumb, the fraallefl: pittance, fo it be the 
 divine, will fuffice me! then am i brought into 
 the deepeft humiliation, and ready to make 
 covenant, that I will be any thing or nothing, 
 fo that I may be admitted to be one of this 
 family. O furely it is a matter of great difficulty 
 to be re-admitted, fo that thofe who are in any 
 
 degree 
 
C 72 ) 
 
 degree favoured ^\^ith an abode here, had need 
 to ufe all diligence to obtain a fettlement and 
 eflablifliment, that they may go no more out. 
 
 LETTER XXIIL 
 
 - -pth Mo. 1752. 
 
 THOUGH my ability is weak, myunder- 
 ftanding and experience very little, and my 
 (lability ftill lefs, fo that I am fure I am in a ftate 
 which wants to receive advice and encourage- 
 ment, rather than give it: yet in my poor 
 meafure, I am willing to do any little thing in 
 my power for the good of my dear friends ; 
 whom I fmcerely love, for that caufe, which 
 more than all things, I defire fliould profper. 
 And therefore, dear coufm, I would invite thee 
 not to dainties, for I have not for many years 
 had any for myfclf ; but come along with me 
 to a preparation and a capacity for receiving of 
 them. We muft firft be waf}ied in the water 
 of life before we can tafte thereof. 
 
 The angel, (the melTenger of the covenant,) 
 muft be plcafed lirfl to defcend and trouble the 
 waters, (our thoughts, aiYcdions and dcfires,) 
 
 then 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 then the lame nmO: be wafhed therein before he 
 can be healed. This, which is the wafhing of 
 regeneration, is the firft (lep to be made pre- 
 paratory to the remiiTion of fins and witn effing 
 the times of refrediraent from before the Lord : 
 an operation which too many are not willing to 
 undergo. Like Naaman they think it too mean 
 to wa!h in the little river of Jordan, and like 
 him they would have their change brought 
 about after fome more great and powerful 
 manner. But my poor foul knows by the ex^ 
 perience of fome years, and by miany and deep 
 baptifmiS, that the Almighty is indeed various 
 in his operations, working diverfely on divers 
 hearts, and caufmg the kingdom of Saul to grow 
 weaker and weaker, and the kingdomx of David 
 to grow Wronger and flronger, in a quicker or 
 flower manner according to his own v^nfdom in 
 thofe whom it has pleafed him to vifit; but that 
 he is invariable in this, that he requires of each 
 of us to feek unto him alone and follow him ( not 
 by imitation of others but by the teachings of his 
 own fpirit with faithfulnefs, patience, humility, 
 and refignation) in that particular way which 
 he has call up for us to walk in. And if we be 
 engaged ileadily to proceed herein, we fliali 
 experience in our own particulars the fuifiliing 
 of the diipenfation antecedent to the coming of 
 Chrift, viz. The voice of one crying in the 
 wildernefs. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
 D make 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 make ftraight his paths, or make ffraight in 
 the defart a high way for our God. 
 
 LETTER XXIV. 
 
 8th Mo. 1752. 
 
 MANY are the vifited and called of the 
 Lord, but few are his chofen. The reafon I 
 beheve is, becaufe all thofe who are vifited are 
 not faithful to the little difcoveries which are 
 made to them : fome are too ftubborn or 
 cowardly to bear the crofs, and others are too 
 wife ; and by their reafoning and comparing, 
 inflead of obedience to the convi<5i:ions of grace, 
 caufethe eye which has inmeafure been opened, 
 to be clofed again by the God of this world 
 and of the wifdom which is in it. If thou be 
 determined, dear friend, in good earnefl to 
 prefs forward, and endeavour to perfevere to 
 the end, (for running well for a time will {land 
 us in little ftead) keep nothing alive which 
 fhould be llain, give up cheerfully to the fire 
 that chaffy combuftible nature which is for the 
 fire; and let the fword of the Spirit pierce and 
 divide that which is for the fword j and as thou 
 
 art 
 
 4i 
 
C 75 ) 
 
 art faithful herein thou wilt know by degrees 
 judgment to be brought forth into viftory, and 
 thou fhalt in due feafon feel that peace which 
 paffeth the underftanding. 
 
 LETTER XXV. 
 
 4th Mo. 175:5. 
 
 WE (liould labour to command our own 
 fpirits, which not being properly fubjeded, I 
 believe, often prevent the fpirit of truth from 
 reigning and governing in us : without whofe 
 influence, how can we walk exemplary before 
 our families and neighbours, or be ferviceablc 
 in the fociety. I have thought that we are 
 compound beings, and as we are a mixture of 
 matter and fpirit, foul and body, fo the foul 
 has a mii^ture of the natural and fpiritual, which 
 have a very clofe connection. Neither is this 
 conneflion between the natural and fpiritual 
 part of the foul any more necelTary to be divided 
 for our wTli-being (in fome degree) in this hfe, 
 than the foul and body. It is requifite that, in 
 both cafes, the natural be fubjeci: to the fpiritual. 
 But as the improper ufage cF the body often 
 ftupifies the foul, fo the improper government 
 
 D 2 of 
 
( 76 ) 
 
 of our own fpirits often hinders the arifing into 
 dominion of the fpirit of truth. 
 
 Let us then, dear friend, ufe all the me: .is in 
 our power to keep our own fpirits in fubjedion, 
 and regulate our outward affairs as well as we 
 can in order to attain that end; and Providence, 
 doubtlefs, will not be wanting by fupernatural 
 aid to ainrt us in fubduing thofe enemies of our 
 own houfe; that fo by degrees body, foul and 
 fpirit, may be brought into a proper re6litude 
 in his fight. Methinks it is a very ufeful and 
 cffential part of knowledge, to diftinguifli be- 
 tween the natural and fpiritual both in ourfelves 
 and others, in order to be rightly qualified for 
 the fervice of this day. But our own fallen 
 wifdom can never comprehend this knowledge. 
 This is only to be learned of the word, which 
 the apoftle compares to a fword that can make 
 a divifion, as between the joints and marrow, 
 the foul and fpirit. 
 
 LETTER XXVL 
 
C 77 ) 
 
 LETTE R XXVI. 
 
 I ft Mo. 1761, 
 
 SURELY fome people or other, of honefl 
 plain and fimple hearts, will be raifed up as 
 witnefTes to this life: for, as to the generality 
 of us now making profeffion of it, there are 
 numbers, who feem entirely unacquainted with 
 the in^uence of it^ and neither to own it in 
 their experience, nor confefs it in their lives. 
 According to my little fenfe, a fpirit of eafe and 
 indifference has taken fuch (Irong root among us 
 that it mud: be fome violent and terrible fliock 
 that will loofen it. A declenfion is often and 
 juftly complained of, but I wilh we would each 
 ftriflly examine ourfelves, how far Vvx are clear 
 of it. It has of late appeared to me that who- 
 ever through want of watchFulnefs or faithful- 
 nefs does not come up in the rank and fliation 
 allotted to him, but falls fliort of the fervice 
 defigned him, comes (hort of the glory of God, 
 and contributes individually to this general 
 declenfion, though he may have been and ftiil 
 is the vifited of the Lord, and a child of the 
 family: and when I confider the excellence and 
 importance of the caufe of true religion, and 
 what manner of perfons thofe (hould be who 
 are engaged to be active therein, I have been 
 D 3 ready 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 ready to fay, "Wlio is fufncient for thefc things r 
 thefe reflections above hinted feem however to 
 have this good effect on myfelf, that meafiiring 
 v/hat I am by what I ought to be, and perhaps 
 might have been, if it had not been my ov^^n 
 fault, I am made thoroughly fenfible of my own 
 "weaknefs and worthlefTnefs. I wifh I could as 
 effeChially get releafed from my faihngs, as I 
 plainly fee them, and fometimes heartily lament 
 them. 
 
 LETTER XXVII. 
 
 5th Mo. 1762. 
 
 WE have been informed of thy embarking 
 in the uncertain and precarious bufmefs of a 
 boarding fchooh It may well be termed em- 
 barking, becaufe it feems much to depend on 
 the temper and caprice of others ; tempers 
 fluduating and changeable. But as there is 
 one whom the winds and feas obey, fo if we 
 firfl: and principally feck his bleffing, and de- 
 mean ourfelves at all times and in all places 
 with fuch a tender regard to his honour, and 
 fidelity to his teftimony, as will moft certainly 
 draw down his notice and favour upon us, we 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 fliall do well in every refpe^l:; and if he caufes 
 us to be ftewards over much, he will teach us 
 to ufe it to his honour: if in his infinite and 
 unfcarchable wifdom he fees meet to grant but 
 a little, the little, with his blcffing, will be fuf- 
 ficient and befl. For thy own fake therefore, 
 dear friend, for the fake of thy own true interefl 
 temporal and fpiritual, and for the fake of that 
 mod noble and glorious caufe, which bleffed 
 are they who (by their precept, influence and 
 example) contribute to help forward every one 
 in his rank and ftation, even the caufe of that 
 religion which we profefs, (Chriftianity in its 
 purity, undefiled with the mixture of worldly 
 rites, obfervations and ceremonies) be humble 
 and fteady, be much in retirement, think no- 
 thing of thyfelf, think nothing of thy perfon, 
 nothing of thy parts either natural or improved; 
 if thou be elevated with any of thefe, or any 
 other confideration, thou wilt never be truly 
 honourable: the eye of heaven will view thy 
 lofty dwelling with difapprobation, for v/hat is 
 the moft pompous ftate of man with refpe£l to 
 perfonal accomplifliments and acquifitions, in 
 the view of him, who charges even his angels 
 with folly, and the very heavens are not pure 
 in his fight? Confider what manner of perfon 
 it is whom the facred fcriptures bear record that 
 the favourable regard of omnipotence is toward, 
 But to this man will I look, even to him 
 that is poor and of a contrite fpirit, and 
 D 4 " trembletb 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 trembleth ?.t my ^\'ord.*' But if thou walk 
 in fiich humility and feif-abafement as the true 
 light will fhew thee is altogether becoming thy 
 ftate, condition and exiftence, if thou diligently 
 hearken to, and faithfully obey the di<f^:ates 
 of that holy principle of grace, which is the 
 criterion of our religious profefTion, thou wilt 
 be in the favour and under the protection of 
 divine Providence, and no necelTary good thing, 
 fpiritual or temporalj v/ill be wanting. 
 
 LETTER XXVIII. 
 
 5th Mo. 1762. 
 
 THAT crafty enemy with whom we have 
 to contend, well knows how to turn the 
 engines of our palTions againft our own fouls, to 
 batter down the walls and bulwarks of our 
 falvation; he endeavours to draw out of the 
 way the youth and middle aged, by the allure- 
 ments of deceitful pleafures, or to encumber or 
 retard them in it by the weight of worldly cares ; 
 and if by the fpecial favour and interpolition of 
 divine help, they have efcaped the baits laid 
 for that fcafon of life, and have arrived to old 
 
 age; 
 
C 8i ) 
 
 age; neither ihere are they fafe of themfelves. 
 He attacks the old with their own natural 
 infirmiiies of body and mind, fo nearly conne(5l- 
 ed, that the one often aiFe^ts the other, if they 
 ' have lived from youth to age in ferving them- 
 felves only, and in infenfibility as to religion, 
 his bufmefs is to rock them^ to fleep ftill, till 
 they fleep the fleep of death: but if in the more 
 aftive part of life they have been quickened 
 with a fenfe of good, and been enabled to do 
 fomething for this blcflTed caufe, he would en- 
 deavour to turn their view to what they have 
 done ; as though that was forae merit and fome 
 honour to them, and as though that was fufficient 
 for them : he would make ufe of the hcavinefs 
 and inaction natural to that ftage of life to pre- 
 vent them from that lively exercife of fpirit, in 
 which both young and old miifl witnefs their 
 minds to be cleanfed and renewed, not only for 
 every day's particular fcrvice which it brings 
 along with it, while we are in the body, but 
 which is abfolately necefl^ary for the prefervatioa 
 of the life of our own fouls. 
 
 D 5 LETTER XTiX. 
 
( S2 ) 
 
 LETTER XXIX. 
 
 4th Mo. I752r 
 
 OH, that I may come to be more and more 
 v/eaned from the love of the world, its friendfliips 
 and its wifdom, and all the wit and devices of my 
 rcftlefs enemy, felf. And this has been, and I 
 hope will be, my defire for thee; that thou may 
 more and more be enamoured with the plain- 
 nefs and fimplicity of the truth> and by keeping 
 low in the light, may ft fee and efcape the 
 fubtilty of the ferpent in all his feemingly 
 glorious transformations, in all his efforts to 
 puff thee up, and all his fplgndid enticements 
 to d( I cive. I'hou knowefl far better than I 
 where and how he is bell feen and avoided, 
 and where thy great flrength lies ; but my 
 unfeigned love for thee, and not any diflrufl: of 
 thy liability, or information from any one, 
 prompts and emboldens me to take this freedom 
 with thee. It is my knowledge of thy good 
 qualities, w^hich the great giver of all good has 
 (for a purpofe of his own glory) endowed thee 
 with, and not thy bad ones (for fuch are un- 
 known to me) that makes me fo much defu'e 
 thy prefervation, and that thofe gifts and graces 
 may be kept pure and chafte without any bafe al- 
 loy : which I hope and beUeve they hitherto are. 
 
 LETTER XXX. 
 
C ^3 ) 
 
 LETTER XXX. 
 
 9th Mo. 1752. 
 
 MY beloved friend, how fenfible am I of 
 rlie neceffity of a total and abfolute refignation 
 and fabjecftion of our will to the divine will, if 
 we ever come to be truly profitable to ourfelves, 
 or fit inftruments in the Lord's hand for carrying 
 on his work effectually in the earth. I cannot 
 but think that if our wills were thus yoked, the 
 work would not only go on more profperoufly, 
 but be fiir eafier to the inftruments of it: if our 
 OAvn wills were thoroughly mortified and felf 
 of no reputation. When the oppofers of truth 
 raged and flruck againfl: the teflimony of it, 
 they might indeed grieve that which bore 
 witnefs for the truth in the inftrument, but 
 could not gratify their malice in grieving 
 the infbrument itfelf, becaufe fclf in it hcinz 
 already quite abafed and in the duit, the arrow 
 would fly inefirclually over its head. According 
 to my fmall judgment, this habitual profiration 
 of felf would be an excellent prefervative, not 
 only againfl being too much afie£i:ed by the good 
 will and applaufe, but alfo againfi: being fo much 
 troubled and afflidled by the malice and bitter- 
 nefs of men. It is a kind of balking the devil 
 and his agents ; for being already in the valley, 
 D 6- ic 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 it is impoffible for them to cafl: us from an 
 eminence. 
 
 LETTER XXXL 
 
 3d Mo. 1 75 J. 
 
 THE forrows and heavinefs which the Lord 
 brings over his people immediately, for his own 
 wife purpofes, or which are permitted to befall 
 them by adverfe accidents, or fometimes by 
 means of the wicked, which (as the pfalmift 
 fays) are his fword: thefe are, or may be, for 
 the preparing of the heart for his fervice, or 
 for weaning from this tranfitory wwld and the' 
 love of it; and the Lord is pleafed often ta 
 fweeten fuch bitter ctips: the troubles w^hich 
 we bring on ourfelves, through our own un- 
 watchfulnefs, I know by experience, lie w^ith 
 a dead weight upon us ; and from fuch I hearxily 
 pray that both I, and thofe whom I love, may 
 be delivered. 
 
 LETTER XXXIL 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 LETTER XXXII, 
 
 8th Mo. 1756. 
 
 THOU art near to us, time nor diflance 
 have not obliterated the memory of thofe fea- 
 fons when we have been blended into one fpirit 
 by baptifm, and deep has fpoken unto deep* 
 Such is the unity, fuch the friendihip and 
 intercourfe which is among the children born 
 again of the fpiritual birth, which the world 
 knows not of. May this union Hill grow my 
 beloved, among us, and prayer and fupplication 
 be more and more put up on one another's 
 behalf ; that we may be enabled to do our days 
 work while here, and hereafter join the alTembly 
 of thofe pure fpirits which are ever employed 
 in celebrating the praife of the author of all 
 our happinefs. 
 
 My fpirit bows within me in admiration of 
 that glorious hand which raifes the human crea- 
 ture that is pafllve and obedient to his will, to 
 little lefs than the dignity of an angel, and 
 crowns it with glory and honour ; anointing it 
 with oil above its fellows, who indeed have 
 fouls capable of the fame refinement and exal- 
 tation, but for want of giving up all, and from 
 being wedded to one little lower delight or 
 another, move Iq lefs exalted crbits. 
 
 LETTER XXXIIL 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 LETTER XXXIIL 
 
 2d Mo. 1 761. 
 
 GO on, my dear friend, in the diligent 
 exerciie of thy gift ; keep thy own hands and 
 heart clean, and thou wiit certainly grow ftrong- 
 er and flrongcr. Every new faithful difcharge of 
 duty will ftrengthen the root of life in thee, 
 and will be a means of laying up more treafure 
 in heaven, which thou wilt enjoy in fulnefs at 
 laft, when a few more battles are fought, a few 
 more bitter cups are drunk, a few more troubles 
 from the wicked are over. Have a care of the 
 world, beware of its conne^lions and its prof- 
 pedis; it is of a flicking nature, it is hard ta 
 touch it, without getting fomething of it upon 
 us : if we do not receive the mark (vifibly) in 
 our foreheads, we may be in danger of having 
 it fecretly in our right hands, and how then 
 can we apply them to the work? will not the 
 favour of the defilement (though it be but 
 fmall) be perceived by the wife, to be upon that 
 which we have handled ; how then will it 
 profper? 
 
 LETTER XXXIV. 
 
C ) 
 
 LETTER XXXIV.. 
 
 6th Mo, 1761. 
 
 THOU art now a man of experience, and' 
 fiiouldefl endeavour for fuch a growth as the 
 apoftle witnefled who once was a child, but 
 afterwards in all ftations learned to be content- 
 I have thought more than ufttal of late of the 
 withdrawing of the glory from the afiemblies of 
 our fociety. I am jealous that it lamentably 
 increafes. What then mufl they do, who are 
 yet in infinite mercy and condefcenfion meafur- 
 ably preferved alive? what, but increafe in the 
 diligence and deepnefs of private retirement,, 
 wearing fackcloth as within on their flefh? I 
 defire above all things a capacity for this inward 
 fleady waiting frame of fpirit, being well aiTured 
 that it is the fafell: Hate for ourfelves, and moll 
 acceptable to the majefly of heaven.. May a 
 fenfe and dread of his majedy (before whom 
 we have a great and imiportant work to do, 
 important to ourfelves and important by our 
 example to others,) I fay, may his holy fear be 
 ever fo before our eyes, as to preferve us from 
 finning in thought, word, or deed againfl him. 
 
 LETTER XXXV, 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER XXXV. 
 
 loth Mo. 1763. 
 
 I WOULD have thee (for many reafons) 
 to be exemplarily generous in contributing to 
 this and all other public expences relative to 
 the good of the fociety. Let us fliev^ that we 
 have its welfare at heart, and that we are 
 willing to adl, as well as fpeak for the caufe: 
 there has been too great deficiency in this 
 refpcift among fome worthies ; it has hurt their 
 fervice while they were living, and whofe is 
 what they faved now they are dead? 
 
 Many individuals of our profeffion, who are 
 rich in this world, are not fo in good works, 
 nor a6live in helping a good work forward. 
 They have not only deviated from the Chrillian 
 life and manners, which we are called to hold 
 forth to the view of the world ; but they feem 
 funk below the human and rational into the 
 brutifli nature: their god is their belly, and 
 their glory is their fhame: their ultimate view 
 and defire feems to be to accumulate wealth, 
 and gratify their fenfual appetites : and if our fo- 
 ciety as feme other bodies corporate, was mainly 
 fupported by money, I believe fooner than be 
 at any confiderable expence in fupporting it 
 they would let the teftimony of truth fall to the 
 
 ground 
 
( 89 ) 
 
 ground and link into oblivion, as they now 
 trample upon and diflionour it by their Uves 
 and converfation. 
 
 LETTER XXXVI. 
 
 1 2th Mo. 1763. 
 
 I NOTE thy remarks, and acknowledge the 
 juftice of them: this wrath of man (of which, 
 pride, imperioufnefs, fclf-will and caprice are 
 branches) neither wills nor works the right- 
 eoufnefs of God: it does no good: it weakens 
 the reafon, lelTens the authority, and expofes 
 the nakednefs of all who are poffeffed by it, 
 and a^l under its influence: they are men of 
 low degree, and (in my opinion) if they will 
 not fubmit to a proper fubordination, and 
 quietly learn of w^ifdom and her children, they 
 had better be palTed by as improper to be 
 confederated with: they will then indulge their 
 own private fpleen and rancour ; and they will 
 need no other chaflifer, for the fool makes a 
 rod fufficient for his own back. Not only in 
 the prefent cafe, but in moft cafes affe£ling the 
 fociety, we find the middling or low^r clafs moil 
 willing to bear the burthen, to conform to 
 
 difcipline^ 
 
( 90 ) 
 
 dlfcipline, and come into method unitedly for 
 carrying matters into execution; the rich have 
 money and many of them hardly any other 
 qualification of value : if fome of them had given 
 fomething confiderable towards this work, per- 
 haps the oppofition which they would therefore 
 think they had a right to make to fome falutary 
 fchemes for eilabliHiing and promoting it, would 
 do more hurt than their money would do good. 
 It requires, dear friend, much of that wifdoin 
 "which dwells with prudence to treat with thefe 
 rich men; — to petition them (as it were) to give 
 fome of their fubflance tow^ards the conferva- 
 tion of the fociety, when we know their lives 
 are oppofite to the true interefts of it, and that 
 they are unfit tocommunicatewith us; — ^to feem 
 to want their money, and to treat with them 
 for that, when it is themfelves we want, and 
 earnefi:ly defire that they themfehes may come 
 into and be cherifhed by the warm bofom of 
 the church. So that, (only that we are all in 
 general fo little) I would choofe that thofe 
 who are lead, rather than ambalfadors of 
 the firfi: rank from Chrifl Jefus to his people, 
 fliould be put upon the office of foliciting for 
 tnoney from them for the contingent cxpences 
 of fociety. 
 
 LETTER XXXVIL 
 
( 91 ) 
 
 LETTER XXX VII. 
 
 3d Mo. 1766. 
 
 : SEE mere and more that I was not cut 
 to be a man for this world, not one of the 
 \v::c ones and the great ones of the earthy nor 
 hnce my thoughts took a rchgious turn, did I 
 ever expe^, or defire it. I can honeflly fay, 
 that the greatefl dehght and fatisfa£i:ion that I 
 ever have in prefent polfefTion, is to feel the 
 baptifm of the fpirit to wafli ray heart, and unite 
 it to the feed in the bitter fenfe of fuffering; 
 and the mofl pleafmg contemplation that I have 
 in future profpe<ft in this life, is to fee the 
 profperity of truth, and to be favoured with 
 liberty and capacity to ferve the caufe thereof 
 !in my generation. And for the integrity of 
 this declaration I dare appeal to the fearcher 
 of all hearts, who hath even now tendered my 
 fpirit in humble preflration before him. And I 
 am glad to feel a renewal of this facred baptifm, 
 (which firfl: cemented our early acquaintance, 
 and I trufl: will preferve our f«llow(liip un- 
 broken to the end,) while I thus converfe 
 (without any premeditation) with thee. 
 
 LETTER XXXVLIu 
 
( 9^ ) 
 
 LETTER XXXVIII. 
 
 6th Mo. 1 771. 
 
 T SEEM not to have any repoficory of my 
 own, from whence I might impart any good 
 thing. So far from it, I am fo exceedingly 
 reduced, fo complete a bankrupt in my fpiritual 
 circumdances, fo poor, fo befet and embarrafled 
 on all fides, that I never knew, heard, or read 
 of any one like me. I am, or at lead feel to 
 myfelf, fo weak at times, that I feem as if I 
 could hardly hold together. Such is the perfon 
 to whom thou unbofomfeft thy griefs. Perhaps 
 this fliort recital of my own ftate, compared with 
 thy own feelings, may adminifler fome fpecies 
 of relief when thou finds that others are afflidled, 
 tofled with tem.pefls, and not comforted, as 
 well as thyfelf. Thou rightly, and I doubt not 
 experimentally, remarked, that effedual relief 
 mufl: come from the Father who feeth in fecret. 
 He made us externally and vifibly what we are, 
 and endued us with our feveral organs of exift- 
 ence and prefervation. It is he who (if we be 
 pafTive under his hand, forming our minds, as 
 we were under the fame hand fafliioning our 
 bodies, of which v/e cannot make a Angle hair 
 white or black) will conftru^St, unite, confirm, 
 afid ftrengthen in his own time the various parts 
 
( 93 > 
 
 of our inward man ; and will endu/c the fame 
 wiih thofe fpiritual fenfes neceffary for its pre- 
 fervation, and for its ability to aci properly in 
 the fervice of its great Creator. O my friend, 
 wonderfully are we made. My fpirit, as is I 
 doubt not thine and thy beloved confort's, 
 is often deeply bowed in humble petition, 
 that Divine Providence may fo lleer and pilot 
 our feveral barks through the dangerous feas of 
 life, that whatever wind from external circum- 
 ftances blows, whether high or low, profperous 
 or adverfe, w^hether the waves be rough or 
 fmooth, whether ftorms or calms betide us, we 
 may, enduring all with patience, v/aiting with 
 quiet fubmillion, not without at times a hope 
 and expe6lation, be conducted fafe at lafl into 
 the harbour of eternal reft. Should every 
 thing in the voyage be quiet, eafy, commodious 
 and agreeable to our wifhes, we might perhaps 
 grow prefumptuous, and by the interfering of 
 our own carnal wills and wifdom take our bark 
 as it were out of the hands of the good pilot, 
 and run it againft fome rocks, w^here it might 
 perifli for ever. 
 
 LETTER XXXIX, 
 
C 94 ) 
 
 LETTER XXXIX. 
 
 4th Mo. 1787. 
 
 YE have heard no doubt of our dear friend 
 
 — • having uncovered his head, his 
 
 anointed head, in the religious afTerabhes in 
 Dublin. My heart v^as glad v^hen I heard it. 
 And the defire of my fpirit is, that many more 
 may in all humility and proftration of felf, wait 
 in the deeps ; each keeping to their own pecu- 
 liar exerciie, till they receive qualification and 
 ability to bring up their ftones of memorial, 
 hving ftones, polifhcd and fitted in the depths 
 from which they are brought. I have feen many 
 fweet and promifmg blofforas fair and fragrant, 
 from which delicious fruits might have beeu 
 expccled in due feafon ; — many hopeful youths, 
 of both fexes, whom the Lord has been gra- 
 cioufiy pleafed to vifit, and to open an eye in 
 them to fee the beauty and excellence which is. 
 in the truth, and to view this world as it really 
 is ; — but there has not been a following on to 
 know the Lord in progrefTive ftages of ad- 
 vancement. There has not been a fufHciently 
 diligent waiting for the re-baptizing which 
 purges and makes clean from all defilement of 
 fiefh and fpirit, nor for the re-anointing, which 
 keeps the internal eye open, to fee things 
 
 natural 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 natural and things fplritual in the proper light: 
 fo there is a dwindhng, a decaying, a dwarf- 
 ilhnels in ftature ; a deficiency in meafure and 
 ^veight ; and the vacant feats of the princes and 
 nobles, removed from works to rewards, are 
 not effectually filled up: fo that defe(^ and 
 wcaknefs have overfpread, the dignity of the 
 Church is lowered, and her authority, which 
 ffands in the life and in the power of truth, is 
 greatly diminilhed. If ye are perfuaded that 
 
 thefe things are fo, my dear , do thou 
 
 and fome of thy near connexions look about 
 you, and fee whereabouts you are ; let not the 
 cares of this life fuperfede your concern in 
 thofe things which relate to a better that is to 
 come. While ye are commendably and mo- 
 derately diligent in outward bufmefs, be diligent 
 and fervent in fpirit, ferving the Lord and his 
 caufe with your beft in your generation. Above 
 all things feel after the dew of heaven; and as 
 much of the fatnefs of the earth as is fuitable 
 for you will be added. Let the pure truth and 
 its heavenly wifdora circumfcribe your defires 
 and defigns in all things; you will find its 
 government and direction mofl: profitable, both 
 as to the life, which now is, and that which is 
 to come. 
 
 LETTER XL, 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 LETTER XL. 
 
 4th Mo. 1^69 
 
 it's parent's affli^ion for the lofs of that 
 dear departed youth I doubt not has been very 
 confiderable: thefe events are not without the 
 ordering of an all-wife agent, who has many a 
 wheel within a wheel in his great economy. 
 Very likely in mercy he fnatched away this 
 youth, now refcued from the temptations of a 
 dangerous troublefome world: he loofened one 
 of thefe ties, by which fome of the furvivors 
 were connefted perhaps too clofely to prefent 
 vifible enjoyments, fhewed the fallacy and un- 
 certainty of human profpe£l:s,and I truft, effected 
 thereby on fome of their minds a more folid 
 thought of, and preparation for, that awful 
 period which haftens with uninterrupted fpeed 
 upon us all. If we be happily preferved to 
 fleer well through this flate of probation, wc 
 fliall go to our beloved friends and acquaintance 
 who are gone well before us, but they cannot 
 return to us. This is a ftrong incitement to 
 watchfulnefs and care, and fliews the vanity of 
 a redundance of grief. 
 
 I did not hear before thy intelligence of the 
 a^lrefs thou mentions. Such tidings are very 
 agreeable: but would be much more fo, if they 
 
 brought 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 brought account of an humble, diUgent, (leady 
 perfcverance in the party. Pvlany no doubt are 
 viiited by the power of that golpel, which is 
 preached in every human creature; and feverai 
 are animated with good defires and refohitions 
 to be obedient to it: but when the tempter 
 comes, praclifmg on the inclinations, affections, 
 and paflions, and plying his batteries againft 
 that fide which is moft eafily befet, for want of 
 the creature w^aiting for the help of the all- 
 fufEcient grace, but dallying with, and lift^ning 
 to the temptation, inftead of growing from 
 flrcngth to ftrength through faithfulnels in the 
 little, the foul becomes weaker and weaker, 
 loles its hold of the means of its faivation, and 
 is hi danger of perifhing for ever. 
 
 LETTER XLI. 
 
 THOU and I, my dear friend, are blefl with 
 beloved conforts and true help-mates agreeable 
 to our wifh: we have alfo a tender hopeful 
 progeny. May we be conitandy waiting to feel 
 our fpirits feaioned with divine grace, and keep 
 near that hoiy life, by which vrc may be enabled 
 by example and precept to ani^Tcr the 'jud wit- 
 nefs in their coiiiciences, and help them forward 
 E in 
 
( 98 ) 
 
 in the right road : not only fuffering, but 
 earneflly perfuading the Httle children to come 
 unto Chrifl, whofe arms are ftill extended to 
 receive them. 
 
 LETTER XLII. 
 
 3d Mo. 1775. 
 
 SUBMIT wemufl: our lives, the lives of all 
 we hold dear to us, and every comfort v^e 
 extract from every thing, are in the hand of 
 omnipotence and under his controul ; how aw- 
 fully (hould we then walk before him who is 
 the fource of every bleffmg to his depending 
 children, and who on the other hand (as a 
 certain author moft beautifully remarks) can 
 difquiet the foul and vex it in all its faculties. 
 I have been led very lately to ponder a good 
 deal on the uncertainty of our tranquility, and 
 the neceffity of the interpofition of that great 
 power, to preferve us alive in every refpefl:. 
 Doubtlefs, whatever may be our trials, or from 
 whatever quarter they may come, if we watch 
 fteadily unto prayer, if we keep a confcicnce 
 void of offence, if we look to the Lord for 
 fuccour, we fhall be helped thro' one difficulty. 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 and one exerclfe after another, till our meafurc 
 of fuffering is filled up, and our weary fpirits 
 are admitted into that holy rell: prepared for 
 thofe who through faith have overcome in this 
 dangerous warfare. 
 
 LETTER XLIII. 
 
 ifl Mo. 1787. 
 
 AT prefent, there is caufe for much gratitude 
 on account of the day of profperity which we 
 are favoured with. By and by no doubt comes 
 in the revolution of the feafons, a day of ad- 
 verfity, equally good and profitable for us. May 
 we all, my dear friend, fo improve the mereiful 
 vifitations of heavenly regard and notice, that 
 whether the north or the Ibuth wind blow upon 
 our gardens, the Lord's plantation in us may 
 flouriih and bring forth fruit, to the praife of 
 the good and gracious hulbandman. I am 
 perfuaded that his fatherly intention is to do 
 good to your father's houfe, and to make it 
 ufeful and honourable to and among his people. 
 But many, very many, are the dangers and 
 temptations from within and from without, 
 which await the necelTary cares of this life; and 
 
( ) 
 
 the purfuit of things lawful from the piireft and 
 noblefl motives, if carried to an improper excefs, 
 may clog the feet of the inward man, and pre- 
 vent his running with alacrity the race which, 
 by divine appointment, is fet before him. The 
 feeking of great things, the afpiring after this 
 world's grandeur, the imitating and emulating 
 others who are not devoted in body, foul, fpirit 
 and fubftance to the caufe of truth, hurts the 
 tender plant of renown, and retards its growth. 
 
 But -to be diligent in the fpirit of our 
 minds, often cultivating feafons of retiremxcnt, 
 watching daily and hourly unto prayer for pre- 
 fervation from evil and for divine acceptance, 
 "wicnelling from time to time that baptifm Vv'hich 
 cleanfes from all defilement of flefh and fpirit, 
 doing nothing which we are perfuaded in the 
 fecret of our own minds is wrong, and being 
 faithful to every manifeftation of a£tive duty; 
 this I believe is the way to draw down the 
 blelTing of heaven, and perpetuate it among 
 
 US, 
 
 LETTER XLIV. 
 
( loi ) 
 
 LETTE R XLIV. 
 
 3d Mo. 1763* 
 
 INFIRMITIES of various kinds are by the 
 appointment of Infinite Wifdom allotted to our 
 nature, and one diforder or other, with more 
 or lefs fpced, will work the decay of the mortal 
 part of us all: fome diforders hurry us vrith 
 pain and anguifn out of life, as it \vere with 
 open force and violence, while others gradually 
 undermine the conflitution; and the abfcnce of 
 much pain caufing a flattering hope of longer 
 continuance, the frail tabernacle is diflblved 
 before we are v/ell aware. In this, in that, ia 
 every circumflance of life or death, there is one, 
 and but one, fure hope to anchor our tolTed 
 tried vclTel ; to wit, the earneil: of eternal refl: 
 and peace. This has made the dfath-bed. even 
 when agonizing pain of body has attended, as a 
 bed of rofes, and die pale melTenger lias been 
 welcomed as one come to releafe the foul from 
 the fetters of mortality, that it may take its 
 flight into the regions of pure joy, and unmixed 
 uudifturbed felicity. 
 
 E 3 LETTER XLY. 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 LETTER XLV, 
 
 7th Mo. 1763. 
 
 I READ thy lafl, and attended to the con- 
 tenrs with a mind impreffed with farrow, and 
 indeed forrow and trouble are at times fpread 
 before me on account of the fituation of things 
 . in our religious fociety. What is the reafon 
 that m.any educated amongfl: us fliould be fuch 
 enemies to t]]e truth which they profefs? yea, 
 the enmity of tlieir fpirits (like thick darknefs) 
 is to be felt: What mud be oppofed to thefe 
 fiery darts? for my part, I know nothing more 
 hkcly for the honefl hearted to defend them- 
 felves v/ithal ^^nd preferve their own fpirits, nor 
 by which they may overcome the agents of the 
 wicked one, than the power of gofpel love. 
 This if patiently kept to, will work wonders: 
 this is invincible, and its armour impenetrable. 
 But if this be in any meafure departed from., or 
 adulterated with felf-Iove (which is the parent 
 of refentment) it caufes a breach in the panoply 
 (the whole arniour) of God who is love, and 
 fo leaves fome weak part unguarded to be 
 wounded and hurt. If any therefore have been 
 injured or hurt, to a deep fearch after the 
 healing virtue of this divine love, I would 
 earncitly recommend ihem j and as this becomes 
 
 predominant 
 
^ ( 103 ) 
 
 predominant In the mind, it will influence to 
 fay and do thefe things, and thefe only, which 
 make for peace; and it will bear down all 
 before it, and in due time re-poHefs the gates 
 of its enemies. 
 
 LETTEP. XLVL 
 
 nth Mo. 1766. 
 
 I CAN conceive by pad forrowful experience 
 the trouble your family mud be in, on the 
 didrefling occalFion which thou mentions; and 
 more efpecially fuch of you as are connected 
 with the teflimony of truth, which is wounded 
 by this affair; but fuch have aKvays this encou- 
 ragement, that thofe who fuifer for, and with, 
 the teliimony, are fupported inwardly by it, 
 and in fo much greater degree as they are 
 tender of it, and j)refer it before the ties of 
 blood, of natural affeclion, or any other con- 
 fideration. It looks to me as if this difpenfatioii 
 would be fruitful of refining baptifm to you, 
 and I heartily willi that you may patiendy abide 
 the day (or fay the night) of it, and I believe 
 you will find all work together for good. Bat 
 beware of finking too low in your minds, keep 
 
 E 4 as 
 
( 104 ) 
 
 us attentive as poilible to fed after fclid comfortj 
 and to hear the dilates of the fraall fiili voice, 
 in following which there is fafety. Metbiiiks 
 the enemy w ill not be idle at this juncrure, but 
 be apt to whifper that things having gone arnifs 
 m your own family, ye are much difqualilied 
 from interm.eddling in the fiimilies of others, 
 and that ye are not now proper perfons to fl^md 
 forth in the caufe of our difcipline in the 
 church. This is the whifpering of fa tan ; he 
 is a liar, and believe him not. Our cliildren 
 and every individual in our families have the 
 i-ame divine principle and fiifFicient grace a? 
 ourfelves, and in our obedience to it confiils 
 our common prefervation. If vv^e be careful to 
 live under its iaw% and thereby be good exam- 
 ples to them ; if feafoned by this, when frefli 
 capacity is afforded, w^e bring forth now and 
 then fuch meat for our houfehold as w^e have, 
 though only fragments; if we watch unto prayer 
 for the bkfling and protection of Providence 
 over them and us, v/hat mere is required, or 
 what more can be done? When, after ail, thofe 
 tlnit are intimately connc6led ^vith us by friend- 
 fhip or relation Ihip, fwerving from the fear of 
 God, and regard to the admonition ©f man, vio- 
 late the law of a good confcience, and the rules 
 cftablifhed in the focicty, let u5 impartially give 
 our judgm.ent with zeal againfl them, and know 
 no man after the flefh. This is what v/ill con- 
 duce to our own peace and ftrength, difappoint 
 
 the 
 
( ) 
 
 the expectation of thofe v/ho may watch over 
 us for evil, and may be a means of awakening 
 the party that has oirended to ponder more 
 deeply on the offence, and feek more earnedly 
 a place of repentance and refloration. Though 
 I write thus, I have no fufpicion of any contrary 
 condu£> in you, but believe you will acl as 
 thofe who are fenfible that many eyes are over 
 you, and particularly that eye which penetrates 
 into the deepefi: receffes of our hearts, and 
 knows the mod fccret movements of our 
 thoughts; the eye of a God, jealous indeed of 
 his honour, yet full of compaffion and merciful 
 regard to his poor afilifted devoted children, 
 and fcrvants, who faithfully ferve and fub- 
 millivcly rely upon him. 
 
 LETTER XLVII. 
 
 1 2th Mo. 1766. 
 
 I THINK I have feen that thy heavenly 
 Father and Merciful Creator, hath been gra- 
 cioully pleafed to vifit thee in thy dangerous 
 ftage of youth, and that his intention, if thou 
 doft not frudrate it, is to do thee good. Suffer 
 E 5 then, - 
 
( loS ) 
 
 then^ my dear friend, with humble refignationy 
 the operation of his purging power. Leave 
 thyfelf in his hand, and caft thy care upon him. 
 Be diligent above all things to feel after the 
 flirrings of a divine life in thy foul, and wait 
 patiendy for its tendering, cleanfmg baptihus. 
 Oh, this diligent waiting and inward retirednefs 
 offpirit! this thcu wilt find is the very fource 
 and fupply of thy ability and capacity to hold 
 out in a religious growth. This is what 1 mod 
 earneftly recommend to thee as the great and 
 principal means of renewing thy ilrength. If 
 thou rightly learneH: this leffon of retirement, 
 thou wilt foon be a ripe fcholar in religion, 
 and need not that any man teach thee, but as 
 the holy anointing will teach thee in thefe 
 feafons of waiting, and imbue thy mind with an 
 tinderftanding of thofe things which belong to 
 tliy only true, prefent,. and future everlafting 
 peace. I am greatly miftaken if the good-will 
 of heaven is not towards thee in particular, 
 and I hope to more of thy father's houfe. 
 My fmcere defire is that ye may be fo wnfe in 
 lieart, fo true to your own bed intereft, as not 
 to rejecl the offers of fuch gracious favour and 
 condefcenfion, but thankfully embrace them as 
 your chiefeft good.. 
 
 LETTER XLVIIL 
 
C ) 
 
 LETTER XLVIIL 
 
 2d Mo. 176^7* 
 
 DEAR coufm?, ye are now joined together, 
 I hope, by the ordering hand of Providence; 
 and are advanced a ftep higher into a more 
 confpicuons ftation in life and bufinefsr The 
 author of every good and perfect gift has given 
 to both of you a good fhare of natural capacity, 
 and improved underflanding ; and the means^ 
 through frugahty and induflry. with his blelFing, 
 of procuring a comfortable fubfidence. He has 
 placed you in a great and populous city, where 
 you profefs his holy and faving truth among a 
 large number of others of the fame profeffion, 
 who do not honour it as they ought in their 
 lives and converfations. Now^ my dear coufms, 
 my mind is engaged for your temporal and 
 eternal profperity, and I fee the path and the 
 only one that leads infallibly to it; v/hich is, by 
 diligently and faithfully feeking to the AI 
 mighty benefaflor for his prefervation and 
 blelling to be over and about you, and all that 
 is under your hand. Strive not to be, nor to 
 appear great, nor ftretch your wings beyond the 
 circumference of the nell: which, in the ordering 
 of all-wife Providence is allotted for you. Rather 
 live under, and appear under your ability than 
 
 E 6 QYQV^ 
 
( loS ) 
 
 over. You will experience fiifety and qiiieinefs 
 in it. The contrary is a temptation and a fnare, 
 and an inlet to dangers of various kinds ; 
 and often with nev/ beginners lays the foundati- 
 on of diiticukies, flraitnefs, and ernbarraffmenrs, 
 which they are foraetimes never difencumbered 
 of, until they aredifencumbercd of mortality : nor 
 does the perplexity always end here; their poor 
 bodies indeed reft in the earth, but the diflreiTes 
 of the parents are entailed upon the children; 
 and inftead of aggrandizement of family, there 
 is debafcment; inftead of pomp there is penury; 
 and indigence inftead of aftliience. Let Us take 
 a little view (my dear friend) of the perfons and 
 families which have been up and down during 
 our fhort time of obfervation.'let us contemplate 
 them, not with an evil nor pitilefs eye, but 
 with an eye to the ways of that all-ruling power 
 which reftftcth the proud, but givetli his grace 
 addilionally to the humble. Let us centre down, 
 and have our dwelling, low in a confcious fenfe 
 of our own unworthinefs and infufticiency to 
 direft our own fteps, or to profper either as to 
 the things of this or a better life, without his 
 blefxed affiftance and prote^lion. Be truly hum- 
 ble, (ray dear ) be frequent, and (as 
 
 much as poffihle) conftant, in feeling after a 
 capacity to breathe in fecret after an acquaint- 
 ance and communion with the author of all 
 goodnefs. Be exemplary in your own con- 
 dudi-, converfation, and exterior appearance and 
 
 deportment. 
 
( 109 ) 
 
 deportment, as becomes the difciples and pro- 
 fciibrs of the religion cflablilhed by him who 
 was meek and low in heart, and whofe garment 
 was witiiont fi^am. So will ye, in proponioa 
 to the purity of your iiireniions, and the 
 cleannefs of your hands in his fight, gain the 
 favour and approbation of him who knows the 
 heart, and hath all power in his hand to blels, 
 or to blail at his pleailire. I am unufually 
 concerned and dciirous that thy conducTl: may be 
 fuch, now in the fetting off in life, as that the 
 good will of heaven may be to and upon it; 
 and if thou happily obtain this, it mull certainly 
 be by being a pattern of humility, fleadinefs 
 and plainnefs, amongthy num.erL'US acquaintance 
 in that city. This may cccafion fome trials, in 
 which it \yill often be proved whether thy 
 attachment to the teftimony of truth, or to the 
 fpirit of the world, is miore prevalent. According 
 to the free-will choice which then v/iltbecnabled 
 to make, will thy ability to proceed aright be 
 ftrengthened or weakened, and iinally the one 
 fide or the other get the victoiV. The day of 
 fmall things and of little requirings of duty, 
 proportioned to the ftate of the children, is by no 
 means to be defpifed. Tlie crofs to our own de- 
 praved v/ills is often to be borne, and many old 
 friendfhips, connecftions, habits and propcnfities 
 of an hurtful or iinprolitable nature, will be dif- 
 folved or decay: in the room of which new dc- 
 " fires aad affections, new intimacies and fociety will 
 
 gradually 
 
( 110 ) 
 
 gradually be formed. But in all that he throws 
 down, as well as in all he"builds up, the Lord 
 almighty (as we rely upon him, and are faithful 
 to his difcoveries) will be found to do every 
 thing right, and for our good, every manner of 
 way. 
 
 LETTER XLIX, 
 
 2d Mo. 1 769.- 
 
 I HAVE ^thouglit of thee with concern, 
 knowing by experience the dangers thut unex- 
 perienced youth is liable ro. The reins Live been 
 much left on thy own neck, to run on according 
 to thy o\Yn pleafure. Thou haft girded thyfelf 
 according to thy own liking, and gone whither 
 thou wouldelt. And it is of the mercy of 
 thy great Creator, if thou haft been preferved 
 hitherto from falling into the enormities and 
 corruptions, as 1 doiibt thou haft ftepped ^oo 
 much into the vanities and follies of the world 
 and its fpirit. However, the paft is irrevocable: 
 I would have thee make a ftand now, and in 
 the cool hour of fober refle(^lion afk thyfelf, 
 "whether thou haft felt more folid fatisfa6lion in 
 the time of diflipation and libertinifm, which 
 
f I.I ) 
 
 has fince elapfed, than In thofe feafons of the 
 earlier , art of thy youth, when thy heart was 
 humbled within thee under a fenfe of thy own 
 unworthinefs, and thy fpirit tendered by the 
 vifits of divine grace: vifits which were afforded 
 thee by that flime great Creator, in wonderful 
 condefceniion, that thy mind might be pre-en- 
 gaged to love, fear and ferve him, before the 
 heated imagination and growing pailions of 
 more advanced youth, and thy defigns and 
 connections on the verge of manhood, might 
 warp thy conduct from the iimplicity and fafety 
 which is in the blelTed truth. Thou knovveil 
 bed whether thou dill enjoyed thofe tendering 
 fenfations of divine favour, or whether thou 
 had bartered this precious birth-right for fooiifh 
 fleeting, empty gratifications, which will dand 
 thee in no dead in the day of trouble; v/hich 
 tend only to edrange and fct thee at a didance 
 from thy Almighty Benefactor, who can blefs 
 or blad all thy endeavours ; and which preclude 
 thee from that frequency of intercourfe with 
 thy bed friends, by whofe communion, and 
 good €ounfel thou mightcd be profited and 
 helped every way. 
 
 I 
 
 LETTER L. 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER L. 
 
 9th Mo. 1769. 
 
 I NOTE what thou fliyefl of thy inward 
 confli(51s. I doubt not thy having commenced, 
 and in a good degree fuccefsfuily carried on 
 that war, which mufl fubfift (while we are in 
 thcfe bodies) between the flefh and fpirit, from 
 generation to generation. I wifli we may be 
 enabled ftill to carry it on, till all our enemies 
 be fabducd ; tlie greatcfl being, I believe, (as 
 thou obfervcPc) thofe of our own houfes, or 
 hearts. Let us ever bear in mind, that if we 
 would effefiualiy make war in righteoufnefs, 
 our weapons niuH: be fpirirual, not carnal. That 
 whicli is born of the flefh is only fiefli; and the 
 flefli profiteth not in this warfare. Hence I 
 fear often arife diefe repeated conflifts and 
 ftruggles, which leave us weak, and do not 
 help on the work; when mixing with fome 
 certain company, or engaged in certain hurries 
 and bufmefb, we are not watchful enough over 
 our fpirits, to poiTefs (keep) ihc{6 velTels in 
 fan£i:ification and in that honour which adorns 
 our high profeffion, but fufFer more or lefs 
 defilement. And then again, when religious 
 company, converfation, and affairs prefent, we 
 feel our want and weaknefs, and in our own 
 
 time 
 
( ) 
 
 'time and v:uh \vonld be relieved and fain 
 abound. Then the impatience of ©ur fpirits 
 would fet us to work, and tempt to force the 
 (unacceptable) facrifice; then we perhaps feek 
 relief and help by complaining to, a.nd conver- 
 fmg with, the approved fervants ; who if they 
 be wife in heart, are often fliut up from fuch 
 a fiate, and lind it their duty to keep their own 
 to themfelves. Thefe voluntan^ drivings are 
 of the Refh, or too much mixed with it, fo cannot 
 enter the kingdom, which is not to be taken 
 by this kind of violence. Bur, dear friend, 
 if we would lleadily follow on to know the 
 Lord, if we would enjoy him to our folid, per- 
 manent comxfort, and be willing to be any thing, 
 or nothing in his hand, we muft know great 
 Gripping and many humble baptifms; and if 
 we palTively and patiently abide under the 
 refining, forming hand, we fnall be dipped into 
 many tribulating difpenfations, which in the 
 courfe of their operation, wili reduce us and 
 ' onr rational powers as men (which are only 
 appertaining to us as being alfo nefh) exceeding 
 lov/; fo tint our fight, v\-i:h all our other fpiri- 
 tnai fenfcs, being purged and clear, v»'e Ihall fee 
 that truly of ourfeives we ca.n do nothing; we 
 {hall be more and more weaned from temporary 
 aids, andmiore and more learn thlsleffon, toceafc 
 from man, even the befc of men, and have oar 
 fole dependence on the Lord Almighty, v;ho 
 is the primary fource and fupply of every 
 fubiianiial good. 
 
( 114 ) 
 
 LETTER LI. 
 
 lii Mo. 1774. 
 
 THOU liveft in a place diftant from the 
 body of friends belonging to the monthly 
 meeting; and art in more danger, from fuch a 
 fituation of being leavened with the fpirit and 
 manners of other people, who though they may 
 be of irreproachable chara6lers among men, 
 yet are not brought up in a belief of, nor 
 directed to feel after the quickening virtue and 
 operation of that faving grace in the heart, 
 which is the only efFeftual prefervative of men 
 ^om the corruptions of the world. Thou plead- 
 ed for thy abfence, that thou art married, had 
 a profpe6i: of a growing family, mufl: attend to 
 a provifion for it, and therefore that thou canfl 
 not come. I acknov/ledge that it is highly 
 proper and commendable in thee to be diligent 
 in thy outward bufmefs, and to provide by 
 honeft means for a decent livelihood. Many of 
 us do the fame, and yet knowing the uncertain 
 tenure we have of all things here, and that it 
 is the divine blelTing alone which gives the true 
 reliih to the enjoyment of them, we dare not 
 be fo ungrateful to our great Benefa£lor, fo 
 difrefpeclful to our Lord and mafler, and fo un- 
 faithful tothc common caufe of our holy religion,. 
 
 as 
 
( ) 
 
 as frequently to neglecl: the alTembllng of our- 
 felves together, in order to wait for a capacity 
 :o perform acceptable worlhip to the Father of 
 pirits, and to afTift in conducing the difciphne 
 -flablifhed in the fociety: and as thou wouldeft 
 iefn-e that thou and thine fliould be partakers 
 )f thofe fpiritual and temporal bkflings wliich 
 ire in the Lord's hand to bellow, as well as 
 )thers, why fliouldeil: not thou as well as others 
 lemonllrate thy love to him, and attachment to 
 lis caufe, by an humble devotion of thy time 
 .nd talents to the author of thy exigence? It is 
 -bfurd to think, and he well deferves the ap- 
 >eIlatioa oF fool who imagines that his fecular 
 •fFairs will facceed worfe, becaufe leaving them 
 etded in a prudent manner, he attends his re- 
 igious duties as a member of Chridian fociety. 
 whofe are the cattle on a thoufand hills ? 
 ■Vhofe is the earth and the fulnefs thereof? 
 ;Vho lent us for a fliort uncertain fpace thefe 
 onveniencies of life ? and, Who can take them 
 'om us, or us from them, at his pleafure ? 
 
 But it is reported, that thou art fo far from 
 fining with us in fupport of the hedge of difci- 
 line which the Lord hath planted about us, 
 lat thou art for pulling it dov/n : that fo far 
 •om making a facrilice of any little part of thy 
 ihilance to the fupport of our teflimony, thou 
 rt for fieri ficing the teflim.ony of truth to a lit- 
 e fordid gain : and inflead of walking in the 
 'ay of our worthy anceilors, that thou art, in 
 
 the 
 
( "6 ) 
 
 the days of thy youth and profperity, ready to 
 trample on the teftimony which they bore ; 
 through many afilictions, and feveral of them . 
 fealed wkh the lofs of their hves. I mean our 
 teftimony againft the^payment of tithes, or con- 
 tributing adively to the fupport of an hireling 
 miniftry. It would exceed the ordinary limits 
 of a letter, even to touch upon the numerous 
 arguments which might be brought, both from 
 right reafon and holy fcripture, againfl this 
 antichriPcian yoke ; therefore I refer thee for 
 fatisfa61ion in this point, to thofe writings on 
 this fubje^i: which are common in the families 
 of friends ; and at prefent would juft caution 
 thee not obflinarely, after repeated advice to 
 the contrary, to violate fo material a branch of 
 our Chriftian teftimony, which coft our prede- 
 ceiTors fo dear ; becaufe by perfifting in the re- 
 foluiion which I am told thou haft formed in this 
 rel}3ecl:, thou v/iit, in a great meafure, break the 
 bond of feilowfhip with our religious focicty, 
 and I believe it will not prufper with thee. 
 
 LETTER Lll. 
 
( 1^7 ) 
 
 LETTER LII. 
 
 6th Mo. 1777. 
 
 I NOTE thy dcfjre to be acquainted with 
 true religion, and that thou haft read books, 
 and cultivated acquaintance with fuch as might 
 be likely to inftrudi: thee in it. Indeed the ge- 
 n^ihty of people beftow very little folid thought 
 about religious matters ; and if any Ihould be 
 more inquifitive than ordinary, concerning the 
 way of life and falvation, they are branded often 
 with the names of Quakers, Methodiils, Fana- 
 tics, or Enthufiaflis. However, ridicule is 
 by no means the teft of truth, and right and 
 wrong remain irreconcileable things ; the for- 
 mer is vrorth all the pains of our deep fearch 
 and inveftigation, the latter it concerns us to 
 avoid with the moft cautious circumfpeclion. — 
 It certainly is not confiitent Avith the nobiuty 
 and excellence of a riuional mind, to adopt the 
 mod iinportant principles connected with our 
 everlaftmg intereft merely upon Lrufi, and by 
 tradition : ihc religion of our education while 
 v/e were chii Jren. IhorJd be the religion of our 
 feelings and of our judgment vrhen w^e arrive at 
 maturity of underflandino;, or it fliQuld be 
 changed for that which is fo. Nor is fuch a 
 change in any degree degrading of the party 
 that makes it, when it is done purely from con- 
 
 fcientious 
 
( ii8 ) 
 
 fclentlous motives : on the contrary, it is ra- 
 tioniil and laudable, and has the fanciion ol 
 apoRolical precept, Prove all things : hold 
 fail that which is good.'' But a change of re- 
 ligious profeflion, barely, will ftand us in little 
 flead : the unregencrate man or woman mufl 
 witnefs a change of nature, which is a change 
 from nominal to real religion, from fliadow to 
 fubftance, from the name to the thing : and in 
 effedlingthis, true Chriflianity islearned byeipe- 
 ricnce, and by experience we know and feel the 
 meaning of the terms and the efficacy of the^ 
 means em.ployed in this great myftery. People 
 may talk about regeneration, faith, baptifm, 
 fan^tiiication, juftification, &c. and may reafon 
 concerning the progrefs of the work of religion 
 in the foul, but if they do not know and feel it 
 going on in themfelves, they are no more bene- 
 fited by their head-knowledge, than the man 
 who is languifhing for want of food, is ftrength- 
 ened by talking of eating. We are to receive 
 thefe things as little children, waiting in the fnn- 
 plicity of our hearts, and abflractednefs of 
 thought, to be fed by the Divine Hand with 
 food convenient for us. If we truft in the 
 Lord with all our hearts, and lean not to our 
 own underdandlng, he will lead us on gradually, 
 feed us according to our growth, and inform 
 our underdanding in the things of his kingdom, 
 as we (hall be able to bear or comprehend them. 
 I wifh thee, dear friend, to be flill in thy mind. 
 
C i'9 ) 
 
 to guard againfl reftlelTners and impatience, to 
 employ thyfelf quietly and cheerfully in thy out- 
 ward occupation (which will help to prune 
 away a redundance of unprofitable thoughts,) 
 and to be diligent in waiting for and feeling- 
 after that fpring of comfort in thy own mind, 
 which is not under thy controul, nor at thy 
 command, nor can be come at by the working 
 of any artificial tool of our imagination ; but 
 which the great Mafler fends in his own time 
 To revive the fpirit of the humble, and to re- 
 vive the heart of the contrite ones." 
 
 LETTER Llir. 
 
 1 2th Mo. 1780, 
 
 A PERSONAL Interview is pleafing, when 
 it can be enjoyed in a degree of calmnefs 
 and quiet : but as many things combine to pre- 
 vent that, I wifh us to meet often in fpirit — 
 ''Abfent in body, yet prefent in fpirit." In 
 this, my firft acquaintance and fellowfhip with 
 thee was formed, before I perfonally knew 
 thee : in this it has been renewed and con- 
 firmed. 
 
 I travail for you, dear children, that Chrifl: 
 may be formed in you, that ye may be complete 
 in him, lacking nothing. The cry of my heart 
 
 for 
 
( ) 
 
 for you has repeatedly been, that the Lord 
 would make you fuch" as he would have you to 
 he. If left to ourfelves, and to model ourfelves 
 and our demeanour according to patterns which 
 in ourov/n judgment we may fet down as moil 
 excellent and worthy of imitation, our inward 
 man will be apt to grow feeble and diitorted, 
 and its conflitution fickly and unfound : but 
 leaving ourfelves to the Lord Almighty to 
 create in us a clean heart, and renew a right 
 fpirit within us, diligently waiting in nothing- 
 nefs of feif, out of our own willings and ftrivings, 
 for the defcending of the power of truth to con- 
 trite and baptize our fpirits, we fhall witnefs a 
 being melted down and moulded anew into 
 whatever utenfil, form and fize, the Maker 
 pleafes. Here is the great matter on our parts, 
 even to be paiTive in the Divine LLmd, as clay 
 in the hand of the potter. The mixture of our 
 own imaginations is what we are carefully to 
 watch ugainU:, being the thing which mars the 
 perfection and fullies the beauty of the Lord's 
 work. All that he makes is unmixedly good ; 
 fo the more fimply and uniefervedly we fubmit 
 ourft Ives to be prepared and falhioned by him, 
 the more of tha^ unmixed good will be in our 
 fpiritual compof tion, and the nearer we fliall ap- 
 proach to the highed perfection of our natures, 
 the fu]fJling the precept of Chrift, Be yc 
 therefore perfefl, even as your Father who is 
 in heaven is peried-."' 
 
 LETTER LIV. 
 
( *2I } 
 
 LETTER LIV. 
 
 I2th Mo. 1781. 
 
 I LIKE that young men flioald avow ikeir 
 principles, rnd range thenifelves on the right 
 ilde. I like that they iliould engage ia fuch 
 a(5ls as will fliew they are not iu all-iance wirh 
 the enemies of God's irue Ifrael. There mud 
 and will be enmity between the two feeds. 
 
 My fpirit has waded in the deeps many a time, 
 an travail for the vifited youth, that not one 
 grain of the 'heavenly feed might he loft, nor 
 .unfruitful ; and now my cry is that they may 
 Go forward/' They luive many of them 
 I *been tied up from the further fallies of their 
 ' own wild nature; they have known the difci- 
 pline of the crofs ^ and now the Mafter hath 
 I need of them, (alluding to the palTage in Mar, 
 ! ^ifl chap.) he calls for their fervice in the 
 1 church. Indeed they can never ferve a better 
 mafter — his fervice dignifies the meaneft talents .; 
 and the brighteft, if tkey tetid xioi to promote. 
 iLy arc but meanly employed. This worjd, it^; 
 buftle, its purfuits, and its higheft glory, vriii 
 foonbe over to every one that is at prefeni iu it. 
 Then the anfwer of " Well done ! good and 
 faithful fervant," will be a more joyRil found, a 
 more fubftantial reward, than aU the favour and 
 friendfliip, falfe pralfe and honour, which this, 
 life can beftow. 
 
 r LETTER LV, 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER LV. 
 
 3^ Mo. 1783. 
 
 SHE is now releafed from thofe long infirm- 
 ities which infinite wifdom permitted her to 
 pafs through, for the trial of her faith and pa- 
 tience, and for her preparation for an admittance 
 into that reft, into which nothing impure can 
 enter. Refined and polifhed while here for the 
 company of bleffed fpirits, (he is (I doubt not) 
 mingled in their happy fociety. We remain a 
 little longer to ftruggle with the difficulties, and 
 encounter the temptations, which belong to 
 this life. We are not yet putting oif our har- 
 nefs, therefore have no reafon to boaft, but 
 to dwell in awful fear. We are fome of us the 
 heads of families, and principal perfons in our 
 places : our precepts and our example therefore 
 muft have confiderable weight and influence. — 
 How neceffary is it for us then to alk wifdom 
 of him, who giveth liberally and upbraideth 
 not ; that by rightly fulfilling all our feveral 
 duties in our families and in the church, we 
 may, as we pafs along in our journey, have the 
 anfv/er in our confciences of " Well done ! good 
 and faithful fervant, enter thou into the joy of 
 thy Lord," as well as that happy fentence at 
 the clofe of this vifible fcene ! 
 
 My 
 
( ) 
 
 Mf mine!, while 1 am thus engaged, is turned 
 with tender folicitude towards thy beloved ofF- 
 fpring. I beheve that many of them (and moft 
 probably all of ihem) have felt the gentle 
 touches of the Divine Hand, and the invitations 
 of the good fpirit in the fecret of their fouls, 
 drawing them from the fpirit of the world, in 
 its manifold appearances, and begetting in them 
 defires and afpirations after enduring fubfrance. 
 May they with alj diligence cultivate the re- 
 newal of thefe tendering impreHions, and in all 
 humility fubmit to the operation of thcfe 
 cleanfmg baptifms, which purify the heart, and 
 make it a fit receptacle for unmixed good. A 
 gracious Provider^e has not been wanting m 
 his vifjtations to the youth amongfl: us ; but 
 there has been a great want in them of follow- 
 ing on to knov/ the Lord in the renevred expe- 
 rience of his humbling power, and in the fur- 
 ther manifeflations of his v;ill concerning them ; 
 — hence the goodnefs of too many of them is 
 but like the morning cloud and early dew; ii 
 is foon fuperceded by a relifh for the pomps 
 ;md vanities of this world, and their bapiifmai 
 vows are foon forgotten ; and hence a want of 
 fuccefTion of teflimony-bearers to the noblefl 
 caufe, which fever did, or ever will, dignify 
 .human nature. I particularly wifh for the 
 elder branches of thy numerous hopeful ftock, 
 •as now a greater charge devolves upon them, 
 that they may feek and wait for heavenly 
 F 7 wifdorn 
 
( 124 ) 
 
 wifdom to dlreci: their own fleps, and influence 
 every part of their condudl *, that fo they may 
 grow in favour with their great Creator, and in 
 Jiis hand be made a bleihng to the younger 
 branches of the family, alTifting to train them 
 up, by example and precept, in th-e life of reli- 
 gion, and in that plainnefs and fimplicity which 
 adorn our holy profeiSoii. 
 
 LETTER LVL 
 
 2'd Mo. 1^84. 
 
 f HAVE repeatedly heard of thy appear- 
 ances in a few words in publick and private op- 
 portunities, and no doubt, in diffidence and fear, 
 i need not tell thee that it is a great and foleran 
 office to be an ambaffador between God and 
 the people. I am perfuaded that thou art fen- 
 fible of it, and that it is the fmcerc defire of thy 
 heart to be found in the w^ay of thy duty. In 
 thy infant Hate thou will very probably have 
 many doubts, qucftionings and rcafonings : but 
 as the eye is kept fmgle to the one objeft, the 
 faithful difcharge of duty, the whole inward 
 man, will be full of hght — enlightened and 
 <:nabkd to walk in the right path, and if fears 
 
 and 
 
nnd jealoufies of felf fnould arlfe, they are nor 
 to be fought againft in the will of the creature ; 
 but words and a£lions are to be brought to 
 the light of Chrifl:, that they maybe there tried' 
 "whether they have been wrought and fpoken 
 in God, i. e. whether they have the feal of his 
 fpirit. Where felf is fufHciently abafed, and 
 only to will and to do of the Mailer's good 
 pleafure is the dominant principle, there is not 
 much danger of an honeil mind being long un- 
 der a deception. The feeling of one's own- 
 mind, and the concurrent teilimony of the 
 living, will, like the mouth of tvro witneffes, efla- 
 blifli every word : and though for wife pur- 
 pofes there may be for a feafon, as it were, a 
 chaos, and a void, and darknefs upon the face 
 of the deep ; yet as the operation of the fpirit 
 of truth in thy foul is diligently w^aited for, and 
 the turning of his holy hand is patiently borne 
 and fubmiited to, he will (I truft) in his own 
 time, Bring forth thy righteoufnefs as the 
 li^ht, and thy judgment as the noon-day." 
 
 LJLTTER LVIL 
 
( 226 ) 
 
 LETTER LVJL 
 
 9tfj Mo. 1784. 
 
 IT was very pleafing to hear that it proved 
 confiilent with the Divine will to lengthen out 
 thy fliort fpan, to add a few days more to thy 
 pilgrimage. To thofe engaged in the fame 
 Warfare it is a matter of gladnefs and ilrength 
 to have their companions continued to them. — 
 Thou knoweft what this world is ; a place of 
 danger, temptation and perplexity ; a place 
 where v.^e exceedingly want Almighty help, 
 prote<ftion and dire^lion ; we want the fear of 
 the Lord to be ever before our eyes, that we 
 may be folid, v/eighty, ileady in the face of our 
 families, and our connexions and familiar ac- 
 quaintance ; we greatly want wifdom, frefh and 
 frefh for every occafion, that we may fill up our 
 ftations in the church with propriety and ac- 
 ceptance. This is a great family, in which are 
 many fervants allotted to many different offices; 
 various work is to be done, and great care 
 is to be taken by every particular fervant, that 
 he diligently minds his own bufinefs, and does 
 not over officioufly meddle with that of another ; 
 and in order that confufion may be prevented, 
 and the Head of the family may not be dif- 
 honoured, fome fervants, more intimately 
 acquainted with the Mader's will and with 
 
C >27 ) 
 
 the order of the houfe, hold a diligent 
 watch, not only over themfelves but their fel- 
 low fervants; for good exhorting, reproving, in- 
 forming, ren^inding, and all with pure difinter- 
 cfled zeal, feeking not themfelves, their own 
 honour and precedence, but the honour of the 
 great mafter, and the welfare and happinefs of 
 every individual inthe family. 'Tis to thisfervice 
 that I want thee, my dear friend, (if Providence 
 iliould be pleafed to grant a renovation of 
 heakh) to be flill more dedicated. There is a 
 want of baptized elders among us ; fuch as have 
 been companions Vvith Chrift in his fufferings 
 among us, and by us his chofen people. Thou 
 fceft what a hoiL of mefftngers is fent, even 
 from far diflant parts of the earth, to awaken 
 us to righteoufnefs and amendment of life. 
 May we, the obje(fls of their vifits and of con- 
 defcending favour, be willing, yea delirous to 
 go yet deeper down into the facred pool, there 
 to be wafhed from every defilement of fpirit, as 
 well as of flefh ; that fo, being happily reduced 
 to the little child's (late, we may lofe "the wife 
 and prudent," in the reduction of felf, and be 
 in a flate fit to receive the glorious myflcries 
 of the kingdom, " revealed untg babes," in; 
 Chrifl, 
 
 F 4 LETTER LVIIL 
 
LETTER LVim 
 
 8ch Mo. 1791. 
 
 THOU knowcfl upon what groiindf;, con- 
 Tictions and leeiings thou caineft, at the fiHt, 
 fo profefs the tnuh ; thou knoweft what '-ath 
 lince done for thee, how thou haft efpo . it, 
 and with what eompany thou hafl on . >us 
 ©ccafions been engaged in the promotio.. or it : 
 and 1 doubt not thou flill beheveft It to be the 
 mod ineftimable treti^lire, which the heart of 
 man is capable of enjoying. Be honcfl with, 
 thyfelf, as I hope, my dear friend, thou wilt be, 
 and try whether thou hafl not fulfered iofs ; 
 whether for fome time paft there has not been- 
 a decay, inflead of an increafe, of divine virtue 
 in thy foul ; and whether thy ability for fervice 
 in religious fociety has not been greatly weak- 
 ened, if not entirely loft. This perhaps thy 
 candour and integrity will acknowledge ; but 
 fclf, that partial, pernicious counfeMor, felf, 
 will probably plead that lofs indeed hath been 
 fuftained, but that the fault is not all thy own: 
 that thou haft met with hardufage, improper 
 treatment, and an unchriftian fpirit, in dealing, 
 from thy brethren; and that though thou 
 mayeft be, in fome meafure, wrong, it is evident 
 that they are not altogether right. This reafon- 
 ing leads to a fdf-Gomplacence, and retorting; 
 
 which 
 
( ) 
 
 which will only bewilder and' aggravate. T 
 would therefore, in true good-will, and cordlar 
 defires for thy reftoration and help, recommend 
 thee, dear friend, as much as polTible, to turn 
 out this reafoner, this intereded, prejudiced' 
 counfellor, felf; to look unto Jefus, the author" 
 of thy faith ; to lay proflrate as at his feet ; to 
 bear his chailifements ; and not only bear, 
 but with all thy heart to defire them, as being, 
 the ftripes, by which thou art to be healed : 
 nay farther, fubmit thyfelf with a dutiful, filial 
 fubmijlion to thy morher the church, though- 
 fome of her children may fcem not in the fpirit 
 of meeknefs, but angry with thee ; be not thou, 
 moved to retaliate,, but remember the pattern 
 which the- great Mader fet us; as^ faith the 
 apoftle, " For even hereunto were ye called,. 
 " becaufe Chrift alfo fulFcred for us, leaving xis 
 " an example, that ye fhould follow his fteps 
 " who did no fm, neither was guile found in his 
 " mouth : who, when he was reviled, reviled. 
 ^' not agaiH ; when he fuffered, he threatened. 
 
 not ; but committed himfelf to him that 
 '-judgeth righteoufly/' Mow much more 
 then fhould his followers and difciples, when 
 they have been overtaken in a fault, confefs 
 their frailty, humble themfelves, and make re- 
 flitution, and fatisfa(Stion, and reparation as- fer 
 s in their power ? We have feen thc-danger 
 of perfifling in a line of condufl contrary tonhe 
 general fenfe of the brethren, and of being pertK 
 F 5 nacioi>s» 
 
( ) 
 
 nacions In our own opinions ; how it lowers In 
 efteem, and lays waftcthe fervice of thofe who 
 were gifted and honourable men. I confefs I 
 am afraid left the enemy of all good fliould mak^ 
 u(e of thy prefent fituation and circumflances, 
 as an engine to batter down any wall of ftability 
 and fecurity that is left about thee, and wreak 
 his infernal malice upen thee j for " Hell and 
 deftrii<^ion are never full." O, mayeft thou 
 with full purpofe of heart turn to him, who 
 gracioufly vifited thee in early youth, who gave 
 thee a name and inheritance among his people, 
 and who, if the fault be not thy own, will de- 
 monftrate that his promifes are not yea and nay, 
 but yea and Amen, and that his mercy endurcth 
 for ever. 
 
 LETTER LIX. 
 
 5th Mp. fyB6. 
 
 THE national meeting was, I hope, owned 
 in degree in the feveral fittings of it my poor 
 ipirit was favoured with being brought low, 
 and plunged into the deeps, a ftate 1 love, be- 
 caufe 1 love cleanlinefs ; and I defire no other 
 itate, nor any other fupport or food, than what 
 
 Infinite 
 
( '3' ) 
 
 Infinite Wifdom fees meet to adminifler to mc ; 
 he knows our feveral frames and textures, and 
 what is neceffary and befl for us: he is the^vife 
 potter, who knows when and how to ufe the 
 fire and water, to harden, to foften, and to let 
 the veflel iland in a preparing ftate for the ap- 
 pointed time : he is the wife houfeholder, who 
 at his pleafure occupies the veflel when pre- 
 pared ; yet even then, when he takes it down, 
 cleanfes it afrefh for ufe. May we, in every 
 flage of the operation of his plailick hand, be 
 fubmiflive, content to remain as on our mouths,, 
 turned upfide down, or (landing as on the fhelf 
 unoccupied, as well as ufing all diligence of 
 fpirit to be in a ftate of readinefs for any little 
 ufe, which perhaps the Mafter may fuddenly 
 require ! His tried, experienced, faithful fer- 
 vants with one voice declare that he is the beft: 
 of mafters : and I am fare this life feems a poor, 
 mfipid, pakry round of care and cumber, vanity 
 and folly, unlefs it be fweetened, animated and 
 renewed by the fpirft of Chrillianity entering 
 into and among our feelings : fo, my beloved, 
 go on and profper in thy own little way, atten- 
 tive to pleafe the hufband of fouls, learning of 
 him at home, fimply and honeftly doing what- 
 ever he bids thee ; not too much looking out 
 and mufmg on what this or the other body will 
 fay or think, but cultivating retirednefs of fpirit, 
 and attending to the gift which is in thee ; fo 
 be it i 
 
 F 6 LETTER LX. 
 
C 132 ) 
 
 LETTER LX. 
 
 loth Mo. 1786. 
 
 SUCH is the excellent nature of this holy 
 power, that the more the gift is exercifed (un* 
 der a lively influence) the brighter it fliines, ths 
 Ihonger it grows, and the more the precious 
 anointing accompanies it. But unfaithfulnefs, 
 difobedience, fpiricual indblence^will always gra- 
 dually work its decay ; and then uncomfort- 
 ablenefs, unpleafantncfs, uneafmefs and indeed 
 unhappinefs, crowd in from all quarters, from 
 within and" from without ; a hoft of foes, and 
 our bed friend and ally alienated from us. So, 
 my dear friend, let thou and I go on quietly 
 and foftly and feelingly, in our own little line of 
 life ; if we get any little good for ourfelves, let 
 ns- liuihand it carefully, the times are poor ; but 
 if there feems a redundance, let it flow, nor fear 
 to- wate the ointment j and indeed if there 
 ihouid be no fuper-abundance for ourfelves, if 
 a famine fhould be in cur land, yet fliould we be 
 glad to handle the holy things, and of being fa- 
 voured to dillribute to others \ for fo doing, ws 
 ftiall certainly get enough' to keep life and foul 
 together, and as the times gOj we may be verjT 
 well fluisfied with this, " Thou fhalt not 
 *^ muzz-le the ox which treadethout the corn*" 
 
 LETTER LXL. 
 
C m ) 
 
 LETTER LXL, 
 
 I ft Mo. 17&g;- 
 
 LAST night vre received 
 thine, of the day preceding, with. an account 
 of the final ilTue of your anxieties refpefting, 
 your beloved infant, and it is the lail and 
 worft to be expecled concerning her : no 
 painful fears about her future condu^l ; no dan^ 
 ger of her entering, into temptation of the 
 enemy : no corruption of the heart, nor any in- 
 tgrnal defilement to annoy or deflroy ; no cares^ 
 conflicts and embarraflinents of this world to 
 vex and perplex her ; no more pain and forrow 
 ef body and mind, but an admittance into that- 
 kingdom, which is compofed of fuch ; into 
 one of thofe manfions prepared by the. Father 
 for innocent and fanclified fpirits, which, for 
 ever happy in a new fiate of exigence, are 
 doubtlefs glorified by,. and are employed in glo- 
 rifying for ever, the glorious Author of their 
 being. Well will it be for us if we can but go 
 to them. In order to v.hich attainment, we 
 that are continued on this ftage,- have a fharp 
 and conilant warfare to maintain, not only v/ith 
 fiefo and bloody and that which is inherent ia 
 them, but fomeof us are called to grapple with- 
 and encounter fpirituat^wickednefs in ourfelves 
 and in others , we have an arduous fight to main-- 
 
 tain. 
 
C 134 ) 
 
 tain, and great care, caution and diligence to 
 cxercife j eife, inflead of overcoming, we may 
 be overcome of evil, and even near the end of 
 the race may fall and lofe the prize. My be- 
 . loved, thou hafl received a gift for the edifica- 
 tion of thy brethren and fifters ^ do not defpife 
 it nor the occupation of it, but diligently wait 
 on thy gift, and exercife it in the fimplicity ac- 
 cordhig to the ability received ^ fo wilt thou not 
 only grow therein, but grow in favour with the 
 great Mafter and with his faithful fervants : 
 ihou wilt find that humihty, fidelity and obedi- 
 ence will make way for thee in the hearts of the 
 people, and make room for extenfive fervice, ta 
 the increafe of thy peace and tranquillity.— 
 Then, when crofs occurences fall out and ex- 
 ternal trials befet, thefe things will be received 
 with equanimity and patience ; " Shall we re- 
 " ceive good at the hand of God, and fliall we 
 " not receive evil But,, oa the contrary, 
 where there is a defire to fave felf and its honour, 
 a rcludance to expofe one's felf and become 
 vile ; or a difqualification for fervice, of our own 
 bringing on ; then we are not only uncomfortable 
 in ourfelves, retard our own growth, accumulate 
 weakness, but when, difagreeable events are 
 permitted to befal us, they appear to us clothed 
 with terror, and minifters of divine wrath. In 
 this view, I contemplated with fatisfa^lion the 
 account which I had of thy faithfulnefs in your 
 late province women's meetings had thou re- 
 turned^ 
 
( *35 ) 
 
 turned home under the load of confcious dif» 
 obedience, what an aggravation would it have- 
 been to thy fevere trial ! But I trult a placid 
 ferenity is the covering of thy fpirit, and that 
 thou haft blefled, and wilt be enabled often to 
 blefs, that hand which mercifully giveth, and as 
 mercifully and wifely taketh away, at his plea- 
 fure. 
 
 LETTER LJIL 
 
 nth Mo. ijr&S. 
 
 INDEED my heart has been made glad hi 
 the houfe of prayer, on belialf of the vifited 
 youth of this generation ; the defire and peti- 
 tion of my foul has been, that nothing might be 
 permitted to hurt them, nor to mar the work of 
 formation in and upon them ; but that they may 
 go forward and increafe in the excellency of 
 dignity and the excellency of power : that fo 
 by and through them, under divine protedion 
 and dire<Slion, the continued backfliding of a 
 degenerate people may, in a good meafure, be 
 flopped, and the Lord may be gracioufly pleafed 
 to return to the many thoufands of Ifrael. 
 
 LETTER LXIIL 
 
C ) 
 
 LETTER LXIIL 
 
 7 til Mo. 1790. 
 
 I HAVE indeed abundant caufe of tliankful- 
 nefs to our Almighty Benefa^lor, for his gra- 
 cious prote6lion ftill extended, and his fafe con-^ 
 du£t of a poor and helplefs creature home to 
 my family and friends. I have alfo humbly to 
 acknowledge the daily fupplies every way 
 afforded, " Profitable to me for doctrine, for 
 ** reproof, for correction, for infl:ru£lion in 
 " righteoufnefs." Thus the rod and the ftaff, 
 adminiftered in wifdom, alternately rectify an4 
 regulate, affifl and comfort ; and fo poor pil- 
 grims move along under repeated conviflions 
 of their own infirmities and infufEciency, and 
 under a renewed experienee of continued mercy 
 and divine aidv The yearly meeting of London 
 feems like a home, or habitation to my fpirit ; 
 I am dipped- (I truft) in fome degree into the 
 ftate of the Chriftian caufe, and engaged in a 
 travail, and fecret, filent wrefl:ling,for a bleffing 
 on the endeavours of the faithful in this day for 
 the promotion. of it* This I look upon as my 
 principal bufmefs there, though a good deal o£ 
 other matter relative to church affairs, falls to 
 my lot befides, and calls, for diligent exertion of 
 my bed abilities. Upon the whole, I do hope 
 this raoft important caufe gains-- ground, and- 
 
( m ) 
 
 that tliough there (till remains fome old, frult- 
 lefs, laplefs trees in the wood, and many tower- 
 ing lofty cedars in our Lebanon, yet a great 
 number of promifmg young plants, hopeful fap- 
 lings, have taken rootdownwards, and are (hoot- 
 ing vigoroufly upwards. Much depends on their 
 prefervation from any annoyance on their up- 
 right growth, and bearing each their own kind 
 of fruit in due feafon. 
 
 LETTER LXIV. 
 
 nth Mo. 1790. 
 
 IT IS often eafier to give advice than to take 
 it : it is eafy to recommend refignation, but 
 when the trial comes home to us, and the ex- 
 quifitely tender feelings of nature are affefled, 
 then to fay with the heart, " Thy will be 
 "done!" is to overcome indeed. And yet 
 fuch a victory over humanity may be gained,, 
 and is often gained, by the Lord's children in. 
 their pilgrimage througli this life, and being 
 flrengthened by his love and by his power, they 
 can in all humility and gratitude kifs the rod 
 which chaftifes them, and blefs the hand which, 
 in perfcci:, through unfcarchable wifdom, both 
 
 gives 
 
( >38 ) 
 
 gives and takes away. Our fympailiy with, 
 thee, my dear friend, is ftrong, and our hope 
 (I truft) is not of the hypocrite, which perifheth; 
 our hope is, that thou wilt in the Lord's time 
 be raifed out of thefe glooms and pits of dif- 
 trefs ; and having been made a witnefs of deli- 
 verance out of the depths of tribulation, and as 
 it were the belly of hell, wilt have experiment- 
 ally to teftify to the fufficiency of that arm of 
 everlafting power, which could deliver in fuch 
 fort, as to encourage other travellers in like 
 uibulatcd paths to hold on their way. 
 
 LETTER LXV. 
 
 3d Mo. 1791. 
 
 PEOPLE may talk of the weight and inflii-- 
 ence and refpedability of old age ; but if 
 younger perfons do not go forth in the fervice, 
 and exert themfelves, the caufe will fufFer. I 
 am not for dragging thee, my dear friend, from 
 thy domeftic concerns, which are various and 
 important; but if truth gently draws thee, and 
 whifpers that a duty is to be done, I would 
 have thee follow its leadings and fccret moni^ 
 
( ^39 ) 
 
 irons. He that made is all-fufficient to prefei ve; 
 ihe kine indeed mull be allowed to low as they 
 go ; the natural part to regret the parting 
 with the inexpreffibly tender connections left at 
 home : but the ark of the teflimony muft be 
 taken out of the land of the Philiftines, out of 
 the hands of the uncircumcifed ; and bleffed 
 will they be with, whom it refteth. 
 
 LETTER LXVL 
 
 6th Mo. 179 It 
 
 THE yearly meeting was large and folemn : 
 and 1 hope that it was renewedly felt and ex- 
 perienced, that, notwithflanding lamentable de- 
 clenfion and dimnefs may be acknowledged, 
 our religious fociety is ftill owned the chofen 
 people, among whom the lively oracles are de- 
 pofited, the gifts and graces of the fpirit are 
 bellowed, and the principles of pure and ge- 
 nuine Chriftianity are profeffed. Declamatory 
 fjKeches in the yearly meeting I think gradually 
 decreafe. I wifti I could fay that I think there 
 is much increafe of the authority and weight 
 which ought to accompany the offerings of the' 
 tribes, rulers and princes of the people. But I 
 truft things will mend : a younger fort will 
 
 come 
 
( HO ) 
 
 come forward, who being of clean hands wilP 
 grow flrongcr andflronger, who having wafhcd 
 their hands in innoeence, will compafs the. 
 Lord's altar with acceptance, and who, being 
 themfelves confecrated by the divine anointing, 
 will be rightly authorifed and influenced to 
 meddle with holy confecrated things. 
 
 Thou knoweil: that thy poor friend's chief 
 joy is, to fee that the children of the Ele^ 
 Lady walk in the truth. Thou haft received ^ 
 an heavenly gift, let it be of whatever denomi- 
 nation it may j what matters the name of it ? 
 Attend upon it ; prize it ; it is the wifdom,, 
 which is more precious than rubles ; exercife:: 
 it when the great Mafter bids, when he*, 
 comes, calls for thee, fingles thee out, and' 
 puts thee forth in any little fervice ; this is the 
 way for the waters of this life's affli£lions to 
 be changed into the wine of the kingdom, and 
 for the forrows and perplexities of this world .to 
 be turned into heavenly joy^ Nothing fliort of^ 
 hearkening and obeying will do ; but this will 
 do all for thee, and. more than thou canfl: afk. 
 gr think. 
 
 LETTER LXVIL 
 
< HI ) 
 
 LETTER LXVIL 
 
 8th Mo. 1791. 
 
 THIS life is the field of battle, and our moft 
 dangerous enemies are thofe ®f our own houfes. 
 'May the lamp of God in the temple of our 
 hearts, be kept ft ill renewed and repleniflied 
 with heavenly oil, that we may have a clear 
 •fjght of what is doing within us, left we ftiould 
 thmk otherwife of ourfelves than we really are. 
 Purity of heart is a main qualification for being 
 of any fervice in the church of Chrift. Let us 
 -then ufe all diligence to obtain and to retain 
 this precious ftate. " Blefled are the pure in 
 
 heart, for they (hall fee God they fliall 
 clearly difcern the things which belong to his 
 kingdom ; and when they fpeak of them, it will 
 be of what they have feen with their (fpiritual) 
 €3^es, and what they have Looked upon \' 
 what has been brought by the holy fpirit be- 
 fore their internal view, as an obje(fl of con- 
 tetnplation for themfelves, and a fubje(fi which 
 they are authorized to handle with clean hands, 
 and with hallowed lips to communicate to 
 others. 
 
 LETTER LXVIIL 
 
( ^42 ) 
 
 LETTER LXVIII. 
 
 nth Mo. 1791. 
 
 I LOVE to fee bufmefs, the Lord's bufinefs, 
 going foiward, and the youth ftepping into 
 their lots, experimental witnelTes of the power 
 of an endlefs life, frefh, feeling, and full of 
 good matter, loving their Mafter, and willing to 
 give that proof of it, which he peculiarly re- 
 quires, that is, to feed his lambs and his £heep. 
 A little longer time, and we are numbered to 
 the filent grave, in common with all the gene- 
 rations which have been before us : let us then, 
 \vhile we are here, feek for help to do our duty 
 acceptably in the fight of our great Judge ; that 
 fo at the awful day of decifion, our fpirits, dif« 
 robed of this mortal clothing, may hear the 
 bleffed fentence with unfpeakable joy, and be 
 mercifully feparated to eternal felicity. 
 
 LETTER LXII^ 
 
( 143 ) 
 
 LETTER LXIS. 
 
 7 th Mo. 1792. 
 
 I THINK it a pity that he fhould be To much 
 confined, but perhaps it may be bed ; fome 
 confinement caufes us to enjoy Hberty with a 
 keener relifli, to prize it more highly, and to be 
 more grateful for it, as well as to endeavour to 
 turn it to the beft advantage. Time and op = 
 portunity are precious things, but very unliable 
 and fleeting, and fliould be diligently improved. 
 I fuppofe thou art now cenfined at home, and 
 not at the general aflembly at Limerick. Yet 
 of fo excellent a nature is the holy principle 
 which we profefs as the main fpring of our 
 religious movements, that diftance does not al- 
 ways difunitc ; there may be a great travail, 
 union and communion of fpirit, where there is a. 
 bodily feparation. " He that is joined in fpirit 
 " to the Lord, is joined to all the . living.'' 
 
 LETTER LXX, 
 
( 144 ) 
 
 LETTER LXX. 
 
 2nd Mo. 17th, 1791, 
 
 ON my return from I 
 
 was fiiluted with thy kind epiflle. It was, and 
 is, very grateful to me, and I fliali efteem it a 
 favour to be thought worthy of the continued 
 fruits of thy friendfliip and little leifure. There 
 are many crofs occurrences which difquiet the 
 mind, and if Divine Providence fliould, on the 
 other hand, call up fome frefh means of confo- 
 lation and refrefhment, why fliould not we 
 Tivail ourfelves of his bounty ? A new cor- 
 refpondence, like a new well opened in the 
 courfe of pilgrimage and dry travel, may, under 
 the bleffing, and By the dir«(5liori of the Law- 
 giver," prove comfortable and ftrengthening 
 for the journey. I often think of thee, and my 
 cogitations about thee are attended with fym- 
 pathy and compaffion ; my mind's eye views 
 thee in the valley of affliction ; be not refllefs, 
 but remain there the appointed time, and 
 the Lord is able to make this " Valley of Achor 
 " (which is trouble) a door of hope." He can 
 caufe the ground of this fame affli6i:ion to be 
 produ(rtive of the mofi: falutary increafe, fo that 
 not only Shceron lhall be a fold of flocks,'' 
 
 hui 
 
( U5 ) 
 
 but even, **The valley of Achor, a place for 
 herds to lie down in but this happy experi- 
 ence is for " My peopk that have fought me,*'- 
 faith the Lord. Mayft thou be ftrengthened 
 then continually to feek the Lord, who in iii* 
 fcrutable wifdom orders or permits the clofc 
 trials which fometimes befet us, I know no- 
 thing we can do more likely to benefit our- 
 felves, and thofe whofe welfare is neareft to our 
 hearts, than to keep diligently to an holy tra« 
 vaii and wreftling of fpirit on our own and their 
 behalf. Our awn prudence and policy often 
 fail, and tlie influence of nature itfelf lofes its 
 fway, where it has all right to rule and govern; 
 but even the king's heart is in the hand of the 
 Lord^ as The rivers of waters he turnerh it 
 whitherfoever he will.'' I was pleafed to hear 
 thou waft out on church fervice. I am per- 
 fuaded that no worldly bufinefs detains thee at 
 home with the confent of thy will; and I doubt 
 not but it is (as it certainly ought to be) thy 
 ftudious endeavour to get thy head, hands and 
 feet fas I believe thy heart is already) loofe, 
 and become more and more the Lord's free- 
 man. Remember the call, " Shake thyfelf (not 
 only from the grolTer and more defiling parr, 
 *'but; from the duft, O, Jerufalem and 
 loofe thyfelf From the bands of thy neck, 
 " O, captive daughter of Zion then will 
 there be a putting on flrength and the beautiful 
 garments ; then will there be a receiving the 
 c gift 
 
( 146 ) 
 
 ^fft in perfe^^ion, and exercifing it to the honoinr 
 of the Giver, as well as to confequent fweet- 
 nefs and peace ; then precious virtue is known 
 to go forth from the Holy One, as through the 
 vehicle of arefined and purified fpirit, to -others; 
 and there is a rejoicing together in the great 
 Mafter's name. Thus wilt thou more and 
 more rife in the dominion of Truth, and get, in 
 thy mind, over all thofe things which would 
 iigitate, and annoy, and turn afide from the pro- 
 per centre. Thus, however ufeful thou mayft 
 have been in civil and religious life, thy lafl 
 days will, by the increafe of living fap, be thy 
 beil days ; thy end will be happy, and thy ex- 
 ample live in fweet memorial among future 
 generations. So be it ! faith thy truly afFeiSti- 
 ©nate faithful friend. 
 
 Thy Letter feemed to congratulate us on the 
 return of our dear friend ■ ; but fee 
 
 what 3i ftate of exiftence we are in, how tran- 
 fient and uncertain. She juft got to our nati- 
 onal meeting to deliver up her certificate, gave 
 a fhort fin>pie account of their vifit to the con- 
 tinent, fpoke as if herfelf had been nothing and 
 had done nothing, magnified her Mafter's 
 caufe in feveral fittings of the meeting ; went 
 to her own home, and falu ted her relations and 
 friends there ^ proceeded to the quarterly meet- 
 ing to which fbe belonged, at Cork, laboured 
 there in the authority of the gofpel, and when 
 it was over, laid down her head in peace at our 
 
 friend 
 
( t47 ) 
 
 friend Samuel Neale's houfe, at Spring Mount, 
 8th of 1 2th mo. lad. Her lofs, as a member 
 both of civil and religious fociety, is very much 
 regretted : but encomiums are fuperfluous.— 
 If we revere her character, let us endeavour to 
 follow her example ; if we are attached to the 
 caufc which flie was fo eminently engaged in, 
 let us wait for qualifications to fupport it, ac* 
 cording to our feveral meafures and ftations. 
 
 hears now and then from the neigh- 
 bouring continent, and favours us with fome 
 account. We underftanJ the precious feed 
 fown there does not feem to be loft ; we rather 
 hope that it has taken root and is fpringing up: 
 perhaps " The earth is helping the woman :** 
 the convulhons and revolutions in that country 
 forwarding the cftablifhment of the church of 
 Chrift. 
 
 I am now I fee got near the end of my paper, 
 and I feel my love to you all abound and fpread ; 
 but have not left myfelf room to write it down : 
 
 amongft others (if (till on this fide heaves} 
 
 poffeffes my aiFe(5lionate remembrance. 
 
 c 2 LETTER LXIfc 
 
( >48 ) 
 
 lETTER LXXL 
 
 gxh Mo. 4th. 
 
 REMEMBERING that I 
 Avas in thy epiflolary debt, believe I fliould 
 have written to thee of my being favoured to 
 get well home, kc. but having been longer in 
 
 d^bt to thy fifter I thought bed to pay 
 
 off that fcore, and hope flie eommunicated any 
 intelligence that was v/orth imparting to thee. 
 I hope alfo, that the event of a perfonal inter- 
 view is no interruption, but rather a cement of 
 our correfpondence. I have juft been re-pe- 
 rufmg thy laft kind letter with renewed fatif- 
 faction, and wifli to be preferved in fuch a 
 humble ftate as to keep the unity and much- 
 valued amity of fuch friends : indeed much de- 
 pends on being preferved in this ftate, fo cha- 
 ra<5leriflic of the great Mafter. A departure 
 from it . has proved the ruin of thoufands ; and 
 by how much more ufeful and confpicuous any 
 become in the church, fo much more confpi- 
 cuous fhould this fpirit appear in them. 
 
 This fpirit, if kept to, ;will .work wonders:: 
 it is the well watered, well dug and well culti- 
 vated foil, in which the Chriftian virtues grovr 
 
 ;. > and 
 
( 149 ) 
 
 and flour ifli. Alas ! for many in our poor fo- 
 eiety, they have cholcn the barren mountainsr;- 
 a dry and parched'foil ; their roots haveflruck 
 into a hard flifF clay, and they bear neither 
 leaves nor fruit. But the great Hufbandman is 
 not unmindful of his plantation, he is fending 
 fkilful labourers into it ; and not only fo, but 
 by his own immediate power he has reached 
 divers, arrefled them in their retrograde, way- 
 ward courfe, and brought them into the way 
 everlafling. So that (according to my fenfe) 
 there is encouragement for the faithful devoted 
 fovants to perfevere ; doing each his own bu- 
 fmefs, and that part of the general labour 
 which is alTigned him. Some individuals may 
 be fent on particular expeditions and fervices ; 
 but the difcipline of the church is a general 
 field of labour, in which no living member is 
 exempt from a fhare. 
 
 For my part ever fmce I became, in fomc 
 meafurc, acquainted with the Truth, and merci- 
 fully arrived at fome fettlemcnt in it, my rela- 
 tive duties inreligious focietyandthc fhare in the 
 fupport of difcipline, which I apprehended fell 
 to my lot, have been among the capital weights 
 and burthens, and exercifes, and diftreffes, of 
 my life. As our inward frames differ one from 
 another, fo thefe things are harder to fome dif- 
 pofitions than others., They have been parti- 
 cularly fo to me ; fo that I could fay with Job, 
 " The things that my foul refufed to touch are 
 G 3^ :is 
 
(150 ) 
 
 as my forrowful meat." But I have lived to 
 fee a termination of many of thefe confli^is ; I 
 have Hycd to fee captivity led captive ; rebelli- 
 ous children become loyal fubje<fts ; and the 
 oppofers of truth triumphantly bearing it's 
 liandard in the fight of it's enemies, their f(M-- 
 nier affociates. Many unfaithful profefTors 
 alfo, whom neither gentle expofhulations could 
 win, nor repeated warnings intimidate, have 
 been fummoned before another tribunal to re- 
 ^ ceive their final fentence and everlafting retri- 
 bution, according as their works have been. — 
 O that fuch as now trouble the church may 
 awake in time to a proper fenfe of their flate, 
 ere it be too late, while the day of vifitation 
 lafls, and a place of repentance is yet to be 
 found ; for, by reafon of frequent refiflance, 
 tliere may be a celfauon of the ftrivings of 
 grace, and the poor creature, left to itfelf in the 
 hour cf biiter diilrefs, may feek and aik in 
 vain. 
 
 I had the favour of a letter, fome time ago, 
 from our mutual dear friend he was ex- 
 
 pecting to fail fhordy in the Pigou. His letter 
 was fraught with a precious cargo of love, 
 . which he commiiTioned me in a particular man- 
 ner to diftribute : it would be a valuable com- 
 milTion, if capacity to fulfil it were alfo added ; 
 like a large cargo of guineas lent from the 
 
 ldng*s 
 
( i5» ) 
 
 king's mine for circulation, which enriches the 
 perfon to whom k is delegated with " Duft of 
 " Gold.'" 
 
 Perhaps thou wilt let me know if there be 
 any thing new refpe£ling our friends on the 
 neighbouring continent, or any other matters^ 
 relative to the profperity of the mofl intei*efting 
 caufe exifting, or which ever exiiled, or ever 
 will exift upon earth • 
 
 My dear friends at I know kindly in- 
 
 tereft theinfelves in the w^elfarc of me and mine^ 
 Be fo kind as to inform them, that we are 
 generally favoured with health iuid tranquillity- 
 Eere» 
 
 o 4 LETTER LXXII, 
 
C 152 ) 
 
 LETTER LXXII. 
 
 Sth Mo. 3d, 1792* 
 
 I DOUBT not but that our 
 
 beloved liller • acknowledged for me the 
 
 receipt of thy acceptable letter; it conveyed the 
 forrowful intelligence of the removal of our 
 
 mutual dear friend , and this goes charged 
 
 with an account of the tranflatioh of another 
 precious fer^ant from works to rewards. Our 
 
 well-efteemed friend and brother , 
 
 had of late years been rather on the decline, 
 and thefe laft three or four months grew much 
 worfe; was feized with a mortification in his 
 foot, and notwithilanding all the medical /kill 
 and labour beftowed, departed this life 27th 
 ult. His head had been much afFe6i:ed and his 
 thoughts confufed by the opiates which it was 
 judged proper to give him ; but at intervals of 
 recolledion and clear underftanding, he put 
 forth the evident fweet and favouring fruits of 
 a found mind ; of a mind fupported by divine 
 effectual help, which enabled and authorifed 
 him feelingly to exprefs triumph over death, 
 hell and the grave. 
 
 His travels in all parts of the world where 
 our religious focicty was fettled^ at one time or 
 
 other 
 
otB<!rof his life, raiifed him tb be very generally 
 Jcnown, and the fweetnefs, livelinefs and ten- 
 demefs which accompanied his gofpel labours, 
 made him very generally beloved ; fo that it 
 may be faid of this Samuel alfo, " He died, and 
 
 all Ifrael lamented him.'* My youngefl child, 
 Sarah, had for a long , time been attached to 
 him ; with our free confent fhe was much gra- 
 tified by an alliduous^ attendance on her 
 honoured friend for feveral weeks pad, and 
 was prefent v/ith him, to her comfort, at the 
 final clofe. Thus " The righteous periflieth;'* 
 but I hope it cannot be faid that No man 
 " layeth it to heart." I truft thefe difpenfa- 
 tions to the church, ordered in infinite wifdom, 
 are laid to heart by many of our youth efpe- 
 cially ; and that there will be a fuccefTion of 
 fifliers, and fowlers, and hunters, who will dili- 
 gently feek after, and preferve alive, the pre- 
 cious prey of the fouls of men. 
 
 I obfervethat when thou favoured me with* 
 thy lad, thou waft on the eve of a journey : I 
 hope it proved profperous, that peace v/as the 
 
 I. cfFe£l and the reward. I am glad when I hear 
 of thy excurfions in the ferviceof truth ; fucli 
 cxercife ftrcngthens the fpiritual conftitution. 
 and the example of thofe whom Providence has 
 been pleafed not only to endow but to blefi with 
 • even this w^orld's affluence, hath a powerful 
 influence. Of how much greater weight an-d 
 ' ufe muft it be, when fpiritual gifts are added to 
 G 5 temporal 
 
( »54 ) 
 
 temporal loans ? Bear with me, dear friend, 
 and do not rcfufe the word of approbation and 
 encouragement when it comes rightly to thee, 
 or at leaft from a well-meaning fpring : trouble 
 and difcouragement are plentiful enough. 
 
 You rich men are really to be pitied, and de- 
 mand the cordial fympathy of your friends. I 
 am thankful that there are a few of you who 
 bid fair for efcaping the woe, and entering the 
 kingdom, though it may be through great tri- 
 bulations and afflictions of divers kinds. 'Ti$ 
 but holding out a little longer, and the fcenc of 
 probation and confliCi: will be over with us all; 
 then our fpirits fhall center in the raanfions 
 prepared for them. But our example may ope- 
 rate long after our exiftence here; as is faid,"Hc 
 being dead yet fpeaketh.'* May the caufe there- 
 fore of Truth, and its precious teftimonies, ever 
 be dearer and nearer to us than any other con- 
 fideration ; and let us, like faithful Abraham, 
 (the friend of God) ii>>our heart and will, facri- 
 fice every natural feeling and affection to that 
 allegiance which we owe to the fupreme com- 
 mand and good pleafure of our great Creator, 
 manifcfled to us by the fpirit of his Son ; this 
 appears to be the moft likely means to draw 
 down the favour and friendfhip of heaven 
 upon us, and to preferve ia us a better 
 and happier ftate ; in that in which we have, 
 under a fenfe of duty, offered in our hearts a 
 fecrifice to the Lord. 
 
( 155 ) 
 
 Thy fifter favoured my daughter with a let- 
 ter not long, adviling of her and being, 
 
 ©utward bound ; I heartily wifh them good 
 fpeed ; they are taking the high road to heaven ; 
 thus diligently exercifmg their gifts, and having 
 k as their meat and drmk to do the will of him 
 who fent them. My beft love follows them 
 wherever they go, and 1 wifh myfelf and family 
 to be remembered by them for good. 
 
 I hope our mutual friend is well ; her 
 
 retreat from — — was, no doubt, melancholy, 
 and fhe has intimately felt the lofs of her pre- 
 cious friend and companion ; but I trufl, the 
 cup of mourning has been fweetencd to her 
 tafte by the union and fellowfliip which death 
 cannot divide. I am obliged by thy informa- 
 tion refpecling friends returned to America, &c. 
 Shall always be obliged by any new material: 
 intelligence concerning the affairs of truth, oa 
 that, or this neighbouring continent. Remem^ 
 ber me affedionately to my dear friends.. 
 
 • 6 LETTER LXXIIi; 
 
LETTER LXXIII. 
 
 I FEEL unity with the meeting's renewed 
 
 labour with. O what an element is divine 
 
 love ! in this the children of the light live and 
 breathe, and move, and a£l ; there is no in*- 
 fe<5lion here, it is clear, pure, and falutary. — 
 I Ihould be glad that the poor man might be 
 cffedlually conquered ; thou art dear to me for 
 having fo followed, and been fo guided in fer- 
 vice, as to be inflrumental of good in his cafe. 
 Thy prayers and thy alms-deeds, that is, thy 
 fecret wreftlings of fpirit, and thy private la- 
 bours and communications will, no doubt, 
 come up in memorial. 
 
 I expe£l thou knoweft that I received thine 
 of the 5th ult. the contents are fuch as this 
 ilate of exiflence often affords : we have indeed 
 a cup of mixture to partake of , but then it is 
 wifely mixed and tempered by the great hand ; 
 it is not for us poor, blind, and ignorant crea- 
 tures to fay, Wjbat doeft thou ? but patiently to 
 fubmit and bow in humble fubmiflion, and in a 
 perfuafion that the Judge of all the earth doeth 
 right. It is glad tidings to me that ye are get- 
 ting on fo well, and no doubt, caufe of humi- 
 liation and gratitude to you both, that the arm 
 of everlafting ftrength has been experienced in 
 fuch renewed and effedual fupport ; there is 
 great encouragement In this to proceed in the 
 
 track 
 
track of revealed duty. Many have hurt them- 
 felves, and become lame and dwarfifh all their 
 lives long^ by letting in the reafoner and dif* 
 courager ; confulting human prudence and p?o- 
 priety ; limiting the fpirir, which is the Holy 
 Gne ; ftarting afide from fervices, like an 
 affrighted horfe on the road ; and being in 
 I .great fear where no fear is. But thou, beloved 
 i friend, feemefl: to have got out of the narrow 
 ways and crooked paths on to the high road 
 for travellers, leading to the city of the Great 
 King ; and by continuing diligent, faithful and 
 devoted, thou wih know more and more dif- 
 tiufftly the Mafter's will, and be ftrengthened to 
 perform it. Thus, if it be confifteni with infinite 
 wrfdom to prolong thy life here, thou wilt be 
 happy in thyfelf and ufeful in the creation of 
 God ; and if a fhort warning fhould fummon 
 thee from this conflifting ftate, thou art pre- 
 pared, thou haft nothing to do but to die : 
 this mortal to put on immortality ; thy forrows 
 here to be changed into unmixed everlafting 
 joy ; and thy example and memorial will live 
 and preach to fiKcceding generations.. 
 
 LETTER LXXIV, 
 
LETTER LXXIV. 
 
 ALAS I I am a poor weak creature, niiic& 
 more fit to be miniftered to, than qualified 
 to minifter to another ; yet I was quite willing, 
 to do what I was made able to do, that is, to pray 
 for thee ! I am glad that thou art on fervice j 
 it's the way for thee to grow ftrong, and ta 
 get above the little glooms and recurring per- 
 plexities which, from various caufes, caft dorni 
 and difquiet the fouL By being thus em* 
 ployed and accuftomed to excrcife, thou wilt 
 become a trained fervant, and be made capable 
 to inftrucl others, thy feHow fervants, in the 
 duties of their places and ftations ; feeding not 
 only the lambs but the fheep of Chrift. 
 
 Go on then, my dear friend; be not afraid of 
 the face of man, nor afhamed of the crofs o( 
 Chrift. I repeat, as I have often faid, that 
 Clothing more glorious, more dignifying, more 
 beneficial to mankind, or more worthy of the 
 dedication of all our faculties to efpoufc and 
 promote, was ever let down from heaven to 
 earth. Not only true civilization of manners 
 and found morality, but life and immortality 
 (that is immortal life) and eternal falvation, arc 
 made manifeft through the gofpel. A difpen- 
 fation of which, I doubt not, is committed to 
 thee, in order to advance, according to thy gift 
 and meafure, thefc glorious ends.. 
 
 LETTER LXXV. 
 
LETTER LXXV. 
 
 1 DOUBT not thou efteemefl it a favour 
 from on high to be engaged, in the leafl degree^ 
 m the Lord's fcrvice. Majft thou always, 
 keep here: low, humble, thankful for any 
 fcraps which may fall from the altar, about 
 which thou minifters. Oh, this humility ! 
 "When fhall I ceafe from inculcating the necefTity 
 of it to thofe I love ? or from praying to be 
 preferved in it myfelf? I am fenfible, that 
 though I fhould preach to others, without keep- 
 ing on this bottom,. I may become a caft-away 
 from divine favour* 
 
 I note thy general filence in public aflemblie's* 
 I truft thou art, in a good degree, a living wif- 
 nefs of the fuiferisgs of Chrift, who was op- 
 prcfTed, aiBi6i:ed, yet opened not his mouth ! 
 To loofe our own wills in the will of the Great 
 Mafter, is the top (lone of the building ; then 
 fervants are in a ftate fit to receive orders, then 
 the raaftcr is pleafed to inftru^l them, and they 
 are ready and willing to go on his errands ; 
 they take the melTage clearly and deliver it 
 cleary; it carries conviction along with it, and 
 ihe work is blelTed in their hands. 
 
 LETTER LXXVL 
 
( i6o ) 
 
 LETTER LXXVr. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the 
 reports of the veffel being wrecked, which con- 
 veyed our dear friends — — and ■ ■ ■ 
 
 I was for entertaining a hope that they 
 were falfe, or that our faid friends might be 
 the objects of divine prefervation ; but further 
 concurring relations have caufed that hope to 
 pcrifli. Yet a well-grounded hope remains,, 
 that, that part in them which is out of the 
 power of the elements of nature, has been, and 
 for ever will be, the objeft- of divine prefervation ■ 
 and everlafting falvation ! 'Tis true, the man> 
 ner and circumflanccs of their diflblution, ap^ 
 pears dreadful to us! but perhaps, on the 
 whole, not attended with greater pain to them 
 than if they had died in the arms of their 
 friends. Death is generally accompanied with 
 fomething terrifying to human nature : a linger- 
 ing death is alfo replete with much pain of 
 body; this our friends were exempt from, 
 though its very probable, for fome hours they 
 felt the horrors- of their dreadful fituation; 
 They have fhot the gulph ! the lafl pinching 
 agony is over with them ! Now their near re- 
 lations and furviving friends are the fubje6ls of 
 our deep fympathy and^tender compaffion : may 
 
C t^i ) 
 
 Lord comfort and fuftain them, and afford: 
 an adequate fupply from his inexhauftible trea- 
 fury ! He has a remedy competent to every 
 evil, and no depth of diftrefs is out of the 
 reach of his merciful relief. 
 
 LETTER LXXVIL 
 
 rvrii of loth Mo. i7$o. 
 
 THE near alFe(5lion, cdeem and 
 refpe^l which I bore to thy late fathcr-in-law, 
 does not permit me to feem inattentive to his 
 family, nor to be deficient in fuch vifible token 
 of friendfhip as is in my power to give. I 
 therefore take this opportunity of exprefling 
 my joint concern \Vith your's for our common 
 lofs ; a lofs feverely felt throughout the bor- 
 ders of our religious fociety in thefe nations, 
 where the report has yet fpread, and is attended 
 with peculiar regret. For as love begets love. 
 That fpirit of charity, benevolence and brotherly 
 tindnefs which fo confpicuoufly influenced the 
 difpofition of this good man, did not fail to pro- 
 duce 
 
 i 
 
( i62 ) 
 
 <luce reciprocal afFe£Hon towards him in otiiersv 
 We lament the fleady, upright friend; the 
 pleafing, inftru^live companion ; the lively, ex- 
 perienced minifler ; the diligent, faithful la- | 
 bourer, removed from amongft us. His family, 
 who more particularly partook ©f the pleafure 
 and profit arifmg from fuch good qualhies and 
 quahfications, mufl: doubtlefs, deeply feel thr 
 privation : but this forrow will (I trufl) be fo 
 tempered v^ith rcfignation to the divine will, 
 and fo mingled with a comfortable hope of the 
 happy end of the dear deceafcd, that there will 
 cnfue a quiet compofure of mind, and fweet 
 unity with his fpirit fafely centered in its holy 
 reft. What remains for us is, fo to pafs the 
 fliort uncertain time of our fojourning here, as 
 that we, at the clofe of all, may join the fpirits 
 of the bleffed, never more to be feparated from 
 them. Human nature recoils with horror at 
 the idea of everlafling exclufion from heaven 
 and happinefs, in the regions of woe and mifery. 
 And yet, if we would on any reafonablQ 
 grounds cxpe£l to die the death of the righteous^ 
 and that our latter end fhould be like unto his, 
 we mull: ufe all diligent endeavours to hve the 
 life of the righteous, that we may obtain at laft 
 the glorious prize, and not moft unhappily mifs. 
 fo great falvation. Religious parents, devoted 
 as thy dear father-in-law v;as to the fervice of 
 truth, and indefatigable in his labours for the 
 good of others, not only purchafe a bleffed in- 
 heritance 
 
( ) 
 
 hcrltance for themfelves, but often for their fuc- 
 ceflbrs : their pains, their prayers, their fecret 
 offerings, rife in fweet memorial, and their 
 childrea and families inherit the benefit thereof ; 
 fuch, I hope and believe will (through infinite 
 mercy) be the happy experience of moft of the 
 neareft relations of my dear friend ; and feme 
 of the branches of this valuable (lock, abiding 
 the purging feafous, and fubmitting to the 
 forming and turning of the divine hand, will 
 bear fruit grateful to God and man. With thefe 
 my fpirit hath unity; and I earnefily defire their 
 prefervation and perfeverance in that holy path, 
 into which the feet of their minds have been 
 turned ; that they in their day may be ufeful 
 and honourable living members of the church 
 of Chrift, and that there may be a fucceifion of 
 teflimony-bearers to that truth which was firfl:, 
 and will fland lafl upon earth. But fliould 
 any of the vifited children of a vifited family, 
 the offspring of religious parents, who have 
 watched over them with tender attention, and 
 often admoniftied them for their good; fliould 
 any of thefe turn from the grace of God into 
 wantonnefs, trample upon his witnefs in their 
 confciences, rejecl the calls and invitations of 
 his fpirit, and fet at nought their birthright and 
 education, furely dangerous is their fitaation; 
 they are running giddily (as it were) on the 
 edge of a dreadful precipice, and dallying with 
 their deilruction. With all my heart 1 wifli 
 
 that 
 
tliat the youth amongff us were properly fenlf- 
 ble of the magnitude of the danger of flighting'^ 
 and' negledVing 10 cultivate, the merciful vifita- 
 lions of heaven. That which in mercy was 
 extended as a fhepherd's crook to draw thenr, 
 and help them along, will, if defpifed and let 
 go, prove as an iron rod ; the fame fun which 
 in the vifible creation, cheers and invigorates I 
 the living, accelerates, the putrefaction of the 
 dead. "As they did not like (fays the apoftle ) 
 to retain God in their knowledge," (which im- 
 plies that they had once known him and been 
 vifited by him) " God gave them over to a re- 
 *^ probate mind, to do thofe things which are 
 ** not convenient;^ and then follows a cata- 
 logue difgraceful not only to Chriflianity, but 
 to humanity itfelf. O ! may thofe children of 
 my honoured friend, who from their local fitu» 
 ation are more expofed to evil than thofe hope- 
 ful plants of the fame houfe, who have partaken 
 more of parental care and nurture ; may thofe, 
 though they may have wandered as into a far 
 country, and fed on polluted and unfubftantial 
 food, be favoured with a frefll vifitation and; 
 recolleftion where they arc, and whence they 
 have ftrayed ; be minded to return to their 
 heavenly Father's houfe,, and experience the 
 anris of mercy ftretched forth in great condef- 
 cenfion to receive ^^them, ere it be too lato, 
 and the door be finally fliut I 
 
 LETTER LXXVIIL 
 
^LETTER XIXVIH. 
 
 r9thof2dMo. 1771^ 
 
 I CONFESS it looks hardly 
 3ccent m mc to make no return of this fort to 
 two obliging letters which I have had from 
 thee. Thou enquires concerning my fathei^'s 
 health ; he has had fevcral attacks of (what is 
 called) a bilioHS cholic ; we ware much con- 
 cerned about him, but (through favour of good 
 Providence) he has recruited finely ; however 
 his hardly fufFering himfelf to be taken proper 
 care of, fubjeds him to the danger of a return 
 of his diforder, and us to frequent fears refpefl:- 
 ing him ; manifold indeed is the lofs we fhall 
 fuflain by the tranflation of my venerable 
 father ; but the lofs of his weighty fpirit, ex- 
 emplary life, and lively fervices in our poor 
 deflitute fociety, would be mod of all to be la- 
 mented. A caufe, dear friend, worthy the 
 attachment of the mod dignified natures ; a myC- 
 tery fo glorious, that even angels have defired 
 to pry into it. Chriftianity in it's purity, un- 
 defiled with the mixture of worldly wifdom and 
 fuperftitious ceremonies, hath been revealed 
 from heaven to our anceftors* They nobly 
 
 ft^od 
 
 I 
 
( t66 r 
 
 flood by it, and faithfully kept that which was 
 committed to their trufl: ; they have refted from 
 their labours here, and are now in the full pof- 
 feflion of the fruits of thefe labours, even lift 
 eternal. There ftill remains the fame caufe to 
 be fupported in our generation ; the fame con- 
 fli<^ to be maintained with the grand adverfary 
 of our happinefs, and the corruptions of our 
 fallen nature ; the fame and only effeclaal 
 means of vidtory ; and the fame immortal crown 
 at the end, for him that overcometh. But 
 where are now the combatants ? The multitude 
 profeffing to walk in the way of truth, are not 
 in the way ; they are not fpiritually minded ; 
 they mind their own things, not the things of 
 God : hence a general indifference, as to the 
 life and virtue of religion, has overfpread us as 
 a leprofy ; our minds are not in a ftate prepared 
 for that intercourfe with the divine fpirit, in 
 which confifts the happinefs both of men and 
 angels. Thofe gifts and graces which the 
 Father of Lights and Spirits would pour out 
 upon the living members of his church, arc 
 withheld, and the fliame of our nakednefs is 
 vifible, even to them that are without. Think 
 of this, beloved friend, and let forrow feize 
 thy heart, becaufe thefe things are fo. Open 
 thy heart to the convictions and judgments 
 which are the preparatory difpenfation to the 
 reception of pure and unmixed good. Opea 
 thy doors, O Lebanon, and let the fire con- 
 
 " furac 
 
( 1 67 ) 
 
 ftimc thy cedars 1" If I am not miftaken, 
 thou art not ahogethcr unacquainted with this 
 work. Thou haft felt fomcthing of the cor- 
 roding fmart of judgment for evil ; thou haft 
 felt the gentle drawings and invitations of the 
 fpirit, alluring thee out of the friendiliip and 
 familiarity of the world, and offering thee a 
 place and a name in the Lord's houfe and 
 within his walls, better than of fons and of 
 daughters." Thou haft feen and felt the 
 inftability and uncertainty of the neareft and 
 deareft temporal enjoyments ; and the great 
 vacuum, the inanity, the infufEciency of worldly 
 gratifications to fatisfy the afpirations and long- 
 ings of an immonal foul, have at times been 
 opened to thy underftanding and view. Mayft 
 thou, dear friend, ponder deeply where thou aj t ; 
 ■and whether thou haft in a noble, unreferved 
 dedication of all, obeyed the heavenly vifiou. 
 Whether we feek great things for ourfelves or 
 fiot, our time paffes quickly over, our places 
 here will foon know us no more, and the Lord 
 is determined to bring this evil (of death) upon 
 all flefti, and that wonderful fabrick of our 
 bodies, which he hath made, will he break 
 <lown. Happy will it iben be for thofe, who, 
 their lives being fpent here in humble circum- 
 fpeft walking, and the fervice of the beft of 
 mafters, will have it faid to them individually. 
 Well done, good and faithful fervant, enter 
 thou into the joy of thy Lord." 
 
 Excufe 
 
( i«8 ) 
 
 Excufe this freedom which I have taken on 
 this folemn fubje£l; a confcioufnefs of my hearty 
 defires for thy welfare emboldens me to ufc 
 it. 
 
 LETTER LXXIX. 
 
 BY a letter I have juft now 
 received from thy nephew, I am informed of thy 
 igreat lofs. Want of earlier information ren- 
 ders it difficult for me to attend the folemnity, 
 ^which is ^o be on that occafion to-morrow, 
 were there not other impediments in my way. 
 As I could not conveniently pay that mark of 
 friendfliip, I therefore thought of fending thee 
 a few lines, expreflive of my condolence and 
 fympathy. 
 
 The pleafmg difpofition and engaging man- 
 ners of the dear deceafed, endeared her (no 
 doubt) to many others, as well as to my wife 
 and me ; but a fecret fomething united us to 
 her in a clofc, and intimate, and feeling re- 
 lation* 
 
 We 
 
( 1^ ) 
 
 We lov€d her as a near and dear friend. — - 
 She is now releafed from thofe long infirmities, 
 which infinite wifdom permitted her to pafs 
 through, for the trial of her faith and patience, 
 and for her preparation for an admittance into 
 that holy reft which nothing impure can enter. 
 Refined and polidied while here for the com- 
 pany of blclTed fpirits, flie is (I doubt not) 
 mingled in their happy fociety. We remain a 
 little longer toftruggle with the difficulties and 
 encounter the temptations w^hich belong to this 
 life. We are not yet putting off our harnefs, 
 therefore have no reafon to boaft, but to dwell 
 in awful fear. We are, fome of us, the heads 
 of families, and principal perfons in our places ; 
 our precepts and our example therefore miift 
 have confiderable weight and influence. How 
 necelTary is it for us then to afk wifdom of him, 
 •who giveih liberally and upbraideth not I that 
 by rightly fulfilling all our leveral duties in our 
 families and in the church, we may, as we pafs 
 along in our journey, from time to time, have 
 the anfwer in our confciences of " Well done 
 *^ good and faithful fervant, enter thou into 
 the joy of thy Lord," as well as that happy 
 fcntence at the clofe of this vifible fcene. 
 
 My mind, while I am thus engaged, is turned 
 with tender folicitude towards thy beloved off- 
 fpring ; I believe that many of them (and moH: 
 probably all of them) have felt the gentle 
 H touches 
 
( ) 
 
 tonclies of the divine hand, and the invitations 
 of the good fpirit, in the fecrct of their fouls ; 
 driUTing them from the fpirit of the world, in it's 
 manifold appearances and ffiapes, and begetting 
 in them defires and afpirations after enduring 
 fubflance. May they with all diligence culti- 
 vate the renewal of thefe tendering impreffions, 
 and in all humility fubmit to the operation of 
 thefe cleanfmg baptifms, which purify the heart, 
 and make it a fit receptacle for unmixed good. 
 
 A gracious Providence has not been wanting 
 in his precious vifitations to the youth amongft 
 us ; but there has been .a great want in them^ 
 of following on to know the Lord in the re- 
 newed experience of his humbling power, and 
 in the further manifcflations of his will concernr 
 ing them. Hence the goodnefs of too many 
 of them is but like the morning cloud and 
 early dew ; it is foon fuperfeded by a relifh for 
 the pomps and vanities of this world, and their 
 baptifmal vows are foon forgotten ; and hence 
 7k want of fucceffioii of teflimony-bearers to the 
 nobjeil caufe^ which ever did, or ever will, dig- 
 nify human nature. I particularly wifli for the 
 elder branches of thy numerous, hopeful flock, 
 that as now a greater charge devolves upon 
 them, they may feek and wait for heavenly wif- 
 dom to dire£l their own fleps, and influence 
 cyerj^ part of their conduiH: j that fq they may- 
 grow 
 
( ) 
 
 grow in favour wiih tlieir great Creator, and 
 in his hand be made a bleiTmg to the younger 
 branches of the family, alTifling to train them 
 up, by example and precept, in the life of re- 
 ligion, and in that plainnefs and fimplicity whicli 
 adorn our holy profeffion. 
 
 LETTER LXXX. 
 
 OUR meetings of dliciplhif 
 Vi*ere held this week at Carlo w* There feemed 
 to appear fome good fruits of the manifold la- 
 bour taken lately ; and alfo forrowful caufe of 
 apprehenfion, left, in fome, the good feed tlien 
 fown, may have, in great meafure, been picked 
 out again. However, thefe things muft be left; 
 thofe who are fent to plant and water, faith- 
 fully doing their duty, are clear ; the confe- 
 quential increafe is of the Lord of the harveil. 
 Indeed, in this inftrumental labour, there is 
 great need of Ikill, and we are poor^ blind^ 
 fallible creatui^es. What muft we do then 
 
 H 2 ihAi 
 
( J 72 ) 
 
 that feel ourfelvcs called to labour In our vari- 
 ous departments ? Aik counfel of God, be 
 diligent in his bufinefs,. and fervent in our fpi- 
 rits ; earneflly defiring that he may keep our 
 feet when we officiate in his houfe, left follow- 
 ing (through ignorance and miftake, not wilful 
 intention) the leadings of the imagination, and 
 that which is natural, we gradually and infcn- 
 fibly lofe fight of the fpiritual guide, and the 
 grand enemy (ever refllefs and on the watch, 
 even among the afferablies of the fons of God) 
 working in the myflery, prevail to fubftitute 
 fome mixture of the creature, in the place of 
 the true light. In fuch cafe, when the mind 
 of the minifter, in the exercife of his gift, is 
 imprefl: with fome little fear or jealoufy, left the 
 right guide is diftppearing and the imagination 
 (the natural part) is taking it's place, I believe it 
 is beft to paufe, to rccolleci:, to endeavc^j.r to 
 let the flutter and commotion fubfide, to be ftill, 
 and wait, to know what is of God ; and ac^ 
 cordingly, as the Koly Evidence fpeaks peace 
 or otherwife, in this filence of all flefli, pro- 
 ceed, or defift, always bearing in mind, that 
 too litde faid, may often be fupplied ; but too 
 much can hardly be remedied. 
 
 I doubt not, my dear friend, that thou h.aft 
 long anticipated me in refle(n;ions and obferva- 
 pons of this fort, though I thus indulge an un- 
 premeditated freedom of dropping wdiat unex- 
 
 pe£ledly 
 
( ; 
 
 pc<^edly occurs. I (hali be forry to give thcc 
 pain or uneailnefs, v;hich i's far from my in- 
 tention, for I have, according to my fraall 
 meafure of feeling, true unity with thee, and 
 cordial brotherly affe£lion with thee; but, as 
 we are befet on every fide with danger, a hint 
 of a caution (as from one. child to another) 
 may at times do no harm ; and I think I know 
 fo weH thy honeil, humble heart, that thou 
 wilt take this in good parr, though froin a bro- 
 ther of a lower degree; for though the whet- 
 ftone itfelf cannot cut, yet it is of ufe to fliarpen 
 the iron which can ciit. 
 
 I fuppofe t'lou had heard long before (or I ' 
 wouldbe c'aiitious of being themciTcngertothee) 
 of the deceafe of our dearly beloved friend and 
 eider brother in the truth, Wm. Hunt, v/ho de- 
 parted this life at Newcadle, after his return out 
 of Holland. The inflrument employed for his re- 
 leafe, from works to rewards, w^as the fraaii-pox» 
 His companion (I underhand) not having had 
 that diforder, durfl: not approach him in his 
 illnefs, w^hich was lliort. Who can but feel 
 for his tender wxakiy wife and numerous fa- 
 m.ily of children ! fo far dillant indeed, but frill 
 only on another fpot of the Great Lord's foot- 
 flool, and doubtlefs (if the fault be not their 
 own) objects of his peculiar notice and pro- 
 te^lion. Thou may rem.em.ber at the oppor- 
 tunity which was in '3 parlour, at the 
 
 li 2 time 
 
C 174 ) 
 
 time of Jafl Province meeting at — 
 
 with what baptizing power the dear man fpoke 
 concerning feme then prefent, who would foon 
 be releafed from their deep and bitter baptifms, 
 and received into a glorious place of reward : 
 very probably the teflimony might in part be- 
 long to himfelf. The great Controuler of 
 events knows what is bed for all, and each of 
 lis ; and to his ordering we mud fubmit. A 
 little time numbers us too, that furvive, 10 the 
 filent grave ; happy for us, if by keeping near 
 the appointed means of help (the ali-fu£fi<:ient 
 grace of God), we may be enabled to fill up 
 our feveral duties here, fo as to obtain a place 
 of red and everlading repofe for our weary trk, 
 bulated fpirits hereafter. 
 
 LETTER LXXXI. 
 
( 175 ) 
 
 LETTER LXXXL 
 
 I RECEIVED tlu laft and 
 attended to the contents with a mind iinpreffed 
 with for row ; indeed forrcw and trouble are at 
 times fpread before me, on account of the fitu- 
 ation of things in our religious foclety. What 
 is the reafon that many educated amongft us, 
 fliould be fuch enensies to the truth they pro- 
 fefs ? Yea, the bitternefs and enmity of their 
 fpirits (like thick darknefs) is to be felt. Whaf 
 muft be oppofed to thofe fiery darts ? for my 
 part, I know nothing more likely for the honeft- 
 hearted to defend themfelves and preferve their 
 own fpirits, nor to overcome the agents of the 
 wicked one withal, than the power of gofpei- 
 love. This, if deeply and patiently kept tc, 
 will work wonders ; this is invincible, and it's 
 armour impenetrable. But if this be in any 
 meafure departed from, or adulterated with 
 felf-love (which is the parent of refentment), it 
 caufes a breach in the panoply (the whole 
 armour) of God, who is love, and fo leaves 
 fome weak part unguarded to be wounded and 
 hurt. If any therefore have been injured or 
 H 4 hurt 
 
( ) 
 
 hurt in this way, to a deep and fteady fearch 
 after the healing virtue of divine lovej I would 
 earncilly recommend them; and as this becomes 
 operative, and predominant in the mind, it will 
 influence to fay, and do thefe things, and thefe 
 only, which make for peace ; and I am in the 
 belief, that if patiently kept to, it will bear 
 down all before it, and, in due time poffcfs the 
 gates of it's enemies. 
 
 LETTER LXXXIL 
 
 I AM glad that thou mectefl 
 with that rcfpe^t and attention which may, in 
 fome mealure, compenfate the lofs cf domeflic 
 endearments. Indeed there was hardly a doubt 
 but this tribute would he paid thee. People 
 of good breeding zv.d good fenfe would hardly 
 be deficient in this refpe^. On thy part I am 
 perfuadcd thy faculties are exerted to manifeft: 
 that thou art' not undeferviug of the marks of 
 
 friendfliip 
 
( 1-7 
 
 friendfliip fiiewn thee. A liberal mind is grate- 
 ful to a high degree ; and this contention be- 
 tween benefits and gratitude has fomething very 
 noble in it. Thou drives, my dear friend, I 
 doubt not, to be accompliilied in a ftiil fuperior 
 ftile, in order for thy own improvement, and 
 for a capacity to acquit thyfelf, in thy flation, 
 with greater eclat; for this purpofe thou 
 readeft, ihou writeft, thou eonverfeft : but, 
 here it feems to me that a danger may 
 
 attend. ' — i\ccumulated knowledge is apt 
 
 to puff up, and that beautiful fimphcity of 
 manners into which truth leads, may be un- 
 happily departed from. The world has it's 
 own cufloms, and alfo it's own language and 
 termsj delicacy, politenefs, refinement, fcnti- 
 ment, are capital vvords in it's vocabulary, but 
 of very equivocal meaning : the fpirit of the 
 world is utterly wrong, and .in dire<5t cppofition 
 to the fpirit of genuine Chriftianity,. as the new 
 Teflament abundantly every where tefiifies. — 
 The polTeiTion of the qualities implied in thofe 
 terras, even in their fairefl fenfe, the treafure 
 of literary acqulfitions and polite accomplifii- 
 ments, however ufeful in their places, are not 
 the efifential good ; are not the one thing ab- 
 folutely needful, "That good part w^hich" the 
 Mafler, who knev/ the heart, knew that " Mary 
 had chofen," and was gracioufly pleafcd, for 
 her encouragement, to promife, that it fliould 
 not be taken from her.'* May thou,, my 
 H 5 dcan^ 
 
( ) 
 
 dear friend alfo, In thy day and fphere of a<rt!on, 
 furrendcr thy heart, fo to be mollified and 
 modelled by the Mafter^s power, fo made clean 
 and right, that he may view it with acceptance 
 and approbation ; thus the fountain being made 
 good, and kept with all diligence, out of it are 
 ivitnefled to flow, the ilTue-s of life : the natural 
 and improved qualifications being fan(Slified, and 
 the fpi ritual gifts fuper-added, human nature 
 arrives at it's perfection ; man then is made 
 (but) little lower than the angels, being crowned 
 with glory and honour. This is what is held 
 out to us, the prize mod worthy to be contended 
 ^r, the favour of God, infinitely preferable to 
 the favoiH' of vain unliable man. Well deferving 
 our attention is that faying of our Lord, Ye 
 are they which juftify yourfelves before men, 
 but God knoweth your hearts ; for that 
 which is highly efteemed amongft men, is 
 ^' abomination in the fight of God/' 
 
( 1/9 > 
 
 LETTER LXXXIir. 
 
 THOU haft been of late fo 
 much the companion of my thoughts, and the 
 fubjeft of my good defires, that it has weighed 
 with me, whether it be not a kind of duty for 
 me to write to thee. I hope I am not very for- 
 ward to write or fpeak about the moll: fulemn 
 things in a curfory way (and my own flock is 
 fo fmall, that I would not, willingly, be lavifii 
 of it unnecelTarily), but where can be the harm 
 of fometimes communicating one's feehngs with 
 a friend, and ftirring up the pure mind by Wdy 
 of remembrance of thofe things, which the 
 hurry and cumber of this wwld, the inatten- 
 tion and diftradlion of our thoughts, the de- 
 pravity of our nature, the allurement of our 
 palTions, and the workings of a potent infidious 
 adverfary upon them, are too apt to detach us 
 from, and caufe us too frequently to forget. — 
 I love thee, dear friend, and thy father's houfe^ 
 with a fmcere afFc(^ion, I wifli you all the 
 blelTmgs and comforts of this life, and a better 
 iife j aad from thofe fenfations which, in my 
 
 n 6 Lours 
 
C i3o ) 
 
 hours of retirement, I have found in my own 
 mrnd. I believe, that the good will of heaven^ 
 fiows in a ftrong current towards you: may no- 
 thing in any of you divert or check it's progrefs. 
 it will qualify your fpirits far the enjoyment of 
 the goods of this Hfe, with the mod grateful 
 relifli ;. it will fupport you "to bear the evils of 
 it with the noblefl fortitude, and will finally 
 condudl you (if you leave yourfelves to be con- 
 duced by it) into the regions of unmixed and- 
 evcrlading happinefs. This precious favour is 
 indeed universal in it's extcnt^and operation;' 
 but has more pov/erful effeC and more general 
 influence upon thofe who receive and believe 
 in it, who are living v/itnefles of it's virtue and 
 efficacy ; waiting continually for the frefh fup- 
 plies of it, to enable them to difcharge a con- 
 kience void of ofifence towards God and man. 
 
 Among thefe too, this' holy principle oF 
 faving grace, is wont to operate with peculiar- 
 force on the minds of fuch as are, as it were,, 
 m the fpring of life. It is the feed time, which,, 
 if well improved, will be fucceeded by the 
 w^arm beams of divine favour, and the har- 
 vefi: will be to prefent advantage, as well as to 
 everlafting hfe. As I doubt not, dear friend, 
 of thy having been thus vifited in the early part 
 of thy days, from an intention of gracious Pro- 
 vidence to pre-engage thy afFedions to himfel^ 
 and the caufe of his blelTed truth, before the 
 world J it's fpirit and it's coiine(5lions fhould 
 
 engrofs 
 
engi'ofs tlice in mature age. I am earned, that 
 thc living lenfe of good, begotten in thy heart,, 
 may not perifli, as in tlie womb of -formation 
 but nouriflied by divine virtue, may grow, and" 
 in the fulnefs of time, be brought forth to the 
 praife of God, the edihcation of others, and' 
 the great confolation of thy own fouL But 
 fufFer me, dear friend, to fay, a litde thing hurts- 
 that which is young and tender, the very jots 
 and tittles of the law and the teflimony of 
 Jefus are to be maintained, or the whole bond 
 of his peace is broken, lie that is not faithful 
 in the little, will not be made ruler over much. 
 That line is to be preferved inviolable, which 
 divides the children of the kingdom, from the 
 children of this world ; their language, their 
 manners, their afpecl, their outward demeanour 
 and habit, as their countr}% is difierent. It hath 
 feemed meet to infinite wifdom to characlerize 
 his people by viilble marks, and I am bold to- 
 fay, they will never profper in true religion ac» 
 cording to the extent of his gracious defigns^ 
 upon them, who violate thofe marks of dif- 
 tinclion and refpe£l. The Nazarite is known- 
 not only by his temperance, but his. exicrior, 
 appearance.- 
 
 LETTER LXXXIV. 
 
( i82 ) 
 
 RETTER LXXXIV. 
 
 8th of I ft Mo. 1787, 
 
 I RECEIVED ihy fundry 
 letters, and gave all the attention which was 
 Jikely to be paid by a feeling and interefled 
 friendfliip to their various contents. I ex- 
 pe£^cd to have written from Waterford, to my 
 dear friend, thy afflicted fifter, but I could not 
 compafs it, though I repeatedly tried for it ; 
 however, I did you all juftice in another way ; 
 I hope fympathy of the beft kind v/as experi- 
 enced by me while I was there. That tender 
 fympathy, which, in the myftery of fpiritual 
 imity, helps to beat* the infirmities of our be- 
 loved friends, and minifters ftrength and confo- 
 lation to them in the hidden life : that fympathy 
 in which frelh and earned petitions are fecretly 
 put up to Him, who fees and knows the deep 
 and pungent diftrefs of his poor creatures from 
 various caufes ; and who only can, effcclually, 
 relieve them. Indeed, my dear friend, many 
 and various are the diltrelies of our fellow- 
 
 creatures 
 
( ) 
 
 creatures of the human fpecles ; and I love to 
 feci for, them and with them, though I am not 
 at all perfonally acquainted with them. Man- 
 kind is at all times very near my heart, and I 
 think it alien from humanity, as well as Chrifli- 
 anity, to be infenfible to the fulFerings of any. 
 Thy beloved filler's trouble is great indeed, her 
 trial is acute and poignant, but if fhe compares 
 it with the calamities, the pains, the embarrafT- 
 ments, the diilreiTes of body and mind, v/hich 
 many labour under, without experiencing pro- 
 per care, pity, or afhilance, — multitudes, like 
 poor Lazarus, oppreffed with want and difeafe, 
 and numbers, like the rich man, in a flill worfe 
 condition, living as without God in this world, 
 and jufl about entering into the everlafting tor- 
 ments of the next ; if fhe compares her fitua- 
 tion with thefe, how great is the balance of gra- 
 titude on her fide of the account. Many are 
 the confiderations nnd circumftances which 
 preponderate in favour of a hum.ble patient re- 
 fignaiion to the divine will : this fweet child 
 was removed in innocence, flie has efcaped the 
 dangers and temptations of this ftage of exifl- 
 ence ; flie has efcaped the horrors of eternal 
 raifery j her pure fpirit (we have caufe to be- 
 lieve) is for ever centered in uninterrupted joy. 
 She was taken off, not by her parents bringing 
 a difordcr upon her when in perfecl health, but 
 
 by 
 
 I 
 
C 184 ) 
 
 hj the vifitation of ficknefs, brouglit on, or 
 permitted, by Him, Vv'ho bears rule on earth as 
 well as ill. heaven, and' does all things right and 
 well. If it had been confident w '^h infinite 
 v/ifdom, that the fweet babe Ihould have con- 
 tinued longer in this life, and that it's near 
 connections fhould not have had this grievous^ 
 affliction,, Qmnipotence, no doubt, would have 
 ordered accordingly, and the prefent difpenfa- 
 tion would not have been at all allotted to you. 
 Or if it had been confiflent with the fame wif- 
 dom that the chaftifement fhould have been lefs 
 fevere, the fame power could have prevented 
 thofe circumftances from attending, which em- 
 bitter- the fenfations arifing from this forrowful 
 event ; fo, on looking every way at it, there, 
 appears nothing remaining, but in a child-like 
 flate fubmiffively to kifs the rod, and patiently 
 refign to the divine v/iil. And that this may 
 be your happy experience, is my fmcere defire ; 
 that whether the Lord AJ mighty gives, or 
 withholds, or takes away, his name may be: 
 bleft and ianClificd among you.. 
 
 LETTER LXXXV. 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER LXXXV. 
 
 23d of ift Mo. 1 765. 
 
 WHEN I am led to believe 
 that our forefathers, in the laft century, were 
 called to hold forth again in their lives and 
 principles that mofl holy faith, (even Chrifti- 
 anity in its purity) which Chrift Jcfus taught 
 to his immediate followers, and eflabliflied on 
 earth, to remain to the end of the world ; — 
 when I ponder that we are the fucceffors in 
 the fame faith of thofe dignified anceflors, and 
 illuflrious fons of the morning of our day, and 
 that the famie caufe is now committed to us, to 
 be maintained in the fame fpirit and by the 
 fame power ; I fay, when thefe things are 
 brought under my folid reflection, 1 am, at 
 times, weighed down under a fcnfe of the 
 awful (tation I am placed in by the wifdom of 
 Providence, even 10 be a profefTor of this reli- 
 gion of Chrifl ; fo that I am ready to fay,, 
 How dreadful is this place." If then it is fo, 
 
 awful 
 
( i86 ) 
 
 atvful a matter to profefs this holy religion, as 
 a private member of fociety, how much more 
 fo mufl it be to be fet apart as a chofen velTel 
 to convey the quickening virtue of it to others ? 
 How great degrees of purity and holinefs are 
 requifite here, not only in a private capacity to 
 be enabled to fet an example of performing 
 the will, but alfo in public and private to de- 
 clare the whole counfel of God ? Thefe have 
 not only the temptations to grapple with, which 
 are incident to all in general ; but as they are 
 of particular ufe in carrying on this glorious 
 work, the grand oppofer of it plays his engines 
 in a particular manner againft them, and forrat 
 fchemes deeply laid in the myflcry of iniquity, 
 that if he cannot utterly deflroy their faith, he 
 may render them lefs ufeful than infinite wifdom 
 intended, and rob them, in fome part, of the 
 weight of their prefent and future crown, and 
 the church of the benefits which might accrue 
 from the perfections of the gifts and graces be- 
 flowed upon them. It is this enemy's grand 
 employment, dear friend, to be conftantly en- 
 deavouring to defile the vefiel, through which 
 the divine intelligence is at times communicated 
 to the people, and divine life conveyed ; for 
 there is no other excellence required in the in- 
 strument, but that it be clear and clean. It 
 feeras to me as though he had principally three 
 
 ways 
 
 .1 
 
( ^8; ) 
 
 vr^ys by which he drives to c&S: this purpofe^ 
 Firil, he would fo hurt the veflel, or pipe, as 
 that none at all of this precious Hquor fhould 
 enter it : but that w-hich once was a velTel of 
 honour fhould be laid afide as ufelefs. Se- 
 condly, there is danger lefl the velTel, though 
 in a good meafure clean and free from filth of 
 any kind, for w^ant of being fufficiently imbued 
 with the favour of the liquor paffing often 
 enough through it, fliould impregnate and adul- 
 terate the liquor with fome quality inherent in, 
 or accidental to, the velTel itfelf. And, laftly, 
 the pipe may be polluted by the fediments of 
 this fame precious liquor, w^hich fliould be en- 
 tirely cleanfed out, or will be like the manna 
 gathered yeflerday, and loathed by thofe whofe 
 health and appetite is good, and who can only 
 be fatisfied with wine well refined off the lees, 
 I doubt not, dear friend, but thou haft antici- 
 pated in thy own knowledge and experience any 
 broken hints which I can offer on this fabjeifl, 
 though I thus indulge an inclination of freely 
 communicating my fentiments to thee. I own I 
 do, above all things, love this mofi: noble caufe, 
 our holy religion ; arid I do beheve that thou, 
 (among many others) hafl been called and 
 qualified to bear public teflimony to it. I 
 fear aifg, that fcvcral who have been thus called, 
 
 have 
 
C 188 ) 
 
 Lave, by one means or other, been prevented 
 from coming up in that degree of burning and 
 ihining hiflre which was intended, and fo our 
 poor fociety has miffed the benefit (which it fa 
 greatly wants) of the full degree and meafure 
 of infirumental help defigned h, to its very 
 great and apparent lofs. My heart's defirc is, 
 that all of us, who are touched with a fenfe 
 that thofe things are fo, may diligently wait at 
 the fountain-head of wifdom and (Irength, that: 
 we may, by frefli fupplies from thence, be en- 
 abled to come up nobly in the ftations, feverally 
 allotted to us; neither going before, nor flaying 
 behind our proper ranks ; not going forth in 
 the arms or habit of another, nor in the pre- 
 fumption of flrength aforetime experienced; but 
 with the efFe£laal (though to ourfelves and 
 others) feemingly flight and contemptible 
 Xveapons, which, for the time being, it fhall' 
 pleafe divine wifiom to funiifli us v/ith. So 
 fhall the Lord'^s ftrcngth be made perfect in 
 our weaknefs ; our own fouls comforted and 
 encouraged to go on, truiling in the fufhciency 
 of every prefent fupply; and the church be edi- 
 fied by fuccefsful labour. 'I commit us both to 
 him, v»^ho alone can preferve us alive inihe root, 
 and in bis o\m time make frrjiful" in the 
 branches. I do very fmcerely defire thy pre- 
 fervation, (lability and advancement in thy own 
 
 particular,. 
 
( i59 ) 
 
 particular, and in a capacity to be more and 
 more ferviceable in the general ; and am, in 
 true brotherly afFeclion, thy faithful friend. 
 
 LETTER LXXXVI. 
 
 THE religion of fome feems 
 to confid in a remembrance of former experi- 
 ence, a rational underflanding of our principles 
 and the difcipline of the church, a perfonal 
 communication with divers of the foremofl rank, 
 and fome faculty for fpeaking and writing on 
 religious fubjeds ; when in the meati time, for 
 w^ant of looking and living at home, for want 
 of watching unto prayer, and waiting for re- 
 newed ability to offer the daily facrifice on the 
 frefh ralfed altar, infenfibility and incapacity 
 gather ftrength, and leannefs enters into our 
 fouls. 
 
 LETTER LXXXVIL 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER LXXXVII. 
 
 1 6th of 7th Mo. 1782, 
 
 I TAKE very kind, and as 
 a mark of friendfhip, thy adviling me of the 
 removal, as well as of the birth of thy firft-born. 
 We naturally look about for thofe we love, to 
 communicate with them our joys and our 
 griefs. Among the many alleviations of the 
 mileries of human life, good and benificent 
 Providence has appointed one, called fympathy, 
 by means of which, our happinefs is increafed 
 and our forrow lelTened, in thediffufing and di- 
 viding. Good and gracious and kind indeed 
 -is he, w^ith whom we have to do ; he knoweth 
 the acutenefs of our feelings, and the fenfibility 
 of our hearts : " He doth not affe6i: wilHngly, 
 nor grieve the children of men and yet he 
 fees meet to prove and try us, with caufmg in 
 our minds fenfations of exquifite pain. Thou 
 art a man of reafon and religion ; and it feems 
 fuperfluous to fuggeft to thee ihofe confidera- 
 
 tions, 
 
( 191 ) 
 
 tlons, which might with propriety be thrown 
 before many others, fuch as that the Almighty 
 Controuler of the univerfe, does all things well ; 
 that he only knows what's befl for us ; that he 
 alliifls with paternal chaflifements for our good ; 
 that thefc croffcs and troubles are often con- 
 cealed mercies and fpecial favours ; that in any 
 cafe, it is highly dangerous, as well as impro- 
 per, to repine at the ordering of infinite wif- 
 dom, and particularly in the cafe of a youth 
 removed out of a vain, a perilous, and a trou- 
 blefome world, in his innocence ; when it is fo 
 uncertain how he would efcape the temptations, 
 fnares and pollutions which might annoy his 
 longer life, and endanger his everlafting happi- 
 nefs. In reflections, fuch as thefe, thou had (I 
 doubt not) anticipated me ; but after all is faid, 
 which can be faid, or read, or written, unlefs 
 our merciful Creator pours in the wine and the 
 oil to our wounded fpirits, unlefs he vifits v>^ith 
 divine confolation, and raifes with divine fup- 
 port, we fhall never know true and folid com- 
 fort, help and flrength to our poor minds, 
 pnder the preiTure of the evils ?,nd infirmities 
 which Belli is heir to. May we be favoured 
 to get low enough, conformed to our great 
 pattern, that fo we may more and more ciofely 
 company with him, during the remainder of 
 our pilgrimage, witneffing fellowfhip in his fuf- 
 
 ferings. 
 
\ 
 
 ( 192 ) 
 
 ferlngs, and being more and more baptized 
 and qualified to fill up our feveral ftations in 
 his church. If this perifhable life be defirable 
 for any thing, furely it is for this, that we may 
 be made inftrumental in our generations, to 
 propagate, to fhew forth, to fpread by our 
 lives, our converfations, and the gifts and ta- 
 lents which may be beftowed, the glorious gof- 
 
 pel which bringeth falvation among men. 
 
 Time is afiuredly fhort to us all ; during this 
 fliort lime we have only to labour. Retri- 
 bution is at the end. As our works, fo (hall 
 our rewards be. If we can be termed by the 
 Jufl Judge, " Good and faithful fervants,'* 
 we fliall enter into the joy of our Lord. May 
 we fet this prize, and keep it fteadily in view, 
 my dear friend. 
 
 LETTER LXXXVIII. 
 
( ^93 ) 
 
 LETTER LXXXVIII. 
 
 8th of 9th Mo. I7?d.. 
 
 THE riches of this world, 
 accumulated even by honeft induftry, without 
 having the Great Difpofer of all things in the 
 view, and a6ling about the affairs of this life in 
 his holy fear, are often the means of inexpreffible 
 perplexity and difquiet, fometimes of the mod 
 dreadful evils. Whereas, a looking, a lean- 
 ing, an humble dependance on him that feeds 
 the ravens, and on the concatenation of the 
 events ordered by his Providence which caufed 
 the ravens to feed his prophet, is the way to 
 procure the divine blcffing to be fuperadded; 
 and prevents that forrow, that uneafmefs, that 
 reftleffnefs, that infatiable avidity, which work 
 eth death to the innocent, happy, compofed 
 life. But though I thus indulge a freedom of 
 writing, I think I well know both yoiu* hearts, 
 and that they are in that place, where treafures 
 of a far more noble kind than any which this 
 world can afford, are laid up for the poor in fpi- 
 rir, the fimple and honefl hearted, and for thofe 
 who think little of themfelves, can fay little for 
 themfelves, yet are diligent in waiting for ability 
 to walk in that way which leads to life ever- 
 
 I lafting. 
 
( 194 ) 
 
 lailing. We have each of us our foibles as 
 men and women, and have each of us occafion 
 lo be induftrious in watching unto prayer, that 
 the droppings and difliliings of good may fall 
 upon our branches ; (Irengthening and fru£li- 
 fying the holy plant, and deftroying by its 
 facred virtue and influence, or at leafl corre£l- 
 jng thofe frailties of the flefh, which, like mef- 
 fcngers of fatan, are at tim^es fent to buffet 
 even thofe who are well-minded, and in a good 
 degree partakers of divine regard and notice. — 
 Man is a complex machine, compofed by the 
 wonderful Archite^l, of various parts inter- 
 woven together ; body, foul and fpirit. The 
 body requires outward food to fuftain its out- 
 ward fubflance : the living foul mull be kept 
 alive by inward fuflenance, conveyed into it 
 from his fulnefs : the fpirit, or rational think- 
 ing part, (liould be regulated by that reafon 
 v/hich diftinguifhes the human capacity from 
 that of other animals ; this reafon is alfo God*s 
 gift, and by no means to be flighted or rejecled. 
 If we neglefl a proper care of our bodies, dif- 
 orders will hurt them : if we omit to feek for 
 fpirituaf nourifhment, our fouls will be in dan« 
 ger of perifhing : and if we exercife not our 
 reafon to cultivate and improve our natural 
 UDderfl:andings, to reform and correal wrong 
 habits and propenflties, and to form us and our 
 manners fo as to be pleaflng and profitable 
 members of fociety, our fpirits may, in our 
 
 progrefs 
 
( 195 ) 
 
 progrefs through life, contraci: dirpofitlons, 
 which in courfe of time may be inveterate and 
 hard to be removed j difpofitions v. hich will 
 much difquaUfy us for lilling our feveral de- 
 partments in life with propriety, and with eafe 
 and fatisfa6tion to ourfelves and others^ 
 
 LETTER LXXXIX. 
 
 1 6th of 4th Mo. 1763, 
 
 WE lofl my dear mother 
 the day after ihou and I parted. 1 believe fhe 
 longed to be releafed from her houfe of clay, 
 and made a happy exit : I irufl alfo, that her 
 righteous fpirit is gathered to and united t\^ith 
 the innumerable company of the faithful of the 
 generations that are gone before; who had, 
 many of them, little name or fame, or vifibie 
 property among men, bui are now enjoying an 
 eternity of happinefs ; while thofe who had 
 their portion in this life, and lived in forgetful- 
 ncfs of the Great Giver, have met with a dif- 
 mal reverfion, 
 
 i 2 My 
 
My father ftill keeps his own houfe, em- 
 ploys himfelf with the land, and comes more 
 frequently to us than he ufed. He is a fa- 
 voured man and knows where beft help, under 
 every difficulty, is to be had. He is like one 
 of the old patriarchs that digged a well, and 
 fo has water of his own labouring for, to drink 
 of. 
 
 LETTER XC. 
 
 4th of 9th Mo, 1768. 
 
 MY leifure from the duties 
 of neceffkry bufmefs is fmall, and this leifure is 
 (I hope) in a good degree occupied by the 
 weightiefl engagements in life. There is a 
 fpccies of felf-love or felf-prefervation, which 
 it is not only lawful, but abfolutely neceffary 
 for us all to be pofleffed with ; that is, each to 
 take heed to ourfelves. Here is uncertain, and 
 hereafter is everlafting. We fliould therefore 
 diligently endeavour to improve every fleeting 
 opportunity whilft here, to fecure an hereafter 
 of happinefs. The hufband a part and the 
 wife a part, have each to work out (by diligent 
 faithful labour) this momentous talk of their 
 I 3 fouls 
 
( 197 ) 
 
 fouls falvation, and to know it going forv/ard 
 
 with their day of renewed vifitation. The 
 
 world is deceitful ; its friendfhip is not to be 
 truded ; its ailiftance to us, in the hour of dlf- 
 trefs, is vain. Religion (which is no other 
 than acquainting ourfelves with God, and wit- 
 nellmg the peace v/hich refults from that com* 
 muaion) is the help and ornament of life, the 
 hope in death, and the perpetual reward of its 
 votaries in the world to come. Let us be 
 roufed, my dear friend, by the calls of the 
 fpirit, by the invitations of the church, by the 
 Vvork of the day, and by the neceffity of the 
 limes, more and more to devote ourfelves to 
 the caufe of Chrift, and his holy undefiled rvj- 
 ligion and way of worlhip of God, and of walk- 
 ing before men, which - the blelTed Author 
 cHabliflied on earth by his precepts and vifible 
 example; and which (after a long night of 
 apoflacy) our fore-fathers, in the laft century, 
 were raifed and enabled by power from on 
 high, mod nobly, firmly and faithfully ta revive 
 and maintain. Great and lamentable is the 
 decienfion and blindnefs which has happened 
 in our time, to the fuccelTors of thofe honour- 
 able worthies, profelfors of the fame everlading 
 precious faith. Our city is not only clofely 
 befieged by enemies from v/ithout, but there 
 are virulent enemies, hoflile confederacies, de- 
 ceitful allies, and weak defenders, even within 
 the verge of its walls. The head (the ikiil 
 
 and 
 
( 198 ) 
 
 and underflanding) is in a great degree fick ; 
 and the heart (the courage and 7.eal) is faint. 
 May the confideration of ihcfe things link deep 
 into our fouls, and take root there : let it cover 
 our minds in fecret, as fackcloth within upon 
 cur flefh. Being dipped into fympatliy with 
 the feed under opprellion, and dwelling in the 
 houfe of mourning therewith, we fliall witncfs 
 our hearts made better, our inward man to be 
 ftrengthened, and an offering prepared in us, 
 which will be a facrifice of atonement for pafl 
 delinquencies, and an oblation acceptable in the 
 fight of God. To his holy keeping, I heartily 
 commend thee, and to the vifits of his quick- 
 ening grace and good fpirit. May it be the 
 
 main employment of our lives to feek to dwell 
 under the renewed influence of it ! 
 
 LETTER XCI. 
 
( 199 ) 
 
 LETTER XCI. 
 
 30th of loth Mo. 1768. 
 
 I RECEIVE with much 
 latisfa<ftion the account of the incrcafe of thy 
 family. May there be increafe of pure fear 
 and diligent waiting for the fenfe of divine 
 favour ; fo there will be an increafe of that 
 bleffing which maketh rich in faith, and 
 abounding in good works. If there be any 
 earneft defire for our own prefervation, if any 
 anxious concern for the Chriflian caufe, if any 
 humble willingnefs and care to make fome re- 
 turn for all the favours of our common bene- 
 faclor, this day calls for the dedication of all to 
 him who has given us all that is good, and is 
 over all, bleffed in himfelf, and the fource of aU 
 our bleflings, now and for ever. 
 
 LETTER XCIl 
 
( 200 ) 
 
 LETTER XCII. 
 
 4th of 4tb Mo. 1769. 
 
 I NOTE thy incertitude about 
 fettling, and that thy delire is to be dire&d 
 atight. Human projeifts and profpedls formed 
 by the beft fhare of mere reafon are very falla- 
 cious j and who expefls or looks for any better 
 direction in matters of fuch a nature ? Too 
 few indeed have a right to expert any better : 
 and yet my belief is, that if we were fo happy 
 as to be enabled to be inward enough in our 
 minds, we fhould be favoured with a fenfe of 
 what we ought to do and leave undone in 
 affairs which feem (many of them) rather of a 
 temporal than fpiritiial nature : as the great 
 apoftle fays, " He that is fpiritual judgeth all 
 " things** I wilh for thee, dear friend, and 
 for thy brother to grow in this fpi- 
 ritual life ; that as divine Providence has blefl 
 you with the affluence of the good things of 
 this world, ye may deeply ponder how the re- 
 fidue of the few, fleeting, uncertain moments^ 
 may be befl employed, fo as to polTefs fweet 
 peace while here, and infure an eternity of un- 
 / 5 uninterrupted 
 
C 201 ) 
 
 interrupted happincfs hereafter. We are not 
 all called to one oflice ; nor placed in one par- 
 ticular flation in the body ; but we are all 
 called to tliat life of fimplicity, felf-denial, 
 plainnefs, humility, and holinefs, of which the 
 great Author of Chriftianity fet us and left us 
 an example ; and having felt of the virtue 
 which proceeds from an union with him, we 
 are called to fnew forth an example of his 
 nature by our conduct amongil our brethren 
 and fifters, the great fraternity of mankind, 
 
 where ever we converfe among them. The 
 
 greatefl part (I fuppofe) of thy juvenile days 
 has been fpent among a numerous acquaint-, 
 ance in : thy good fenfe and active na- 
 tural undcrilandino- have doubrlefs influenced 
 
 o 
 
 thee to remark the beginnings, the lives, and 
 the ends of divers of them, and thou haft hid 
 in thy heart, the religious man alone is happy. 
 According to my bell fenfe * * is the place 
 for thee, or irs neighbourhood, to fpend the 
 ir.ofl of thy future days in : and may our com- 
 mon gracious Parent fo reduce thee by his 
 power, fo at thee by his wifdom, fo furnifli thee 
 by his flrength, that thy latter days, as well as 
 mine, may be better than the former part of our 
 lives, more ileadily . feeling after good, more 
 plentifully enjoying it^ and more difFufcly 
 fpreading the influence of it ! 
 
 LETTER XCin. 
 
( 202 ) 
 
 LETTER XCIir. 
 
 7 th Mo, 1769. 
 
 BY good education and good 
 example they may become very valuable mem- 
 bers of fociety, and refledl honour upon us ail. 
 But if the feeds of pride and vanity, if indifFer- 
 ence and infenfibility about the mod important 
 matters be cherifhed, inftead of being carefully 
 watched and picked out, they may mifcarry in 
 the primary and effential points, as ^tis to be 
 feared others have done before them ; and 
 then, what fignify all the riches and grandeur 
 of this fading tranfitory life ? What will it 
 
 profit a man if he gain the whole world, and 
 " lofe his ov/n foul Children in general 
 (and children of fuch promJfmg parts in parti- 
 cular) are a very important arduous charge j 
 the fubje£ls of folicitcus, weighty care ; a forci- 
 ble memento to us to be hving povv^erful leffons 
 of example to them; co-inciding, and co- 
 operating with the precepts, cautions and re- 
 flraints, which as we Readily and fingly wait for 
 • it, the Author of all our right abilities may be 
 pleafed to furnifh us with wifdom to adminifter, 
 in their place and feafon. Even the heathen 
 poet was fenfible of the forcible effect of ex- 
 ample on children, when he fays. " Maxima 
 
 debeiur puer:s reverent i a 
 
 LETTER XCIV. 
 
( 203 ) 
 
 LETTER XCrV. 
 
 >8th Mo. 1769. 
 
 I HAVE many warm wiflies 
 for fome of • < — children ; they are near 
 and dear to me. Indeed I cannot help re- 
 joicing at times, at the beautiful profpecl there 
 is even among my own acquaintance, and 
 within that (comparatively) narrovt" circle of a 
 number of devoted youth, who are caught in 
 the gofpel-net, whofe eyes growing dim as to 
 the fplendour and gaiety of this world, who 
 have been happily enamoured of fovereiga 
 beauty and excellence, and have in their hearts 
 chofen that good part, which I heartily pray 
 may never be taken (by the adverfary or bis 
 agents) from them. 
 
 LETTER XCV. 
 
( 204 ) 
 
 LETTER XCV, 
 
 9th Mo. 1769. 
 
 I MAKE no doubt but thou 
 haft had thy head, heart, and hands much en- 
 
 gaged about our friend 's troubles. — 
 
 We could not be unconcerned in a matter fo 
 alTe^ling to a family, for whom we entertain 
 a particular regard. We owe him die fympa- 
 thy of our fpirits ; and for ourfelves we may 
 cxtraft inftruiTnon and caution from his misfor- 
 tune. There is teaching in it. This world is 
 fiucluating and unftable, and its riches uncertain 
 
 a ad perifhing. It is bur a paflage for us to 
 
 another country, which is unchangeable, and 
 where our lot will be fixed and permanent. — 
 Great then certainly fliould be our care, that 
 we travel (Icadily in the right road, which leads 
 TO perpetual happinefs ; and that we lay up for 
 ourfelves treafures w'hich wax not old, and 
 riches which admit not of fortuitous diminution, 
 or decay. Thefe, or fuch like, I doubt not, 
 are the folid reflections which thou haft often 
 had occafion to make, on obferving many events 
 of this kind. May they all work together for 
 good to our aftlified friends, and to us who bear 
 a part in their afflidlion. 
 
 LETTER XCVL 
 
( 2C5 ) 
 
 LETTER XCVL 
 
 2d Mo. 1 770. 
 
 HOW my poor mind delights 
 to fee the children of the heavenly Father 
 coining forward in the experience of his love ; 
 bowing under his refining, purging power, and 
 fubmitting their necks to the yoke of Chrift 1 
 Some fuch I think we have in this village, to 
 my great confolation in the midfl of a variety 
 of diflrefs which I. have to pafs through, and 
 with thefe I have near unity and fellowfliip ; 
 indeed, my dear friend, w^here there is not 
 fomething of this favour to be felt, converfa- 
 tion and company is to me often vei^ infipid. — 
 When 1 had the pleafure of being under thy 
 hofpitable roof, there did not open much w'ay 
 for converfe of this fort ; nevenhelefs, I could 
 not but, with particular fatisfadtion, obferve thy 
 \Yillingnefs to dedicate thy abilities to the fer- 
 vice of the church there. I am glad thereat, 
 I :becaufe I believe it to be an acceptable facri- 
 ' ^fice, when we offer and render up onr bed, 
 though the beft feenis to us of lirde value. — 
 Let us continue, dear friend, to hold curfeives 
 
 ready 
 
( 206 ) 
 
 ready to do any little fcrvice which may be re- 
 quired of us : let us diligently wait, and fer- 
 vently pray for wifdom, that we may ever be 
 preferved, doing all we can, in our litde fphere 
 of action, for the truth, and nothing againfl it : 
 that fo we may obtain the bleffing, which alone 
 can fweeten the cup of life, and even takes 
 away the bitter from the cup of death. 
 
 LETTER CXVIL 
 
 3d Mo. 1770^, 
 
 I DON'T love dealing in 
 hyperboles when I am about writing fober 
 fenfe in profe ; and befides I know that it is not 
 politic to be too lavifh in commendation. 
 
 . is near my heart in my befl: feafons : 
 
 llie bends to the root of life, and is engaged to 
 make a facrifice of one httle thing after another, 
 facrifices which do not coft her nought ; but 
 
 wliich 
 
C 207 ) 
 
 ^h.kh are made in the crofs to the natural in- 
 clination, and however trivial or unnecclTary 
 they may feem to fome, are accepted of him 
 by whom our actions are weighed. O thefe 
 little foxes ; what prejudice they do the tender 
 vines ! Be it our care, my dear friend, to take 
 them, to lay our hand upon them when we fee 
 them in ourfelves and families ; for they have 
 done much hurt in the vineyard. We fee none 
 of thofe who fuffer and indulge them, come 
 forward in flrength and goodly ftature, bearing 
 fruit to the praife of the good Hufbandman, 
 atkd the help and edification of others : but as 
 empty vines bringing forth fruit to themfelves, 
 to whom cannot be applied that encouraging 
 expreflion of the apoflles, ye have your fruit 
 unto holinefs, and the end everlafting hfe* 
 
 LETTER XCVIIL 
 
( 2o8 ) 
 
 LETTER XCVIIL 
 
 5th Mo. 1770. 
 
 PEOPLE ?.re too apt to dwell 
 upon the dlfagreeable part of a cliara6lf r ; they 
 do not make fiifncient allowance for difference 
 of humour, temper, opinion, &c.— too many 
 are not fatisfied with feeding on iliis fcrpent's. 
 meat themfelves, but they hand of it to others : 
 the wife often, for w^ant of better converfluion, 
 gives of it to the hufband ; be to 1 is affociates; 
 and fo the fweet harmony of good neighbour- 
 hood is fpoiled : there is no cordiality of af- 
 fection ; and the friendfhip is only nominal, 
 (^Concordia clifcors.J — —The precious trntli, 
 which is the panacea of human life, is the only 
 elFeClual remedy for this evil ; as it prevails in 
 the mind, it teaches, (and qualifies too) to Icve 
 as brethren. May this root of life eternal, my 
 dear friend, more and more fallen in the ground 
 of our hearts. We (liall now in the meridian, 
 and if we live to the decline of life, we {hall 
 dill find this our bed and furefi: fapport. Our 
 ever fwerving from it was the original caufe of 
 our paft errors, and the troublefome confe- 
 
 quenccs 
 
( 209 ) 
 
 quences which attended them. On our regain- 
 ing it depends our prefent, and the earned of 
 our future real, happinefs. 
 
 LETTER XCIX. 
 
 6th Mo. 1770. 
 
 I WAS glad to hear that ye 
 
 got fomething done \vith thofe litigious people 
 
 at . Perhaps if the root of bitternefs 
 
 be not entirely eradicated, yet what is left may 
 die in the ground. Cut a thing often down 
 when it fprings up, and it weakens its very root, 
 and at lall it decays. However the Icfs thanks 
 to them who will not help themfelves ; who 
 bind heavy burdens upon others, and will not 
 lend a iinger to remove them ; the lefs they 
 will feel in themfelves of the bleffing which 
 attends peace and the conciliators of peace. — 
 Indeed 1 think it a happy circumflance that 
 there is no more litigation than there is, am.ong 
 thofe who profefs with us j fo few have about 
 
 them 
 
( ^IG ) 
 
 tliem the healing virtue which is nioft eflicacions 
 in thefe diforders ; bcciuife fo few prefs through 
 the crowd, of oppofing things, with humihty 
 and faith to touch the lowed Ihirt of his gar- 
 ment, from whom virtue proceeds. I lament, 
 dear friend, that a caufe of the greatefl impor- 
 tance to mankind, fhould be fo voluntarily de- 
 ferted by many to whom the Almighty has been 
 manifold in his liberality, whofe fituation and 
 w^hofe talents, properly difciplined and fan£li- 
 fied, might- render them ferviceable in the 
 church of Chrift, while they are vilely profli- 
 tuted to the world : at the fame time that a 
 multitude fit down contented with a bare pro- 
 feflion of belonging to a fociety, whofe princi- 
 ples they are very little acquainted with, and 
 to whofe fame and character (which fliould be 
 bright and illuftrious among the nations) they 
 add very little, if they take not away very much 
 from it by their vifible conduci:^ Yet, thanks 
 to the merciful Creator ! who has not w^holly 
 repudiated his people, though they have in the 
 general fufFered themfclves to be defiled by 
 other lovers ; there are to my certain know- 
 ledge (and I rejoice in the profpedi: of it) divers 
 up and down, whofe names are refpe£table 
 among men, who yet have given up thefe 
 names to ferve as volunteers on the fide, and 
 under the banner of Chrift. I kn©w upon 
 what ground I fpeak it. Though feparated in 
 body from fome of them, I am not fo in fpirit. 
 
 In 
 
( 2.1 ) 
 
 III my hours of retirement I have repeatedly 
 found them, and thee ahb, my dear friend, 
 among them. I fpeak not only of pad, but of 
 late feelino^s. Some indeed have not advanced 
 with that (leady pace which becomes thofe 
 who rank with the Lord's hod, and wear his , 
 eternal badge : they have received of his 
 bounty, and laid they would enlifl in his fervice; 
 but not being frequent enough among their 
 fellow foldiers, nor fufficiently obferving their 
 Captain, and keeping near the llandard, they 
 have halted (as between two opinions), fallen 
 back, and loll: ground : fo came not forward in 
 the fervice which was defigned, for want of 
 learning the exercife and difcipline at home, 
 and meeting frequently with their fellows in 
 rank abroad. " Felix quern faciunt aliena 
 pericula cautum,'* 
 
 LETTER C. 
 
( 212 ) 
 
 LETTER C. 
 
 9th Mo. 1770. 
 
 I FEEL a nearnefs which words 
 cannot fully fct forth, and which I believe 
 would not be felt, if we were not in meafure 
 preferved to be near the truth. The Lord 
 grant that it may ever be the bond of our fel- 
 iowfliip, and then our friendfliip will not be 
 only nominal and worldly, but we may be of 
 life and flrength to each other in fome of the 
 confli^LS which belong to this difficult, danger- 
 ous ftate of exidence ; and many indeed are 
 the confli^ls and befetmcnts which appertain to 
 it. Our own fafe ftepping, and the preferva- 
 tion of cur families, much depend upon keeping 
 near their chicfeft good ; then a wider circle, 
 the welfare of the Chrillian fociety, of which 
 we are members ; and farther anxious con- 
 cern for the happinefs of our brethren and 
 fiflers, the whole race of mankind the wwld 
 over, to whom we are very clofely allied; being 
 all made of one blood by the fame great hand. 
 Too many fpend little thought about thefe ar- 
 duous engagements and relative duties ; but 
 for my part, I think it is highly becoming a 
 
 rational 
 
( ) 
 
 rational mind to look forward towards a future 
 exiftence, and labour diligently after obtaining 
 an evidence, an earnefl: of an inheritance ever- 
 lailing, incorruptible and full of glory ; feeing 
 that our (lay here is fo fhort, fo uncertain, and 
 attended with manifold troubles. 
 
 LETTER CI. 
 
 loth Mo. 1770. 
 
 HEALTH is an invaluable 
 blcfling ; yet even the want of it has its ufe. — 
 By that (or. rather for that) we are deeply 
 bound in gratitude to the Giver of every good 
 and perfedl gift : by this we are deeply hum- 
 bled under a fenfe of the'weaknefs and mifery 
 to which our nature is liable, and we feel a 
 neccflity to proftrate ourfelves in humble appli- 
 cation to him, in whom is all fufficient help. — 
 
 I hear fmce thy laft, that poor has 
 
 made his exiu. Thefe documents (as thou 
 jailly remarks) fiiould quicken our attention to 
 
 a timely 
 
( ) 
 
 a timely preparation. Indeed there is manifold 
 %vi((icm in the frequent contemplation of this 
 greiii event : it helps to humble, to refcind the 
 too great luxuriance of a fportive imagination, 
 to form in us a right comparative eftimation of 
 the prelent and the future, to wean our attach- 
 ment from • place, where we are to have fo 
 fliort and uncertain a refidence, and incite us 
 diligently to feek for an earneft, a well- 
 grounded hope, an alTurance of an inheritance 
 among the faints in hght. 
 
 LETTER CIL 
 
 nth Mo. 1770. 
 
 SINCE I received thine, I have 
 attended the national meeting, and from what 
 I experienced in fundry of the fittings thereof, 
 am ftill more confirmed in fentiment, that the 
 glory, life, power (or by whatever name we 
 may call that which Was wont to overfhadow 
 the alTemblies of our predecelTors) has greatly 
 departed from us, collectively confidered in this 
 day. It is a refle^lioii which fliould cover our 
 
 fpirits 
 
( 2'5 ) 
 
 fpiritswlth mourning; for Donation, orpeoplc^ 
 or indivi iiipJ Dcrfon, can iuiler a more iridrDate 
 lofs, ihun the lofs of divine^ favo'u It Ui^ald 
 alfo deeply engage fuch of us as hdvv* been 
 mercifully preferved, yet to feel fome little 
 ftirrings of life, to cherilh, ^vith ail diligence, 
 this precious fenfe, that it may more and more 
 increafe in our hearts; and by its fpreading, ex- 
 panding nature, catch hold of our nearefi: con- 
 nections, and kindle dill more widely the facred 
 flame. As long as we are ar church militant, 
 there will be, as there have been, wrong fpirits 
 to ccnfli£i: withal. It needs mud be, that of- 
 fences come. But by thefe ^icounters many 
 virtues and ornaments of the Chriftian church 
 (the Lamb's wife) are manifeftly exercifed, 
 wifdom, temperance, meeknefs, patience, long- 
 fuffering, kc. Oh, 'tis much to be lamented 
 that there is fuch a declenfion from the fpiric 
 and life and power of Chriflianity, in thofe 
 called to revive the profeffion of it, in life and 
 fpirit and power. My foul m.ourns deeply over 
 the caufe, becaufe it is the caufe of Chrili: 
 Jefus ; a caufe which rightly adhered to and 
 rightly propagated among mankind, would pull 
 down the kingdom of fatan, releafe from his 
 unmerciful yoke, which deluded mortals fool- 
 iflily and fervilely wear, and make them inex- 
 preilibly happy, both in this world and that 
 which is to come. It is with pleafure, my dear 
 
 friend 
 
( ) 
 
 friend, that I find my mind free to converfe wltli 
 thee on thefe fubje^ls. It is a demonftration 
 to me, that thy heart is in a good meafure of- 
 fered wilUngly to the fervice of the day. If 
 there have been too many years of inattention, 
 let the time paft be fufEcient ; and by diligent 
 waiting and frequent retirement, let the latter 
 growth be flrong, vigorous, and lading. Feel- 
 ing, from time to time, after that pov/cr which 
 caufes a frefh dedication of all, thou wilt not 
 only witnefs a getting dominion over thefe 
 weaknelTes and foibles which have too eafily 
 befet, and a growing in the faving experience of 
 good, but thy inward peace and domeftic 
 happinefs will be alfo increafed by feeing the 
 fpreading of the fame divine virtue in thy fa- 
 mily; and thofe who by the ties of nature and 
 blood are near, will be made flill nearer and 
 dearer by the bond of a fpiritual relationfliip. 
 
 LETTER cm. 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER cm. 
 
 6th Mo, 1771. 
 
 HE lies compofed at prefenr, 
 
 often lifts up his hands, and waits the appointed 
 time 'till the great change comes. Indeed the 
 angel of death feems near his couch ; but the 
 angel of the divine prefence attends likewife in 
 this lad and fliarpelh trial. 'Tis good to be 
 near him, becaufe divine goodnefs is near him 
 alfo. How long it may pleafe the great Cre- 
 ator that his excellent fpirit fhall continue in 
 his poor emaciated body, I know not, but it 
 looks as if it would not be many days. 
 
 LETTER CIV. 
 
 nth Mo, 1771. 
 
 I HOPE this will find thee 
 fafe arrived at home, and that home has an 
 agreeable reliOi after thy long peregrination : 
 it is one of the advantages tliat accrues from 
 travelling, that we return with a renovation of 
 keen appetite for our domeflic fatis factions. 
 Indeed it is great caufe of thankfulnefs to him 
 K tliat 
 
( 2l8 ) 
 
 that fitteth the folitary in famlhes, that fome of 
 us enjoy thefe fatisfa^iions in fo great a degree. 
 I wifh we may be enabled more and more to 
 devote ourfeives, and all that appertains to us, 
 to the fervice of the caufe of Truth in our ge- 
 neration, remembering, every now and then, 
 the ftation to which the church hath appointed 
 us, and fuffering this remembrance to be as a 
 flay to our natural vivacity; that by the inward- 
 nefs of our fpiriis we may at the fame time wit- 
 nefs a growth in wifdom, llrength, and experi- 
 ence, and live and walk lively examples and 
 favoury documents to others. This will make 
 much for our peace in the midft of the troubles 
 which we mult expe^l to meet with here, and 
 for our preparation to have admiflion fome 
 wliere, any where, within the gates of that 
 kingdom where the wicked ceafe from troubling, 
 md the weary are at reft. 
 
 t^ETTER CV. 
 
 1 2th Mo. 1 77 1. 
 
 ALAS ! my friend, this is a 
 day of weaknefs and diftrefs, a day of ftripping 
 and famine. It greatly behooves us to gird up 
 the loins of our minds and be fober : that if 
 the Mailer fhall pleafe to bid us do any thing in 
 
 his 
 
( 219 ) 
 
 his houfe, we may be ready to do it, and 
 thereby obtain his approbation, which is of 
 more vakie than the fmiles and favour of unlia- 
 ble men. For my part, I think it is difreputable 
 (humanly fpeaking) to be indifferent in, or 
 defert, or betray a good caufe, which we have 
 avowed and confederated with ethers to fup- 
 port and miaintain : there is fomething very 
 mean and ignoble in being falfe to one's trufl, 
 and deceiving one's alTociates with whom we 
 have been linked together by facred and folema 
 ties. But when this caufe is no lefs than that 
 of Chriftianity itfelf, the fliewing it fonh by its- 
 fruits in our lives and converfations, and the 
 Spreading of it among men, through the quali- 
 fications of -the fpirit ; as it is of the higheft 
 importance to be faithful to it, for our own 
 fakes and the fakes of others, fo it is of the 
 moft dangerous confequence to aft againO: it. — 
 " For verily I fay unto you, 'till heaven and 
 " earth pafs, one jot or one tittle fhall in no 
 wife pafs from the lavv 'till all be fulfilled. — 
 Whofoever, therefore, fhali break one of 
 " thefe leait commandments, and fhall teach 
 men fo, he fhall be called the lead in the 
 kingdom of heaven : but whofoever fhall do 
 and teach them (here is conduft and preach- 
 " ing united) tke fame fhali be called great in 
 " the kingdom of heaven.'' 
 
 K 2 
 
 LETTER CVL 
 
{ 220 ) 
 
 LETTER CVI. 
 
 THUS one after another wc 
 are overtaken by. feme mefTenger fent to fum- 
 mon us from time to eternity ! happy thofe who, 
 keeping flraight accounts with their Maker, 
 witneffing daily the debt incurred by their tref- 
 palles, to be cancelled by his mercy, in and 
 through his beloved fon, and his judgments, 
 are in readinefs to obey the fummons. Pain of 
 body furely is enough for the poor creature ta 
 itruggle with. May we in that hour, dear 
 friend, feel peace of mind, that peace which 
 refults from the confcioufnefs of a life devoted 
 not to ferve ourfelves only, but principally to 
 the caufe of religion, which in the end will be 
 found to ftand all her votaries in beft and mofh 
 elfedual ftead. A friend in need, is a friend 
 indeed. 
 
 LETTER CVn. 
 
 loth Mo. 1 77 J. 
 
 INDEED we are on manifold 
 accounts debtors to our great Benefactor, and 
 this query v/e fliould often know to pafs through 
 us, " Say, what fhall we render to him for all 
 " his benefits and as this enquiry is made 
 
 ill 
 
( 221 ) 
 
 in hnccrity, we {hall be likely to fee and feel 
 what he calls for in return at our hands : and 
 this, my dear friend, will be found to be no 
 lef^ than our all. Our very exigence, that this 
 exillence is not wretched and miferable with 
 pain and trouble here, that we have comfort- 
 abie and endearino: connections of natural and 
 fpiritual feliowiliip, that we have the means of 
 decent and reputable fupport for ourfelves and 
 families, and that if happily Vve are favoured 
 to feel and feed upon any thing of a divine and 
 fuper-naiural kind, which enables us to rub 
 through the dangers and difficulties of this trou- 
 blefome, uncertain life, and gives a gladdening 
 hope of a ioyful eternity ; all thefe are owing 
 to the fpecial grace and mere unmerited favour 
 of our Creator, upon whofe providence as v/e 
 entirely depend, fo it is our duty and true in- 
 tereft to refign and dedicate all, body, foul and 
 fpirit, time and talents, to him and his fervice, 
 as in the courfe of his wifdom, and holy counfel 
 he (liall call for them from us. There is (in the 
 confirmed apprehenfion of fevcral) a vifitation, 
 an invitation to the \outh. Some feem to have 
 embraced it, and to feek after the renewings of 
 it upon their minds (without which they are 
 not likely to retain it favingly in their knov/- 
 ledge) : others bow down their heads as a 
 bull-ruCb, under the forcible weight of the co- 
 pious gofpel fliower defcending from the infl.ru- 
 menral vehicles of the clouds, and anon raife 
 K 3 them 
 
( 2^2 ) 
 
 thciu again to look about at the ftatcs of others, 
 or at the dekillve fplendors of a vain deceitful 
 world, to their hurt and hindrance : and there 
 are (it's to be feared) of iiich vifited youth who 
 have in their hearts departed from the fenfe of 
 it, and returned like the dog to his vomit, or 
 the fow that had been wafhed, to wallow ia 
 the mire. While I thus write, it has been re- 
 peatedly fliewn me, how carefully we, who are 
 arrived at the fummit of the flage of confpicu- 
 ous adion, and are feen in our feveral fpheres, 
 ought to handle the law and the teflimony': how 
 careful we fliould be to let our condudl and con- 
 verfaticn fliine inftruv5i:ively before all, that we 
 may not by any lightnefs (to which a confti- 
 tutional vivacity may bias us) give a kind of 
 fandlion, or encouragement to fuch as are un- 
 fteadily Aiding off the foundation of inward con- 
 vision and chailening judgement in their own 
 minds : for indeed in my apprehenlion, the 
 want of patiendy learning thefe firfl rudiments 
 of religion, is the grand caufe why we have fo 
 few good fcholars in the fchool of Chrift. 
 
 LETTER CVIIL 
 
( 223 ) 
 
 LETTER CVIII. 
 
 I ft Mo. 1771. 
 
 'TIS true his ( father) 
 
 nnitbrmly well-fpent Hfe mud alFord him on the 
 retrofpeflion, a confcious fatisfacl:ion; and I be- 
 heve he has the pureft and beft confolations in 
 as great degree and frequency as moft men, yet 
 he finds pain of body hard to bear, and when 
 the (trength and flefli fail, and the gloomy path 
 is begun to be trod, nature flirinks at the ap- 
 proach of the final dellru^lion of all that is vifi- 
 ble, and the befl have occafion for all their bed 
 fupport to (land the fhock, undaunted. What 
 then muft the loofe, the vain, the libertines, 
 who have given the lie by their condu£l and 
 converfation to a high and holy profeffion, feel 
 in that day and hour, when they have no oil in 
 their lamps, no treafure in (tore againft thac- 
 ptQching time ? 
 
 K 4 LETTER CIX. 
 
( 224 ) 
 
 LETTER CIX. 
 
 7th Mo. 1771. 
 
 HE ( 's father) lived in 
 
 watchful fear and circumfpe£iion : he died in a 
 holy confidence, triumphing over death and 
 hell, and yielding only that which was mortal 
 and perifhable to the grave. The laft words 
 which he was heard to utter, (and that only a 
 fliort time before his departure) were expreffive 
 of the help and comfort which he felt in the 
 laft extremity. And when nature could not 
 produce intelligible words, his motion and 
 gefture (v/ell known to his intimates) were fuch 
 as he was wont to ufe when his fpirit was raifed 
 in the dominion of the feed of life. Since his 
 tranflation, I feel to myfelf exceedingly weak, 
 fometimes greatly afFe£led at this final fepara- 
 tion, at other times more cheerful, and thankful 
 for the many domeftic comforts remaining. 
 
 LETTER ex. 
 
( 225^ ) 
 
 LETTER ex. 
 
 6th Mo. 1772. 
 
 I DOUBT not but fome of 
 
 you wlfh for his ( ) return ; but am 
 
 alfo of opinion, that befides the good accruing 
 to them with whom he is prefent, by his pre- 
 fence, advantages may alfo accrue to you, from 
 whom he his abfent by his abfence. If you do 
 not feel your ftrength, ye feel your weaknefs, 
 and from this fenfe of want, and the uncertainty 
 of infhrumental aid, I truft ye look with anxious 
 folicitude to him who fees in fecret, and is the 
 only fure effc6lual help and fupply of his peo- 
 ple.. 
 
 LETTER CXL 
 
 1 2th Mo. 1771, 
 
 CHANGE is the condition of 
 0ur nature and place ; and the fupport and 
 confolation which is alone fufficient to giye 
 jirmnefs to our fpirits, and bear them up through. 
 and-ovea- ali the changes which may await us,. 
 
 K 5 i5 
 
f 226 ) 
 
 is the bieffed and unchangeable Truth ; which 
 whoever in honed fimplicity adheres unto, he 
 or flie may pafs through good report, or evil re- 
 port, may be cried up, or cried down, may 
 pleafe, or difpleafe in the cflimation of change- 
 able mortals ; but the prefent and future re- 
 ward of fuch, is and will be fare : even that 
 fubftantial peace which the world is not able 
 to give, by ail its gratifications and fmiles ; nor 
 to take away by its perfecutions and frowns. — 
 And whoever departs, in heart, from this 
 bleffed principle of Truth, and makcth flefli (or 
 thefe reafonings and fchemes which belong to 
 fledi) his confidence, however he may be cen- 
 fured or commended by fhort-fighted men, who 
 ^udge from outward appearances, and fee not 
 the heart ; yet fuch in that flate are not under 
 the divine approbation, but difpleafure ; audi 
 their end, without repentance, will be niifera- 
 ble. I wifh you all may be difpofed to make 
 choice of the good part : I am perfuaded if 
 that was generally the cafe widi you, a fountain 
 would be opened in your family, to wafh and 
 to bathe in, to drink and to be refreflied at, to 
 your general joy and gladnefs ; for the good- 
 will of heaven has, I believe, hovered over you, 
 with blefiings ready to be poured into your 
 hearts, if prepared to receive them. And as 
 to you, the elder children of fo highly- favoured 
 a family, on whofe account my folemn offerings 
 hav€ been often made, what can I fay to 
 
 you, 
 
( 227 ) 
 
 yon, which ye do not know ? ye have not 
 wanted for clear difcoveries of duty ; ye have 
 been favoured both with inftrudlion and cor-- 
 re(Jlion ; by the fame powerful touch of a di- 
 vine finger, ye have conceived a difrelifli for 
 the vain unfubftantial, gratifications of the 
 world, and a relifh for thofe folid comforts 
 which are in the precious Truth. For the fake 
 of your own (landing and growth in that Vv^hich 
 is good ; for the fake of the powerful efiicacy 
 and influence of good example within your 
 fphere of a£lion, I befeech you, my beloved 
 friends, above all things, cultivate the gracious 
 vifitations, whichye have aforetime experienced, 
 by frequent retirement, and therein diligently 
 feek after a renewal thereof upon your fpi- 
 rits. Avoid, as much as in you heSj every 
 thing which ye find to unfit you for this holy, 
 commerce, and let it be your principal watch 
 and care to keep the veflel clean (no matter ' 
 how empty) which receives (when it pleafes • 
 infinite wifdom to communicate it) that moftL" 
 excellent trcafure, the joy of God's falvation, . 
 
 lt:tter cxiij. 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER CXII. 
 
 2d Mo. 177^. 
 
 MANY changes happen in the 
 courfe of time. Nature in every part of it, 
 within lis and without us, is fubje^l to change. 
 There is one principle of a fpiritual kind, which 
 changeth not, neither waxeth old, nor decay- 
 eth. Our fpirits would do well to lay hold on 
 it, to be leavened, regulated and guided by it. 
 We fliall find no friend, no helper, no counfel- 
 lor like it here, to fleer us, to fuftain us through 
 the perils and difficulties of this life ; pilot us 
 Hue through the dreadful gulph terrible to 
 human nature, and launch us into that illimit- 
 able ocean of happinefs which knows no Ihores. 
 
 LETTER CXIIL 
 
 i2thMo. 1779. 
 
 WHAT more is to be expe<5i:ed 
 by any of us in this life^ than an alternative of 
 agreeable and difagreeable occurences ? Winds 
 and tempefls purify the atmofphere ; fnow and 
 froil: fru<5lify the land. Let us then, in the day 
 
 of 
 
( 279 ) 
 
 of advcrfity, adopt the language of tlie pfalmift, 
 (57. i.) and in the intervals of tranquility,, 
 with which our merciful Creator is pleafed to 
 fovour us, let us make good ufe of the prefent 
 quiet and compofure allotted, to cultivate, to- 
 renew, to ftrengthen our acquaintance with 
 the omnipotent Author of all that is good : fo 
 fliall profperity, as well as adverfity, be fan£li- 
 fied to us, and equally contribute to the confoli- 
 dating of our prefent peace, and enfuring of our 
 future happinefs- 
 
 LETTER CXIY. 
 
 1779. 
 
 MY mind Is, at times, deeply^ 
 " bowed In thankfulnefs ; but 1 feel that tran- 
 quility and all thefe lower enjoyments are ex- 
 ceedingly uncertain ; they have alfo their alloy* 
 May we be then like-mJnded with the royal 
 pfalmifi:, One thing have I defired of the Lord, 
 " that will I feek after, that I may dwell in the 
 " houfe of the Lord all the diiys of my life ; to 
 " behold the beauty of the Lord, and to en- 
 quire in his temple. For in the time of trou- 
 
 blQ 
 
( 2^30 ) 
 
 " ble, he fhall hide me in his pavilion ; in the 
 fecret of his tabernacle, fliall he hide me^ he 
 " fliall. fet me upon a rock," &c. 
 
 EETTER CXV. 
 
 9th Mo. 1770. 
 
 THOU knoweft, my dear friend^, 
 that religious growth does not confift in writing 
 and fpeaking on religious fubje£ls : it confifts 
 in the divine life, prevailing in our minds. ■ ■ 
 Poverty of fpirit is the plain decent every-day 
 cloathing which properly belongs to, and be- 
 comes the Chriftian man.. This cloathing 
 makes us appear comely in the fight of the Maf- 
 ter and of fpiritual men. When his followers 
 patiently wear this garment, and keep it un- 
 fpotted from the world, in his own time (which 
 they will find to be the bell) he will array them 
 ■with robes of righteoufnefs and garments of 
 praife. But then they mu(t be ftripped again 
 of thefe which are the Lord's ornaments, and 
 poffelFmg their fouls in patience, muft content-* 
 edly put on their own old raiment, the ordinary, 
 livery of the mafter's fervants. Hence is feen 
 the propriety of that expreffion of his, to his 
 
 difcipies 5 
 
C ) 
 
 difclples; "The poor ye have always with 
 I you, but me ye have not. always." Had 
 there not been a word on this folemn fubje<5i: in- 
 thy letter, it would have been very welcome to 
 me, becaufe I know thy time to mention that 
 fubjefl is not always ready. What I was de- 
 ilrous of was, that, whether abfent or prefent, 
 there might ftill be kept open a door of free 
 communication of fentiments on thefe matters 
 between us, by which fome good mighty and I 
 I think no evil could, enter. I can fay of a truths 
 that fervent and renewed have been my defires 
 and petitions on thy behalf, fince 1 wrote lad, 
 and I truft thy conflicSls and befetments, thy 
 fenfe of thy own weaknefs, and of thy lack of 
 beft wifdom, thy indifpofition of body, thy fee- 
 blenefs of mind will all work together for good. 
 Certainly the good-will of the Almighty Bene- 
 factor is towards thee, and good and gracious, 
 are his defigns upon thee. Elfe, why fliould 
 my poor fpirit be fo often dipped into fympathy 
 with thee, and fuch petitions be formed in tra- 
 vail in the deeps, on thy account ? Oh ! be 
 faithful to the difcoveries of the light which 
 maketh manifeft, and to the requirings of duty 
 in the day of fmall things, and great will be thy 
 peace, and glorious thy rev;ard ; fuch as " Eye 
 " hath not feen, nor ear heard, nor hath it en- 
 " tered, or can enter, into the heart of the na- 
 " tural man to conceive.'' Do not be refllefs, 
 iineafy and impatient to quit thy place of pro- 
 bation 
 
( ) 
 
 bation and prefent trial ; but rather ufe the 
 more diligence (in proportion to the dangers 
 and difficuhies of thy fituation) in feeking for 
 inward flrength and wifdom to be enabled to 
 acquit thyfelf acceptably in the fight of heaven. 
 Remember wherever we are, it is by the ap- 
 pointment, or permilTion of all-wife Providence, 
 who fees both us and our engagements. It is 
 not the way to gather flrength of mind to en- 
 deavour to fly in our own wills, from the field 
 
 of labour and battle. Let us ftand our 
 
 ground, keep clofe to the flandard of Truth y 
 if we cannot put an enemy to flight, let us 
 however not flinch ourfelves, but openly de- 
 clare and {hew on what fide we are ; on the 
 fide of him who was never foiled in battle. — 
 Thus, dear friend, thou wilt grow flronger and 
 flronger, and feel " The peace which pafleth 
 all (rational) underflanding,'' to flow as a 
 mighty flream in thy foul, bearing down before 
 it, all the liale, trifling, hindering things, and 
 thou wilt be able ( as thou art faithful and obe- 
 dient) to encounter things of greater moment 
 and diiHculty, with honour and fuccefs. So, 
 in the love of our Holy Head, I afle^lionately 
 falute thee, and commit thee, with my own 
 foul, to his divine proteffion. 
 
 LETTER CXVL 
 
( ^33 ) 
 
 LETTER CXVI. 
 
 9th Mo. 1776. 
 
 IF tliefe means of intercourfe 
 between us were not ufed, fliil I truft the root 
 of friendfhip lives in our minds. I know in my 
 befl: feafons, it produces good defires and peti- 
 tions for my beloved friend. Then, when 
 Truth at the fame time expands and proftrates 
 the heart, my prayers are for thee, that thou 
 mayft fubmit to the operation of that power 
 which reduces, changes, and forms ; that thou 
 mayft give up all \\ni\\ an unreferved dedication, 
 and fnnply be what the Lord would have thee 
 to be. Long has he continued his favour to 
 thee ; frequent and powerful have been his vi- 
 fitations. Time flies on with unremitting fpeed ; 
 the end of all things approaches. Happy will 
 it be for thofe who have here, in all humility, 
 received the Truth in the love of it, have bowed 
 their necks to it's yoke, and have not been 
 afliamed to confefs Chrift in his lowly appear- 
 ances before men ; fuch will reign with him 
 triumphandy in an eternity of joy. May that, 
 my dear friend, be thy ftate and experience 
 now j and this, thy portion for ever ! 
 
 LETTER CXVIL 
 
C 234 ) 
 
 LETTER CXVIL 
 
 loth Mo. 1786. 
 
 MAN was formed and defigned 
 by his Creator for religious, as well as civil fo- 
 ciety. The fpirits of the well-minded, met to- 
 gether, aid one another, and a joint labour 
 more readily opens the fpring, which is much 
 choked up by formal, lifelefs, lukewarm-, as well- 
 as libertine, profelTors in our fociety. Befides 
 it is the will of the common Father of his peo- 
 ple, that his children ihall, at ftated feafons, 
 prefent themfelves before him in a general way, 
 though fatan Ihould come alfo among them ^ 
 though in this mixed ftate of things, the fpirit 
 of antichrifl in a myftery fhould bear rule, and 
 prevail to fpread a cloud over the alTembly ; 
 yet is this enemy often rebuked, and the cloud 
 known to be diffipated, and the vifited children 
 made to rejoice together, under the precious 
 influence of unmixed good. 
 
 Of what ufe is thy over-much thoughtfulnefs ? 
 Or thy looking too far before thee ? It would 
 be as well for thee, I believe, if thou wert, in 
 fome refpe£ls, near-fighted, like myfelf. We 
 are creatures, as of a moment, and fliould ftill. 
 endeavour to make the bed ufe of the prefent 
 moment which only is cur's ^ doing in prudence- 
 
( 235 ) 
 
 mJ modcnuion what is in our power, humbly 
 lependant on the Author of the exigence of 
 )ur fouls and bodies, for his daily fupply to 
 
 DOth. 
 
 LETTER CXVIIL 
 
 I DO not wonder at worldly 
 )leafures5 worldly profits, and worldly fplendor 
 :aptivating the minds of youth; they fee obje(Sls 
 hrough a falfe medium. Nothing lefs than a 
 rreat and fupernatural power can change our 
 n\c afFe6lIons, and nothing lefs than the renew- 
 ngs of the fame power can preferve them right, 
 vhen fo changed. A fenfe of this made David 
 :ry out, " Create in me a clean heart, and re- 
 
 * new a right fpirit within me." And the 
 ipoftle Paul mod beautifully expreffes, " Ac- 
 
 * cording to his mercy he faved us by the 
 
 * waihing of regeneration and renewing of the 
 ^ holy gholl." This renewing then is what we 
 lave to wait to experience. This transform- 
 lion from the fpirit of the world into the di- 
 'ine image, muft be effected and continued by 
 he renewing of the mind. 
 
 LETTER CXIX. 
 
( ) 
 LETTER CXIX, 
 
 MAY every feeble effort, and 
 afpiration after the right thhig, grow and gather 
 ftrength in every one ; that not one grain of: 
 the precious feed of the kingdom may be loftlj 
 or unimproved ; for furely nothing is of equal 
 value with the vifitation of heaven ; it is indeed 
 the breath of life, by which man becomes a 
 living foul. 
 
 I am perfuaded thou art diligent in improving 
 thy own ftock ; though not making any oftenta- 
 tious difplay of much trade, too often the pre- 
 lude of difreputable failures. If thou holdeft 
 on in this little, low, frugal, induftrious way, I 
 ihall expe^l to find thee rich* 
 
 There feems ta be many promifing youth, up 
 and down, many buds and blofToms, but there 
 is not produced proportionable fruit. The plants 
 feem wholly of a right feed,, and of the great 
 and good Hufbandman's right hand planting ; 
 yet many of them mifcarry in their growth j 
 they get out of the fertile, penetrable, yielding 
 foil, and ftrike their roots into aftiff hard clay ; 
 or the branches, for want of pruning, grow toe 
 grofs and run into timber ; or perhaps they arc 
 fuffered to bear too much at once, while they 
 are young ; their ftrength is exhaufted, and the} 
 wither away* 
 
 LETTER CXX. 
 
( 3 
 
 LETTER CXX. 
 
 6th Mo. 17S9. 
 
 I AM fenfible of many weak- 
 elTcs and deficiences attending me, and wifh, 
 or the fake of the mod noble caufe which ever 
 xifled, that I were a more able advocate for it. 
 iowever, if we faithfully do, according to the 
 bility received, what appears to be our duty, 
 hough it may appear to ourfelves and others, 
 . very little thing, we fliall not want encou- 
 agem.ent and help to go forward. A little pure 
 ;old is far more valuable than a great deal of 
 )afe metal. So I wifh thee, beloved friend, to 
 )e flrengthened and encouraged, and to love 
 he littlenefs, and not think the day of fmall 
 ihings long. Thou had, 1 believe under right 
 :lire£lion, put thy hand to the gofpel-plough : 
 neither look back, nor too far before thee, nor 
 ..bout thee, at the fpacioufnefs of the field of 
 labour ; but juft turn up the furrow thou art, 
 or the time being, engaged in, according to 
 he prefent fkill and ability afforded. " What- 
 * foever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy 
 ' might," the prefent might, and may the Lord 
 lU mighty blefs and profper and increafe that 
 night, to the honour of his great name, to the 
 •dification of his church, and to thy own fohd 
 >eace i 
 
 I had 
 
( ) 
 
 I had fome agreeable feeling converfation 
 
 with dear who feemed inwardly ftrength- 
 
 ened and fupported under this frefti trial, 
 which file met with, on her return home from 
 about three months labour in her Mafl:er*s fer- 
 vice. Let us mark the economy of divine Pro- 
 vidence, and his deaUng with his faithful fer- 
 vants ; thofe that leave all for the gofpel's fake, 
 fhall receive the " Hundred fold'' (it's faid) 
 " now in this time," but " with perfecutions;" 
 there muft be the necelTary alloy in this world j 
 in the world to come, eternal life.'* 
 
 LETTER CXXL 
 
 I FIND — has been, for 
 fome time part, very low in his mind ; yet I 
 truft it is of good, and will be for his good. — 
 Great alteration indeed ! his foul, which ufed 
 to be like a well-watered garden, now hke a 
 fandy defert ; but I believe he neither complains 
 nor murmurs. Various are the difpenfations 
 which fome have to pafs through ; fimilar to 
 thofe which attended the great Mafter. He had 
 a long faft, forty days and forty nights, and was 
 
 forely 
 
( 239 ) 
 
 forcly tempted ; but the text faj'S, " He was 
 " led up of the fpirit" into that wildernefs. — 
 And if we be led by the good fpirit, all will be 
 ivell ; rejoicing and fufFering, feafting and | fad- 
 ing are in his hand ; his viiited children, difci- 
 ples and followers have only patiently to abide 
 under his government, who leads in the way of 
 -ighteoufnefs, in the midil of the paths of 
 udgment. 
 
 LETTER CXXII. 
 
 AS w^e refign ourfelves to the 
 livine prote<n:ion and ordering, by a wheel (as 
 t were ) within a wheel, he effef^s his gracious 
 3urpofes concerning us, which the contumacy of 
 )ur own wills, or the fallacy of our own con- 
 trivances might fruftrate ; happy would it 
 3e for us, if we could lofe our own wills in the 
 .vill of God. The fiefh profiteth nothing in 
 he work of religion ; religion which by all 
 neans fhould be the chief concern of our lives, 
 ;he beginning, the middle and the end of our 
 Durfuits and defires. Choofe that good part, 
 eek that firll, and other things neceflary will 
 De added. 
 
 A little 
 
( 240 ) 
 
 A little lapfe of time fumiflies many new fub- 
 je^s of remark, and many concurring inftanccs 
 of the inftability of human profperity, con- 
 fpiring to manifcft that in this world we fliall 
 all, in rotation, meet with trouble, and that 
 there is no permanent fubftantial happinefs, but 
 in the comforts of religion. Happy for thofe 
 who lay the foundation of life on this rock, and 
 who are preferved thereon through all the 
 perils and changes which aw^ait this Hate of ex- 
 igence. They too, in this world, will have 
 their portion of trouble ; but that peace which 
 pafTeth all conception of the natural man, will 
 be their folace in the midft of outward afflidlion. 
 I heartily wifli thee, my dear friend, in particu- 
 lar, and )'our family in general, to be partakers 
 of this hidden treafure, which I believe divers 
 of you, both elder and younger, know by piifl: 
 experience, not to be a mere fpeculative notion, 
 or product of a heated imagination ; but a fub- 
 ftantial, fure, and certain principle, which, when 
 poiTclIed and retained, in renewed experience, 
 is fufficient to enable us to do and fuiFer all 
 things as we ought. 
 
 LETTER CXXIII. 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER CXXIIL 
 
 4th Mo. 1785.' 
 
 I AM concerned for dear 's 
 
 frequent indifpofition, the cafe is flight and de*- 
 licate ; may the contents, the precious contents 
 be preferved in good condition, and not fufFer 
 any damage thereby. Our poor vifible fabrics 
 will be battered and hurt, and get out of repair ; 
 they are frail and periihable ; but the fpirit 
 which is invifible, is eternal. May we often 
 watch unto prayer, in order to be helped to 
 commit and commend our own fpirits and the 
 fpirits of one another to divine keeping and pro- 
 tection ; that fo, when a total wreck fhall be 
 made of th'efe bodies, our fouls may be fafe, 
 concentred in everlafling happinefs. 
 
 Dear coufm 's connexions have been 
 
 tried with affliiftion of body ; trouble will take 
 it's rounds ; they are bed off who are mod re- 
 fjgncd. is inured to penance, morti- 
 fication and the'^C^ofs this is very contrary to 
 the generality of mankind ; this is far from fow- 
 ing to the flefii ; 'tis in reality and in truth 
 fowing to the fpirit : may the crofs prove the 
 divine blelling here, and hereafter, life everlad:* 
 ing ! The feed time (which is the fpring time) 
 is long with fome ; the winter intrudes upon it,. 
 
 -L continues 
 
eontinucs long, and as it were unfeafonably ; 
 but let us remember who it is that orders the 
 courfe of the ' feafons ; and we have often had 
 to obferve that the mofl: genial fummers and 
 moil fruitful harvefts fucceed fuch feafons as 
 thefe. Yet are not the Lord's children infenfi- 
 ble of thofe fru<5tifying fhowers which frefhen, 
 cherifh and make prolific in this fpring ; and 
 few I believe are more favoured that way than 
 our friend. I think with me it's always winter, 
 frofl: and rain, fliort days and long nights ; yet 
 believing that it is by the appointment of him, 
 who is Lord of the feafons, I am content ; nay 
 J wifli for no change, but by his ordering. If 
 J . feel his powerful baptizing hand upon me^ 
 ^tis enough for me ; but without this, I am like 
 an owl in the wildernefs, and pelican in the de- 
 fert, flat, dry, infipid. 
 
 This , hand of power, I acknowledge, I have 
 at times felt fmce I faw thee, not only in 'feafon 
 (in fome of our public meetings ) but as it were 
 out of feafojc?, on the road, on my bed, 
 
 LETTEU CXXIV. 
 
{ 243 ) 
 
 LETTER CXXIV. 
 
 is a pretty youth ; 
 
 how beautiful, how ufeful would fuch be, if 
 they fufFered the great hammer (the omnific 
 word) to fall upon them and break them ia 
 pieces. Thou haft felt the ftrokes of this great 
 hammer, it has foftened, and is fafhioning thee, 
 I truft, for a veffel of honour ; yield thou unto 
 it, and be paflive and pliable imder its influence, 
 till it make thee what Infinite Wifdom would 
 have thee to be, exa£lly both as to form and 
 ufe. In a little time all this fcene will be clofed 
 upon us all, our places and our acquaintance 
 will know us, and fpeak of us, no more. In the 
 clofing of this fcene, when every thing elfe fliall 
 fail, what will it be to us to witnefs the Lord to 
 be the ftrength of our hearts, and our portion 
 for ever. 
 
 My beloved friend, farewel ; be humble, be 
 diligent, be honeft ; and may the Lord Al- 
 mighty delight to blefs thee and comfort thee, 
 and preferve thee in his fear and in his favour, 
 now and for ever ! 
 
 h 2 LETTER. CXXV. 
 
C 244 ) 
 
 L-ETTER CXXV, 
 
 THE converfation,of my dear 
 ■friends, if happily feafoned with good, the 
 communing together on the way, if the Mafter 
 fliould gracioufly pleafe to condefcend to join 
 the company, is pleafmg and. profitable indeed ; 
 and in this-I delight. But if no feeling friend 
 fliould be near, no perfon who can converfe ia 
 the Hebrew tongue, (till the children of the 
 kingdom are not at a lofs ; their teacher, their 
 comforter, their fure guide, and faithful friend 
 is with them, and in them. 
 
 At the felccl meeting at , 
 
 came out with fomething fo lively and fenfible 
 as quite delighted me ; I care not by what 
 name men might call it, I was fatisfied that it 
 ilTued from a divine fpring ; thankfgiving was 
 not only in my heart, but in my tongue, and my 
 fpirit rejoiced in commemoration of that good- 
 nefs, which foUowei-h down from generation to 
 generation ; had thou been with us, .1 believe 
 thou would alfo have been made glad. Well, 
 my dear friend, I am pleafed that thou ventured 
 out with thy little remarks. No doubt thou 
 appeared as a fool, fo did the great Mafter be- 
 fore the fcribes and pharifees and elders but 
 this IS a firame which I truft thou wilt gradu- 
 ally learn to defpife, and be more and more 
 
 conformable 
 
( ^45 ) 
 
 conformable to this mofl excellent and perfect 
 pattern, our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrifl ; 
 who, though poffefTed of immortaliry and dwel- 
 ling in inacceffible light, left the bolbm of his 
 Father, and came down from the heights of his 
 glory, for the redemption and reftoration of 
 fallen man. And as he hath loved us, fo ought 
 we to love one another, and all mankind in ge- 
 neral ; not feeking our own things, .and tenaci- 
 ous and ftudious of our own falfe delicacy and 
 honour, but " Buried with him by baptifm 
 " into death" unto thefe things, that we may 
 be living witneffes of his refurrc<fi:ion in life and 
 power. 
 
 LETTER CXXVL 
 
 I NOTE thy (late, my dear 
 friend, poor enough of itfelf, but receiving an 
 add'tional tinge from the poverty of the places, 
 where thy temporary refidence is ; I note with 
 fatisfadion thy fcnfible expreffion, If I be 
 idle I fliall be lofl." I note thy endeavours 
 to keep up the daily facrifice, though the offer- 
 ing may feem but fmalL Thefe things I note, 
 and take comfort in them, believing that thou 
 art an object of divine compaffion, and that his 
 L 3 love 
 
( 246 ) 
 
 love and tender regard is towards tliee. I hare- 
 riot fince wrote, as thou moft kmdly recom- 
 jnends, nor heard from that quarter. We are 
 poor, infufficient creatures ; without fuperna- 
 tural aid can neither help ourfelves, nor others ; 
 and this aid we are patiendy to wait for, and it 
 come to fuch in the right and beft: (which 
 is the Lord*s) time. The help intended for 
 thee docs not feem likely to come from province 
 meetings, which thou miffed being at ; but 
 Curer, better, more fubflantial, even inward im- 
 mediate help I hope will be thy comfortable 
 portion and happy experience.. 
 
 LETTER CXXVir. 
 
 3d Mo. 1777. 
 
 I THINK I am neither bigot, 
 nor zealot, but I find that the holy fcriptures 
 contained in the Old and New Teftament, and 
 the records of the experiences, travels, and 
 fufferings of our ancient, faithful friends, do 
 me moft good. My fpirit hath unity with them, 
 as I perufe their writings, or hear them read : 
 they tend to ftrengthen the root of hfe, and are 
 made inftrumeutal to ftir up the pure mind.— 
 
( 247 ) 
 
 The writings of others, upon ^Yhom this day of 
 tlie Lord has not lb fully rifen, are more in the 
 mixture and have a- ftrong colouring of the 
 glimmering, uncertain twilight, under whici^ 
 their authors fee religious matters. li look^ 
 indeed prepofterous for us to go to them for 
 inftruflion, as it w^ould be for a m.an to have 
 recourfe to obfcurity for more light ; yet to a 
 mind which pants after the coming (i. e. the 
 advancement) of the reign of Chrift upon 
 earth, it affords an agreeable fcnfation to be 
 made witnefs of the fpringing up and fpreading 
 of Truth among thofe who are not yet come to 
 a full perception and confefTion of it : this was 
 caufe of joy to the prophet, w^hen he could 
 fay, " The people which fat in darknefs faw 
 great hght, and to them which fat in the re- 
 " gion and fhadow of death, light is fprung 
 " up/* 
 
 The genuine infpired writings of holy men' 
 we read, and ought often to read for our edifi- 
 cation, the produ£i:ions of fuch as have not at- 
 tained to fo great a degree of Chriflian per- 
 fe£lion ; though religious men, we may alfo 
 read for our fatisfaflion, keeping a diligent 
 w^itch over our fpirits, left accumulated know- 
 ledge (hould puff us up, and remembering the 
 pathetic prayer, I thank thee, O Father, 
 Lord of heaven and earth, becaufe thou haft 
 hid thefe things from the wife and prudent, ' 
 and haft revealed them unto babes and the 
 I. 4 fubfequent 
 
( 248 ) 
 
 fubfeqnent exhcrtationy " Take my yoke upon 
 " you, and learn of me; for I am meek and 
 lowly in heart, and ye fliall find reft unto 
 " your fouls, for my yoke is eafy, and my 
 
 " burden is light." Here is the Mafter 
 
 himfelf teaching, who unites knowledge and 
 practice; fpeculation, and even right notions 
 of Chrillianity of themfelves, are vain ; " If ye 
 " know thefe things, happy are ye if ye do 
 " them/' Such are the precepts of Chrift> 
 and fuch the fpirit of Chriftianity ; by their ex- 
 cellence, fublimity, clearnefs, fimplicity, and 
 comprehenfive fulnefs, bearing the genuine 
 ftarap of their Divine Original, very different 
 from the tedious, ambiguous manner of many 
 writers on religious fubjefls, who confnfe what 
 they pretend to explain, and obfcure what they 
 take upon them to illuftrate; fo th.ax though 
 the text is clear and plain, the comment is 
 often dark and unintelligible. 
 
 LETTER CXXVIIL 
 
( 249 ) 
 
 LETTER CXXVIIL 
 
 4th Mo. 1780. 
 
 I ACCOMPANIED dear 
 I into the county of — — . I believe 
 the profpe^i: of his children's agreeable fettle- 
 ment has humbled his heart into (till lower 
 depths of refignation, dedication, and obedi- 
 ence, as thinking that he can never do enough 
 for fo gracious, fo bountiful a Mader. I love 
 to fee a growth in the Divine gift, and indivi- 
 duals waxing flrong, taking lirm root, increaf- 
 ing in the increafe of God, and bringing forth 
 fruit to his praife. "What is this world ? It is 
 vanity and vexation, and will foon be over ; 
 but all things truly great and noble are involved 
 in the caufe of God and his Chrift upon earrli. 
 
 I have had fome thoughts about going to 
 London this year, but am not yet determined. 
 
 I hope that at our enfuing meeting of , 
 
 I may be favoured v/iih fome little fcnfe of 
 what is befl: to be done. I fliould not like to 
 be backward in any Httle help which I might 
 be induced with ability to give, even in the 
 fmalleft degree, towards carrying on this great 
 and important work ; and at the fame time I 
 often fervently defire to be preferved from un- 
 necelTary, forward intrulion, and bufy med- 
 dling 
 
( ^5^ ) 
 
 dling in matters, which, in the economy of 
 Infinite Wifdora, have been allotted to other 
 men, I think I am pretty much, will-lefs as to 
 this migration. 
 
 LETTER CXXIX. 
 
 THOU art but a poor crea- 
 ture of a moment ; ftrive to improve the 
 prefent moment, and be not careful about to- 
 morrow : *tis bad economy, and not the way 
 to grow rich, to be flill employed in fpeculating 
 about the future, and negle(Sl: laying hold of 
 the prefent advantages, which, rightly huf- 
 banded, open the way to future profperity. 
 
 I think thou art very like me in thy failings, 
 I mean thy weaknelTcs ; my poor fpirit is too 
 apt to anticipate trouble, it is hke a reed 
 lhaken by the wind. May we be both endued 
 with right fortitude, preferved looking, and 
 leaning towards Him who is a prefent help in 
 every needful time to his humble, depending 
 children, not calling up to ourfelves, as out of 
 the earth (raifmg by our own imaginations) 
 evil which the Lord never created, but relying 
 implicitly on his gracious Providence, and 
 
 learning 
 
( 251 ) 
 
 [earning W'hat this meaneth, " Sufficient for 
 " the day is the evil thereof!'^ The opinion of 
 people refpe6Ving our condu6): is not to be too 
 minutely minded, nor wholly neglected. If 
 they are difpofed to find fault, they will do it, 
 let us a6t as we will ; and however we fliould 
 Ti^i, we need not expe(fl to pleafe all. Let us 
 keep to the fimplicity of Truth, watching that 
 wx enter not into temptation, and praying con- 
 tinually that we may Hand approved in tlie 
 fight of heaven, let the men of the earth judge 
 as they may. 
 
 I was a good deal indifpofed in with 
 
 a cold which I took thither, and increafcd 
 there ; however I attended (through favour of 
 Providence) all the meetings, and my ordinary 
 duties there. Notwithilanding a fenfe of our 
 \)eing a greatly favoured and greatly depraved 
 people, 1 was fatisfied as to myfelf in general, 
 having. witnelTed at times thefe hiunbling, bap- 
 tizing feafons ; which I fuppofe being my higheft 
 lot, are the lot of my inheritance, and pecu- 
 liarly proper for m.e. 
 
 Our amiable friend — — appeared in the 
 religious line in the meetings of worfliip and 
 
 difcipline in yefterday ; I hope well for 
 
 her, but am not yet favoured to be a witnefs 
 for her ; I do not therefore pretend to find 
 fault. Far be it from me to judge vvith my 
 own judgment In fuch weighty matters. If it 
 be of the highell authority, it v.ril not onlv 
 
 ftand, 
 
( ) 
 
 ftand, but grow and make its way, and poffefe 
 the gates (the judgments) of thofe who are at 
 prefent perhaps rather enemies through preju- 
 dice and partiaHty. 
 
 Farewel, be of good comfort ; he th^t 
 careth for the fparrows doubtlefs cares for 
 thee ; they are a numerous tribe ; we hardly 
 feem to know their ufe in the creation, and yet 
 ihey Hve by his bounty. May his merciful 
 regard be ever extended to thee, and his 
 almighty arm be ever underneath to fupport 
 ^lnd cheer thy fpirit! this is the poor but 
 fmcere offering of unaltered friendfliip, and 
 believe me thy affedlionate faithful friend. 
 
 LETTER CXXX. 
 
 AS religious perfons, we may 
 put on a veil of too much delicacy : there is a 
 ^ fliame which we ought to defpife. We ought 
 not only to be religious, but to appear fo; not 
 indeed making a pompous difplay of aufterities, 
 * and appearing unto men to faft (which is not 
 bearing the crofs, hui riding in an exalted 
 manner upon it), but (hewing forth by our con- 
 du^l, converfation^ outward appearance, and 
 
 demeanour. 
 
{ ) 
 
 demeanour, that we are followers of him, who 
 gave himfelf an example for us to follow. 
 Some of you the elder branches of that family, 
 my beloved friends, have been vifited, called, 
 and chofen ; the bridegroom of fouls hath 
 knocked for an entrance, and wooed you with 
 the moil tender folicitations ; let not a falfe 
 flelicacy bolt the door againft him who loves 
 you, and is beloved by you, inciting you to 
 inake excufes; fuch as I have put off my 
 
 coat, how lhall I put it on r I have wafhed 
 y my feet, how fl:iall I defile them I am furc 
 
 the watchmen that went about the city have 
 " often found" you in the courfe of their 
 fervice, have " fmitten and wounded" yon 
 with the artillery of the gofpel, and if now one 
 (though of the meaneft) " of the keepers of 
 
 the walls" (the fupporters of the difcipline), 
 fiiould be made inilrumental to " take away 
 " your veir' from you, to flrip off that deli- 
 cacy, and manifeft ro others that the beauty 
 and fimpliclty of truth is next your heart ; be 
 not ye afliamed to confefs Chriil in his lowly 
 appearance before your acquaintance and 
 others ; wear no longer any maik, z^ei/ or dif- 
 guife, but rather avow your fentiments, make 
 a good profclTion and fay, " I charge you, O 
 " daughters of Jerufaiem, if ye find my beloved, 
 " that ye tell him 1 am fick of love.'^ 
 
 LETTER CXXXI. 
 
( 254 ) 
 
 LETTER CXXXI. 
 
 I AM glad thy lad reports 
 thee in pretty good health. I hope thou 
 continuefl to endeavour to preferve that in- 
 valuable bleffing, a found mind in a found 
 body ; there is a ftrong analogy between the 
 outward and inward man ; the conftitution of 
 each is different in different perfons ; fome 
 have a flronger, and others a weaker conftitu- 
 tion both naturally and fpiritually, and require 
 different treatment ; but air and exercife, food 
 and phyfic, nourifhment and abftinence, all in 
 proper feafon are certainly good for all. Re- 
 pine not then, my dear friend, if the leaft 
 pleafmg of thefe difpenfations may be miniftered 
 to thee, and according to thy eftimation, 
 belong thy portion. Thou art under a wife 
 government, even the government of him who 
 doth all things right. Keep there and it wiH 
 be enough. 
 
 I often thought of thee while I was at , 
 
 and did not wonder (but was pleafed) that 
 thou fuffered with the fuffering feed in that 
 place. There is a wrong fpirit dominant there, 
 which is doing much hurt ; but it looks as if 
 its reign v/ould be but fliort ; a little lapfe of 
 time will more fully manifeft its falfity and its 
 futility, and the folid, fubftantial truth, I hope^ 
 will mure and more prevail. 
 
 LETTER CXXXIL 
 
C ^55 ) 
 
 LETTER CXXXII. 
 
 8th of 9th Mo. 2773. 
 
 SINCE the fhort conference 
 ivhich we had together, 1 have feveral times 
 thought of writing to thee, but various neccf^ 
 fary engagements much engrofs my time, and 
 leave very little leifurc for a correfpondence 
 with my friends ; however, I thought I would 
 jufl hint to thee what might, without premedi- 
 ration, occur upon the fubjeft of our lafl con- 
 verfation. I am a perfon of univerfal good- 
 will, and readily acknowledge that I am in a 
 particular manner attached to the caufe of my 
 rehgious profeffion. therefore I cannot, without 
 fome concern, obferve any friend of mine pub- 
 licly defert and difavow this fame caufe which 
 we have jointly profefTed ; the only reafon 
 ihou gave me for difcontinuing to frequent our 
 religious afferablies, as far as I underlland the 
 reafon (viz. a private ofFence taken at fome 
 hidividual) is in itfelf fo unreafonable, that I 
 cannot but look on it as only fome oflenfible 
 caufe, whilfl the true reafon lies deeper, and 
 in the fecret labyrinths of the mind. Search 
 there, dear friend, for the original caufe, and I 
 am miflaken if thou wilt not find it to be a dif- 
 reliili for the limitations and fmgularities which 
 
 our 
 
( 256 ) 
 
 our profeffion requires, and a propenfity to the 
 grandeur, the pleafures, and the vanities of 
 the world, which lies in ignorance and wicked- 
 nefs. But fuiFer me to expoftulate with thee ; 
 from what really good and ufeful enjoyment 
 does our profeffion debar us ? are we not 
 allowed all the conveniencies and fatisfa^lions 
 of life, which the Almighty, beneficent Donor, 
 is pleafed to favour us with ? we are only 
 reftrained from the excefs and abufe (which 
 are known to deflroy the true relifli) of them, 
 and to preclude thofe fenfations of humble 
 gratitude to our great Benefactor, which 
 accompany a temperate, moderate ufe of his 
 favours : and what will any of us get by joining 
 in fpirit, in covenant, in familiarity, with a 
 deceitful, infincere world ? In the firft place, 
 we do violence to that which is of God, in our 
 confciences ; we reje^ and call behind our 
 backs the many vifitations and invitations 
 which have been various ways repeated, and 
 gracioufly offered : we, tacitly, by our con- 
 trafted condu6i:, reproach our anceftors, who 
 lived and died in the faith, as deceivers and 
 deceived ; or elfe we bring reproach on our* 
 felves, whofe lives are diametrically oppofite 
 to theirs : we greatly endanger our property 
 and our morals, by an intimate connexion 
 with thofe, who are not reftrained by the fear 
 of their Creator, from running headlong into 
 various vices., and whofc plcaiure and profit it 
 
 is 
 
( 257 ) 
 
 is to allure others that are in .affluent circum- 
 ftances into the fame excefs of riot (which 
 often ends in the fame diitrefs and embarraff- 
 ment) with themfelves, by renouncing our reU- 
 gious profelTion, and forfaking our communion, 
 we abandon that which is truth, and either 
 adopt that which is error in its ftead, or elfe 
 joining from principle with no reiigious fociety, 
 we become enfamples oF irreligion, and fettle 
 in a profane courfe of hfe, injurious to our own 
 peace, difpleafmg to God, and oiienfive to 
 wife confiderate men. Bear with me, dear 
 friend, it is poifibly the lad time I may trouble 
 thee on this head ; thou art the father of a 
 pretty numerous flock of children ; thou art 
 the fucceffor of religious anceflors ; thou art 
 come into their place and fome of their poffef- 
 iioQs ; if thou would walk worthily and accep- 
 tably before die great Benefactor, who fees all 
 thy fecret thoughts, as well as marks thy words 
 and acftions, and will alTuredly reward accord- 
 ing to our works, it is (in my fenfe) highly 
 necclfary for thee to come down in thy mind, 
 and in humility and fmcerity feek for divine 
 wifdom and ftrength, that thou may be pre- 
 ferved fafe through this dangerous and uncer- 
 tain ftate of exiftence ; that thou may fill up the 
 ftation in which All-wife Providence has placed 
 thee, with reftitude and propriety, as a man 
 and a Chriftian ; and that thou may difcharge 
 that.ponderoAis duty of a parent to thy offspring, 
 
 in 
 
C 258 ) 
 
 in fuch a manner as will redound to thy own 
 folid peace, and their fubftantial good ; that fo 
 when that awful period (hall arrive (and how 
 near it may be at hand is quite uncertain) 
 when inquifition will be made into our lives 
 and condufl, whether we have walked in the 
 fear of our Creator, whether we have properly, 
 and gratefully received his favours and benefits,- 
 as ufnig and not abufing them ; and whether 
 we have flood uprightly and faithfully in our 
 lots, fpreading and enforcing the genuine prin- 
 ciples and fpirit of Chriflianity by our lives and 
 converfations, and fulfilling every relative duty 
 appertaining to our flation ; that at that folemn 
 timcj and before that tremendous Judge, Wit- 
 nefs, and Benefactor, thou may have to give 
 up thy accounts with joy, and not with grief; 
 that this maybe thy happy experience is the 
 fincere defire of thy affectionate friend. 
 
 LETTER CXXXIIL. 
 
 1 8th of 4th Mo. 1755. 
 
 HAD opportunity allowed, I 
 fiiould, long ere this, have acknowledged the 
 receipt gf thy affeftionate lines j though it is 
 
 not 
 
( *59 ) 
 
 jaot cafy to exprefs that uniting virtue whicri 
 cements tlie family together, and brings them 
 fuddenly into an acquaintance, and nearnefs of 
 fpirit, that requires not the ceremonies of the 
 world's friendfhip to introduce, nor its arts to 
 maintain. 
 
 I have often been comforted in times of dif- 
 couragement, with this mark of having paffed 
 from death unto life; that I love the brethren ; 
 I feel its prevalence at this time, and in it 
 falute thee, thy dear hufband and children, 
 with fervent defires that he who hath been 
 your morning light and help hitherto, may be 
 your (lafF to lean upon! beloved ancients in 
 Ifrael, in this- your decline of natural flrength, 
 fo as to fill, up the ftatioa allotted you in the 
 church of Chrift. Few^ are the ancients left, 
 to whom the middle aged, and rifmg youth can 
 look with advantage 1 The Lord of heaven and 
 earth hath gathered many to himfelf ; the 
 world, in its various appearances, hath flain 
 many others ; and fome, who are not yet dead, 
 have their garments fo covered with dufl, and 
 fpotted with defiling things, that they are not 
 fit to be looked upon, nor their footfteps to be 
 enquired after. But happy is the ftate of thofc 
 advanced to old age, whofe condudl proclaims 
 they have not followed cunningly devifed 
 fables, but have been made living witneffes of 
 the power and coming of Chrifl 1 Thefe have 
 been pow^erful inducements to me, to bow my 
 
 heart 
 
( 26© •) 
 
 heart in holy awe, from my childhood to ihif 
 day, (I mean with refpe^i: to outward means,) 
 and, I am thankful to the great preferver of 
 men, that there are fuch here and there to be 
 fouad ; and, though painful baptifms for Zion's 
 fake may attend in viewing the backllidings 
 of many, yet ability is given, at times, to appeal 
 with reverend confidence, to the Searcher of 
 hearts. " Thou knoweft how I have walked 
 >^ before thee !" I truft this will be your crown 
 of rejoicing, in an hour approaching, which I 
 couM with very remote from you, exeept that 
 the Jaws of nature proclaim it to be near ! 
 
 The fame love, and hearty weU-wifhing, 
 attend your offspring ! may they fo acquaint 
 themfelves with the God of their parents, as to 
 ftand in their Ipts, and be found wonhy to 
 have their names appear in the regifter of the 
 Lamb's army! Beloved young friends, fuffer 
 the advice of one that loves you, (though out- 
 wardly a flranger) to have place in your minds; 
 the experience of many years has taught me 
 that godlinefs is profitable to all things, and 
 that real happinefs is known in proportion to 
 the progrefs of it in our hearts ; if you look 
 round among your cotemporaries, you will find 
 it a fcaled truth, and unfpeakably comfort- 
 able to this wife number, who have fought, 
 with unwearied diligence, the kingdom of God: 
 firft in time, as it is firfl in value. How beauti- 
 ful upon the mountains haw been the feet of 
 
 . ' thefe I 
 
(• 26l ) 
 
 tliefe-! and Iidw llrong the voice with which 
 their conduct has proclaimed good tidings ! 
 falvation hath been their portion, and peace 
 tlieir fafe refuge ; they have been qualified to 
 maintain their tedimony, and earnertly to con- 
 tend for the faith once delivered to the faints^ 
 Where began thefe? In the immediate ope- 
 ration of the power of Truth in their hearts, 
 in a humble waiting.,- and refignation to the 
 Divine will ! not making hafte from under the 
 refining hand ; all who have known an ad- 
 vancement in true godlinefs, have begun upon 
 this foundation : upon this low ground, but 
 fure foundation,- your worthy parents began, 
 .and built Vv'ith fuccefs, and now know how 
 precious it is in advanced life. The dew of the 
 everlafling hills, and a fufiRcient (hare of the 
 'fatnefs of the earth, are the portion of every 
 foul, which, above all other confiderations, 
 feeks the Lord in truth and fincerity. O ! 
 faith my foul, may there be fuch a heart in you, 
 as to fear the Lord Almighty, and keep his 
 commandments always ! that it may be well 
 with you, and your children. 
 
 Thus my fpirit faluies you, dear youth, in 
 -the fpreading of concern for your good; that 
 you may, by means of heavenly help, be made 
 tj^ly happy in yourfelves, a comfort to your 
 aged parents, and ufeful to your brethren in 
 the church of Chrift. 
 
 I have travelled with much dihgence, accor- 
 ding 
 
( iSt ) 
 
 ding to the ability given, and have had my 
 experience enlarged in rejoicing and fufFering; 
 the laft has often been my lot, but I dare not 
 repine; to be what I ought is my only aim, 
 and befl wifdom knows the method to make 
 me fo J in his will I humbly acquiefce. 
 
 LETTER CXXXIV. 
 
 2d Mo. 4th, 1757. 
 
 THAT regard which Truth 
 itfdf raifed mutually in our heans> is by no 
 means impaired; it has often been revived 
 fmce 1 left your land, and more efpecially fo, 
 upon my receiving the forrowful tidings of the 
 removal of thy dear hufband : a circumftance, 
 in which the afflidlion is, like the lofs, very 
 cxtenfive ! Thou mournefl the lofs of a tender 
 hufband; his children that of an affe^lionatc 
 father; the church laments on account of a 
 pillar removed out of the place it filled, at a 
 time, when to outward appearance, it was 
 greatly wanted ! This forrow is allowable : for 
 the great example of every virtue, even Jefus, 
 w^ept for Lazarus. Nature demands it, when 
 its connections are broken, and the endearing, 
 
 fociai 
 
fo'cial ties diUblved; but thou well knowefl: tliat 
 ^e are all pilgrims and ftrangers, as our fathers 
 were, and are journeying on through this land 
 of ^ffliif^ion, towards a city which hath founda- 
 tions. Why fliouM we grieve too much, when 
 a companion, with whom we have traverfed 
 many dubious, anxious fteps, has an entrance 
 granted him into the holy city, a few moments 
 before us ! 
 
 Upon all the glory of the earth, with all its 
 enjoyments, upon every vifible thing, one 
 infcription is written, as the immutable law 
 of him whofe name is Moji High^ — they Jhall 
 perijh: throughout all nature, and natural con- 
 nexions, it has been, and mufl: be verified ! 
 Equally fixed is this truth, the joy and fong 
 of many generations, but thou remaineji. On this 
 everlafting hufband, father, friend, and fuccour, 
 mayll thou, and thine now lean \ and4now this 
 difpenfation fan£lified, to all your help, in 
 renewing diligence fo to live and move, that 
 when the great Shepherd fhall appear, and all 
 his faitliful fervants with him, iyour portion 
 mav be amonor them for ever ! 
 
 And now 1 cannot avoid addreihng myfelf 
 ^to you, the defcendants of my honourable 
 friend. I am convinced the fame gracious hand, 
 which was his fupport and comfort, has been 
 extended to you, for the like good purpofe ; 
 but I am jealous, the want of rergioias depth, 
 and fimplicity God-ward, hath been the caufe 
 
( ) 
 
 of halting, and of a choice "rather to embrace th^ 
 prefent world, and have a name of eminence 
 it, than to have a new name, which is the 
 name of God, and the city of God. Thus will 
 the tenders of everlafting treafure be difre- 
 garded, and the vain fhadows of things be pr&i 
 ferred to thofe riches, which none ever fought 
 with too great drlrgence; or, if they fold them, 
 got their value in exchange ! 
 • A heart fihcerely concerned for your help, 
 cannot dictate flattery; I love you, and there- 
 fore I write thus. I am alfo perfuadcd there 
 is a feed and heritage that mourns in fecret, 
 becaufe of its leannefs, and honeftly feeks 
 relief from whence it hath ever come. May 
 (lability and patience be the girdle of their 
 loins ! and, in the Lord's time this poor, fup- 
 pliant, diftrelTed feed, will delight itfelf in fat- 
 nefs. One hint, from my own experience, I 
 would fugged t6 you ; let all your condu^l 
 demonftrate, that you remember the worthy 
 deceafed with due affe^iion, who, though he 
 be dead, as to the body, yet let hita fpeak ; I 
 have found it my duty, and a great advantage 
 to me, to place in my view my worthy 
 ^ther; and in matters of importance, or fuch 
 as were dubious, to confult what would have 
 pleafed him, who was ripe in experience and 
 judgment: I believe this reverence to the 
 memory of a religious parent, is an obla^tion of 
 fweet incenfe before the everlafting Father. 
 
 Farewel, 
 
( 265 ) 
 
 Tarewel, dear — — , may Ifracl's rock be 
 thy fafe abode ; mayft thou be kept frefh in 
 fpirit ; green and fruitful in old age ; united 
 to him, and to the many generations of the 
 jufl, who are entered into the city by the pearl 
 gates. 
 
 Farewel, ye defcendants of the great and 
 good, imitate their example ; as they have 
 followed Chrift, follow ye them : be wife, for 
 it is true happinefs ; in wifdom you will fear 
 -to ofFendj and this fear is an excellent defence. 
 
 LETTER CXXXV. 
 
 2d Mo. 6th, 1761* 
 
 I AM much indebted to thee 
 for the tokens of thy remembrance of me, 
 which I have lately received ; there is room 
 for renewed encouragement to feek after that 
 which maketh fruitful in old age, even covers 
 with verdure and plenty all the trees of the 
 Lord's houfe, according to their degrees of 
 growth. I wilh to cultivate my acquaintance 
 with thefc fignal inftances of the mercy and 
 power of him, who is the preferver of his 
 people J thefe have known him through all 
 M their 
 
( 266 ) 
 
 tlieir day, from their beginning to advanced 
 years ; they can commemorate his kindnefs in 
 youth, his ftrength in the meridian of life, and 
 his tender regard when the fliadows of the 
 evf.ning approach. 
 
 I obferve with pleafure thy happy experience 
 of his regard ; may it be thy covering through 
 the valley of the fliadow of death ! and may the 
 everlafliing arms be open to receive thee, when 
 thy race here is accomphfhed ! I have ftrong 
 hopes that the ties of nature, the example of 
 honourable parents, their fohcitude, the weight 
 of filial duty, the evidence of the beauty and 
 ufefulnefs of religion, and the importance of 
 Divine favour, will combine to excite thy chil- 
 dren to renew their endeavour to walk in that 
 path, which all the generations of the righte- 
 ous have had to tread in, in their way to glory 
 and peace. Not all the wifdom of the world, 
 nor the fallacious promifes of its favour, are 
 able to direct to this path: the way-faring 
 man, who is on his pilgrimage, in weaknefs, 
 befetments, and poverty, fliall not err in his 
 feeking, though he may be accounted fimple ; 
 it is better to be a fool for Chrift's fake, than 
 wife in all the wifdom of this world ! 
 
 Fare w el, de^r friend, I love to hear frara 
 thee. 
 
 LETTER CXXXVI. 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER CXXXVI. 
 
 6th Mo. 27th. 1760. 
 
 IN a fenfe cf that fympathy 
 and union which renders the church of Chriit 
 a compact body, I affectionately falure thee. 
 I cannot doubt of the propriety of thy milTioa 
 to that* part of the Lord's vineyard, and it is 
 my defire that the wifdom and power of Truth 
 may feal its own evidence on all thy labours. 
 Though I apprehend myfelf a younger brother, 
 and now addreiUng myfelf to one who was in 
 Chrift before me, permit me to offer to thy 
 confideration a few fentiments, w'hich have 
 made impreffion ufefully on my heart. 
 
 It is an awful thing to affume the name of 
 the Lord's embaffador ; and I believe thou 
 confidereit it fo : from hence appear the obli- 
 gations we are under to receive from him, not 
 only his inflruiftion, but our credentials. Thefe 
 will not be withheld, if we wait our Mailer's 
 time ; his found will be certain, and his difco- 
 veries clear ; we fhall not fay, with Ahimas, 
 when I ran there was a tumult, but fhall diftinctly 
 receive, and deliver our Mafter^s meffage, in 
 his own wifdom and fpirit. 
 
 * America. 
 M 2 
 
 In 
 
( 268 ) 
 
 In all our fervlce, let us remember our 
 Lord's dignity, and endeavour to maintain it, 
 according to the proportion of ftrength vouch- 
 faved, in purity of life, and fmglenefs to him 
 ~ in our minifterial capacity, being empty with- 
 out him, and only filled with bis fulnefs. 
 
 Let us learn to try the fpirits, whether they 
 be of God ; I have feen a danger of being 
 taken by the paffions, the palTionate preacher 
 hath afte£led the palTionate hearer, both have 
 been in raptures, and neither of them profited. 
 This is a place I would endeavour to guard 
 thee in, as 1 am apprehenfive the emotions of 
 thy mind are fometimes flrong and animated ; 
 miillake not the warmth of pafTion for gofpel 
 authority ; the firft is like the rattling thunder, 
 which frights, but never hurts ; the laft is like 
 the lightning from the eaft, which illuminates> 
 and, at times, breaks through all oppofition, 
 and melts away every obflrudtion. I know 
 the integrity of thy heart, and therefore with 
 unreferved freedom, 1 remind thee of thefe 
 things. May thy Urim and Thummim be 
 with the Holy One ! look carefully to him in 
 all thy goings, fo flialt thou di-p thy foot in 
 
 oil when thou treaded on high places, and 
 " the arms of thy hands be ftrengthened 
 " by the mighty God of Jacob." If deep 
 poverty be thy lot, be not difquieted, neither 
 pour forth thy complaints to any mortal ; have 
 no confident but everlafting help; I found it 
 
 fa^fe 
 
( 269 ) 
 
 fafc to wear my fackcloth on my loins, and my 
 beft garments honeflly and fparingly. 
 
 In the courfe of thy pafTage, be courteous to 
 all, unlefs retrained by fecret direction as to 
 any particular j "\vhich has been my experience, 
 in fome parts. Let not affability enervate thy 
 mind, nor lead from a fleady fuperiority attend- 
 ing the faithful miniiter ; yet guard againfl a 
 fpirit which leads zealous people fometimes to 
 fay, there is none righteous, no not one^ and 
 therein to overlook the hidden futfering feed. 
 Let thy eye be in thy head, fo fliall thy goings 
 be ordered of the Lord, and be attended with 
 peace to thyfelf, comfort to the living, and 
 general ufefulnefs to the church. 
 
 Farewel! may the Lord of all confolation be 
 with thee in every trial, fupport thee by his 
 arm, enrich thee by his grace, replenifh thee 
 by his wifdom, and comfort thee by his rod. 
 and ilaff! 
 
 LETTER CXXX\nL 
 
C ) 
 
 LETTER CXXXVII. 
 
 2d Ma. I ft, 1763* 
 
 OUR worthy friend and kinf- 
 man, who had been in a declining ftate for fome 
 time, finiflied his conrfe laft fixth day night, and 
 is to be interred to-morrow. I have often 
 been with him, to my humbiing inftru^lion. 
 His journeying for fome time before his de- 
 parture was in the region and ftiadow of death. 
 I have fat by him, and accompanied his fpirit, 
 when the heavens were as brafs, and he was 
 fecmingly excluded from good : this led to deep 
 fearching of heart, even, as he faid, into holes 
 and corners he had not fufpe6i:ed. He faw he 
 had been fliort in the performance of that fervice 
 which Truth would have led him into, had he 
 been fully dedicated in heart, to know, and do 
 his Mailer's will. But in adorable condefcen- 
 fion he was vifited afrefli, and fed with a Htde 
 bread, when ready to faint ; a degree of hope 
 was revived; a part of that cryilal flream 
 which is the fan^tification and confolation of 
 the whole city of God, arofe in his foul ; and it 
 increafed from time to time, until it became 
 like the waters Ezekiel faw, iflliing from the 
 threfhold, a river to fwim in, a river that can 
 never be palTed ! The holy canopy was often 
 over our fpirit s when I vifited him, to my com- 
 fort } 
 
( ) 
 
 fort ; but I never fo fully underdood the force 
 of this remark, " if the righteous fear eel y be 
 ^'/aved!'' 
 
 The applaufe and efteem of the judicious and 
 injudicious, regularity of conduct:, his arrival at 
 Bethel, and the remembrance of many bedew- 
 ing feafons, all proved infufficient for his 
 repofe, and were among the heavens which 
 might be fhaken, that that which cannot be 
 fhaken may remain. He langui filed long in 
 great pain previous to the feparation of 
 body and foul; in which time it feelingly 
 opened to my mind, that had his fpirit been 
 more difentangled from the love of lawful 
 things, hi^, warfare would have been more eafily 
 accompiifhed, the fetters of mortality more eafily 
 broken, and his fpirit fooner have rifen trium- 
 phant over death, hell, and the grave, and on 
 the wings of feraphic love have afcended to 
 the realms of purity and peace. But all is 
 well. He is admitted to a manfion of reft ; 
 and through his deep wadings, we are inftrucled 
 with all diligence to fill up the meafure of 
 revealed duty, waiting for further difcoveries 
 of what may be the will of the Lord our 
 God concerning us. 
 
 LETTER CXXXVIIL 
 
( ) 
 
 LETTER CXXXVIIL 
 
 1 8th of 6th Mo. 1768. 
 
 I AM inclined to make ufe 
 of an Opportunity now prefenting, to fend thee 
 the fakuation of my mofl: fincere love, not 
 without a fenfe of our heavenly Father's love, 
 with which I hope thou art often ccraforted 
 now in thy declining years; and favoured with 
 the evidence in thyfelf, of having in thy mea- 
 fure, through Divine affiftance, walked with 
 God. I need not attempt to exprefs to thee 
 the importance of fuch an evidence, when the 
 foul draws nigh her flight to the land from 
 whence there is no return. It hath been the 
 mark for the prize in thy view, and I am 
 thankful to feel my heart ftirred up to follow 
 fuch examples ; animated, by their fuccefs 
 and the importance of the fubjedi:, to ufe all 
 diligence to fill up my duty, that I may finiili 
 my courfe with joy. 
 
 My fhattered conftitution often gives me 
 inftru£lion, and intimates the graves are ready; 
 yet it hath been confiftent with Divine mercy 
 and wifdom to raife me up again, beyond my 
 expectation: and 1 hope I am bettered by my 
 affli<^ion, not only in what belongs to me, as 
 an individual, but alfo in that wherein I am 
 joined by all the hving, in the view of the 
 
C 273 ) 
 
 ilatc of the church in moft places ; the life I 
 would have us make of this view is to gird up 
 the loins of our minds, that our example may 
 be a ftrong reproof to the unfaithful, and thus 
 collefled in fpirit, we may deeply feel after the 
 putting forth of the Divine hand in fervice, 
 for though it can work effedtually without 
 imlruments, yet it will alfo work by them ; 
 and if the vifited of God were enough devoted 
 in heart to his fervice, in all the manifeftations 
 of duty, we fhould have more ufeful inllru- 
 ments in the church. But alas, for many ! 
 who, if they have followed to Bethel, content 
 themfelves there, and attain not a double 
 portion of that fpirit, which thofe who fteadily 
 follow on, even through Jordan, are favoured 
 with. 
 
 This imperfect work bears undoubted traces 
 of the Crcator*s hand, but like half baked 
 cakes, they feem to me to be no inconfiderable 
 eclipfe to Zion's beauty, and are often great 
 obftruflions in the way of others, as fuch who 
 neither enter the kingdom of God themfelves, 
 nor fuffer others, Neverthelefs, the God of 
 the whole earth is mindful of his funnily, and 
 eminently favoured us in our lafl: Yearly Meet- 
 ing at London, from which I returned much 
 recruited in bodily ftrength, and having my 
 mind repleniflied with precious dew. 
 
 Salute, in my name, thy fon and daughter ; 
 may thofe who are of the younger clafs, look 
 
 to 
 
( ^74 ) 
 
 .o the bufinefs of the day ! the building up of 
 he Lord's houfe more than their own ; unto 
 iiim all our utmoft dedication of fpirit, time 
 and labour^ is due. My dear love attends 
 you all. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 [W. Phillips, Printer.] 
 
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