FROM FRIENDS IN LONDON. 413 put in train to be remitted to America; about nine hundred more are ready to follow, and we have cordial assurances from our Friends abroad, that they will readily take upon them "the ad"ministration of this service :" which we trust will not only prosper, to the advancement of our Indian brethren in the scale of civil life; but, like the gift of old, mentioned by the apostle, may be (2 Cor. ix. "abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.' 12:) Now, dear Friends, seeing christian duty is not a complex system; but consists of a few and simple parts, it cannot be expected that great variety should be found in the subjects, on which, from It is a peculiar glotime to time, we are induced to address you. Love to God, and love ry of the gospel that it remains the same. to our neighbour are its grand and primary divisions; each harmonizing with the other; neither subsisting apart to the latter we immediately refer the general care which our christian discipline promotes; and we believe it is also the ground of that more private, but not less beneficial care, which we long to see subsisting in vigour in christian families. You know our annual inquiry: "Do Friends endeavour, by example and precept, to train up their children, servants, and those under their care, in a religious life and conversation, consistent with our christian profession?" The query then descends to four particulars, all of them indeed important, but we now hint at them only to observe, that, important and indispensable as we believe they are for us, they are not to be made the sole criterion for judging whether religious educaConsider, dear tion has been duly and successfully given. Friends, what subjection of spirit, what care of conduct, and what self-restraint go to make up a good example: tempered, as it should be, with sweetness of manner, seconded by holy firmness and recommended by its being manifest that yourselves are seek(Mat. ing "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." vi. 33.) These are truly great, but they are attainable objects; and equally the duty of every one who lays claim to the christian character; for though all are not called to the same stations in the militant Church, all are invited to heaven; and the general terms of invitation are alike to all. O Friends, did we all thus seek and attain to the things that are excellent, precept, impressive precept, would not be withheld. Love would inspire it, prudence would direct it, both as to season and quantity, and what reason have we not for hoping that the Lord himself would render it availing by his blessing? Our query as we have said, then descends to particulars; of which we shall only now advert to one, and that, because it hath renewedly at this time occupied our attention, called forth expres sions of the sense of several brethren, and furnished our meeting with no inconsiderable subject of consolation. We believe there is an increased attention in Friends in various parts, not only to promote in their families the frequent reading of the Holy Scriptures, but to make it the employment of a portion of time daily. We commend this practice, and we believe that if the heads of families are careful in cultivating the seed of truth in themselves, there will be so little danger of the custom becoming formal, that it will not unfrequently be the means of quickening the minds of those concerned it: more especially if a subsequent pause be allowed; in order that the sacred truths which have been read may have time to make their due impression on the mind; or that the mind may have time to rise in secret aspiration after a blessing. We find, at this, as at other times, that several persons have been added to us by convincement. We desire it may also have been by conversion, from form to power. Such truly convinced and converted, are a strength to us. They know the sacrifice which they have made for their present condition, and value it accordingly. They have bought the truth, and are so far from desiring to sell it, that they are concerned that others should possess the same enjoyment. But we are sometimes grieved that persons finding their way, and probably through self-denial, into our society, do not always retain their ground. The salt doth not always retain its savour. (Mat. v. 13.) In tenderness therefore, of heart we entreat the newly convinced not to esteem their admission as a period of rest from conflict. It rather requires a deeper exercise. And we beseech Friends among whom such may dwell, to treat them with great circumspection as well as kindness. Beware of hurting them by any ill example. They may be offended, and, if they are sincere, they are in the number of those whom we are cautioned not to offend. (Mat. xviii. 6.) On the other hand, they are tender and inexperienced, and they may be laden with the concerns of our discipline faster than their strength will bear. Thus, Friends, on every occasion we see that sound judgment, and sound practice, require depth, and solidity. Let us then keep in view, and earnestly desire to be endued with that discernment which is the means, under direction of the holy Head, of edifying the body of Christ. The amount of the sufferings which have this year been reported to this Meeting, from our several Quarterly and other Meetings, and from Ireland, is upwards of ten thousand nine hundred pounds: chiefly on account of tithes and those called church-rates, and also for sundry demands of a military nature. Before we conclude, we are disposed to turn our attention to you, dear youth, who are rising up to manhood. To you we FROM FRIENDS IN LONDON. 415 would extend a tender, yet an earnest invitation. We are interested in your happiness, the church will have need of your help, and there is nothing that we desire more for you, than to see you advancing, in ranks of righteousness, to the christian warfare. Ånd your qualification will lie in humility and meekness, seeing it is the meek whom the Lord teacheth his way. (Psalm, xxv. 9.) But, dear young men, in this very meeting we have been made to lament, because so many of you evidently prefer the gratifications of nature which is corrupt, and which tends to corruption, to the cross of Christ which corrects its hurtful propensities, and to "the grace of God that bringeth salvation." (Tit. ii. 11.) MaWhy then ny of you have a degree of love to our holy cause. will you pursue a line of conduct which tends to lay it waste? Do not despise the counsel of experience. Many have tried the path which some of you tread, and have found it lead to distress; and happy are those whose course is interrupted, and who do not persist in their progress, before it leads to final distress. But though we thus speak, there are also many of our beloved youth, who are rising and risen into a state of maturity, of whom "we are persuaded better things,-and things that accompany salvation." (Heb. vi. 9.) Dear young Friends, of whatever rank, sex, or station, it is cordial to behold you, it is cordial to salute you in the fellowship of the gospel, and to bid you God speed. Hold on your way, turn not aside to the right hand or the left. You may have tribulation, but be of good cheer: your holy LeadThus, when some er hath overcome the world. (John, xvi. 33.) of those who now address you shall be beheld no more in this scene of conflict, but, if they continue faithful, will partake of the joy of their Lord, and of your Lord, you may stand in their places with holy firmness, be a blessing to succeeding generations, and "show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (1 Pet. ii. 9.) Signed in and on behalf of the Meeting, by JAMES BAKER, 416 ANNUAL EPISTLES Dear Friends, EPISTLE CXXXI-1808. We are disposed again to pursue the current of christian good will, which has so often induced us to furnish you with a written memorial of our concern and love for our brethren, dispersed in their various allotments in this kingdom and elsewhere; and thus to fix, for your advantage, some traces of those impressions, which while reviewing the present state of our society, have been made on our minds. If we are at all instruments in the hand of the Lord to "comfort the feeble minded" among you, to "support the weak," (1 Thess. v. 14,) to encourage the upright, or to arouse the careless; we pray that he, by his almighty influence, may firmly establish in your hearts every good purpose to which our words may excite you; and bless every cup of consolation which he may enable us to hand forth. Thus, dear Friends, again we salute you in love-in gospel love. How animating is the ability to consider ourselves the common children of one benevolent and all powerful Parent, to depend upon him for our own preservation, and to implore him for that of our neighbour! surely! shall we not thus draw nigh to the accomplishment of those eternal commands, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbour as thyself?" (Luke, x. 27.) The accounts which we have received at this meeting respecting the present state of our religious Society, in the several Quarterly Meetings, continue to affect us with the relation of divers instances of remisness in religious duty, which do not meet with their due share of admonition: nevertheless we believe that, in other cases, the diligence of upright Friends, to give counsel where it is obviously necessary, has produced effects which should encourage perseverance. The spirit which tends to scatter and destroy, unless vigilantly withstood, is continually at work; and we request you, beloved brethren, to continue vigilant, and not to be satisfied with any former exertions, whilst the lamented evils remain. We call upon you, by that love and compassion which, if you are in your places you must feel for the negligent, not to slacken in your endeavours to stir them up to diligence. Be persevering and patient. "Stablish your hearts." (James, v. 8.) This exhortation has been drawn from us by more than a jealousy, that such as are in the frequent neglect of our religious meetings, are suffered too long to remain without counsel. Counsel, we FROM FRIENDS IN LONDON. 417 know, may be disregarded; but blessed is he, who, under the holy influence of love, having dispensed it in due season, can feel himself clear of owing any thing to his brother on this account. Our concern for the preservation of brotherly love remains strong and unabated. When assembled in this Meeting, we have special cause to know the invigorating, uniting effects of it. Therefore, were there no other inducement, we should still be disposed, from time to time, to renew our earnest and pressing exhortation, that it may abound and flourish amongst our dear brethren in religious profession. Enmity, even in a small degree, pollutes the mind, and renders it unfit to approach with acceptance that pure and holy Being, of whom the beloved disciple thus emphatically testified," God is love." (1 John, iv. 8.) Do we not peculiarly lament the wide spread of distress, which the spirit of contention is, even now, occasioning to suffering humanity? This, though it differs in degree, springs from the same root as private ill will. Therefore, a people abhorrent of war, if they are consistent, will watch against the smallest bud of enmity, as it is conceived, on any occasion, in the heart. And the man who, in the school of Christ, hath learned the useful lesson of self-denial, will often make a sacrifice of his own will and opinion, though he may esteem them to be right, rather than persist in them, at the expense of christian fellowship. It is much in the power of those who have the care of young children, to prepare their minds for the salutary restraints of the cross of Christ; and those who thus co-operate with his Holy Spirit, which early visits the tender and flexible mind, may expect (and what better can they seek?) his all-sufficient blessing upon themselves and their offspring. Therefore, ye fathers, and ye mothers, let us entreat you to consider the earliest subjection of the will as the first step in education. It will generally insure to you that desirable ascendency over the minds of your children, which will prevent the need of future severity; it will enable you to govern them by love; and thus you will be rendering your own way more easy, at the same time that you are serving the Lord. And Friends, we beseech you, as their understandings ripen, to take due opportunities of opening to them the benefits of the restraints which your duty leads you to impose. Among some of the most irksome to the lively dispositions of youth, are often those which relate to speech and dress. But as we know that the ground of our dissent from the world in these things, is christian simplicity; so we know by experience, that they are often the means of defence against temptation, to mingle in the company of such as, not being thus subject to holy restraint, are unsuitable examples for youth to observe and to follow. And, when by the gentle in |