divisions), and utterly suppressed and laid aside, as the light and righteous judgment of truth require.

Oh! that all the churches and congregations of the faithful would be excited, by the spirit of the dear Son of God, fervently to pray for the prosperity of his church and people throughout the world; that Sion may more and more shine in the beauty of holiness, to the glory and praise of the King of Glory.

The Friends and brethren, come up from the several Quarterly Meetings in this nation, have given a good account to this meeting of truth's prosperity, and that Friends are generally in love and unity one with another. And by several epistles from Friends of North-Carolina, Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Barbadoes, Holland, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, which have been read in this meeting; as also by verbal accounts, given by several Friends that have lately travelled in divers parts of America, and elsewhere; we have received comfortable accounts of the state of truth and Friends in those parts; by which we are encouraged to hope truth prevails in many places, and a concern grows upon Friends for the prosperity thereof; and that there is an inclination in people to hear the truth declared.

By the accounts brought up this year, we find that Friends' sufferings in England and Wales amount to five thousand two hundred and ninety pounds and upwards, chiefly for tithes, priests' wages, and steeple-house rates; and that notwithstanding there have been four Friends discharged the last year, there yet remain twenty Friends prisoners on these accounts.

We advise, that a tender care remain upon Friends in all places, to be faithful in keeping up our christian testimony against tithes; as being fully persuaded, it is that whereunto God hath called his people in this our day; we seeing by daily experience, that such as are not faithful therein, do thereby add to the suffering of honest Friends, and hinder their own growth and prosperity in the most blessed truth.

As touching the education of Friends' children, for which this meeting has often found a concern; we think it our duty to recommend unto you the necessity that there is of a care in preserving of them in plainness of speech and habit, suitable to our holy profession; and also, that no opportunity be omitted, nor any endeavours wanting, to instruct them in the PRINCIPLE of TRUTH which we profess; that thereby they, being sensible of the operation thereof in themselves, may find not only their spirits softened and tendered, fit to receive the impressions of the divine image, but may also from thence find themselves under a necessity to appear clear in the several branches of our christian testimony. And as this will be most beneficial to them, being

the fruits of conviction, so it is the most effectual way of propagating the same throughout the churches of Christ. And there being times and seasons wherein their spirits are (more than at others) disposed to have those things impressed upon them; so we desire that all parents, and others concerned in the oversight of youth, might wait, in the fear of God, to know themselves divinely qualified for that service; that in his wisdom they may make use of every opportunity which the Lord shall put into their hands. And we do hereby warn and advise Friends in all places, to flee every appearance of evil; and keep out of pride, and following the vain fashions and customs of this world, as recommended in the epistle of 1715.

And as we always found it our concern to recommend love, concord, and unity in the churches of Christ every where, so, as a mean to effect the same, we earnestly desire that Friends, but more especially such as are concerned in meetings of business, do labour to know their own spirits subjected by the spirit of truth; that thereby being "baptized into one body," they may be truly one in the foundation of their love and unity, and that therein they may all labour to find a nearness to each other in spirit; this being the true way to a thorough reconciliation, where ever there is or may have been any difference of apprehension; thereby Friends will be preserved in that sweetness of spirit, that is and will be the bond of true peace throughout all the churches of Christ.

And, dear Friends; the Friends of this meeting, to whom the inspection of the accounts was referred, made report, that having perused the same, they found the stock to be near expended; whereupon this meeting thinks it necessary to recommend unto you, that a general and free contribution be made in every county, and that what shall be thereupon collected be sent up to the respective correspondents.

Finally, dear Friends and brethren, be careful to walk unblameably in love and peace among yourselves, and towards all men in christian charity; and be humbly thankful to the Lord, our most gracious God, for the favour he hath given us in the eyes of the king and civil government, in the peaceable enjoyment of our religious and christian liberties under them; and the God of peace (we trust) will be with you to the end.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits. Amen. Signed in and on the behalf, and by the order, of this Meet,

ing, by

BENJAMIN BEALING

EPISTLE XLI-1718.

Dear and well beloved Friends and Brethren,

This our solemn assembly recommends our sincere love and salutation, in our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto you, and to all his churches every where, to whom this epistle may be communicated.

We think it meet to remind you, that the intent and holy design of our annual assemblies, in their first constitution, were for a great and weighty oversight and christian care of the affairs of the churches pertaining to our holy profession and christian communion; that good order, true love, unity and concord may be faithfully followed and maintained among all of us, as a peculiar people, called and chosen out of the world, and the errors and corruptions thereof; knowing also, that sincere love, and union in general, will be a great cause of truth's prosperity among ourselves, and of the prevalency thereof over the world and the spirit of it. All which seriously considered, we sincerely desire, and humbly hope, that God will graciously please more and more to put it into the hearts of Friends and brethren, to be zealously concerned that universal love, true union, peace, and concord be followed and maintained in all the churches of Christ; and all the contrary, as enmity, division, discord, and strife, watched against and shut out for ever; that the power and peace of our God may prevail and rule in all hearts more and more, whereunto we are called in one body; that the God of love and peace may be with us for ever: which is the earnest desire and travail of the souls of all the faithful.

The Friends and brethren of the several Quarterly Meetings in this nation, have given good accounts to this meeting of truth's prosperity in divers places, and that Friends are generally in love and unity one with another. And several epistles (viz. from Flushing in Long-Island, Rhode-Island, Pennsylvania, and NewJersey, Maryland, Virginia, Barbadoes, Amsterdam, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales) have been read in this our meeting; by which we understand, that truth prevails (many being convinced thereof), and that a concern grows upon faithful Friends for the further in

crease of it.

The account of sufferings we have received from the several counties in this nation, have been mostly for non-payment of tithes, priests' wages, and church-rates, so called; and do amount in the whole unto five thousand one hundred ninety-three pounds and upwards; and that there have been discharged since last year

five prisoners, and there do yet remain thirteen prisoners, mostly on account of tithes.

We beseech and exhort all Friends to be faithful in their christian testimony against those grand oppressions of tithes, priests' wages and all other things that truth alloweth not of; out of which the Lord hath called his people in this gospel day. For by experience we find, that to such who are not faithful therein, it tends to hinder their growth in the truth, and to add to the sufferings of faithful Friends.

And, dear Friends; it having frequently been recommended, that Friends should be diligent in providing schools for the education of their youth; not only in useful and necessary learning, but also to bring them up in the fear of God, and in a sense of his holy life upon their spirits, and in frequent reading the Holy Scriptures, and other good books; so we have accounts from divers parts of this kingdom, that Friends are in the practice thereof, and have had good success on their endeavours therein; yet we have also accounts, that there is in some places want of schools. And (as hath been advised in the epistle of this meeting, Anno 1709,) "Where Friends want abilty, their Monthly "and Quarterly Meetings are desired to assist them, that the "children of the poor may have due help of education, instruc"tion, and necessary learning; and that the children both of rich "and poor may be early provided with industrious employments, "that they may not grow up in idleness, looseness and vice; but "that, being thus seasoned with the truth, sanctioned of God, and taught our holy, self-denying way, they may appear a re"putation to our holy profession, the comfort of their honest parents, instrumental to the glory of God, and the good of the "generation coming on."

And, dear Friends; with respect to the poor among us it ought to be considered, that the poor (both parents and children) are of our family, and ought not to be turned off to any others, to be either supported or educated. And although some may think the poor a burden; yet remember, where our poor are well provided for, and walk orderly, they are an ornament to our society; and the rich should consider, "It is more blessed to give than to receive;" and that " He who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord," who will repay it again.

And we beseech all Friends (and in an especial manner all such who are active members in the church, and who seem to have a great place and interest therein) to wait diligently upon the Lord for the Wisdom which comes down from above;" that in the meekness of that wisdom they may act for God, and for the good of his church and people; and not in an overly, talkative, and

disorderly spirit. And that all such be exemplary in seasonably and constantly keeping to Week-day Meetings, as well as Firstday; and such as have children and families, in bringing them, as much as may be, with them; that they may be good examples to the flock therein; and not, by their indifferency and negfigence, be a stumbling-block in the way of others.

And as caution has often been given against the growing evil of pride, so it hath been a concern upon this meeting to renew the same; and (by a particular epistle from this meeting on that occasion) they have given caution and advice thereon; and directed that printed copies thereof be sent to each family of Friends; to which epistle we refer.

And, dear Friends and brethren in our Lord Jesus Christ, our holy head, and heavenly law-giver, by whom we are united into one body, through the power and virtue of the holy spirit; (being by the most merciful kindness of God, under the renewed sense of his divine life and love, which has overshadowed this our annual assembly, to our great comfort and satisfaction, for which we are humbly thankful to him); we heartily desire your prosperity in the blessed truth, and increase in the unity of the faith, and that we may "strive together therein for the hope of the gospel."

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To conclude; we tenderly recommend you all to the God of love and peace, that his divine power and peaceable wisdom may rule and reign over all; that therein all your affairs may be ordered, to his glory, and your confort and peace in Christ Jesus; and nothing done through strife and contention, or vain-glory, murmuring, or disputing; but in the spirit of meekness, love, and humility, carry yourselves toward one another; and the younger brethren endeavour to know their places, as living members of one body, and preserve a due regard to their elders in Christ Jesus.

The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Signed in and on the behalf of the Yearly Meeting, by
BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XLII-1719.

Dear Friends and Brethren,

In the love of Christ, our holy head and law-giver, we dearly salute you, in a living sense of the Lord's great and gracious goodness which he hath been pleased to renew upon the spirits of many in this our Yearly Meeting; for which we are humbly