Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

tion to all Friends in this respect, and in particular do refer to the advices in the Yearly epistles in 1710, 1794, and last year; and to desire Friends, at their several Monthly Meetings, to use their utmost endeavours, by a watchful eye, to prevent, as much as in them lies, all such unjust practices and scandals.

At this time, as at several other times in former years, it hath been the concern of this meeting to advise upon particular occasions, and in particular cases; which occasions could not offer themselves in this manner, if all Friends, who make profession of the holy truth with us, did duly regard the teachings of the grace of God in themselves, and obey the advice of that wonderful counsellor; because it is most certain, that all those who do or shall attend to the teachings and counsel of the holy Spirit of God, will find cause to say, with the Psalmist," Thy commandment "is exceeding broad;" for by it all may be sufficiently instructed, and prepared to every good work.†

Finally, dear Friends, our beginning was in the spirit, and our comfortable fellowship is under the holy influences of it; therefore let all be diligent in waiting on God for the renewings thereof, and watching in it, whereby the snares of the evil one may be seen and avoided, and we continue a people, to the praise of his name, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light, and therein shine, as his children, before the world. And we carnestly pray the Father of all our mercies may keep you blameless unto the day of the coming of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; in the fellowship of whose spirit we salute you, and remain your Friends and brethren.

Signed in and on behalf of the Yearly Meeting, by

ALEXANDER ARSCOTT,

Clerk of the Meeting this Year.

EPISTLE LII-1729.

Dear Friends and Brethren,

In the love of our heavenly Father we salute you; signifying that, in this our annual assembly, the light of his glorious countenance hath graciously been afforded to us; and, under the blessing thereof, the affairs of his church have been carried on amongst us in much love, peace, and condescension.

By accounts brought from the several Quarterly and Monthly

[blocks in formation]

Meetings in England; and by epistles from Wales, North-Britain, Ireland, Holland, Rhode-Island, Long-Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North-Carolina, Barbadoes, and Antigua; and also by the verbal accounts of our Friends Joshua Fielding and Samuel Bownas, who have lately separately visited the meetings of Friends in America; and also some places where no Friends do dwell, and where no meetings had before been; we have the comfortable and satisfactory account that truth doth prosper; and in many places there is an openness among the people, not only to hear, but also to receive the testimony thereof; and that Friends are generally peace and unity one with another.

in

en

We are also particularly informed, that on the content of America there is a very great increase of the number of ends, among whom the affairs of truth are well managed d that there is a spring of living and sound ministry raised in divers parts of those plantations; which we heartily wish and desire may be a mean to provoke and stir up Friends in general to a fervent zeal and concern for the honour and glory of the Lord our God, and the gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath been graciously pleased not only to gather us to be a people, but hath also hitherto preserved us; and by the arm of his mighty power, hath wrought wonderfully for our deliverance from many grievous burdens and oppressions which our elders laboured under.

The accounts of the sufferings of Friends brought in this year in England and Wales, do amount unto four thousand one hundred and thirty pounds, and upwards, mostly on account of tithes and church-rates, so called. There is at present no Friend prisoner on truth's account that we hear of in this kingdom. On which occasion we cannot but commemorate the goodness of our God in this his merciful dispensation, so different from the lot of our fathers; which we earnestly pray may, by all of us, be remembered with deep humility and thankfulness.

All Friends every where keep to the Lord's power, that gathered you to be a people that were not a people; that, under the work of it, you may be made what the Lord would have you to be; where every one of you may come clearly to see your places and services in the churches of Christ, and, from a real sense of your duty, be heartily engaged to stand by the testimony which God hath given you to bear; that, as good stewards of the manifold gifts he hath been pleased to bestow, you may be preserved faithful: and labour in that ability to stir up one another in love, and against the evil one, who is labouring to sow his evil seed of strife and contention, whereby he may divide in Jacob, and scatter in Israel; or, by coldness and negligence, lead any from the Lord, U

and the light of his holy Spirit, wherein our communion hath been, and is still, sweet and pleasant; in which, as we are careful to walk, we can have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but are engaged to reprove them.

Dear Friends,

Many are the good and wholesome advices which in former years have been recommended from this meeting, exhorting to faithfulness and perseverance in all godliness and honesty; yet, to our grief, we find there are fresh instances of great shortness in coming up in the practice thereof; particularly by some injuriously defrauding their creditors of their just debts, and not performing their word and promise, which have occasioned griettet complaints: wherefore we desire and intreat, when any such cation of reproach shall be, that at every Monthly Meeting, within the compass whereof it may happen, they do not fail speedily to set righteous judgment on the head of the transgressor.

And we would hope, if Friends, in their Monthly Meetings, should pursuant to the direction of this meeting in the epistle of 1708, appoint proper, sensible, and honest Friends to visit their respective members, it may in great measure prevent the necessity of repeating the advices which have been so frequently given. To which we find ourselves at this time engaged to add, and to request, that Friends in any part of this kingdom, or other place, where provisions and the necessaries of life are dear and scarce, or sickness doth remarkably afflict, would, in proportion to such scarcity, or affliction, exert their charitable assistance to the poor; which is our christian duty, as stewards of the many mercies wherewith the Lord hath intrusted us.

This meeting being at this time under a tender and religious concern for the youth among us, that the succeeding generation may be preserved in the way of truth, and through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ grow up therein, that, when we are removed, they may stand in a faithful testimony for the Lord, and be valiant in their day for his truth upon earth, do earnestly recommend it to all Friends, as much as in them lies to prevent their children and servants from reading plays, romances, and all such books as have any tendency to lead their minds from God, and draw their youthful affections to a love of the world, and desire after the vanities and evils that are therein.

And also to be very careful to prevent their children and servants from reading such vile and corrupt books (some of which have been published of late), as manifestly tend to oppose and reject the divine authority of the holy scriptures, and to introduce deism, atheism, and all manner of infidelity and corruption, both in principle and practice.

And likewise it ought to be the great care and concern of parents, as they value the welfare of their children and posterity, and others who have youth under their care, that they endeavour, by their example, as well as precept, to keep them from bad company; for many have found, by sad experience, the truth of that saying of the apostle," Evil communication doth corrupt "good manners."

We again recommend the advice given in the year 1723, that Friends be diligent in attending First and Week-day Meetings, for the worship of Almighty God: and that the elders and heads of families be good examples therein, and bring their children and servants to them.

Finally, dear Friends, approve yourselves as the children of the light and of the day, in all holy and christian conversation among men; whereby God will be glorified, the inquirer informed, the weak strengthened, and the whole church edified and comforted in the Spirit of the Lamb; by whom the victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil, is obtained.

And that thus the ends of the earth may be gathered, and all flesh see his salvation, is the hearty prayer of your Friends and brethren.

Signed in, and by order of the Yearly Meeting, by

JOHN WILSON,

Clerk of the Meeting this Year.

EPISTLE LIII-1730.

Dearly beloved Friends and Brethren,

In the fellowship of the Spirit of God our Father, who hath called us by his grace unto the gospel of his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, we salute you; and hereby let you know, he hath been pleased graciously to favour this our annual assembly (which hath been large, and very comfortable) with his divine presence; uniting our hearts to him, and one unto another, in that love wherewith he hath loved us from the beginning; and wherein we earnestly desire all Friends may continue, in an humble and thankful remembrance of his mercies; daily waiting on him for strength to walk worthy of so high a calling.

By accounts brought from the several Quarterly and Monthly Meetings in England, and epistles from Wales, North-Britain, Ireland, Holland, North-Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsyl

vania, the Jerseys, and Long-Island; as also by verbal accounts of several Friends who have lately visited most of the meetings in the American plantations, we have received acceptable accounts of truth's prosperity, that love and unity in the general is maintained among Friends, and a considerable openness in many places to hear the doctrine of truth; and that several have received the testimony thereof in the love of it; which is matter of comfort, and encouragement to us to continue in faithfulness to it; notwithstanding in some places things are not so well as we could desire.

The accounts of the sufferings of Friends, brought in this year, in England and Wales, do amount unto four thousand and eighty-five pounds and upwards; mostly on account of tithes, and church-rates, so called. There is not at present, that we hear of, by the accounts brought in, any Friend a prisoner on truth's account in this kingdom.

We likewise give you to understand, that upon report of the Friends appointed to examine the accounts of this meeting, it doth appear that a collection is necessary to be made for the public service of Friends as usual; and therefore do earnestly recommend it, requesting all Friends, to promote and liberally forward such collection; and, when made, to remit the same to the hands of their several correspondents, for them to pay to the cashiers.

An earnest concern and travail of soul remains upon this meeting, that the discipline of the church may be preserved in its primitive purity, and the divers branches of our ancient and christian testimony maintained. We therefore exhort Friends, agreeable to former advices, to stand faithful in their testimony against tithes, priests' wages, and repairing of parish worship-houses. With this view our last Yearly Meeting was concerned, for the sake of all her members that might be weak, or their judgments not thoroughly informed therein, to re-print and publish ANTHONY PEARSON'S GREAT CASE OF TITHES; and we heartily desire and intreat Friends to read and disperse the same; hoping it may have this good effect, if read with a single eye, to manifest the inconsistency of tithes with this gospel dispensation.

And, dear Friends; we tenderly recommend the due observation and careful regard of the written epistle of this meeting 1728, relating to the ministry, and granting certificates either to men or women for that service; and do now further desire Friends to call on strangers for such certificates; thereby, in all places, to prevent being imposed upon, so far as may be.

And in regard we have been favoured by the government with the enjoyment of our religious liberties, in common with other

« PoprzedniaDalej »