what they inquire for, should observe amongst us, the prevalence of the same things they are awakened to flee from, and a want of that substance they are earnestly, seeking after, how lamentable must their portion be, who furnish occasion of offence to these little ones?

And, dear Friends, abide in the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, and is the true mark of discipleship; this will guard us against listening after, or giving any encouragement to reports tending to the prejudice one of another: pertinent to this is that necessary and salutary command, Exod. xxiii. 1. "Thou shalt "not raise or receive a false report ;" and also forget not that ex. hortation of the apostle, GAL. vi. 1. "Brethren, if a man be "overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one " in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be "tempted."

As the right education of children, and the nurture of youth, is of very great consequence to them, and to the succeeding generation, we pressingly exhort all parents and heads of families, to procure such useful learning for their children, as their abilities will admit; and encourage them, as well by example as precept, to the frequent reading of the Holy Scriptures; and that they begin, as early as possible, to instil into their tender minds the principles of truth and virtue; instruct them in the nature and necessity of being born from above; without which, our Lord declared, "no man shall see the kingdom of God:" And in order hereunto, that they labour to bring them acquainted with the holy seed, which is sowed, by the divine hand in every heart, for that gracious end; that they may, through the Lord's blessing upon such pious and paternal endeavours, be induced to place their affections upon it, and, cleaving thereto in faithful obedience, come to experience it to be unto them," Christ within, the hope of "their glory."

The importance of an early instruction in the law of God, is set forth with peculiar strength, clearness and solemnity, in DEUT. vi. 4. &c. "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. And "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with "all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I "command thee this day, shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt "teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them "when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." It is requisite also, that restraint be added to instruction: it being much easier, as well as more prudent, to be exercised upon the first appearances of an inclination to dangerous or hurtful liberties, than afterwards. For where children, through the preva

lence of fond affection, have been accustomed to improper indulgences, when they are grown to such a dangerous degree of ripeness, that the exertion of authority hath become absolutely necessary, the strength of their passions, so habituated, hath often proved unconquerable, or very difficult to overcome; to the great hurt of the unhappy youth, and the unspeakable grief of the imprudently indulgent parents.

We therefore earnestly intreat, that it may be the constant care of all parents, guardians, masters and mistresses, properly to teach, restrain and example those whom providence hath placed under them, for their help, direction and preservation, and for whom an account must be rendered; bringing them up in the fear of the Lord, and in that sobriety, moderation and plainness in speech, apparel and deportment, which becomes a people professing to be the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect pattern of humility and self-denial, "who made himself of no reputation, but took upon him the form of a servant;' yet is styled in the Holy Scriptures," the blessed and only potentate, "the king of kings, and Lord of Lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light."+

And as it hath pleased the Lord to preserve us in the times of imminent danger, and disappoint the designs of those who sought to involve us in confusion and distress, and to grant us hitherto the enjoyment of the comfortable fruits of peace; Oh! that an awful sense of his unmerited favour, and the deep obligations it Jays upon us, to fear always before him, may have due impression upon all our minds! Then will a constant care be maintained, so to live and walk before God and man, as to carry evident conviction that, though we concur not with others in the exterior demonstrations of thanksgivings, or fasting for public events, we are not insensible of the instruction they convey, and that we are seeking, in good earnest, the proper end of the Lord's judgments in the earth; "that the inhabitants thereof may learn "righteousness."

And, dear Friends; being influenced by the sentiments of humanity, still more enforced by the tender compassion and sympathy which the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord imparts, we bewail the dreadful desolation and ravages of war, in various parts of the world, wherein many of our fellow subjects and others deeply partake; and we are engaged humbly to supplicate the most high, to put an end to the tumultuous rage of nations, and exalt the sceptre of the prince of peace.

We earnestly pray the Lord of all power, effectually to bless his gracious visitations, to the help of his church and people, that

we may thereby be stirred up to diligence to discharge the duty of our day, and be enabled to look, with humble confidence, to the recompense of rewards; suitably improving every manifestation of divine counsel, and attentive how "we hear that word "that goeth out of his mouth, and shall not return to him void." Thus shall we be gathered to him, in whom the mediation and acceptance with the Father stands; and, being enriched with the durable treasures that are hid in Christ Jesus, be experimentally united to those who are "come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and to an in"numerable company of angels: to the general assembly of the "church of the first-born which are written in heaven, and to "God the Judge of all:" To whom, with Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, be all honour and glory for ever.

Amen.

Signed in and on behalf of the Yearly Meeting, by

JOHN GURNEY,

Clerk to the Meeting this Year.

EPISTLE LXXXIV-1761.

Dear Friends and Brethren,

Under a sense of that ancient love and life, whereby we were gathered to be a people, we tenderly salute you; earnestly desiring that grace, mercy and peace, through the knowledge of God the Father, and his beloved Son, may abound amongst you. We have renewed cause, humbly to acknowledge the gracious condescension of the God of all our mercies, manifested to us in this our annual assembly, whereby our souls have been comforted in his presence, our hope in his salvation renewed, and the bond of true fellowship again confirmed, under a fresh sense that it is his good pleasure we should be continued a people, to the praise of his great and ever worthy name. In a degree of this uniting virtue and holy influence, we have been enabled to transact the affairs, which have come before us, in much brotherly kinduess and condescension, and strengthened to pursue the great object of the churches' care, the promotion of spiritual health and vigour in every member of the body, that it may be presented holy and acceptable to him who hath called us to glory and virtue.

The amount of Friends' sufferings in England and Wales, brought in this year, being chiefly for tithes, and those called church-rates, is three thousand two hundred and twenty-five

pounds and upwards; and those from Ireland, one thousand six hundred and seventy-nine pounds and upwards. Against these and other demands, inconsistent with the gospel dispensation, the testimony of truth seems to spread, to the opening of the understanding of many, heretofore ignorant of our religious principles.

The accounts received this year from the Quarterly Meetings in England, and the epistles from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, New-York, Pennsylvania, and New-Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, South-Carolina, and Tortola, have afforded us some comfortable observations, that harmony and concord subsist, in a good degree, throughout the churches; that a lively concern is maintained in many places, for the support of discipline, and for the promotion of truth and righteousness.

It likewise appears from these accounts, that divers are convinced of that truth in which we have most surely believed, and have joined themselves to our religious community since last year. We therefore earnestly entreat Friends every where, to walk in the light, and manifest by a circumspect conversation in godly fear, that our testimony to the power and sufficiency of the divine Spirit, is founded on the everlasting gospel. Thus, no occasion of stumbling will be administered to the weak, but many, beholding amongst us the fruits of righteousness, may have cause with us to glorify our Father who is in heaven.

When it pleased the Lord to visit our predecessors in the truth, they were as sheep without a shepherd, without a place of feeding, or a fold of rest; scattered, as many are at this day, on the barren mountains of forms and traditions; yet inwardly hungering after substance, which they saw not how to obtain, it pleased the author of these secret strong desires, in his own time, to open to their understandings the nature of his kingdom, the spirituality of that worship which was acceptable to him, and the blessed advantages of his gospel when received, not in word only, but in power.

As their minds were thus enlightened, an awful sense of the Lord Almighty, the all-seeing Father of Spirits, prevailed therein, and led them from a dependance on outward performances, to a silent, solemn adoration in simplicity of heart, humbly waiting for that help, without which none can worship with acceptance.

In this frame of mind they were made sensible of the accomplishment of his promise, that "those who wait upon him, "should renew their strength;"* hereby they were enabled to endure a fight of afflictions, to which they were exposed for the

* Isa, xl. 31.

sake of their christian testimony: for, against them it may be truly said, no occasion was found, but “concerning the law of "their God."

And, dear Friends; as it hath pleased divine goodness clearly to manifest amongst us the way of life and salvation, and to instruct us where and how to wait for him, prize, we beseech you, these precious privileges; keep all your meetings in the name of the Lord, and let your minds be established in an humble waiting upon him with reverence and fear; so shall strength be added to your strength, and being more closely united to him, you will experience the indwelling of his blessed Spirit: and as an increase of access to the fountain of mercies is experienced, our advices to the constant attendance of meetings for religious worship, both on the First and other days of the week, will become less neces sary: our resort to them will be with diligence, and a careful observance of the hour appointed; our demeanour in them will manifest an humble and single trust in that power which is "a "covert from the storms, a shelter from the tempest, and as ri"vers of water in dry places." So shall we be enabled, as watchful, circumspect servants, to stand fast in our several stations, being preachers of righteousness to the world; and, as good stewards in the household of God, instruct, reprove, and restrain those under our care, with wisdom, long-suffering, meekness, yet authority.

The neglect of this most important concern, of waiting upon the Lord for the renewal of strength to discharge every duty, hath been one great cause of declension, amongst many of us as a people, from that lively zeal and uniform piety, which are now, and ever have been, the fruits of the Holy Spirit: the sense whereof having deeply affected our minds, hath induced us to enlarge upon this subject.

And here we find it our concern, to revive a truth which is worthy of general remembrance; that no affectation of singularity was the cause of a demeanour, both civil and religious, in our forefathers, (or in the faithful of this day, different in many respects from the conduct of those among whom we dwell) they beholding the vanity, unprofitableness, and insincerity of the salutations, customs and fashions of the world; observing the examples of our blessed Saviour and his followers, with the frequent testimonies recorded in Holy Writ, to the necessity of a selfdenying life and conversation, together with the law, and the testimony revealed in their hearts, retained in view the injunction of the apostle, "Not to be conformed to this world, but to be "transformed, by the renewings of the mind, that we may prove