the unrepenting and obdurate oppressor, at that awful tribunal where sophistry shall not prevail to exculpate, let us, amidst all our sympathy for the sufferers, give place in our minds, to a true concern for the traders in negroes....men equally interested with us in the rewards of futurity....and let us seek for, and cherish, that disposition of mind, which can pray for these enemies of humanity, and fervently breathe for their restoration to soundness of judgment, and purity of principle.

It hath been often observed, that the desire of acquiring wealth is an incitement to every evil; and having in this instance, a proof to what great lengths it will carry those who give it place in their hearts, let us guard against the beginnings of so great temptation, Circumscribed even as we are more than many, it is not unusual, in our pursuit of the things of this life, for our gain and our convenience to clash with our testimony. O, then may we be willing to pause, and give time for those passions to subside, which would hurry us to the accomplishment of the desired purpose, ere the still voice of wisdom be distinctly heard to guide us in the way in which we should go. And, beloved youth, in an especial manner, guard against the first sacrifices of duty to inclination. If ye curb inordinate desires in their infancy, your victory over future temptations will be the more easy; and, through faith in him that hath loved us, and bath overcome, ye will in time be more than conquerors: but if ye shrink from the conflict, or resign the victory to the tempter, ye will be despoiled of the armour designed to preserve you in future assaults; and, it may be, unable to resist, in your further progress through life, temptations which in the fresh morning of your day, ye would have held in abhorrence.

We have endeavoured in the two last years, to caution our brethren in profession, against suffering the commotions of the times to seduce them from the path of blameless simplicity, in which it becomes all true followers of Christ to walk. And though we desire not to repeat similar advice, we think it incumbent on us now to bid you beware of being induced, either inadvertently or for gain, in any manner to give countenance to the destroying practice of war. Many are the ways by which the unwary and the covetous may be caught, But, brethren, look beyond the surface. Behold the depth of misery into which war plunges mankind. Then, putting your trust in him who gives understanding to the simple, and provides for the sparrows, ye may avoid the pollution which is theirs, who join hands with this deso lating evil.

Signed in and on behalf of the Meeting, by
LAWRENCE CANDLER,
Clerk to the Meeting this Year,

Dear Friends,

EPISTLE CXIX-1796.

We find our minds again engaged to send you the salutation of our love in Christ; desiring that, as we have been careful not to address you in formality, nor without a fresh belief that it is our duty, so ye may not consider this our epistle as a customary matter, nor read it in that disposition that is always seeking after some new thing; but may be willing to consider what parts of it are applicable to your own respective states; and let the expressions of our concern, for your present and everlasting welfare, receive and retain a sufficient place in your minds.

The accounts of the sufferings which have been sustained by our Friends in Great-Britain, and are now reported to this meeting, amount to eight thousand six hundred and fifty-eight pounds; about one thousand pounds of which consist of distraints for the late assessment for manning the navy: the rest, as usual, are chiefly for tithes, and demands of a similar nature. The amount of sufferings brought in from Ireland is two thousand three hundred and three pounds. And as we are informed that an opinion publicly prevails, that the purpose of these accounts is in order that the sufferings may be reimbursed, we desire Friends every where, as occasion may offer, to contradict this opinion, which hath no foundation in truth.

The Friends mentioned in our last epistle to be imprisoned on account of our testimony against tithes, still remain prisoners in the county gaol at York; objects themselves, as well as their afflicted families, of the sympathy of their fellow-professors; to whose lot it hath not fallen to experience a treatment so rigorous.

We have this year received epistles from our Friends of the Yearly Meetings of North and South Carolina and Georgia, of Virginia, of Pennsylvania, of New-York, and of New-England, evincing their continued concern to support our testimonies, and our christian discipline. The inhabitants of the continent, dwelling in fertile regions once possessed by different tribes of the Indian natives, are doubtless bound to regard them with benevolence: accordingly, we find our Friends engaged in an undertaking to furnish them with some of the comforts of civilized life. A fund is raising to supply the expense of instructing them in agriculture, in mechanic arts, and in some useful branches of learning.

On examining into the state of our society in these nations, we find cause to believe that, in many parts, the attention of

Friends is gradually fixing, more and more closely, on the excellence of the several testimonies which we are required to bear and we are persuaded that were our members universally more loosened in their affections from the profits and the friendships of the world, the standard of truth would be more conspicuously and availingly displayed.

Let us consider, brethren, what is the cause of our dissent from the prevailing opinions and practices of the age. Is it not that we most surely believe that our faith is more consistent with the evangelical purity of the primitive times; and our manners less liable to promote an attachment to a world that passeth away? How then shall we set the candle, that hath been thus mercifully lighted in any of us, under the bed of the bushel; giving up any part of our testimony, be it ever so small, for the sake of ease, or of outward advantage?

The beloved apostle declared that " God is light, and in him " is no darkness at all." A manifestation of this divine light, in infinite mercy, is given to every man, to lead him out of the misery of fallen nature, unto the eternal fountain of life and light. In every heart, and in every society of people, in which place is given to any kind of unrighteousness, an eclipse of the light necessarily follows as far as the compliance with evil extends; and if this state be continued in, spiritual death must ensue. Wherefore, brethren, in your conduct as individuals, and in the part which ye take in the exercise of the discipline established amongst us, be ye animated to resist every appearance of evil; remembering that, as our heavenly Father cannot unite with darkness, so neither must those unite with it, who desire to attain fellowship with him in which fellowship our happiness consisteth, both in time and in eternity.

In these times of worldly commotion, the concern still remains with us, that our brethren may be preserved from joining with any thing, that immediately or remotely conduces to promote it. And, although of late we have, from year to year, testified our desire that Friends may take no part in that which genders strife; we still fear all are not sufficiently cautious, or sensible of the advantage of mixing as little as possible with the fluctuating politics of the times. For truly, were all concerned to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, the mind would be preserved on its proper centre; and to mix with the multitude, in their pursuit of the favourite object of any party, would be dreaded rather than desired.

Respecting the slave-trade, though we have no good tidings to proclaim, we feel unwilling to pass it over in șilence. As a body we have been among the foremost to expose its turpitude; and,

although it doth not appear at present to be our duty to take any public step as the advocates of this degraded class of our fellow creatures, we still continue to view the commerce with unremitting abhorrence: and we much desire that no one, once touched with a sense of their complicated woe, may suffer its being thus dreadfully protracted, to efface the impression from his memory or sympathy from his heart.

This meeting hath been very large, and our minds have been much exercised in a travail for the cause of truth. O, Friends of every description, how would ye contribute, not only to your own peace as individuals, but to render our assemblies, under the sanction of the great Master, seasons of rejoicing, were ye all to be engaged in earnest, each one for himself, to do away the hurtful and hindering things, which ye must be sensible are yet to be found within our borders!

Finally, dear Friends; remeniber the apostolic declaration, "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the "Lord knoweth them that are his." Strive therefore to become such, by obedience to his holy law. It hath been our uniform and constant testimony, that God hath vouchsafed his grace and good Spirit unto the children of men universally, as the mean of their sanctification. May ye therefore, in your several degrees of growth, evince and recommend your belief in it, by dwelling under its holy influence.

Again in gospel affection, we salute you, and bid you farewell, Signed in and on behalf of the Meeting, by

ROBERT FOWLER,

Clerk to the Meeting this Year.

Dear Friends,

EPISTLE CXX—1797.

We are sensible that there are among you, who travail with us in spirit for the advancement of the cause of truth; and we believe that this concern is increasing in divers places. Nevertheless, as at these seasons of general inspection, our minds continue to be impressed with a sense, that cautions are still needful in several particulars, we think it right still to endeavour to excite you to further degrees of dedication to the service, in which according to their measures, all ought to be engaged. If one be our MasZ z

ter, even Christ, remember that in his family there is no place for the slothful. Accept, therefore, with this our salutation of brotherly love, our exhortation to be willing individually to inquire, "what lack I yet?"

We have this year received epistles from all the Yearly Meetings of Friends in America; and also some verbal accounts given by brethren who have been travelling, in the service of the gospel, on the continent of Europe; in some parts of which, the same divine hand which led our predecessors out of forms, to the substance of christianity, appears to be collecting a people, to bear witness to the saving efficacy of the light of Christ revealed in the heart.

The amount of sufferings reported to have been sustained by our Friends of this island, is eight thousand and twenty-two pounds; that in Ireland, one thousand three hundred and fortyseven pounds. These are principally for tithes, priests' demands and those called church-rates; and increased again this year by distraints on account of the rate for raising men for the army and navy, and the militia. On this last account also, one Friend hath been not long since committed for three months to the county gaol at York; and another last summer was detained a like term in that at Worcester. Of the prisoners at York, on account of our testimony against an hireling ministry, one has been released by death the rest still remain prisoners.

On considering the state of our society, several defects occur: for in a people professing as we do, indeed in all who assume the christian name, it is a defect not to avoid every thing which tends to evil, and to bring reproach on their profession. Of this kind is the want of punctuality in the fulfilling of engagements, of which we understand there are some instances: but if all were sufficiently sensible of the injustice of the practice, of the disgrace with which it is attended, and what an occasion of stumb ling it may be to those who are inquiring after the way of truth, it would surely preserve them from inadvertently forming engagements, which they were not clear that they were able to fulfil. The same care of preserving our profession from reproach, might also if kept in the remembrance, prevent another evil of which we have at this time some account; namely, the unnecessary frequenting of public-houses. We desire that all under our name may be cautious of remaining in them, after the purpose of business, or of refreshment, is accomplished: but to make them a resort for any other purpose, may it never need to be named among a people who profess the practice of christian sobriety!

We are not disposed to enter into all the particulars of deviation, in which those, who will not submit to be bound by the testimony