of God. Human learning, and human knowledge must all be laid low in the dust, and we must count every thing as loss, that hinders us from the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; coming to him, in the humility and nothingness of little children, that we may be instructed by him, and replenished with that knowledge, which maketh wise unto salvation.

Human knowledge, if not necessary, is yet beneficial to us, in our intercourse through life, and in that view, by no means to be discouraged; the acquiring it is often a pleasing amusement and relaxation to the mind, which cannot be constantly employed in spiritual exercises, and is not necessarily engaged on other objects. But let us carefully remember, that all our powers and faculties should be under the direction of the best wisdom, and that we ought not to be exalted in our minds, by any acquirements, for "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth."* It is the love of God flowing in the soul, which will enable us to do most good in the world, and to keep a conscience void of offence, towards Him and towards men.

11th, 6th Mo.-Not to be desirous of dis

* 1 Cor. viii. 1.

closing the state of our minds to a brother or a sister, was a piece of advice we had given us this morning, for that the Lord was sufficient to counsel and guide us through every difficulty, or words to the same purpose.

I have often thought that a disposition was apt to prevail over the mind, when oppressed with anxiety, to seek for outward help and consolation. But if we seriously consider, we must know that God is the Author of all comfort, and that we cannot meet with suitable advice or consolation, but as it is administered through the influence of his power. If our minds are truly dependant on him, and we are seeking the knowledge of his will, with full purpose of heart to come up in obedience, his light will in due time enlighten our minds, and we may receive instruction from His Spirit, in solemn, awful silence.

Disclosing our sentiments to a friend may often afford present relief, but it certainly requires caution how we exercise this freedom, lest we endeavour to shake off a burden designed for our profit, and by impatience deprive ourselves of that inward consolation, which we might otherwise have experienced, by enduring patiently the operation of the Lord's hand. He is certainly all-sufficient, but we must witness his baptizing power,

and patiently bear those burdens he inflicts. If the weight seem heavy, let us not complain, or be too anxious to be relieved from it, before the appointed time. A way has often been made, where we have seen no way; and by walking in humble faith, and relying solely on God, we shall experience his spirit to be near us, and to support us through every dispensation. "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory."*

[Extract from letter.]-We need not go far from home, to observe a difference in customs and manners, from those we have been used to in our own little circle. Let us not reject, as improper, every thing to which we have not been accustomed, nor indulge a blind partiality for those habits in which we have been trained. A difference in many little particulars characterises different counties; and where the distance is greater, these distinctions and singularities are likely to increase. If the people about our own spot excel in some things, they are in their turn excelled in others. Let us endeavour to pick out the best in all, and having determined from judgment, rather than education,

*Psalm lxxiii, 24.

adopt those sentiments in every circumstance most likely to tend to our real benefit. Things really indifferent, we should be ready to treat as such, and not be inclined to censure, or turn to ridicule, every thing that corresponds not with our own old notions, which may too frequently be adopted from prejudice rather than reason.

24th, 7th Mo.—Having just finished reading an exposition of the New Testament, I was led to consider, that without care, we might adopt explanations contrary to the truth, and receive hurt, rather than benefit from our labours.

There is too much of a disposition, in most people, to embrace tenets which they are zealous to maintain; and a writer, having formed his own system, is much inclined to such explanations as may enforce it, though, probably, without perceiving his own partiality in the case. To understand the Scriptures aright, we have certainly need of some divine illumination, a ray of that spirit by which they are inspired. This is the safest and most certain guide, and will assuredly so enlighten us, as to explain every thing necessary for our salvation. But since those books have been translated from

one language to another, and all learned men do not agree in the import of the same words, probably some may have been translated with a signification different from the original, and convey ideas that were not intended. By those who have a knowledge of the ancient language, a dark text may sometimes have fresh light thrown upon it, and be rendered less obscure; and the difference of opinions should at least have this good effect—to make us careful not to be over zealous about those things which we do not thoroughly understand. We have sufficient knowledge to guide us safe to the harbour of rest. The precepts laid down in Scripture to regulate our conduct, are plain, and easy to be understood. But the inquisitive mind of man is apt to be impertinently curious, and search into those matters he was not designed to understand. This leads to natural reasoning on things that cannot be comprehended by our natural faculties, and we get more and more bewildered in the mazes

of perplexity and error. If we read the Scriptures with diligent attention, and compared one part with another, observing the general tendency throughout the whole, we should often see, more plainly than we do, the import of many texts, which,