opportunities we do enjoy; whose refreshing presence, power and counsel, have greatly attended this our meeting as at other times. And hitherto the Lord has helped, strengthened and confirmed us, to our mutual comfort; to his praise and renown be it confessed and remembered. And to the Lord our God, and the Lamb that sitteth upon the throne, be glory, honour and dominion, for ever and ever.

And in the deep sense of the love of God, and unity of his blessed Spirit, this meeting concluded for this year, with the wonted agreement that this our Yearly Meeting be continued, if the Lord please. And that Friends of each county send at least two faithful Friends to attend the service of truth and Friends, as formerly.

Signed in behalf of our said meeting, by

BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XIX-1696.

TO OUR DEAR AND FAITHFUL FRIENDS AND BRETHREN IN THE BLESSED AND EVER-LIVING TRUTH,

After tender salutation in our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ unto you all, we hereby intimate, that we are greatly satisfied and comforted in the living sense of the continuance of the great love and care of our heavenly father towards us, his whole heritage and people; and in the great progress and prosperity of the powerful truth and kingdom of Christ; according to the many good accounts we have had at this meeting, from the several counties of England and Wales, and by divers epistles from foreign parts; as Barbadoes, Maryland, West-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Bermudas, Antigua, Holland, Ireland, and Scotland; and that the late differences which have been in some parts of America, are very much abated. For which, and for all the mercies we enjoy, we are deeply obliged to be humbly thankful to the Lord our God; and earnestly desire that all Friends may live in love and peace,in a true and diligent improvement thereof; that christianity in life and conversation may shine among us, and be promoted by us.

And dear Friends; shun all occasions of strife and discord, and take care to make a speedy end of all differences, that are or may happen among yourselves, as hath often been advised, and that according to the holy apostle's doctrine. Read 1 COR. vi. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. And let all your affairs be managed in your

meetings in the peaceable wisdom and spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ; not striving, but bearing one with and for another; that the power of Christ may rest upon you, and rule in all your assemblies.

We also desire Friends every where (according to our ancient principle and practice) to live inoffensively and thankfully towards the government, which we have found favourable towards us, for our relief on several accounts (divers Friends having expressed their sense thereof in this meeting, for the ease and relief already received); and which we are in hopes will continue to be so, for our farther ease.

We have received account, that fourscore and seventeen Friends have been discharged from imprisonment, by the late act of pardon; and that there are now prisoners fifty-two.

It is further desired, that such among Friends as are endowed with plenty of outward substance, be timely and tenderly advised to do good therewith, in their day and generation; especially with regard to the poor; that the tokens of your charity may commend your memorial, and be good precedents to generations to come.

And dear Friends; as the love and service of our great and good God have brought us together on this occasion, in which we have been abundantly comforted and encouraged to continue the assembling ourselves together after this blessed manner; so we cannot but recommend to you the holding up the holy testimony of truth, which hath made us a people to God, and preserved us so unto this day, and that in all the parts of it. For truth is one, and changes not; and what it convinced us of to be evil in the beginning, it reproves still: and therefore, dear Friends be zealous and strict for the Lord's blessed testimony in yourselves, in your families, and in your commerce among men; that so it may be seen we are a people kept through faith unto salvation by the Lord.

And more particularly, we recommend to you that are parents, the plainness and holy discipline of the truth among your children, that they may be trained up in truth's way (and with a com mendable education) according to your abilities; that a peculiar people we may be in the life of righteousness, in our generation, diligently improving that good understanding, and those heavenly gifts the Lord hath endued you with, and made you stewards of, to the honour of him that hath called you, and the good and comfort one of another; and then there will be less need to enlarge to you by way of epistle.

Se in true and tender love we commit you to the Lord, and tr

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his blessed conduct in all things, who is able to preserve us faithful to the end.

This meeting having been comforted together, and the business gone through; it is agreed to continue this meeting, as formerly, the next year, if the Lord will. And to that time it is adjourned. Signed in behalf of our suid Meeting, by

BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XX-1697.

Dear Friends and Brethren,

In the dear and tender love of our heavenly Father we sincerely salute you, heartily wishing your prosperity in the same love, unity, concord, and peace, which this our solemn yearly assembly has deeply and in an extraordinary manner travailed and supplicated the Lord our God for, that the same love, unity, and peace in Christ Jesus, may be continued and increased in all his churches; we having livingly tasted of the sweetness thereof, fervently desire that you all may be like-minded, and one with us in your fervent prayers to Almighty God, and your christian care and endeavours in all your respective meetings and concerns for the glory of our God, and good of his whole heritage. Dear Friends and Brethren,

Our peace, our strength, health and comfort in our Lord Jesus Christ, stand in true love, and unity of the spirit and bond of peace, wherein the pure life and zeal for the glory of God, and prosperity of the blessed truth, is kept up. Wherefore we tenderly intreat you to watchfulness and diligence in the light, against all disorder, provocations, and causes of discord, strife, contention, and division, and that evil spirit which is the author thereof, both in public and private.

By several epistles from foreign parts, as from Jamaica, Antigua, Carolina, Amsterdam, Bermudas, Scotland and Ireland, as well as by verbal accounts from England and Wales, we understand that truth spreads and prospers, and the Lord's work goes on, and that there is an openness and convincement in many places, and divers raised up to bear public testimony for the truth, and a good unity and harmony among Friends.

But Friends at Dantzick are under sufferings for not bearing arms; and in Scotland, by being kept out of their meeting-house at. Edinburgh.

And in Barbary there remain several captives, most of whom

are such that have received the truth in the time of their captivity; the ransom of whom could not hitherto be obtained, although great endeavours have been used for it; but farther endeavours are intended to be used as opportunity presents.

And although we understand that divers Friends in England have been discharged since the last year, there remain forty-four prisoners, mostly on account of tithes.

It is the advice of this meeting, that Friends every where keep to plainness both in speech, habit and dealing; and not to launch too far into the things of this world, by over-charging themselves with trading and debts beyond their abilities to discharge; but keep out of the spirit of the world in all things, that none may be ensnared and defiled thereby, as hath been advised in former epis. tles, particularly in 1692. And that all Friends keep to the simplicity of truth, and our ancient testimony in calling the months and days by scripture names, and not by heathen; and all other things, against which truth's testimony hath been borne: and duly to keep up your Week-day Meetings; and that the respective Monthly and Quarterly Meetings do appoint some faithful Friends to inquire into the due observation thereof.

And also to see and take care, that in all places, where schools > are set up for the teaching of Friends' children, the masters be diligent to improve and forward their scholars in learning, and keep them out of every thing that would corrupt good manners. And that care be taken in your several Monthly and Quarterly Meetings to keep up our christian order and religious discipline in the church; that all disorder and looseness may be prevented, according to advice formerly given; and that charity be promoted.

We do, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, warn and charge all that profess the truth among us, to take heed and beware of covetousness, over-reaching, oppressing and defrauding of any; from whence strife, contention and law-suits do often arise. And if any differences about these things do happen among any of you, to stop and suppress them.

And now, dear Friends, to conclude this our yearly epistle to you, we have no new thing to say to you, but that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen, and which our hands have handled, of the word of life, by which we were quickened and redeemed from the world and its pollutions, and all its corrupt and evil ways, to be a peculiar people to the Lord, in the light and life of righteousness. Unto which blessed word we commit and commend you to be supplied and preserved to the end; whereby you may add to your faith, that has been begotten thereby, virtue; and to your virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; to temperance patience; to patience

godliness; to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity: for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,the first-begotten from the dead, the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him, that loved and washed us from our sins in his own blood, be glory and dominion for ever. This meeting is adjourned till next year, as usually.

Signed in behalf of our said Meeting, by

BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XXI-1698.

DEAR AND WELL BELOVED FRIENDS AND BRETHREN IN THE BLESSED UNCHANGEABLE TRUTH,

We dearly salute you all in the inexpressible love of our God in Christ Jesus our Lord, which is plentifully extended to us, and shed abroad in our hearts, and wherewith he has eminently blessed this our solemn assembly. Praise, honour, and glory be to his renowned name and power. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

The true intent and blessed end of this our Annual Meeting being for the increase and continuance of christian love, unity, and good order in Christ Jesus, among all Friends of truth (which ought to be the sincere endeavours of all who own and profess the same holy truth with us), in the same love we recommend unto you these following matters and things.

And first; we give you to understand, that although several Friends have been discharged since the last Yearly Meeting, yet there still remain prisoners (and mostly on the account of tithes) thirty-four. Which being at present the most pressing suffering, we remind you of our ancient christian testimony, and repeated advice that it be faithfully maintained and kept up in all the parts of it; and that it may not be avoided and shunned by any indi rect ways or courses with landlords, or otherwise. And that you be careful to keep a true record of the value of what is taken from you on that account, in the field, or otherwise, whether it exceeds the demand or not; with the respective date of each suffering, and the time when any suit is commenced.

And to the end that effectual care be taken in these and all other cases wherein the testimony of truth is concerned, we advise you to appoint some faithful Friends of your respective meet