mind to be in all things led and guided there- around us; and even some, who have deserv. edly stood high in our Society, as teachers and examples to the flock, but who have even come to question, or have lost, all their former impressions and tendering convictions,-those are, it seems all gone, and almost forgotten, as the early dew that passeth away, and they have turned, as the dog or the sow, to that which they once loathed and rejected. And truly it is a striking and unanswerable fact, that there has not been one individual, who has risen to any eminence for religious dedication in our Society, but has had to tread the narrow and strait path; and has had to attribute his progress to giving up, in the ability received, to obey the secret monitions of the Spirit of Christ, even in little things: nor has there I believe, been one who has swerved from this course, that has ultimately turned ous, so will it be respecting such a people or person as I have described;-"He is not for our turn, he is clean contrary to our doings; he was made to reprove our thoughts; he is grievous unto us even to behold; for his life is not like other men's, his ways are of another fashion."* Indeed it has never been any wonder with me, that a people gathered and settled and preserved, as I have hinted at, or as Friends were, when they found themselves estranged from the world at large, have been made ruler over more, and not by and eccentric through this process of follow-despising the day of small things; which is ing their convictions of duty,-should value the sure way of falling "by little and little:" this their privilege, and these outward badges, of this we have most painful instances now which tend to keep up this desirable distinction and separation from the world's spirit. But they never set up a rule as to dress, or any particular colour, cut or fashion, on the same footing as the livery of the Monks, or religious orders of the Papists, &c.; they only left off their ornaments, and such things as were a burden to them as unnecessary and unsimple:-it was the ever changeable tide of fashion, which did the rest, and in time caused their dissimilarity and strangeness to appear. But as to the bare assertion, that George Fox and the early Friends, would have changed with the times, it is a conjecture which has its origin in the mere caprice and inclination of those who say so; and the contrary may be as flatly and broadly asserted upon far stronger grounds, even upon the actual facts of the whole tenor of their dissent, as exhibited in their lives, and especially in their wri-out better than the salt that has lost its savour. tings. The common consent spoken of, is the very conformity they objected to,-a consent of worldly men, upon worldly principles; not the consent of men redeemed from the earth. On the other hand, all that have ever rightly given up to make a plain appearance, and to speak the plain language, &c., have done it on the very same sound ground, and not merely because George Fox and others did it. They, the truly convinced, have continued to feel on the subject, as he did; and though the instances are rare, as the mercy is great, and the work marvellous, and no light and superficial one, such instances are yet from time to time occurring; they are the result of cleansing the inside of the cup, that the outside may become clean also. My case is, I trust, one of these, and, perhaps, rather an unusual one; for I was brought up, as thou knowest, in the entire disuse of, and I even cherished a real contempt for, such singularities; until I came to see that there was "no peace to the wicked," and that "great peace have all they who love" "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." Then as I yielded my * See Wisdom of Solomon, ii. 12, 14, 15, 16. "The fashion of this world," my dear ———, does indeed pass away; and as thou sayest, custom is capricious and changeable: but Truth is the same that ever it was-unchangeable, and never faileth: and it will always stand by and bear out those, who are of it, and who keep to it. "Wisdom," we read, "is justified of her children," and of few or none else; and the natural man cannot understand or receive the things that relate to the Spirit and kingdom of God, they are mere foolishness unto him, while in that state; for they are ever hid from the wise and prudent of this world, and revealed unto babes. Therefore, may I not fitly wind up, by subjoining to that scripture with which I commenced, the language which follows it,-"Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God." I would earnestly urge thee to press through any indisposition or inertness of mind, and to sit down at thy vacant moments to read Penn's No Cross, No Crown ;-redeeming thy time from idle gossip, avoiding occasions of exposure to unsuitable conversation, and either re tire and go aside, or boldly and simply take the Society seems somewhat relieved, yet up such a book, and go through it persever-grievous exercises remain to be borne,-and ingly; entering into the spirit of the writer, a great deal to be worked through and workand bending thy mind to the subject. The ed out, before this once self-denying and relatter part of Jaffray, which contains the his- deemed people, can be reinstated to their fortory of Friends in Scotland, is another book mer brightness and ancient purity. The Lord which would really interest thee. But after waits to be gracious, and I believe will hasten all the helps to be derived from books or in- this work in his time. And O! that we may struments, I trust, my dear thou needst be so preserved and strengthened, as to be not to be reminded of the inexhaustible un- made willing, through all baptisms, to be infailing source of all strength and goodness; strumental in our day, in ever so little a way who alone, if applied to, and the mind truly or degree, to bring about the period when the turned to Him in secret exercise and breathing salvation of Zion shall go forth as a lamp desires, is able to solve all our difficulties, to that burneth! J. B. relieve us of our doubts, to deliver us from temptation, to aid our drooping resolutions, and quicken our souls to run with patience the race set before us, and to hold out to the end in well doing. Το J. B. 6th of Second month, 1837. When the will is slain,—when we can say, "It is no more I,"-then how easy is the task of dedication, and how clear are the pointings, how light the burden of the cross of Christ. Then self is of no reputation indeed, and all crowns are laid down; nor does any snare of the enemy prevail. To Stoke Newington, Third month, 1837. Time rolls on, and manifests things and persons apace. So many matters have transpired, even since I replied to thy letter of eleventh month, that I can hardly recur to circumstances: but may we not say, dear friend, that all our views and feelings have been fulfilled and realized, or are fulfilling, as to the state of our poor Society. The conflict and contest is pretty well over, with what was called Beaconism; but there are those still remaining, who occasion the true Friends great exercise; being unwilling to go the whole length with our ancient primitive worthies, but can readily find them in fault. I trust this also shall in due season be broken up, and the testimony of Truth, in all its completeness and simplicity, rise and shine over all opposition. Modified Quakerism cannot stand the fire. may we be perfectly knit and united together however, in the same mind and in the same judgment; even though we be left as a little remnant, and as spectacles to the world. J. B. The most unanswerable arguments, we of this day can give to the gain-sayers, is, to live down their mis-representations: and the best argument perhaps for the early Friends, as was the case with the primitive Christians, is their life and conversation. At times, the low standing and feeble state of those that have May we, or such of us as are permitted to a love for the cause of Truth, and the short-continue in the warfare, be preserved firmly comings of most of us, depresses me. Those and truly bound to the good cause, as we who live within the hearing of the shouts of have ever received it from the beginning; and the Philistines, are taken and perhaps disturbed by them. I trust, such as know better than to give up to every "Lo here" and every hue and cry, or to be afraid with any amazement. We must keep low, keep quiet; minding our particular calling, our inward condition, and feel the Lord inwardly as the Rock and Sanctuary, where Stoke Newington, 31st of Third month, 1837. none can make afraid. Undoubtedly it is a How many and awful have been the warntrying day, a sifting time, and I think must ings and the tender chastenings of the all-wise be yet more so; for though a few leaders of hand of Divine Providence of later times; all faction and of error have left us, and have (I sometimes think) concurring with and bearswept away a number of followers, whom ing upon, and bespeaking somewhat in relathey have deluded, and who were not settled tion to the spiritual aspect of things in the in the faith, and some of these hardly knowing church and in the world. "The wine of aswhy they belonged to us ;-yet of those who tonishment," indeed is given us to drink, in remain, what a remnant really are one with various ways: yet the meek and patient folus! And unless wonderful mercy, wisdom, and lowers of the Lamb, who know in whom they strength, be manifested towards the unstable, have believed, and that He is able to keep as towards all of us,-what can hinder their their all, which they are engaged to commit being scattered and driven away. Though to his keeping, are not left desolate,-are not Το suffered to be swallowed up of over much quiet confidence, the wearisome journey that emotion of any kind; they cannot be unduly is yet before us. In due season our reaping "afraid with any amazement;"-nay, truly, time and shouting time will come, for which "all these things," they well know, "must we have sown in tears; laying down as it needs be, or come to pass;" and they are so were our all, (O! that it may be our very far from saying with one, "This evil cometh all,-) surrendering every thing that the Lord from the Lord, why should I wait for the Lord calls for at our hands,-casting into the treaany longer," that they rather feel, "It is the sury even our mites, of our penury, being Lord,-let him do what seemeth good to him;" content to see ourselves to be very poor, helpand so in patience are engaged to possess their less, worthless, fit to be pitied, mere pensionsouls. May then the peaceable and peaceful ers, and dependents on the Lord's free mercy fruits of righteousness, be more and more and renewed blessing. This is the state that brought forth in us, my dear friend, through draws down the Divine regard, and, as it were, and by means of all the losses, crosses, over-commands the rich outpouring of those good turnings and humiliations; so that not only and perfect gifts, which dignify and adorn we may be rendered more meet for, and more poor fallen human nature;-which raise up earnest after, that fruition of the end of our the brother and the sister of low degree, from faith, which is endless, uninterrupted, and per- lying among the pots, among the things that fect; but even here below may be the better perish with the using, yea, from the dunghill qualified to fill up our measure of service, and of pollution;-and from sitting like poor Job glorify the good cause and blessed name of among the ashes of despondency, to reach our holy Redeemer. There is indeed great forth, to mount up towards that inheritance occasion to believe, though the evidences and incorruptible, undefiled, and which never fades tokens are, now as ever, sufficiently obscure away. It is prepared, it is reserved, it is laid to try the faith of God's dear children,-that up in store, for those that are faithful unto His glorious cause is, through all discouraging death, who are kept by the power of God circumstances, still going forward; and that through faith, and are not moved away from His wonderful and all-righteous purposes are the blessed hope of the gospel; continuing fulfilling in the earth. That this is substan- sted fast, immoveable, not soon shaken in mind, tially the case, should and must be matter of nor shrinking from suffering, nor afraid of joy to us; and even make us at times, when temptations or abounding tribulations;-but we are given to see and appreciate it, ex- enduring to the end. ceedingly "joyful in all our tribulation;" even though we should be pressed almost out of measure, beyond strength or hope, having fightings and fears without and within. This has been the portion of the faithful, more or less in all ages; and I believe it will be so, till the end come. I have been much comforted, while from home, in reading many precious letters of our primitive worthies of the first rank, who loved not their lives unto death, but gave up all, that they might keep a conscience void of offence, and be clear of the blood of all. I hope (if life be spared, and strength given,) to hand some, yea, many of these for the perusal of such as can receive and profit by them. To J. B. Stoke Newington, 27th of Eleventh month, 1837. Be assured, my dear — I do much sympathize with, and have often thought of thee in several respects, both before and since we heard of thy bereavement. I cannot doubt thou feelest thy loss greatly, at times perhaps too much, though I hope not so. Surely suf ficient support and consolation will not be wanting, if thou dost not "refuse to be com- My poor and often tribulated spirit does saforted." I want thee, my dear friend, to en-lute thine, even as deep answers deep; for I am deavour as much as may be, to look beyond ready to think, thou hast from time to time to thy loss, at the tribulated state of the church, drink into that cup of suffering, which the liv stript of many a son and daughter,-promisingly exercised every where up and down, in ing and once thriving branches, but now withering and corrupt, more or less dying and dead, yea, twice dead! J. B. To Tunbridge Wells, 16th of Ninth month, 1837. May you be strengthened and animated from time to time, and your drooping faith sustained and increased, to run with all patience and this day of treading under, of rebuke, and of scattering, have more or less to partake of. For, indeed, how can it be otherwise, when those who have been as leaders and way marks to the flock, and have seemed to be pillars in the house of the Lord, are ready to stagger and to stumble, to be snared, and to be broken. But I must not here expatiate on my feelings, as to the state of things in regard to our still favoured Society; but I will refer thee to my ANOTHER PROFESSION AND A ZEALOUS MINISTER. My dear friend, 26th of First month, 1838. Preface to Pike's and Oxley's Journals, to TO ONE OF other parts of J. Pike's Journal, but especially to his letters, and some of Deborah Bell's, which show that times of trouble have befallen our Society before now, in rather a similar way and degree. The same power can res- It is time I acknowledged thy favour of the cue his tribulated remnant, and restore the 21st ult., which has not been lost upon me. waste places; nor will He ever own proceed. I accept thy kind and sincere notice of me, ings which are not according to Truth and and also of my books, with, I trust, the like uprightness. I am inclined to think that many genuine Christian feeling. That we have have been, and are, endeavouring uprightly been made somewhat acquainted one with to retrieve their outgoings; seeing the palpable another has been cheering to me, as one of extremes and consequences of the track they those many providential marks of favour shed have been on: but others seem not sufficiently upon us, through our whole lives by the Auwarned and instructed to return, in honesty thor of mercies. It has seemed to me someand in earnest, to original principles and prac- times, as though our dear Lord and Saviour, tice, but are feignedly, and in part only, doing in condescension to our frequent breathings to so; retaining so much of the wisdom of the him, the Head of his own church, for the flesh, and so much of self in a refined form, spread of his blessed gospel of peace, truth, as they think will make the Truth more pala- and righteousness in the earth, and our jealtable to our own people and to others; thus ousy for his honour, (according to our meashunning the shame of the cross, and the hu-sure of light and discernment,) had caused us miliating process thereof. It will not do: our to come across each other's path; that he all-conquering Captain will discover and make might renewedly show us, that he has other bare all coverings, and find out all his ene- sheep who are not of this fold, where we have mies, and pursue and overtake them in all been accustomed with joy and comfort to feed their retreats in the precincts of and back-and lie down. That we should find, on near ways to Babylon. To J. B. 29th of Eleventh month, 1837. I may truly and sincerely say, that we participated in a sense of the loss, which many (doubtless) even among the more distant connexions and friends of the deceased, feel they have sustained. Do I say loss, do I speak of deprivation, when those who have humbly endeavoured to love and follow their dear Redeemer on earth, are taken from suffering and probation, as we trust, to their resting place in glory? Ah! we have them still, if the apostle's language applies to us, if we are indeed come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, to the innumerable company, to the spirits of the just made perfect, to Jesus our Mediator. May we then not sorrow as those who have no such substantial enjoyment of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen. May we be quickened on our way, and animated by the cloud of witnesses with which we are encompassed, still to persevere and run with patience; looking unto Jesus, learning of him, leaning on him in pure dependence and childlike simplicity,-loving no one, nor any one thing, better than him. Being thus made willing to lose all, in and for him, we may be assured of the fulfilment of his gracious promise, of the hundredfold even in this life, besides the heavenly inheritance. J. B. VOL. VI.-No. 12. inspection of each other's views on sacred things, many and important shades of difference, will not assuredly either stumble or surprise us. The ways of God in his works of creation are higher than our highest thoughts of them, as are also the acts of His Providence; how much more then must we expect them to be so, in his dealings and dispensations with the soul of man individually, and with his church collectively. Truly the workings of his grace and power in and towards us, are infinitely diversified. But through all, what He looks for in us all, however variously situated, dealt with, and gifted, is,that our hearts being quickened and renewed by Him, should be turned towards Him, and knit to Him in faithfulness, in true uprightness, to serve and to trust in Him, with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind. Ah! how He touches, softens, humbles these proud, hard hearts of ours, these fallen, but aspiring natures, these forward, wayward tendencies; and wooes us to be wise indeed, by learning of Him how to be simple as little children,-submitting, bearing, and taking His yoke upon our spirits. How prone we still are, to take back the government into our hands, by leaning to our own understanding, by consulting with flesh and blood,-while we profess to be asking counsel of God and of Christ; and thus practically we shrink back, and shun to offer up our all, as a whole burnt-offering; but even keep back the best part of that, which is often called for unequivocally at our hands. 60 Alas! in reference to divine things, who is there that follows the Lamb whithersoever he leads, or looks to the puttings forth of the Shepherd's hand, and waits to hear his voice! Who is there, that in all his proceedings and speculations, or opinions, says, "That which I know not, teach thou me;" "lead me in thy Truth and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation, on thee do I wait all the day?" Who is there, that takes up the daily cross in religious points,-casting down imaginations and selfish reasonings, despising the shame with the fear and favour of man?-Who is not conformed to this world even in little things, but transformed by the renewing of the mind, and in this way proving what is the Divine will? These effusions, which arise whilst responding to thy communication, I trust, will not be deemed obtrusive, if they are superfluous. of his friends. Under his very infirm bodily condition, he could proceed but slowly in this service. In the second month following, he believed it right to address his monthly meeting: a copy of his communication will best explain his views and feelings on this occasion.] TO GRACE-CHURCH STREET MONTHLY MEET- Beloved friends, brethren and sisters, Having now held a minute, granted me by the monthly meeting, for above three months, setting me at liberty to visit the families of Friends at Stoke Newington, it seems to be upon me as a duty to communicate with you on it. In the movement I made towards obtaining it, by an application rather unusually sudden, and in that respect unexpected by myself, I had, and up to the present time have had, sweet peace, an ample reward, (however unworthy,) for a sacrifice which cost me no small degree of resignation of my own will. I endeavoured to give up "in simplicity and godly sincerity," to that which seemed to be manifested as present duty in the Divine sight; and dared not look outward in any sense or manner; and therein I desired, if a spectacle, to be also an ensample to the whole flock; for not one among us can, in my apprehension, do better under any circumstances. On proceeding in the weighty engagement before me, I may acknowledge, that, although no wonderful outpouring of Divine power was my portion, I was mercifully favoured, during the few days that I entered upon the work, with such a sense that the Lord preserveth the simple and the upright, insomuch that it was as my meat and drink, To be able to say with the apostle, "I am to be thus among my friends: hard things crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet were made very easy, and bitter things full of not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life sweetness; a gently flowing stream of heaventhat I now live in the flesh, I live by the faithly goodness being extended in every hour of of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave need, though in a way humiliating to the creaHimself for me," &c.; how full,-how suture, so that nothing of the flesh could glory. premely desirable! Then the wisdom of man Endeavouring to look closely to my stepbecomes fully subjugated, where the gospel, the power of God, has free course. After all, my dear friend, how near one to another are all those, who being once afar off, are brought nigh by the blood of Christ; who love him, and his appearing, and who follow him in the regeneration. They are brought near to each other in Him; they are baptized by one Spirit into one body, and are given at times to drink into one cup. Have these not abundant occasion to forbear one another in love, if they do not wilfully transgress against knowledge and beyond faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Surely those that are zealous for the fulfilment of what they understand to be the command of Christ and his apostles, have great need to see that they follow up all that is commanded-such as to resist not evil, to respect not the persons of the rich, as in the epistle of James; and many other precepts, that are very generally made of none effect by religious professors, and reasoned away. Farewell! the Lord be between us, and with us, henceforth and for ever. With Christian love to thee and thy wife, and sister. I remain thy friend, CHAPTER XVI. J. B. [IN the eleventh month 1837, he laid before his monthly meeting, a religious concern which had rested a considerable time on his mind, to pay a visit to the families of Friends of his own particular meeting at Stoke Newington: much sympathy and unity prevailed on this occasion, and he received the encouragement pings and to my Master's pointings as to them, I did not see it my place to join any brother or sister, fellow-labourers in the ministry, similarly exercised; yet truly rejoicing, that the Lord of the vineyard should be pleased to lay his hand upon any, and open their way before them. With regard to myself, the bur den seemed greatly withdrawn, and removed from me, even before I was wholly laid by with indisposition; and ever since, my mind has been altogether released from any further obligation to pursue the visit, and now at length in a way that makes me believe it safest for me to inform the meeting to this effect, and to return the minute to your hands. I cannot place this conclusion to any outward |