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The God of our life keep you all an inward people, that the weight of his power may be upon your souls, that you may learn in true silence and stillness, where the divine mysteries of his kingdom are daily opened, and you will see through the mystery of iniquity, and not be ignorant of the wiles of satan; but abiding in the light, they will be clearly discovered, and you will be pressing after the life of innocency, whereunto God hath called you, and which must wear the crown. They who are most in favour with him, make it their habitation, labouring to have their own spirits silenced, and daily depend upon God's teaching. It was our glory in years past to learn in silence, which is since too much neglected by many professors of truth, upon whom a light frothy spirit has prevailed, having a life in disputes, arguments, and words to little purpose, but amusing and perverting the mind, which ought to be staid upon God, who is the strength and stay of his people, keeping them in perfect peace, whose minds are staid upon him. Such who run into disputes in their own wills and imaginations, depart from the truth, the sure foundation, and the light, whereunto our minds were at first turned, in which all that walk, are preserved in sweet fellowship one with another, and their unity in the spirit and light of the Lord Jesus Christ increaseth with him, and one with another, being weighty in spirit, not easily moved. Such see that all the disputes and arguments, even concerning religious matters, which proceed from the will of man, not of God's spirit, are but as froth and chaff, that will not abide God's fan, but be blown away by the whirlwind of his wrath. All your safety is and will be, to keep inward to the Lord, that he may be your teacher, your own spirits being silenced, waiting with delight to hear what he speaks. Then if he be pleased to open any of your mouths, for the edification one of another, it will be in his power and wisdom from above, that is, first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, in which you may build up one another in the most holy faith; but those that run into a passionate, hasty spirit, go out of the wisdom which is from above, into that which is from below, and the wrath of man cannot work the righteousness of God.

So all keep in your own gifts, inward to the Lord, who will fit you for his service, and guide you in his wisdom, to hit the mark aimed at, and preserve you in the living faith delivered unto you, of which Christ Jesus our Lord is the Author, whereby you may live, as did the just in every generation, to the glory of God, and being, by his power, made as the weighty wheat, be gathered into the garner of his salvation, when those who run out, with

frothy notions of their own imaginations, will be as chaff, or dead men before the Lord.

Our souls have been often concerned for you, in these parts of the world, that you may be kept by the power of God, unto whom we leave you, desiring your prayers for our preservation in the holy truth, wherein we remain your friends and brethren, THOMAS WILSON, JAMES DICKINSON.

Nevis, the 4th of the Twelfth month, 1692-3.

Another Epistle to Friends in America.
Dear Friends,

OUR tender love in the Lord Jesus Christ, dearly salutes you, and all the faithful in that island, amongst whom we have travelled to preach the Gospel of life and salvation, desiring the Lord may bless you all, and increase his love amongst you, and that you may be kept in his holy covenant of peace, into which he hath gathered you, by his own power, where you have sweet communion with the Lord, and one with another. In this you are a true strength one to another, the sweetness whereof none know but those who dwell in it, and keep to the conduct of the power that gathered them. These daily feel the springs of divine love and life, opened unto them, which keep them alive to God, and under a true concern for the peace of the church, and prosperity of Zion. We desire that this care may be kept in by you all, whom God hath gathered to abide in his covenant of light and life, and walk therein, where you will have true fellowship, and know the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse you from all sin and unrighteousness, which hath been and still is the occasion of all the strife and contention, rents and divisions that have happened amongst us since we have been a people. We pray God to put a stop to all these, and keep all his people in true fear and humility in their gifts, waiting to know their strength renewed in him, that they may stand against the enemy, who labours to scatter God's heritage, whom he hath gathered. So be preserved in unity with the Lord, and one with another, where cries and supplications are daily poured forth to the Lord for one another, as ours are for you, and we desire yours may be for us, that we may be borne up through the many tribulations we meet with, and that we may have the gift of utterance to proclaim the everlasting Gospel, and be preserved out of the hands of unreasonable men.

Dear Friends, we desire as you are free and clear, and have your hearts open thereto, that you will send us a certificate from your

Monthly Meeting of your unity with us, while directed, that every one is to be salted with we were present with you, and at our parting fire, and every sacrifice seasoned with salt; from you; and enclose it for us, to be left at mark, the vessel is to be seasoned with the Joseph Groves' in Barbadoes. We have had holy fire of the word of God, and sanctified good service here, and the Lord hath been by the truth, otherwise God will not accept of with us, to our great comfort, though under their offerings, no more than he did the offergreat sorrow of soul, for those things which have happened at Delaware, and more especially to see them published in print, to the view of the world, and the enemies of truth. The publishers of which may expect a reward according to their works, and God, in his own time, will wipe away all those reproaches, and ease the spirits of them that travel under the weight thereof. Unto him we are willing to commit the cause, and do commit you, and our own souls; so remain your friends and brethren,

THOMAS WILSON,
JAMES DICKINSON.

ings of Aaron's sons, who offered strange fire, which the Lord never commanded, and so brought death upon them. You may also observe, that when Moses was dead, who received the law from God's mouth, that Joshua was to succeed him in the same spirit, which plainly appears from the positive command of the Lord to him, that he should be courageous, and observe and do according to all the law, which Moses, the servant of the Lord commanded him. He was not to depart therefrom either to the right hand or to the left, that so he might prosper wherever he went. By which it is plain, the blessing is only to them, who come up in the same holy Spirit, which case is very applicable to Friends in this our day;

To Friends of Mount-melick, Men's Meeting, for it is undeniable, that the weighty rules and

and elsewhere.

Dear Friends,

order of the church were received in the beginning by our ancients and elders from the opening of the divine Spirit of Truth, and I HAVE been for some years past, and more settled in the counsel of God. And as surely especially of late, under deep considerations as ever Joshua was to succeed Moses, and to respecting the state of Friends, and the affairs observe all the law which was commanded of truth in general, and our Monthly Meeting him; so are Friends now, who are of a sucin particular, which hath brought a weight of ceeding generation, faithfully to keep and obexercise upon my mind; and doubting whether serve those weighty rules and precepts left I may ever have an opportunity of seeing them by their elders, without turning from you, so as to ease myself of what remains as them, either to the right hand or to the left; a concern upon me, I was willing to commu- and it remains as a testimony in my heart for nicate these few lines to your weighty and serious consideration.

the Lord, to leave with you, that when any offer anything in Men's Meetings, which conThe order and government of the church tradicts the ancient rules and divine precepts was settled by the same divine spirit, from settled amongst us in the heavenly power, they which the true ministry sprung; and all who contradict the very counsel of God, and it is speak in Men's Meetings, should be careful but an offering of strange fire, which God they do not speak anything to offend God, but never commanded, neither will accept, and wait to have their offerings seasoned with so they bring death over themselves, kindle grace, and offered in the same divine spirit, strange fire in the meeting, dazzle the minds by which the order and government of the of Friends, and are hinderers of the work and church was first established. And as the doc-service of truth. trine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

THOMAS WILSON.

THE END.

SOME ACCOUNT

OF

THE LIFE OF JOSEPH PIKE,

OF CORK, IN IRELAND, WHO DIED IN THE YEAR 1729,

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF:

ALSO,

A JOURNAL OF THE LIFE AND GOSPEL LABOURS OF

JOSEPH OXLEY,

OF NORWICH, WHO DIED IN THE YEAR 1775;

TOGETHER WITH LETTERS ADDRESSED TO THEIR FRIENDS.

WITH PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS BY JOHN BARCLAY.

By humility and the fear of the Lord, are riches, honour, and life. Prov. xxii. 4.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS,

CHIEFLY ADDRESSED

TO THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

his life, a lively and instructive exemplification of that kind of care and labour, by example and by exhortation, which the early Friends most undeniably and conspicuously bestowed, upon the vineyard of their own hearts and THE two narratives now offered to the no- towards each other in the Lord. The whole tice of the Society of Friends and others, are drift of his exercise is, that both he himself, not made choice of for publication on the and all those professing with him to have “represent occasion, as containing anything of ceived Christ Jesus," should" walk in him," very extraordinary or novel character; they should "adorn the doctrine of God our Samay not be calculated to impart that sort of viour in all things," should "show out of a attractive and peculiar interest, which the diary of a Jaffray or the life of a Dewsbury must do, to minds capable of a true relish for spiritual things; but they nevertheless furnish much that is wholesome and unsophisticated. If the discipline of the heart to the Author of our lives, if the discipline of the church to her Holy Head, "who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity," be of value, then the experience of his servants, of those who were concerned to "walk with God," and to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ," cannot be devoid of some important bearing upon the state of every reader.

good conversation their works with meekness of wisdom," should "be holy in all manner of conversation," should have their "fruit unto holiness," in short, should altogether illustrate the "pure and undefiled religion."

Now, in this point of view, the counsel that is handed by this worthy elder to his successors, to those who would rightly belong to and build up the church of Christ, who would truly "comfort all her waste places," is of peculiar and pressing import. Here are sound, wellseasoned materials; plain, positive, practical advices, not showy and superficial, but sober and solid admonitions, grounded upon and In the first of these journals, that of Joseph growing out of Scriptural truth, the result of Pike, will be found, besides the incidents of conviction and of experience, highly needful

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to be borne in mind, laid to heart, day by day honest and good heart," has a most strengthacted upon as we pass through life, and which ening efficacy there, to the building up of such involve much of genuine self-denial, and strait- believers in their most holy faith. It was a keeping of the soul. Nothing is to be found heinous sin in Israel of old, that they slighted of a wild, doubtful, crude, or strange enthu- or loathed the manna which the Lord had prosiasm, no morbid refinement, no fine-spun vided for them; and one, on the other hand, empty theories, no mere "talk of the lips, reverently prays, "Feed me with food convewhich the wise man tells us, “tendeth only to nient for me.' Surely, as his reasonable penury," no beautiful symmetry and paint of creatures, his redeemed people, even these language without life, nor dry doctrinals sepa who wait upon Him, he will "give them their rated from and set at variance with that trans- meat in due season;" for he feedeth his flock forming power, in which alone true doctrine and causeth them to lie down in green pascan be truly held, or availingly held forth. It tures, and cannot be wanting to "bless the is as if the writer all along conveyed to us the provision of Zion." But, now as ever, the very substance of the adage, "Tell me not rich and the full are sent empty away from how any talk, but how they walk ;" agreeably | the banquet of our King; indeed, these come to that language of the dear Redeemer, "He prepared only to loathe the honeycomb: and, that hath my commandments, and keepeth whatever may be their dreams of satisfaction them, he it is that loveth me:" "He that fol- and comfort in the use of means, who are loweth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life:" "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me:" "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven." For, assuredly, as said his beloved disciple, "He that keepeth [Christ's] commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in

him."

contriving and choosing for themselves, who would cater and carve according to their own apprehensions in religious matters, such, when really awakened to see themselves as they are and where they are, will ever find leanness and emptiness the portion of the immortal part, they inherit the wind, they shall be even "filled with their own devices." How sickly, how superficial, how unstable is their state! tossed about by every wind of doctrine, readily "beguiled with enticing words," with great swelling words, the words which man's wisdom teacheth, and which the itching ear stretches forth after; but the truth, the pearl of great price, is almost thrown away upon them, as upon the swine, they receive it only to abuse, to misapprehend, to pervert it.

It is lamentable to think, how much is lost by professing Christians, and how much is gained by the enemy of souls, when they suffer themselves to be "carried about by divers and strange doctrines," or at least unduly detained amidst fields of speculation, and "striving about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers," of the readers, and of the speakers also. Indeed, even "good doctrine," "sound doctrine," essential doctrine, that which is "according to godliness," as it can only be given forth under the express direction of our ever-living Oracle, High Priest, and Holy Head, the Minister of the sanctuary, so must it be received in entire subjection, with full resignation to his good will and pleasure, who condescends to work mightily and effectu- be of God, or whether I speak of myself;" ally in those that believe,-yet oftentimes ob- that is, he shall have adequate evidence of scurely, and to man's judgment weakly, yea my doctrine; and again, he declared, "My foolishly. In spiritual, as in temporal things, sheep hear my voice," " and I am known of "a little that a righteous man hath, is better mine." These were, however, to become as than the riches of many wicked;" for, in this little children, to receive the kingdom of God respect, it is most true, that "the blessing of as a little child, as new-born babes; for unto the Lord" is that which "maketh rich." So, such, these things were to be revealed, but not a little shedding forth of light and of truth to any others. Our Wonderful Counsellor did from Him, whose doctrine drops as the rain, not even clear up his divine truth to the unand distils as the dew, "who openeth, and derstandings of his disciples, further than he none can shut," and who delights to satisfy saw needful for their present growth, further the longing soul, and to fill the hungry soul than they were able to receive and to bear it, with goodness, when received into ground | Mark iv. 33, and John xvi. 12. And though rightly prepared to appropriate it, "into an his apostle Paul wrote some things "hard to

The Christian path is a plain path,-blessed be his name who is the Captain of salvation, the Leader and Commander of his spiritual Israel; he hath opened and cast up the way for them; through his obedience unto suffering, unto death, he hath consecrated it by his own example, and hath graciously offered to guide us by his spirit into all truth. It was his own declaration, "If any man will do his. will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it

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be understood," yet himself testifies, that he had fed his hearers "with milk, and not with meat," because they were not able as yet to bear it. Our Lord accepted, and he still accepts, the meek and contrite spirit, the soul that is simply made willing to come unto him, to learn of him, and to obey him:-his anointing teacheth them " of all things."

tient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves: if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth?" Those who can discriminate, will surely say, he did not.

In like manner, in our day, both among the first who went under the denomination of "Quakers," as in more recent times, occa Undoubtedly, there are times, corrupt and sions have arisen again and again for religious unstable times, when the precious privileges controversy, wherein silence, however desira and hopes of the Gospel are more than usually ble, would have been blameable. Very much called in question, when every one that has the same line of warfare, of explanation, of debought the truth, according to his measure and fence, and of rejoinder, has been repeatedly and station, according also to the circumstan- called forth. Sometimes, indeed, the necessity ces in which he may be placed, is more espe- has been urgent, as in ancient periods of the cially called upon to stand fast in the faith, to church, when many have been "the unruly, hold fast that they have received, and even, vain talkers and deceivers," "who subvert as occasion calls, "earnestly to contend for" whole houses, teaching things which they this faith which was "once," and is yet "de- ought not," that the mouths of such should be livered to the saints." The early Christians stopped; and then, in the government of the were quickly introduced to the duty of giving church, the advice to Titus seems requisite, to a reason for the hope that was in them; it was "rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound their lot to be "disputing daily," and reason- in the faith." Many have been the honouraing much, not only with open gainsayers, but ble champions raised up, qualified, and also with feigned friends, with false brethren and preserved in this description of arduous ser false teachers, with such as were "of their vice, who had to wrestle" against principali. own selves," who had either "crept in una- ties, against powers, against the rulers of the wares" to a profession of Christianity, or had darkness of this world, against spiritual wickgone out from that they once had possession edness in high places.' "These were doubtless of; these having "turned from the holy com- adequately accoutred by "the Captain of the mandment delivered unto them," sought privily Lord's host" with the whole armour of God; to bring in various forms of damnable heresy, "the armour of righteousness on the right speaking perverse things to draw away disci- hand and on the left," whereby they were enples after them, according to the strong delu- abled to withstand in the evil day, to quench sions under which satan had bound them. But in good degree the fiery darts of the wicked, did the primitive believers, and such of them to clear the truth, to convince many gainsay especially who were in some sort "stewards ers, and to be themselves clear of the blood of of the mysteries of God," tamely and blindly all men, having not spared nor shrunk from yield to such deceivers? Though they followed plain dealing and faithful warning. They peace with all men, and pursued it, did they strove lawfully, they kept the faith and their at all compromise, or by any means surren- habitations in the truth, also their ranks in der, any portion of that which was committed righteousness, being evidently blessed and to them to keep unalloyed and inviolate? Does owned in their deeds, according to their mea not the apostle Paul declare to us his own line sure. With these, the main purpose and of conduct and that of his fellow-labours, with proper object of controversy was never lost the ground of it, in these forcible words?-sight of, amidst all needful, intricate and close "To whom we gave place by subjection, no, argumentation. They gave not heed to those not for an hour; that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you." And did he not, on that occasion, even hazard his own character in the eyes of others, by seeming to incur the imputation of rash and contumacious procedure, when he withstood Peter to the face, and that before those who with him seemed to be pillars in the church, rather than countenance or crouch to palpable dissembling and want of uprightness? In such a case, did Paul act in a manner at all inconsistent with his own counsel to Timothy, where he writes, "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, pa

things" which minister questions rather than godly edifying," they turned not aside "unto vain jangling," when they charged and urged upon some, that they should "teach no other doctrine" whatever, than that which had been received by the church from the beginning. They laboured to disabuse the beclouded judg ment, to disentangle the soul; to bring to that which puts an end to the very ground of all difference, gives right discernment in spiritual things, will not amalgamate with error or evil, but leads into" and preserves in "all truth," even in its purity, in its peaceableness, in its oneness; as well in the comely form, as in

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