is what I was truly concerned for, lest this had happened to thee by going into great undertakings. Though still I do not charge thee; but out of the pure love of my heart and the esteem I have for thee, I write this, that if there should be anything in it, thy experience may lead thee to avoid every thing of the kind, that may have so much as a tendency to hurt thyself or lessen thy ministry in the church either with great or small.

And now since I have been thus large and free, I will yet be a little more free, and upon a subject that has at times given me real trouble: which is, that some libertines have made use of thy name as a cloak to their own pride and vanity, and running into the fashions of the world; which has appeared in their long curled and powdered hair, flourishing wigs, long cravats, many unnecessary folds in their coats, fashionable sleeves, and cuts of several kinds, three cocks and strings in their hats, with other such like things, after the modes of the world. The growing of these things in the church hath caused sorrow of soul in the faithful, who well know, that Truth in the beginning led out of the world's fashions, which are vain, and for ever will lead out of them. When such as these have been spoken with, they have answered thus: "There are abundance of ministers, elders, and very honest Friends in England who wear such things, as well as we;" and they have particularly named thee as one.

Though I have not believed all they say to shelter and skreen themselves; yet, dear Friend, shall I be so free as to say, I fear they have taken some strength from thee: for I have been informed by some that do dearly love thee and thy ministry, that they have thought in some things thou goest a little too fine and modish, and particularly as to thy hat and long hair, &c. It is true, George Fox wore long hair, and he did it in the beginning rather as a testimony against the Presbyterian fashion of short locks. It is not that we place evil in wearing either long or short hair, considered in itself; but when either are in fashion, and that or any other thing is taken up by any ministers or elders, though they be not proud of it, yet it greatly strengthens and encourages others, who are inclined to pride

and fashions, to exceed even in a greater degree. Thus a minister or elder edging towards any fashion, others will equal their extravagancy in their lesser things, and with a sort of privilege and authority cover themselves therewith, till by thus exampling one another and each exceeding the other in pride, a flood of iniquity hath been introduced into the church, whereby the ancient plainness of an old Quaker has been in some lost, and in the end some have been so ashamed of the plainness of Truth and the cross of Christ, that they have run quite out into the world.

These things are so plain, that they cannot be denied ; and the consideration of them hath brought deep sorrow and mourning upon the souls of some. And, oh! saith my soul, that the Lord would lay a heavy and zealous concern upon all the honest-hearted ministers and elders, to endeavour to put a stop and stand in the gap against this torrent of pride, which has been so mischievous in the church; renewing the discipline of the church against these things. But in the first place, it behoves all such to be good examples themselves in all things, and then they can the better and the more boldly speak to others, The apostle advises the believers to take him for an example; and though he tells us all things (that is, good things) were lawful for him, yet that all things were not expedient; he therefore advises us not to please ourselves, nor do any thing whereby the weak may be stumbled or any tendency to evil encouraged; but rather to follow the things that make for peace, and the things whereby we may edify one another. The Lord has bestowed diversities of gifts in his church; he hath endowed some with a spirit of discerning, others as helps and for government, &c.; these seeing anything in any minister or elder whose example therein may prove hurtful to the church, it is their duty to advise and counsel such an one, and his duty is to condescend therein, though he should see but little in it, especially where the thing is not matter of faith but of condescension, and there can arise no hurt from removing the occasion of offence. The apostle Paul even exceeded this, when he would eat no flesh while the world stood, if it made his brother to offend. I confess I am apt to be prolix in writing, and never

thought myself a sententious or accurate writer, but I am not much concerned about it, well knowing I am addressing a true and charitable Friend, who will not put upon it a wrong construction; and if there be the least thing therein that may conduce to stirring up the pure mind, my end will be answered. For the very desire of my heart is, that as the Lord has gifted thee and made thee a bright and shining instrument in his hand, so thou mayst on thy part answer his love therein by thy obedience, and by carefully avoiding anything that may in the least eclipse thy gift.

Extract from the last Will and Testament of Joseph Pike, of Cork, dated the 25th day of the Month called November, 1727.

I, JOSEPH PIKE, of the city of Cork, merchant, being but weakly in body, but through the Lord's mercy of perfect mind and understanding; and, although I am but weak in body, and arrived to old age, yet, through the infinite goodness and mercy of Christ my only Saviour, (and by whose merits alone I hope for salvation,) I can also say, he has made me strong in spirit this day, to give in my testimony to the powerful and virtuous operation of his holy light, grace and good Spirit, a measure and manifestation whereof he has given to me and all men to work out our salvation; and which teaches the obedient (according to Holy Scriptures) to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live righteously and godly in this present evil world. And by which alone, and not by any strength of my own, I can with unutterable thankfulness, and in deep humility of soul, say, the Lord my God has kept me to this day from falling into the gross sins and enormities of the world, and for which I reverently bless and praise his holy name.

But notwithstanding that, I freely confess, that for want of my keeping so close to the guidance of his Holy Spirit in my heart as I ought to have done, I have very often sinned and offended him. And when

ever I so did, either in thought, word, or deed, his holy light in my soul let me see it, and his Holy Spirit (which is the same) brought inward judgment and condemnation upon me for the sin and offence committed against him, and by his righteous judgments within me, which is the baptism of Christ, which all men must witness to fit and qualify them to enter the everlasting kingdom of God, I say, by his righteous judgments and the assistance of his Holy Spirit I was brought to true repentance, and found remission of my sins, O blessed be his holy and everlasting name, saith my soul!

And besides the blessing of his Holy Spirit, He, the God of all my mercies, hath added blessings from beneath, namely, outward substance, for the conveniences of life; which I can in sincerity and humility, and without boasting, say, I have received from the Lord's hand with great thankfulness of heart; and therewith, have desired of him that he would be pleased to give me a heart not to be puffed up with them, and I hope I can in truth say he hath granted my request therein. And I can further say in sincerity, that I have not eagerly striven to be rich in this world, to make my children high and great therein. But what I have more earnestly desired of the Lord for them has been, that they might truly fear and serve him, and first seek the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof; and then, whether they had but little or more of this world's goods, they would have the Lord's blessing with it, which I esteem infinitely beyond all the riches of this world. This introduction to my last will I have chiefly made as a memento to you, my children and grandchildren.

THE TESTIMONY

OF

THE MEETING OF CORK,

CONCERNING

JOSEPH PIKE.

IT having for some time past lain on the minds of divers Friends, that something by way of Testimony concerning that worthy elder, our dear deceased Friend, Joseph Pike, might be of service, we hope a few lines relating thereto will not be thought unseasonable at this time.

He was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Pike, who were early convinced of the blessed Truth, and continued zealous for and faithful to the end, he dying a prisoner for his testimony thereunto. It pleased the Lord in his great love, to visit this our dear Friend in his tender years, being under eight years of age, and by his Holy Spirit strove with him, to bring him off the vanities that childhood and youth are incident unto, and until he was twelve or thirteen years of age; about which time, that honourable elder, William Edmundson, came to visit Munster Province, by whose ministry at a meeting in Cork, the Lord's heavenly power took hold on him, opening to him his inward state and

!