my inclination, I was straitened in my mind; but, as I looked to the Lord, he inclined my heart to his testimony and I told the man, that I believ ed the practice of continuing slavery to this people was not right, and had a scruple in my mind against doing writings of that kind; that, though many in our society kept them as slaves, still I was not easy to be concerned in it; and desired to be excused from going to write the will. I spake to him in the fear of the Lord; and he made no reply to what I said, but went away: he, also, had some concerns in the practice; and I thought he was displeased with me. In this case I had fresh confirmation, that acting contrary to present outward interest, from a motive of divine love, and inward regard to truth and righteousness, and thereby incurred the resentments of people, opens the way to a treasure, better than silver, and to a friendship exceeding the friendship of men.

The manuscript before-mentioned having laid by me several years, the publication of it rested weightily upon me; and this year I offered it to the revisal of friends, who, having examined and made some small alterations in it, directed a num ber of copies thereof to be published and dispersed amongst friends.

In the year 1754, I found my mind drawn to join in a visit to friends' families belonging to Chesterfield monthly-meeting; and having the approbation of our own, I went to their monthlymeeting in order to confer with friends, and see if

way open for it. I had conference with some of their members, the proposal having been opened before in their meeting, and one friend agreed to join with me as a companion for a beginning; but when meeting was ended, I felt great distress of mind, and doubted what way to take, or whether to go home and wait for greater clearness, I kept my distress secret; and going with a friend to his house, my desires were to the great Shepherd for his heavenly instruction; and in the morning I felt easy to proceed on the visit, being very low in my mind and as mine eye was turned to the Lord, waiting in families in deep reverence before Him, He was pleased graciously to afford help; so that we had many comfortable opportunities, and it appeared as a fresh visitation to some young people. I spent several weeks this winter in the service; part of which time was employed near home. And again in the following winter I was several weeks in the same service; some part of the time at Shrewsbury, in company with my beloved friend John Sykes: and have cause humbly to acknowledge, that through the goodness of the Lord, our hearts were, at times, enlarged in his love; and strength was given to go through the trials which, in the course of our visit, attended us.

From a disagreement between the powers of England and France, it was now a time of trouble on this continent; and an epistle to friends went forth from our general spring meeting, which I thought good to give a place in this journal.

An EPISTLE from our general spring meeting of ministers and elders for Pennsylvania and New Jersey, held at Philadelphia, from the twenty-ninth of the third month, to the first of the fourth month, inclusive, 1755.

To Friends on the Continent of America.

Dear Friends,

In an humble sense of divine goodness, and the gracious continuation of God's love to his people, we tenderly salute you; and are at this time therein engaged in mind, that all of us who profess the truth, as held forth and published by our wor thy predecessors in this latter age of the world, may keep near to that life which is the light of men, and be strengthened to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, that our trust may not be in man, but in the Lord alone, who ruleth in the army of heaven, and in the kingdoms of men, before whom the earth is " as the dust of the balance, and her inhabitants as grasshoppers." Isa. xl. 22.

We being convinced that the gracious design , of the Almighty in sending his Son into the world, was to repair the breach made by disobedience, to finish sin and transgression, that his kingdom might come, and his will be done on earth as it is

in heaven, have found it to be our duty to cease from those national contests productive of misery and bloodshed, and submit our cause to him, the Most High, whose tender love to his children exceeds the most warm affections of natural parents, and who hath promised to his seed throughout the earth, as to one individual, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Heb. xiii. 5. And as we, through the gracious dealings of the Lord our God, have had experience of that work which is carried on, "not by earthly might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts :" Zech. iv. 6. by which operation, that spiritual kingdom is set up, which is to subdue and break in pieces all kingdoms that oppose it, and shall stand for éver. In a deep sense thereof, and of the safety, stability, and peace, there is in it, we are desirous that all who profess the truth, may be inwardly acquainted with it, and thereby be qualified to conduct ourselves in all parts of our life as becomes our peaceable profession: and we trust, aš there is a faithful continuance to depend wholly upon the Almighty arm, from one generation to another, the peaceable kingdom will gradually be extended from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth," Zech. ix. 10. to the completion of those prophecies alreay begun, that nation shall not lift up a sword against "nation, nor learn war any more." Isa. ii. 4. Micah iv. 3.

And, dearly beloved friends, seeing we have these promises, and believe that God is beginning

to fulfil them, let us constantly endeavour to have our minds, sufficiently disentangled from the surfeiting cares of this life, and redeemed from the love of the world, that no earthly possessions nor enjoyments may bias our judgments, or turn us from that resignation, and entire trust in God, to which his blessing is most surely annexed; then may we say, Our Redeemer is mighty, he will 66 plead our cause for us." Jer. 1. 34. And if, for the farther promoting his most gracious purposes in the earth, he should give us to taste of that bitter cup which his faithful ones have often partaken of; O! that we may be rightly prepared to receive it!

And now, dear friends, with respect to the commotions and stirrings of the powers of the earth at this time near us, we are desirous that none of us may be moved thereat; but repose ourselves in the munition of that rock that all these shakings shall not move, even in the knowledge and feeling of the eternal power of God, keeping us subjectly given up to his heavenly will, and feel it daily to mortify that which remains in any of us which is of this world; for the worldly part in any, is the changeable part, and that is up and down, full and empty, joyful and sorrowful, as things go well or ill in this world. For as the truth is but one, and many are made partakers of its spirit, so the world is but one, and many are made partakers of the spirit of it; and so many as do partake of it, so many will be straightened and perplexed with it.

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