IN the univerſal Love of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, which ever breathes out Glory to God in the higheſt, on Earth Peace and good Will towards Men, I cordially ſalute you, and therein take Freedom humbly to offer the following Obſervations to your ſolid Conſideration.

Notwithſtanding, with much Comfort, I firmly hope we have a large Number in our Society, in a good Degree, faithful to the Principle of Truth we profeſs, giving Diligence to make their Calling and Election ſure, walking circumſpectly and honeſtly as in the Day, both with regard to their moral and religious Converſation, though not without their reſpective Exerciſes on divers Accounts, not daring to forſake the Aſſembling of themſelves together whilſt capable; for the Encouragement of all ſuch beloved Brethren and Siſters, whereſoever their Lots are caſt (to whom my Heart is nearly knit in the Unity of the Spirit, and the Bond of Peace) it ſprings up in my Mind to remind them of the Apoſtle's tender Advice, Gal. vi. 9. Let us not be weary in Well-doing, for in due Seaſon we ſhall reap if we faint not. James v. 7.8. Be patient therefore, Brethren, unto the Coming of the Lord. Behold the Huſbandman waiteth for the precious Fruit of the Earth, and hath long Patience for it, until he receive the early and latter Rain. Be ye alſo patient; ſtabliſh your Hearts; for the Coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 1 Pet. i. 13. Wherefore gird up the Loins of your Mind; be ſober, and hope to the End for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Cor. xvi. 13.14. Watch ye, ſtand faſt in the Faith, quit you like Men; be ſtrong. Let all your Things be done with Charity.

Yet nevertheleſs, for the Sake of ſome, yea, alas! (with Regret be it ſpoken) many of the Profeſſors of the bleſſed Truth, who through Coldneſs, Lukewarmneſs, Inconſiderateneſs, Indolence, and the Want of a true Hunger and Thirſt after Righteouſneſs (occaſioned by their neglecting the Work and Guidance of the Spirit of Truth they profeſs) are become very remiſs and negligent in this highly and neceſſary and reaſonable Duty of attending religious Meetings on Week-days, as well as Firſt-days, I find it to riſe in my Heart, in much Good-will▪ to recommend the following Obſervations to their ſerious Notice and Conſideration.

1ſt. Inſomuch as Almighty God, our faithful and righteous Creator, hath placed us in a Station abſolutely dependent on him, in whom we live, and move, and have our Being, in whoſe Hand and Diſpoſal we, our Lives, Health, Abilities both of Body and Mind, our Preſervation, our Protection, Support, Favours, Privileges and Enjoyments, both Temporal and Spiritual, are, we being, as it were, Tenants at Will, having no known Leaſe of our Time, or Command of any Thing, we are under moſt reaſonable and cloſe Obligations to behave ourſelves as wholly dependent Creatures, humbly and honeſtly to pay due Homage and Obedience to him our gracious and bountiful Sovereign, Lord and Benefactor, for all his unmerited Favours we enjoy under him, in faithfully anſwering his Requirings, in doing juſtly, loving Mercy, and walking humbly with him; which three Articles briefly contain all our moral and religious Duties, which none rightly perform who are negligent in attending Meetings for divine Worſhip.

2dly. May it be remembered, that in the preceding Diſpenſations the Lord God required of his People, and commanded them ſtrictly to obſerve divers Convocations, and Feaſt-days; as the Feaſt of Paſſover; ſolemn Feaſts and Faſts, as the Feaſt of the Tabernacles, of unleavened Bread, of Weeks, of Solemn-days and Aſſemblies; in the ſincere and devout Obſervation whereof the People of God were accepted of him; Joel ii. 15.16. Blow the Trumpet in Zion (ſaith the Prophet) ſanctify a Faſt, call a ſolemn Aſſembly. Gather the People; ſanctify the Congregation; aſſemble the Elders; gather the Children, and thoſe that ſuck the Breaſts: Let the Bridegroom go forth of his Chamber, and the Bride out of her Cloſet. Zech. viii. 19. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, the Faſt of the fourth Month, and the Faſt of the Fifth, and the Faſt of the Seventh, and the Faſt of the Tenth, ſhall be to the Houſe of Judah Joy and Gladneſs, and chearful Feaſts; therefore love the Truth and Peace. But the Neglect and Slighting thereof diſpleaſed God, and turned much to their own Diſadvantage, as being the ſorrowful Effect of their Declenſion, Captivity and Servitude, through their Diſobedience to the Lord. Judah, ſaith the Text, is gone into Captivity, &c. The Ways of Zion do mourn, becauſe none come to the ſolemn Feaſts: All her Gates are deſolate, her Prieſts ſigh, her Virgins are afflicted, and ſhe is in Bitterneſs.

3dly. 'Tis worthy our ſerious Notice and Conſideration, how acceptable and pleaſing to the Lord the Meetings, Communications, and the very Thoughts of thoſe that ſcared him, and what peculiar Regard and tender Reſpect he had, what precious Promiſes he made unto them in thoſe depraved Times, wherein Irreligion ſo much prevailed, that the Proud were called happy; yea, they that wrought Wickedneſs were ſet up; yea, they that tempted God were even delivered: Mal. iii. 16.17. Then (ſaith the Prophet Malachi) they that feared the Lord, ſpake often one to another, (whence we may conclude they were met together) and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Name. And they ſhall be mine, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, in that Day when I make up my Jewels; and I will ſpare them as a Man ſpareth his own Son that ſerveth him. The Paſſover was ſo ſtrictly enjoined, that it was commanded on this wiſe, viz. Numb. ix. 13.14. The Man that is clean, and is not in a Journey, and forbeareth to keep the Paſſover, even the ſame Soul ſhall be cut off from his People; becauſe he brought not the Offering of the Lord in his appointed Seaſon: That Man ſhall bear his Sin. And if a Stranger ſhall ſojourn among you, and will keep the Paſſover unto the Lord, according to the Ordinance of the Paſſover, and according to the Manner thereof, ſo he ſhall do: Ye ſhall have one Ordinance, both for the Stranger, and for him that was born in the Land.

Yet ſuch was, and now is, the Mercy and Juſtice of God, that he neither ever did, nor now doth, require any Thing unreaſonable or impracticable, for he condeſcended to allow a ſecond Paſſover to ſuch as were neceſſarily deprived of appearing at the Firſt, by Reaſon of Indiſpoſition, through Uncleanneſs, or Abſence in a Journey afar off.

4thly. Let us now come to the glorious Diſpenſation of the Goſpel that we live in, wherein Chriſt, the Author thereof, our glorious High-prieſt and bleſſed Mediator, himſelf ſpeaks unto the Churches, who is the compleat Antitype, in whom all the Types, Shadows and Figures concenter; and let it be with ſolemn Reverence, and all due Regard, humbly obſerved, that he hath graciouſly promiſed on this wiſe, Mat. xviii. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the Midſt of them. Rom. xii. 1. I beſeech you therefore, Brethren, by the Mercies of God, that ye preſent your Bodies a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable Service. Heb. x. 25. Not forſaking the Aſſembling of ourſelves together, as the Manner of ſome is; but exhorting one another, and ſo much the more, as ye ſee the Day approaching.

Now, dear Friends, have we not ſome Ground to fear, that ſo many as under the Profeſſion of the bleſſed Truth, who do, whilſt in Health and Strength, ſadly neglect the Attending of Religious Meetings, ſo much encouraged by the Promiſe above, are not truly obedient, but neglecting their own Mercies, by ſo ſlighting our glorious High-prieſt, and his bleſſed Company, with his two or three gathered in his Name. Oh! that all the Profeſſors of Truth were rightly concerned duly to regard the ſaid gracious Promiſe, with the full Extent and Conditions thereof; and alſo to reduce to Practice the Advice of the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. v. 7.8. Purge out therefore the old Leaven, that ye may be a new Lump; as ye are unleavened. For even Chriſt our Paſſover is ſacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the Feaſt, not with old Leaven, neither with the Leaven of Malice and Wickedneſs, but with the unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth.

May it therefore, I ſay, be humbly remembered, how this our gracious High Prieſt hath not only promiſed his Attendance, and moſt worthy Company, where two or three are gathered in his Name (as above) but has alſo mercifully and tenderly invited needy Souls unto him, on this wiſe, Mat. xi. 28.29.30. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Reſt. Take my Yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in Heart, and ye ſhall find Reſt unto your Souls: For my Yoke is eaſy, and my Burden is light. And again, his Call is repeated. John vii. 37.38.39. In the laſt Day, that great Day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood, and cried, ſaying. If any Man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath ſaid, out of his Belly ſhall flow Rivers of living Water. But this ſpake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him ſhould receive, &c.

5thly. May it be added to the Premiſes, how that ſoon after the breaking forth of the bleſſed Truth, after the long and dark Night of Apoſtacy, our ancient Friends in the Morning of the Day, finding a conſcientious Concern upon them to decline the Formalities then run into, retired and met together to wait upon the Lord, to know and witneſs the fulfilling of that bleſſed Promiſe of Chriſt to his Diſciples, John xiv. 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my Name, He ſhall teach you all Things, and bring all Things to your Remembrance whatſoever I have ſaid unto you.—As they were (we have good Ground certainly to believe) led into this Practice, and by the ſame alſo mercifully regarded and protected therein, through many and great Sufferings, occaſioned by the penal Laws then in Force againſt thoſe that diſſented from the national Church, eſtabliſhed by Law; ſo that our dear Fore-fathers and ancient faithful Friends, conſcientiouſly then attended religious Meetings, both on Firſt-days and other Days of the Week, under the Hazard of their Lives, Liberties and Eſtates; yea, I ſay, they flocked to Meetings as Doves to the Windows, though ſometimes a good many Miles diſtant, and found great Peace in ſo doing, and the enriching Bleſſing of God to attend them, and often their Offspring too: So in Time, as they increaſed, by the Direction and ſweet Influence of the bleſſed Spirit, they were engaged to appoint and ſettle Mettings here and there, as in the Wiſdom of Truth they ſaw convenient, both on Firſt-days and other Days of the Weeek; and when they were hauled from their Meetings to Priſons, they had often precious Meetings there, and found thoſe Places, as Jacob ſaid of Bethel, on his Pillow of Stone, to be to them as the Houſe of God, and Gate of Heaven, being made to ſing in the Priſon as Paul and Silas did when their Legs were in the Stocks, by the then ſecular Powers.

Now, therefore, I beſeech all that profeſs the ever bleſſed Truth, and eſpecially thoſe that are remiſs in this important and ſo material a Duty now before us, duly to remember, and truly conſider, how wonderfully the Lord hath wrought for his Church and People, how he hath turned the Hearts of Kings, and, in Effect, hath ſaid to them,—Touch not mine Anointed, do my Prophets no Harm. What peaceable calm Times have we long enjoyed, with reſpect to thoſe violent Storms and rugged Billows of Perſecution aforeſaid! Are not we now both tolerated and protected in keeping our religious Meetings! What then will become of thoſe poor Profeſſors of the unchangeable Truth, who, in this Time of Tranquility, and, as I may ſay, Sabbath-day of Reſt from the aforementioned Probations, are taking their Flight from the refining Work and Baptiſm of the holy Spirit they are making a Profeſſion of, into the inordinate Cares or Pleaſures of this World, or into Indolence, Indifferency and Lukewarmneſs, touching the vital Part of Religion, ſo as miſerably to forſake (or at leaſt too much neglect) the aſſembling of themſelves together, in order to worſhip and pay due Homage to the bountiful Author of all our unmerited Mercies, temporal and ſpiritual!

Inſomuch, therefore, as the divine Miniſter of the Sanctuary and true Tabernacle, which God hath pitched, and not Man, hath ſo reaſonably afforded us ſuch great Encouragement to attend religious Meetings, though conſiſting of very few in Number, and hath ſhewn ſo undeniably and indiſputably his peculiar Approbation thereof, by that gracious and ſpecial Promiſe of his vouchſafing to be preſent with the two or three that ſo meet: The ſame Duty being alſo urged, and earneſtly recommended by the Apoſtle to the Believers of his Day, that they ſhould not forſake the Aſſembling of themſelves together, as the Manner of ſome in thoſe Times was, and, alas! of too many in theſe Days, though ſo highly favoured: Heb. x. 24, 25. And let us conſider, ſaith he, one another, to provoke unto Love, and to good Works: Not forſaking the Aſſembling of ourſelves together, as the Manner of ſome is, but exhorting one another, and ſo much the more, as ye ſee the Day approaching.—And likewiſe remembering how the ſame Apoſtle fervently and pathetically addreſſed the Roman Church, exciting them to pious and devout Performance of this their reaſonable Service, reminding them of the ſignal Mercies of God, as a preſſing and cogent Argument, moving grateful and truly conſiderate Perſons to the faithful Performance of their reaſonable Duties to their merciful Benefactor, and the glorious Donor of all their Enjoyments, expreſſed his Addreſs on this wiſe,—Rom. xii. 1. I beſeech you, therefore, (as above hinted) Brethren, by the Mercies of God, that ye preſent your Bodies a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable Service. May we not ſafely conclude, that the right attending of Aſſemblies for divine Worſhip, is both a Duty acceptable unto God, and ſignally advantageous unto our Souls; and that, as this is an indiſpenſable Duty (whilſt we are in Health and Strength, and at Liberty) therefore the Omiſſion of this weighty Service is of dangerous Conſequence.—Ezra ix. 4. Then were aſſembled unto me (ſaith Ezra, that deeply concerned Servant of the Lord) every one that trembled at the Words of the God of Iſrael. The true hearted Quakers then did, and now do (whilſt Strength and Liberty do permit) aſſemble, in order to obtain Help and Relief from the Lord, to worſhip him in Spirit and Truth, to enjoy the ſweet and edifying Communion one with another, as Members of one Body, by feeling the one quickening Spirit from the holy Head, the living Circulation of the Blood of Chriſt.

And now, my Friends, may I take Freedom to make the following Remarks.

1ſt. It hath been objected by ſome on this wiſe, That as the Sabbath was but one Day in the Week commanded and ſet apart for divine Service, in the Time of the Moſaick Law, what need ſo much ado about Week-days Meetings now? To which very weak and poor Objection, I ſhall in the firſt Place anſwer thus: Suppoſe there had been in that Diſpenſation no other Day but the Seventh in each Week, appointed by the Lord, wherein his People ſhould ceaſe from ſervile Work, and devoutly and ſolemnly perform Worſhip to him; yet in this Goſpel Diſpenſation we are, or ought to be, brought much nearer to God, and be much more devout and ſpiritually minded, according to the Apoſtle's Teſtimony, Heb. vii. 19. For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better Hope did, by the which we draw nigh unto God. Beſides, the Solemnitie and holy Convocations, above mentioned, ſufficiently refute the aforeſaid very weak Plea and Objection, which Solemnities were to be obſerved by the Lord's People in that Diſpenſation; the Neglectors whereof were to be taken Notice of, and called to an Account. What Apology then, I ſay, ſhall thoſe make, or how ſhall they anſwer it, who are remiſs and negligent in obſerving and attending the ſolemn Meetings and Aſſemblies in this glorious Goſpel Day?

2dly. Some may perhaps object, and ſeem to endeavour to excuſe themſelves in this Kind of Negligence, and Omiſſion of ſo neceſſary and profitable a Duty, as we are, in much good Will to the Cauſe of Truth, and the Souls of its Profeſſors, treating of, by alledging, That their Meeting is ſo ſmall, or, that they have no publick Miniſter ſettled therein, they may perhaps ſcarce think it worth their while conſtantly to attend the ſame. Anſw. Are not there two or three? If ſo many, Chriſt hath promiſed them his bleſſed Company, if met in a right Mind, who being the moſt excellent Miniſter of the Sanctuary and true Tabernacle, which God hath pitched, and not Man, without whom, the greateſt of inſtrumental Miniſters can do nothing, are of no Service: But this moſt powerful, moſt merciful, and moſt glorious High Prieſt, and heavenly Miniſter, appears with his People and Flock, according to his gracious Promiſe; he can when he pleaſes, whoſe Time is the beſt Time, effectually and ſuitabiy ſupply all the Wants of his true Followers, without inſtrumental Miniſters, (although we own, and humbly confeſs, that the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, by and thro' Inſtruments influenced and actuated by the aboveſaid all-powerful Miniſter, hath been, is, and ever will be of ſingular Service to the Huſbandry, Heritage and Plantation of God, as it is rightly applied) and therefore ought to be valued in its Place.—But oh, alas! how do thoſe ungrateful Creatures undervalue and put a Slight upon our bleſſed Mediator of this new Covenant, our Phyſician of the greateſt Value, the Biſhop of our Souls, and our Saviour, who hath ſhed his precious Blood, and given his Life a Ranſom for us, that in any wiſe can find in their Heart to omit the attending even ſmall Meetings, though without any inſtrumental Miniſter, when he hath upon moſt reaſonable Conditions promiſed his Life-giving Preſence there.

3dly. As the true-hearted and faithful Followers of humble Jeſus find it their indiſpenſable Duty, and peculiar Intereſt, to attend religious Meetings, whether they be great or ſmall, whether they have in them inſtrumental Miniſters, or they have none, both on Firſt-days and other Days of the Week, they grow and proſper in the Truth, even in the Root of true Religion, and are very often ſignally bleſſed and favour'd by kind Providence, even in the Things of this Life, and come up in the real Improvement of their Talents, and conſequently in their reſpective Services in the Church, enjoying their Peace whilſt in Health, and the Aboundings thereof when on ſick and dying Beds; whilſt, on the other hand, thoſe poor unthinking Profeſſors of Truth, who by neglecting the Work thereof in their own Hearts, become ſlack and backward in the attending of Meetings for divine Worſhip, letting in Reaſonings, and probably the vain Allegations aboveſaid, they don't thrive in the true Religion, and ſeem alſo ſometimes blaſted, as touching their Succeſs in temporal Affairs, are of little or no Help (but rather Nuſances) in the Society, and often are made to bewail their paſt Negligence 〈◊〉 ſick and dving Beds, of which more hereafter.

Divers remarkable Inſtances of the peculiar Bleſſing of kind Providene attending the Profeſſ •• s 〈◊〉 Truth, who witneſſed the real Work thereof in their own Hearts, and were obedient to its Requirings, have occurr'd to my particular Notice in my Pilgrimage; one whereof I may here mention.

A certain worthy ancient Miniſter gave, in my Audience, the following Relation; That in his young Years (having been from his Childhood educated in the Way of the national Church) being favour'd with the merciful Viſitation of the Lord, he became uneaſy with the traditional Singings and ſuperficial formalities uſed in the ſaid Communion, whereupon ſeeking and enquiring for the right Way of Worſhip acceptable unto God, he dropp'd into a ſmall Meeting of Friends, wherein no inſtrumental Miniſtry (as I remember) was heard that Day; yet nevertheleſs the ſeeking Youth was made contrite, melted, and throughly convinc'd of the Truth in that ſilent Meeting. (The like Account I have alſo heard concerning the Convincement of ſome others) And thenceforward, perſevering under an awful Regard to that gracious Hand that had ſo viſited him, he grew in Grace and the ſaving Knowledge of God; who being of poor and low Circumſtances, as to Things of this Life, was oblig'd to labour hard for his Bread, and, being a Taylor by Trade, was often obliged to work at other Peoples Houſes, yet could not be eaſy to omit Week-day Meetings, but laying aſide his Work, was engag'd to walk often a pretty Way to Week-day Meetings; yet ſuch was his Diligence and Induſtry before and after the ſaid Meetings, that thoſe he work'd for deſir'd no Allowance or Abatement for the Time ſpent on Account of the ſaid Meetings. Some Time after this he married a young Woman convinc'd of the Truth a little while before. Now the Storms of Perſecution roſe high, and having now and then a Meeting in his Houſe (being himſelf in the miniſterial Capacity) they cheerfully ſuffer'd the Spoiling of their Goods for Truth's Sake, and were ſtripp'd very bare as to Temporals, having two ſmall Children, and his Wife with Child of the third; yet keeping faithful, according to the beſt of their Knowledge and Ability, and conſequently not daring to be remiſs or indifferent in that important Duty of attending religious Meetings, they were bleſſed every Way, and their little Oil and Meal were thereby render'd capable to anſwer all juſt Demands, and moreover to make many little Cakes for the Prophets of the Lord, having all along a Place and Houſe of Reception and Hoſpitality for his Meſſengers to the Day of their Death, which was in Peace inexpreſſible.

On the other Hand many, by the wretched Indifferency about ſpiritual and religious Matters (though it may be at the ſame time pretty ſtanch Moraliſts, have become guilty of this miſerable Deficiency of neglecting or forſaking the Aſſembling themſelves, in order to perform divine Worſhip on Week-days, and ſome have ſo lamentably been prevailed upon by that Indiſpoſition of Lukewarmneſs, or by the ſurfeiting and choaking Cares of this World, the Deceitfulneſs of Riches, or the Love of other Things, or it may be in ſome weak Perſons, by taking a Diſguſt againſt ſome Miniſter, Friend or Friends of the Meeting) have ſhamefully abſented religious Aſſemblies, even often on the Firſt-days of the Week, abſolutely contrary to the Laws of God, the Laws of the Land, and the repeated Advices and well known Rules of the Society, they would unreaſonably be accounted Members of. But alas! alas! ſuch are in a miſerable dwindling State and Habit of Soul, laying a Foundation for future Repentance, Anguiſh and Tribulation; many piteous Inſtances of this Kind have appeared (and peradventure ſome ſuch may at this Day be found) under the Profeſſion of the Truth; one of which I ſhall here take Freedom to mention, as a Caution worthy to be taken Notice of.

A certain young Man, as I remember, beginning Trade and Buſineſs for himſelf, was thereby ſo engroſſed and hurried in his anxious Mind, that he too much omitted the Attending of religious Meetings; but being attacked by Sickneſs, and brought to a Bed of Languiſhing, his paſt Negligence became his Burden, under the Senſe of which he groaned and bemoaned himſelf; and being aſked by a Friend the Cauſe of his ſo great Diſtreſs of Mind, he anſwered, It was becauſe he had been too remiſs in going to Meetings, eſpecially Week-day Meetings; but added, that if the Lord would be pleaſed to raiſe him up again to his former State of Health, he would for the future be more careful, and more diligent in that important Duty.

Oh! therefore that all in Time of Liberty, Health and Strength of Body, may conſider their own both Duty and Intereſt in this Reſpect, as that they may not ſuffer themſelves, through too eager Purſuit of, or too cloſe Attachment to the Enjoyments of this fading World, or ſupine Indolence, to be deprived thereby of the many Goſpel Privileges offered unto us, of which the peaceable Enjoyment of our religious Meetings is one of great Worth, and always ſo accounted and highly valued by the faithful and truly thoughtful People of God.

4thly. Beſides what is afore ſaid touching the great Diſadvantage that accrues to thoſe Particulars, who are found deficient in this momentous Duty now treated of, they are bad Examples to the young People and others, and eſpecially thoſe who have Children coming up, and perhaps Servants under their Care too, being in the Station of Governors of Families (as they are evidently negligent) loſe their Authority, and render themſelves bad Precedents to their Children and Servants, and ſo, as ſuch, cannot give effectual Precepts and Advice to their Families, but alas! through their diſmal Neglect and Indolence, their poor Children, being too much left to themſelves, often prove Libertines, and run to Ruin. How then ſhall ſuch unfaithful Parents in the Day of Account anſwer for theſe Neglects, both with reſpect to their own Particulars, and poor Families, and the Meetings they belong, to which, if they had been honeſtly concerned, they might have been of good Service? Shall not ſuch unjuſt Stewards be called to an Account? Oh! that all Parents of Children, and Governors of Families, would ſeriouſly and timely conſider how pleaſing and acceptable to the Lord Abraham's Care and Concern for his Children, and for thoſe under his immediate Care was! Gen. xviii. 17, 19. Shall I, ſaid the Lord, hide from Abraham that Thing which I do? For I know him, that he will command his Children and his Houſhold after him, and they ſhall keep the Way of the Lord.

All thoſe that meet, I ſay, in the Name of Jeſus, that is, under a truly awful, religious and conſcientious Concern of Mind, do not only perform their reaſonable Service to God, and ſo reap his Peace and Bleſſing, but are of ſingular Help and Comfort to the true-hearted in the Meeting; whilſt the abſent Worldlings, being as miſerable Comforters, are neither juſt and honeſt to God, to themſelves, nor to their Friends and Families: Manifold, therefore, I ſay, are the Obligations we are all under, and more eſpecially we that have Children and Families, to come up in the honeſt Diſcharge of that our reaſonable Service, viz. both with regard to the due Performance of, 1ſt, Our Duties to God; 2dly, To our Children and Families; 3dly, To the Meetings we reſpectively belong; and 4thly, That we may bear our Teſtimony openly to all Beholders, in aſſembling ourſelves to wait upon, and worſhip the Father in Spirit and in Truth, even on Week-days as well as Firſt-days.

5thly. It is almoſt ſurprizing to obſerve, how divers Profeſſors of Truth, who ſeem very diſregardful of Chriſt's glorious Promiſe, which they plainly diſcover by their ſlighting and abſenting Meetings, where two or three are met; yet if a noted publick Friend appoints a Meeting, how ſuch are raiſed on the Wing, and flock to hear him, and ſometimes follow him to the next Meeting. Now although we ought certainly, whilſt capable, willingly and thankfully to give the Lord's Meſſengers and Ambaſſadors our Company, and ſeriouſly hear, and rightly apply their Meſſages; yet inſomuch as bleſſed Jeſus, our great and good Lord and Maſter, hath promiſed to be in the Midſt of two or three rightly met, we ought to prefer him above all; I ſay, without ſlighting or undervaluing the leaſt Servant who bringeth glad Tidings, whoſe very Feet are beautiful upon the Mountains: But they plainly appear to neglect and ſlight the moſt glorious Miniſter and High Prieſt, who too ſeldom attend ſmall Meetings, purſuant to his ſaid conditional Promiſe, and (as it were) Appointment.

I would by no Means have my Reader to ſuppoſe, by what is afore ſaid, that I am blaming my Friends for accompanying the Meſſengers of the Lord to the next Meeting, for that is a Brotherly Duty, which I myſelf took great Delight in, whilſt in Health and Strength in my younger Years, and would encourage the right Minded in ſo doing; neither would I hereby diſcourage any who having been Neglectors of Week-day Meetings, may find themſelves awakened and rouſed up by any Inſtrument: I would not, I ſay, diſcourage ſuch from going along with ſuch a Friend to the next Meeting, or further, as the Cords of Truth may draw him, and to keep cloſe to that divine Touch and Influence they have been favoured with, through the Miniſtry of the ſaid Inſtrument, which they may undoubtedly find renewed and increaſed, as they humbly retire to the Maſter and Spring of all Good in their own Hearts, who hath promiſed to be with the two or three, who are, or ſhall be, rightly gathered, when ſuch inſtrumental Miniſters may be far abſent, or even removed from us (by Death.) The great and good Shepherd, ſpeaking of himſelf and his Flock, ſaith thus, John x. 4. When he putteth forth his own Sheep, he goeth before them, and the Sheep follow him, for they know his Voice. Whenever therefore he putteth ſorth any, old or young, Maſters or Servants, rich or poor, and goeth before them, let them readily go forth and follow him. We heartily wiſh they may grow and proſper; yet I muſt ſay, whereſoever any Profeſſors of Truth are found and obſerved from Time to Time to neglect or forſake, or, at leaſt, do not duly attend their reſpective Meetings at Home, both on Firſt-days and other Days of the Week; and yet it may be are forward to attend Monthly, General, and ſometimes probably Quarterly-meetings, may not ſuch their Proceedings be juſtly accounted irregular and prepoſterous? Or how can we expect thoſe can be of real Service at Monthly and Quarterly-meetings, who ſlight and forſake the Meetings they belong to at Home? It is much deſired therefore, that all profeſſing the bleſſed Principle of Truth, in whatſoever Stations or Vocations they are placed, may let the Harms of others be their ſeaſonable Caution, that they may be effectually rouſed up and excited to Diligence in the honeſt Performance of this weighty Duty, now ſpoken of in much Goodwill to Souls, the right Diſcharge whereof has often been, and is, attended with the enriching Bleſſing of kind Providence in ſpiritual Things, and ſometimes in temporal, and the Neglect thereof is attended with Leanneſs of Soul, with many Diſappointments and Diſadvantages.

And further, with regard to that great Duty Friends owe to their Children, in the due Nurture and Education of them, to which they are bound by the Laws of God and Nature, we ought in the firſt Place to look well to ourſelves, and then to our Children; Luke xxiii. 28. Daughters of Jeruſalem, weep not for me, ſaid Chriſt, but weep for yourſelves, and for your Children. How ſhall any be rightly concerned for their Children, who are negligent touching their own Conditions? 'Tis to be feared the wide Courſes of many Children have been often occaſioned (in great Meaſure) by the Indolence and Irreligion of their Parents. I cannot well omit taking Notice of one Stripling, whoſe Parents were Profeſſors of Truth, rich in Things of this Life; yet alas! theſe Parents, being themſelves too remiſs in attending Week-day Meetings, and conſequently not good Examples, did not train up their Son in the Performance of that Duty, wherein they themſelves were deficient: So he grew up ſo much indulged in Liberty, that I was credibly informed he has been ſeen, even in the very Time of the Meeting, which was held near their Dwelling-houſe, to walk into the fields with his Fowling-piece, &c. But oh! what was the Conſequence of ſuch irreligious Proceedings and Liberties; this Youth became rather an Affliction than a Comfort to Friends, lived faſt as a Libertine, and died ſoon in the Flower of his Age: Which ſorrowful Remarks I make with much Awe, Humility and Reverence.

6thly. Some Profeſſors of Truth, as hinted before, have betrayed ſo much Indiſcretion, and unmortified Temper of Mind, as to abſent religious Meetings, and it may be, Meetings of Buſineſs too, through ſome Diſlike or Offence taken againſt ſome particular Friend or Friends, or perhaps againſt ſome Steps in the Diſcipline, or it may be, againſt the Miniſter belonging to the Meeting; which unjuſtifiable Steps lead to Confuſion, the Loſs of Unity with the Society, and oftentimes is attended with great Diſadvantage to the immortal Souls of theſe unhappy Perſons, who fooliſhly fall into ſo bad a Practice; and beſides all this, it affords a very bad Example to the young People (eſpecially) whoſe quick Eyes are upon them, and theſe their By-ſteps, and will very likely make ſhrewd Remarks on ſuch Miſconduct, which is grievous to all good Men that behold it, but moſt pernicious to thoſe guilty thereof; of whom we may ſay, Job v. 2. Wrath killeth the fooliſh Man, and Envy ſlayeth the ſilly One.

7thly. As the truly concerned and faithful Friends to what they profeſs do, whilſt capable thereof, find it their incumbent Duty diligently to attend Meetings, both on Firſt-days and other Days of the Week; ſo it is their Care both to obſerve, as much as they well can, the Hour appointed for the Gathering of the Meetings, and alſo when there, to ſit under a fervent and inward Concern, that they may be made ſenſible of the fulfilling of Chriſt's gracious Promiſe aboveſaid, that Chriſt will be in the Midſt of them that meet in his Name; while, on the other hand, many careleſs and lukewarm Profeſſors are both ſlack in meeting together, and when they do come, often come very late and ſtraggling, and when met, ſit too much unconcerned, if not ſleeping, whilſt the Honeſt-hearted are in a deep Travail, and perhaps weeping; to whom thoſe negligent Profeſſors are ſo far from being Helpmeets, that they are too often a Burden to others truly concerned, yet, alas! the greateſt Loſs and Diſadvantage is to their own Souls; ſo that, tho' they go at Times to religious Aſſemblies, they don't reap that ſpiritual Benefit that they might do, becauſe they do not diligently ſow to the Spirit. Therefore, as faith 〈◊〉 Friends, truly concerned to improve their Time and Talents, find Meetings of Worſhip, Times and Places of Improvement, Pleaſure and Profit; and, therefore, are like careful, induſtrious Tradeſmen, very deſirous, though through ſome Difficulties, to attend thoſe Places where the moſt Gain and Advantage may be in all Likelihood obtained. But pray how ſhould they, who, thro' the Neglect of their Talents of Grace and Truth, find little or nothing of either Profit or Pleaſure in religious Meetings, be deſirous to preſs through Crowds to get to them? Nay, may we not ſafely conclude thoſe, who are remiſs in getting to religious Meetings, do not experience (by reaſon of their own Neglect of the Gift of Grace) that ſweet and excellent Gain of Godlineſs, which the Faithful do, and therefore may probably think it ſcarce worth their while to take much Pains about ſuch a Matter; when it is very likely the ſame Perſons, in caſe they had Ground to hope they could gain a Sum of Money, or make a conſiderable Improvement of their temporal Stock, in the Way of their outward Buſineſs, would be very careful not to miſs the Opportunity, altho' they can ſcarce be prevailed upon to uſe ſuch Endeavours for the obtaining the moſt bleſſed, moſt excellent Company and Preſence of Jeſus, our glorious High Prieſt, our Saviour, the King of Salem, and the Prince of Peace, though ſo lovingly invited by him. May not they, who ſlight ſuch a gracious Promiſe, apply to themſelves thoſe Words of the Almighty,— 1 Sam. ii. 30. They that deſpiſe me ſhall be lightly eſteemed. On the other hand, may not the true and faithful Attenders of religious Aſſemblies, by Faith lay hold on that Promiſe,—Them that honour me, I will honour. And likewiſe receive Conſolation and Encouragement from theſe Words of Chriſt,— Luke xii. 32. Fear not little Flock, for it is your Father's good Pleaſure to give you the Kingdom. Faithful Friends forecaſt their Buſineſs ſo as nothing, ſo far as in them lies, may interfere and hinder them from attending Week-day Meetings. Do not we generally know on what Day the Week-day Meetings will fall? We ought therefore, I ſay, ſo to forecaſt, and as much as we can, to order our temporal Affairs, that nothing, which may be well done on another Day, may be ſuffered to fall in our Way as an Impediment to hinder us from meeting with Chriſt and his two or three. If I attend religious Meetings only on ſuch Days, wherein the very Laws of the Land ſuffer no Fairs or Markets to be held, nor will allow me to open my Shop, or to be engaged in ſervile Work: If, I ſay, I ſerve (or pretend to ſerve) God in religious Aſſemblies on thoſe Days only, on which the Laws of the Land do not allow me actually to labour for the Things of this World▪ what Reward have I?

8thly. As King Solomon adviſeth,—Prov. xxii. 6. Train up a Child in the Way he ſhould go, &c. It is fully believed by a large Cloud of living Witneſſes, that as Men ſhould go to, and diligently attend Meetings for divine Worſhip; ſo even Children ought to be trained up in attending ſuch Aſſemblies, when in the Wiſdom of Truth, pious Parents, Guardians and Schoolmaſters may ſee convenient and ſuitable, not at all doubting, but all thoſe that have theſe tender Plants under their Care, as they mind their own Conditions and Growths in Grace, will be moved and helped prudently and gradually to train them towards (and in due Time in) the real Performance of this ſo important a Duty; neither over-driving the little Lambs, nor, through a too fond Indulgence or Careleſsneſs, leaving them behind, or ſuffer them to loiter, but always watching over them with an Eye of Regard, in a due Conſideration of their tender Age, Capacities and Circumſtances. Being thus conducted, I don't much queſtion but they will often find themſelves engaged to bring the little Ones to Meetings at proper Times.

Objection. Some have objected to ſuch Propoſals on this wiſe,—Let them firſt have Senſe, and then bring them to Meetings. Anſw. He that was repreſented by a certain Houſhoulder, who went out early in the Morning to hire Labourers into his Vineyard, hath often touched the tender Minds of Children in the early Part of their Time, and, as it were, in the Dawn and Morning of their Day; ſome about the ſixth, ſeventh, eighth or tenth Year of their Age (or ſome ſooner) have been graciouſly viſited, broken and tendered by the ſweet Influences of him, who bleſſed the little Children that were formerly brought unto him, commanding that ſuch ſhould be ſuffered, and in no wiſe forbidden. We cannot fix the Time of Childrens Viſitations, whether at the third, ſixth, or ninth Hour he ſhall be pleaſed to give them an Invitation out of the Marketplace into the Vineyard; however, it is firmly believed it is the indiſpenſible Duty of Parents, School-maſters, and thoſe entruſted with the Nurture of Children, humbly to preſent them before the Lord in the ſolemn Meetings of Worſhip aboveſaid, and fervently to beg his Bleſſing upon them, which I am ſenſible is and will be undoubtedly the Concern of all thoſe Parents, &c. that are (or ſhall be) rightly concerned for their own Souls. But, oh! Friends, how can it be expected, that they who neglect their own States and Conditions, and their own reſpective Duties in attending Meetings, ſhould be effectually concerned for, and rightly bring thoſe up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, who are under their Care? How ſhould thoſe Parents who do not weep for themſelves, rightly weep for their Children? Weep not for me, ſaid Chriſt, to the lamenting Daughters of Jeruſalem, but weep for yourſelves and your Children. Nay, ſome of thoſe Parents, remiſs in their Duty to God and their own Souls (in Regard to attending Meetings, &c.) and conſequently to their Offspring, have too often rejected and taken amiſs the Advice of their well-wiſhing Friends, with reſpect to their Negligence, reſpecting their own Welfare, and conſequently their Childrens Good. Some Parents, it may be, have gone to Meetings themſelves, but have too often left their Children (or at leaſt too many of them) at Home, expoſed, very likely, to unſuitable Company, and undue Liberties. Nay, ſome living in the Town where the Firſt-day and Week-day Meetings were held, have both themſelves and their Children too much forſaken the Aſſembling themſelves together, eſpecially on the Week-days, and perhaps ſome of thoſe irreligious Profeſſors would be ſitting, or walking, or talking in the Street, during the Week-day Meeting-time, and when admoniſhed to a more becoming Conduct, they have taken it amiſs, and ſpurned violently againſt the Advice and the Adviſer; and by ſuch Behaviour it has been thought they have hardened their Children againſt Friends. But, alas! thoſe imprudent Creatures, both Elder and Younger, have been attended with manifeſt Tokens of the great Loſs they ſuſtained thereby divers Ways. May therefore the Harms of others be our ſeaſonable Precautions.

In Anſwer to the Objections ſome have made, or may make, againſt bringing Children to religious Meetings, ſcarce thinking them, perhaps, capable of receiving Profit therein, I much deſire the Words and Obſervations of our worthy Friend Robert Barclay, in his Propoſition of Worſhip, Pag. 359, 360, may be ſeriouſly conſidered, as follows: And this Power would ſometimes alſo reach to, and wondefully work in Meetings, even in little Children, to the Admiration and Aſtoniſhment of many.

When honeſt Parents have done what they could, or can do, on Account of their own and their dear Childrens Souls Welfare, all may be little enough; but happy thoſe poor Parents, who being tried with that exceeding bitter Cup, and Heart-breaking Exerciſe, of having a Prodigal Son or Daughter, can in Sincerity appeal unto the Lord, on this wiſe,—Lord, thou' knoweſt I have done my Beſt for my Children, both by humble Prayer and frequent Interceſſion with thee for them, as well as by Example and Precept, for their Preſervation.

But what will become of thoſe unhappy Parents, who have afforded their Children neither good Examples nor Precepts, but diſregarded the greateſt Buſineſs of their Time, that is, of working out their own Salvation, and therefore have neglected (and by that Neglect rendered themſelves uncapable) to bring up their Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord? What, I ſay, will become of ſuch Parents, when they ſee the Miſcarriages and bad Courſes of any of their Offspring, being conſcious to themſelves of their ſinful Neglect touching their Education, and may be obliged to confeſs, and ſorrowfully reflect on themſelves for this their Deficiency, as being in ſome ſort acceſſary to the Ruin of their poor Children.

I find in the Journal of our worthy Friend Thomas Chalkley, that he was ſometimes concerned to exhort Friends to bring their Children to Meetings, and educate them when young, in the Way they ſhould go, that they might not depart from it when old; which I am perſuaded faithful Friends have all along been (and ſtill are) conſcientiouſly concerned to do, as being to them not a Matter of Indifferency, but • ver eſteemed by them as their incumbent and paternal Duty. Don't we read, Matthew xiv. 2 • . that beſides the five Thouſand Men, Women and Children who followed, and were fed by Chriſt, even in a Wilderneſs or deſart Place, when he appeared amongſt them in the Body of Fleſh? Shall any therefore now be ſo unwiſe in theſe calm and quiet Times, wherein we may ſit together peaceably and undiſturbed in our religious Mettings, and wait for the ſpiritual Appearance of Chriſt: Can any, I ſay, be ſo unwiſe, as now to neglect religious Meetings? Should we not by all Means, in Point of Gratitude to our gracious God, in Point of Juſtice to our own Souls, our Children, Families, and our Friends, flock to our religious Meetings, both on Firſt-days and other Days of the Week, taking our Children along with us, and allowing all reaſonable Liberty to our Servants? But oh! how ſhall thoſe anſwer for it at the great Day of Account, who are, or ſhall be found negligent in an Affair of ſo great Importance! The late and diſorderly coming to Meetings of ſome of the Profeſſors of Truth, who generally drop in, when thoſe who carefully obſerve the Hour appointed have ſitten perhaps Half an Hour, or moſt of an Hour, do not only interrupt and hurt the Meeting, but is a bad Example to the young People and others, but the greateſt Loſs is their own. This irregular Practice of coming late to Meetings is inconſiſtent with our Reputation as a religious Society, and contrary to the Practice of Friends in the Beginning, of whom we read, that not only thoſe of advanced Years were good Examples in this Reſpect, but alſo that ſome of their Children, who were left at Home during their Parents Impriſonment for keeing up this Teſtimony, were concerned honourably to attend their religious Meetings, and were themſelves alſo called in queſtion by the ſecular Powers for this their Chriſtian Teſtimony in thoſe trying and proving Times? Shall therefore any, either Parents or Children, dare, through Indolence and Lukewarmneſs, to be guilty of ſuch Ingratitude in neglecting, or not duly attending religious Meetings in theſe peaceable Times, wherein there is, through the Mercy of kind Providence, a great Calm to the Churches.

Here I take Freedom to inſert ſome ſenſible Expreſſions of ſome pious Children, a little before their Death, touching religious Meetings, as a convincing Argument that Children have received Benefit in attending them, and to obviate the Objections that ſome Parents have made, or may make, againſt the Concern of ſuch Friends as adviſe Father and Mothers profeſſing the Truth, to bring 〈◊〉 Children to Meetings whilſt young▪

I. 〈◊〉 POST, aged about eight Years, a little before her Death, expreſſed her Delight in going to Meetings. Piety promoted, Part V. Pag. 87.

II. REBEKAH TOOVEY, aged about nine Years, ſaid (near her Death) ſhe loved to go to Meetings; they were ſweet to her. Ibid. Pag. 143.

III. WILLIAM FENNELL, aged about twelve Years when he died, calling for his Siſters and Brother, (on his ſick Bed) he exhorted them to love Truth, and to go to Meetings, and think upon God and good Things, and the Lord would love them.

'Tis plain therefore, that young Plants have often been, and may be, truly ſenſible of the ſingular Benefit to be reaped in religious Meetings.

9thly. 'Tis admirable to obſerve what Difficulties, even through Hail, Rain and Snow, up early, and down late, will ſome Profeſſors wade through, in order to attend Markets and Fairs, but what ſmall Matters will ſometimes deter them from ſetting out to a religious Meeting? I had, ſaid one, intended to have been at ſuch a Meeting, but there came a Shower of Rain when I was juſt going off, and prevented me. May we not ſay to ſuch a poor cool One, O thou of little Faith!

Our worthy Friend, Thomas Chalkley, obſerves in his Journal, Page 324, that one John Pickering, the Governor of Tortola, made ſeveral new Forms to accommodate the People in religious Meetings in his own Houſe, which he ſent ſix Miles on Mens Heads, the Roads not being paſſable by Carriage, by Carts, &c. This I think worth noting, ſays he, that their Zeal may be had in Remembrance, and that ours may be ſtirred up to a more religious Concern, who will ſcarce go ſix Steps to a religious Meeting, or will not go at all.

10thly. When we remember and conſider, as above obſerved, the heavy Exerciſes and deep Sufferings, Spoilings of Goods, Impriſonments, &c. our Fore-fathers were tried with, and mercifully enabled faithfully and nobly to endure and go through with Chriſtian Patience for their Teſtimonies Sake, in holding their religious Meetings. And when we alſo humbly conſider, how our gracious God has rebuked the Storms of Perſecution, and has cauſed a long Calm to his Church and People, this marvellous Work of the Lord ought never to be forgotten, but thankfully, and, in deep Humility, ever to be remembered and duly acknowledged by all the Profeſſors of Truth, by a Conduct truly religious, circumſpect and agreeable to theſe invaluable Favours, and in the ſincere, diligent and fervent Performance of all our ſeveral Duties we owe unto him the Author and Giver of all our Privileges.

But oh! Friends, when the Faithful in our Iſrael, with much Sorrow and Regret take Notice of the lamentable Lukewarmneſs of too many under the Profeſſion of the bleſſed Truth in divers Places, who have not only too much forſaken the Attending of Week-day Meetings, but in ſome Places have quite dropt them, as many faithful Brethren think, to the great and certain Loſs of themſelves, their Families and their Children, and to the Diſhonour of our gracious God, to the Diſadvantage of our Society in general, and the great Affliction of the living Members thereof, and is like to prove, as many good Friends fear, an Inlet to other undue Liberties and hurtful Things.

While I am writing theſe Words, the mournful Expoſtulation of Moſes, with backſliding Iſrael of old, ſprings in my Mind, wherein he movingly cries out on this wiſe, Deut. xxxii. 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O fooliſh People and unwiſe? Is not he thy Father that hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee, and eſtabliſhed thee, &c. Wherefore, with much Concern of Mind, for the Lord's Sake, for the Welfare of yourſelves, Families and Children (that have them) I cordially and compaſſionately addreſs you, who may be guilty of this Defection and Revolt here mentioned and mourned for. Pray conſider in time of this your Negligence, as the certain Effects of your ſlighting the Reproofs, Teachings and Operations of the Spirit of Truth ye make Profeſſion of; and I beſeech you, take away the Cauſe, that the Effects may ceaſe, by timely, diligently and devoutly retiring to, and obeying this precious Gift of God in your own Hearts, whereby ye may be helped, before your Day be over, to repair thoſe lamentable Breaches, and, as I may ſay, rebuild theſe very ſorrowful Deſolations. Oh! Friends, is this a Time to drop your religious Meetings, when the Lord hath ſo marvellouſly opened our Way, ſo that, through the Clemency of the mild Government we live under, we, as a People, are not only tolerated, but protected in attending them? He hath wonderfully, as I may ſay, divided and opened our Way through the Oppoſition of ſecular Powers, penal Laws, Priſonhouſes, &c. Shall any of us now ſit down at Eaſe in any Engagement of this uncertain World, ſhort of a truly religious Concern and Perſeverance in the Way and Work of Regeneration, when, I ſay, our Way is thus opened? I beg of you, by the Mercies of Chriſt, duly to remember, and practiſe according to the Command of the Almighty, when he had opened the Way for his People, ſaying,—Speak to my People that they go forward. And, my Beloved, herein earneſtly ſought after, and in the good Will of the Goſpel treated with, ſuffer me to ſay, as this grievous dropping of Week-day Meetings may juſtly be called a Backſliding from the Purity and Integrity of our worthy Antients, and the Practice of the Faithful in this Day, and from the repeated Advices and Directions of many Particulars, as well as our Yearly-meeting from time to time, who have been engaged to counſel in divine Love; let ſuch remember the tender Call of the Lord to his backſliding Iſrael of old, with the Heart-affecting conditional Promiſe annexed thereto, Jer. iii. 22. Return ye backſliding Children, and I will heal your Backſlidings▪ which gracious and compaſſionate Promiſe, I humbly hope, will be vouchſafed unto you, in caſe ye ſhall rightly obſerve the gracious Invitation to return, and ſhall be ſincerely and heartily concerned henceforward to let your paſt Negligence ſuffice, and for the future uſe your utmoſt Diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure, and ſhall, as the Apoſtle exhorted the Epheſians, Eph. v. 15.16. Walk circumſpectly, not as Fools, but as Wiſe, redeeming the Time, becauſe the Days are evil. That when the great and notable approaching Day ſhall come, wherein each of you ſhall be called to an Account,—Come give an Account of thy Stewardſhip, for thou ſhalt be no longer Steward; each of you may receive this moſt deſirable and welcome Sentence, Mat. xxv. 21. Well done, thou good and faithful Servant, thou haſt been faithful over a few Things, I will make thee Ruler over many Things; enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord.

But, alas! alas! how can they expect to be then denominated good and faithful Servants, who in this gracious Toleration are thus ungratefully neglecting or dropping their Week-day Meetings, and ſo ſlighting the encouraging Expreſſions of bleſſed Jeſus, the righteous Judge of the Quick and Dead, while they are yet in Health and Strength, and in a Capacity to meet together with the two or three?

Again, may it be obſerved, that when Moſes, that faithful Servant of the Lord, was near leaving the People, being One Hundred and Twenty Years old, he wrote the Law, and delivered it to the Prieſts which bore the Ark of the Lord, and unto all the Elders of Iſrael, with this poſitive Command and Charge, ſaying, Deut. xxxi. 12, 13. Gather the People together, Men, Women and Children, and thy Stranger which is within thy Gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn and fear the Lord your God, and obſerve to do all the Words of this Law: And that their Children, which have not known any Thing, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as ye live in the Land, whither ye go over Jordan to poſſeſs it.

Pleaſe to mark here, Strangers, and even Children, were not to be overlooked or left at Home, but to appear among the Elders at the Time and Place appointed; neither were the People of the Lord to drop or omit the due Performance of this Charge ſo long as they ſhould live in the Land. Shall Goſpel Duties then be dropt in this glorious Goſpel Diſpenſation? How many good Friends, even upon their dying Beds, have been frequently concerned to adviſe their Survivors, diligently and duly to attend religious Meetings?

May we remember that the Jews began their Preparation of the Sabbath, at Three 〈◊〉 Clock in the Afternoon of the aforegoing Day, that is, of the Sixth-day of the Week: Should we not therefore now, as the Meeting-day and Time approaches, be, after a ſuitable Manner, abſtracting our Minds and Thoughts from earthly Things, and get into a proper Concern for meeting in the Name of Jeſus, with the two or three, in order to know him in the Midſt of us. But would it not be a very ſorry and piteous Caſe, if any of us ſhould have our Minds ſo ingroſſed and employed with Things of this World, that we ſhould go talking and communing, on the Meeting-days, about earthly Concerns, almoſt to the Meeting-houſe Door, and likewiſe, Meeting being broken up, reſume the ſame worldly Subjects of Diſcourſe? If ſuch ſhould in the Meeting receive any Share of the heavenly Seed into their Hearts (being too much like the Highway Ground) are they not in Danger of having the ſame devoured by the Fowls of the Air? Oh! therefore, how great Care and Circumſpection ought we to be found in, both in going to our Meetings, waiting reverently in them, and awfully returning from them, and even in the whole Courſe of our ſhort and uncertain Time? If therefore an honeſt Concern of this Kind was come into, and duly obſerved by the Profeſſors of Truth, that is, a proper Exerciſe, a ſtrict Obſervation of the Hour appointed, and a ſuitable Concern and waiting for the ſenſible Enjoyment of the divine Preſence; all which neceſſary Steps I am well aſſured the Principle we profeſs would, if rightly obeyed, lead all its Profeſſors into; our religious Meetings would, in the beſt Senſe, become Times and Places of Pleaſure and Profit united; and as for the moſt Part, or often, our Meetings have in them ſome Children, ſome infirm Perſons, who are ſcarce able to endure very long Meetings, though we cannot limit the Continuation of our Meetings by the Clock or Hour-glaſs, yet, by the Methods aboveſaid, through the Lord's Bleſſing thereupon, Meetings would be ſhort and ſweet, and the Performance of this our reaſonable Duty would be rendered unto the general not grievous, but joyous and profitable, even to the ſincere Weaklings of the Flock, according to the Aſſertion of him who has promiſed his bleſſed Company, —My Yoke is eaſy, and my Burden is light. And inaſmuch as our Profeſſion of the Guidance and Teachings of the holy Spirit in the Goſpel Diſpenſation, implies an Abrogation of the typical Ceremonies commanded and practiſed under the Moſaick Law, how greatly it behoves us, and under how cloſe Obligations do we lie, who profeſs the bleſſed Truth, ſo to demean ourſelves at all Times, and in all Places (but eſpecially in our religious Meetings) that nothing inconſiſtent with our high Profeſſion may appear; no ſcandalous Dullneſs or Sleepineſs, no gaping or yawning, no wandering Eyes, no unbecoming or reſtleſs Poſtures, may ever appear in the Times of our Devotion; for, to be ſure, whether we watch ourſelves rightly or not, the Eyes of the People are upon us; and if, while we profeſs to be come beyond Ceremonies, formal Prayer, premeditated Sermons, formal Singings, and the like, any of us ſhould be ſo unhappy and unwiſe, by an unprudent Conduct, Lukewarmneſs, and an unconcerned Frame of Mind in our religious Meetings, to give Occaſion to any that have their Eyes upon us, ſome it may be for Good, and ſome otherwiſe, to ſay, we, or any of us, are ſo poor, that we have neither Shadow nor Subſtance, we ſhall certainly hurt our Souls, and be bad Examples to others.

Finally, my Friends, having in much Love, Charity and Good-will, not (I aſſure you) with a View churliſhly to expoſe the Failings of any weak Brother or Siſter, but rather by Way of Caution to all where theſe Lines may come, made the foregoing Remarks, I now moſt dearly ſalute you our dear and near Friends, who have dedicated the Day of your Health and Strength to the Service of Truth, in diligently attending Meetings, and faithfully diſcharging your Duties therein, but now either thro' Want of Health, or by Reaſon of old Age, or other Circumſtances are rendered incapable of appearing in religious Aſſemblies; be not diſcouraged, the Lord is with you, his holy Arms are about you. Truſt in the Lord, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlaſting Strength: He, who accepts of a Man according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not, will accept of your ſincere and private Devotions; and you may, I truſt, by Faith, lay hold on theſe Words of Chriſt, as if ſpoken to you, Luke xii. 32. Fear not little Flock, for it is your Father's good Pleaſure to give you the Kingdom. And alſo, I am ſatisfied ye may lay hold on that Promiſe, John xiv. 23. If a Man love me, he will keep my Words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our Abode with him. O my dearly Beloved, although you be deprived of appearing perſonally with your dear Friends in publick Aſſemblies, you have here each of you, through the moſt merciful Condeſcenſion of the Lord, a moſt comfortable, moſt gracious Promiſe of the permanent Company of the Father and the Son, who will make their Abode with you.

In the Love of the everlaſting Goſpel I greet you, and bid you all Farewel, who am

NOtwithſtanding I have ſometimes heretofore taken the Freedom to write unto you in brotherly Love, it may be, in ſome Degree, to the like Import with the following Lines; yet, nevertheleſs, often remembering you in my Prayers, in a renewed Manner I now find Drawings in my Mind again hereby to ſalute you in the Love of the Goſpel, even in a dear and near Manner, with earneſt Deſires that ye may every one, in your ſeveral Stations, Growths and Capacities, whether Elders or Younger, Parents or Children, Maſters or Servants, be truly obedient to the Dictates and Guidance of the bleſſed Spirit of Truth ye profeſs, that thereby ye may be preſerved from every hurtful Thing, and may be guided into all Truth, both in your temporal Concerns and religious Duties, and in faithfully bearing your ſeveral Chriſtian Teſtimonies for God (when call'd thereunto) againſt Tithes, and all antichriſtian Impoſitions, Cuſtoms and Demands whatſoever, and may be graciouſly helped to reduce to Practice thoſe excellent Precepts of the Apoſtle to the Epheſian Church, viz. Eph. vi. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Children obey your Parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour thy Father and Mother (which is the firſt Commandment with Promiſe) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayſt live long on the Earth. And, ye Fathers, provoke not your Children to Wrath, but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them that are your Maſters according to the Fleſh, with Fear and Trembling, in Singleneſs of your Heart, as unto Chriſt; not with Eye-ſervice, as Men-pleaſers, but as the Servants of Chriſt, doing the Will of God from the Heart; with good Will doing Service, as to the Lord, and not to Men: Knowing that whatſoever good Thing any Man doth, the ſame ſhall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye Maſters, do the ſame Things unto them, forbearing Threatning, knowing that your Maſter alſo is in Heaven, neither is there Reſpect of Perſons with him. Finally, my Brethren, be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to ſtand againſt the Wiles of the Devil.

My dearly beloved Friends, in much brotherly Kindneſs and Charity, I tenderly ſympathize with you that may be under Suffering or Diſcouragement in any Reſpect, and particularly in this, that divers of the worthy Elders and Miniſters, in ſome Places, are removed from you by Death, and divers Meetings may now be ſmall and reduced: I beg you will not be too much diſcouraged on this Account; for the all-ſufficient Rock and Root remains, which, as ye duly obſerve it, will ſupply all your Wants, and will qualify and teach Parents and Elders to be good Examples, and rightly to inſtruct their Children and young Generation, by Precept and Pattern, as nurſing Fathers and nurſing Mothers, and likewiſe would direct and help Children and Youths to demean themſelves aright toward Parents and Elders, Servants towards Maſters, and Maſters towards Servants.

O dear Friends, I beſeech you go not out after the Lo-heres, and Lo-theres, now crying aloud in the Nation, but diligently attend your religious Meetings, both on the Firſt-days and Week-days, and other Meetings for Truth's Service, as you may find your Way open'd, while you are favoured with the Bleſſings of Health and Strength, and there devoutly wait for the ſpiritual Appearance of Chriſt, who hath given this gracious Promiſe, Mat. xviii. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the Midſt of them.

It is now in my Heart lovingly to addreſs and adviſe you, concerning two particular Things, of no ſmall Importance, viz.

1ſt. Be ſure to watch againſt the leaſt Appearance of any Thing that would gender to Diſcord, and, with all Care and Circumſpection, labour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace. 1 Cor. i. 10. Now I beſeech you, as ſaith the Apoſtle, Brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that ye all ſpeak the ſame Thing, and that there be no Diviſions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the ſame Mind, and in the ſame Judgment. Wherefore, whenever any Matter of Debate may happen to be, wherein Friends may be of different Sentiments, it is much to be deſir'd, that all Friends would labour ſo to keep to and under the Government of the meek Spirit of Jeſus, as that all Animoſities, Ill-temper, exaſperating Expreſſions and Reſentments, may be prevented, and that mutual Love, that certain diſtinguiſhing Characteriſtick of the Diſciples of Chriſt, may ever be in all Caſes maintain'd and retain'd among us; which honeſt Care and Concern would, I firmly believe, greatly tend to the Praiſe of him our heavenly Head, and to the Edification of his Church and People, through the Influence of the divine Spirit, ſo that we might thereby really and experimentally know the bleſſed Efficacy of divine Love, according to the Apoſtle's extenſive and moving Aſſertion, 1 John iv. 16.—God is Love, and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. O bleſſed Dwelling! O glorious, and ſafe, O comfortable Habitation!

2dly. That all the young and riſing Generation, and Children of believing Parents eſpecially, may carefully wait, and truly endeavour to know and dwell under the Croſs of Chriſt, and to be acquainted with the bleſſed Truth, even the glorious Appearance of Chriſt in their own Hearts and Souls, being the Principle of their Education, and the refining, abſolutely neceſſary ſaving Baptiſm thereof, that thereby they may be made truly uſeful Members of the one Church and Body of Chriſt, be ſerviceable and honourable Inſtruments therein, while here (as right Succeſſors of the faithful Miniſters and Elders, now gone, and going off the Stage) and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter.—Job xxii. 21. Acquaint thyſelf therefore with him, and be at Peace, ſo ſhall Good come unto thee, ſaith one in Job. If our dear young People would be perſwaded to chuſe the bleſſed Truth for their Portion, and the God of Jacob for the Lot of their Inheritance, then would the enriching Bleſſing of God attend them in all their Enterprizes; then would the Lord bring up many that are low, to ſit as among Princes, and would provide for them, and ſupply their Wants, according to the gracious Promiſe of bleſſed Jeſus,—Mat. vi. 33. Seek ye firſt the Kingdom of God, and his Righteouſneſs, and all theſe Things ſhall be added unto you: And as the royal Pſalmiſt ſaith,—Pſal. lxxxiv. 11. The Lord God is a Sun and Shield, the Lord will give Grace and Glory, no good Thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. And thus would they be preſerved from the various Snares and Gins that are cunningly laid by our common Adverſary for the Feet of the Youth, eſpecially in this afflicting Caſe of mixt Marriages, wherein ſo many of our careleſs, diſobedient Youths have ſo often fallen, and alas! yet are falling, to the inexpreſſible Sorrow of their honeſt Parents, and to the great Trouble and Exerciſe of their truly wellwiſhing Friends, and the Society in general; but alas! the greateſt Loſs is their own. And verily, we have many Inſtances at this Time of the miſerable Situation ſuch poor, reſolute, inconſiderate Creatures have brought themſelves into, by their imprudent and diſagreeable Proceedings and Contracts on Account of that very momentous Affair of Marriage. Let, therefore, I beſeech you, my dear young and unmarried Friends, the Harms and By-ſteps of others, with the diſmal Conſequences thereof, be your timely Cautions.

Faithful Friends, in theſe ſorrowful Times, can but deeply lament to ſee ſo many of our young Men and Women ſo far ſtraying from the Principles of their Education, and the ſettled and well known Rules of our Society in divers Reſpects, but in particular, I ſay, in that (which is now weightily before me and many others) even that diſagreeable, dangerous Error of mixt Marriages, whereby Confuſion and Perplexity are uſher'd into Families, Meetings, and the Society. How many that might probably have been of ſingular Service in the Society many Ways, have forfeited their Unity with Friends, render'd themſelves lame, and rather Cauſes of Affliction, than Help to the Community; have involv'd themſelves in many Inconveniencies, by reſolutely deviating from the ſaid wholeſome and ſafe Rules agreed upon by the Society in the Wiſdom of Truth, in this very afflicting Caſe? Wherefore, in the Bowels of Love, once more I earneſtly entreat you, that are not yet enthrall'd in that diſmal Yoke of Bondage, Stand upon your Guard; watch and pray, that ye enter not into Temptation of any Kind, and eſpecially that ye be not allur'd into theſe Snares of being unequally yoked in theſe Kinds of unſuitable Marriages, which have perhaps ſeem'd pleaſant to ſome at the firſt, but generally have, and do prove bitter Cups afterwards, it having long been, and yet is, the Senſe of ſolid and judicious Friends, that the Hand of divine Providence is againſt ſuch diſagreeable Matches.—Prov. xx. 17. Bread of Deceit is ſweet to a Man, but afterwards his Mouth ſhall be filled with Gravel, ſaith wiſe King Solomon.

Finally, my dearly Beloved, who have at Heart the Proſperity of Zion, as the preſent State of Affairs, with regard to the Church, and the ſecular Powers, ſeems loudly, in an eſpecial Manner, to call upon us, as in Times paſt on a certain Occaſion,—Prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael! I humbly and fervently beg, that we may dwell ſo inward with the Lord, ſo humble ourſelves under his mighty Hand, that we, being ourſelves preſerv'd in Covenant with him, may in true Brotherly Love, and Chriſtian Sympathy, be helped rightly to remember and pray for our Brethren all the World over, and particularly for thoſe our dear Friends who may now be under Sufferings and Probations, occaſion'd by the Commotions of War, which we in theſe Parts do but, as yet, hear the Rumours of, that the Everlaſting Arms may be underneath their Souls, that they may be by him directed, protected and ſupported through, and under all the Trials they may, by divine Permiſſion, meet with; and, with the Exhortation of the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. xvi. 13, 14. Watch ye, ſtand faſt in the Faith, quit you like Men, be ſtrong. Let all your Things be done with Charity, I bid you Farewel, who am