And, dear friends, in order that as we have received Christ, so we may walk in Him, in all holiness and godliness of conversation, we earnestly exhort, that ye hold fast the profession of the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, without wavering; both in respect to his outward coming in the flesh, his sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension, mediation, and intercession at the right hand of the Father; and to the inward manifestation of his grace and Holy Spirit in our hearts, powerfully working in the soul of man, to the subduing of every evil affection and lust, and to the purifying of our consciences from dead works to serve the living God; and that through the virtue and efficacy of this most holy faith, ye may become strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 1736. P. E.

11

On faith in

Christ.

12 On following

It is with much grief and concern, that we observe in some a declension from the way of righteousness and truth, as well as from the light of the plainness of habit, and simplicity of speech and behaviour, which Christ. were so conspicuous in our early friends, and many of their offspring. This declension, we apprehend, arises from a disregard to the divine light and truth they have often been recommended to, as the regulator of their words and actions. By a careful, conscientious regard to this, the holy men in all ages obtained a good report; and our ancients, and many of their immediate offspring, were comely in the eyes of the nation for their solid deportment, and religious regard to their words and actions: a godly fear rested upon their minds, that the precious truth and principle which they professed, and felt the blessed effects of, might not suffer reproach from their misconduct. The like holy concern now would tend to regulate our youth. This would instruct them to avoid all pride and affectation, and endue them with humility, modesty, and virtue, which recommend to the favour of God, and a good esteem among men. A religious regard to the principle of light and truth, God's witness in the mind and heart of man, ever produces the most beneficial effects, as well to society in general, as to every one in particular. This would introduce universal love, peace, and concord, among mankind. This would sweeten the bitter spirit, mollify and

On following assuage the fierce and violent dispositions of men, mutually endear the light of Christ. relations and friends, and bring all into the unity and fellowship of the Holy Spirit; the fruits whereof, the apostle declareth, are joy, peace, long-suffering, brotherly kindness, and charity. We do therefore most earnestly recommend a strict attention to this holy and divine principle, to friends every where, and in a particular manner to the youth of the present generation. 1736. P. E.

13

On the value

Let none be ashamed of the tendering power of the Lord, but yield. of brokenness to the operation of his Word which is as a fire to burn up, and as a of spirit. hammer to break in pieces. It was by this that our ancients became a bright and shining people. The Lord himself hath declared his approbation of an humble and contrite state and condition of soul; so that none need to be ashamed of it. "Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." And the royal prophet says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.' 1739. P. E.

14

On watchfulness and humility.

"2

1

Beware of that wisdom which descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and puffeth up the mind; but be ye, like our great pattern the Lord Jesus, meek and lowly in heart, not seeking your own glory, but the honour of Him that hath called you. Be ready to every good office of love, even to the least of Christ's disciples, and He will esteem it as done to Himself: delight to encourage those who are honest and sincere in heart, and to strengthen the feeble-minded under their trials and conflicts; so shall ye become as nursing-fathers and nursing-mothers in the church of God, and be qualified with wisdom from above to administer suitably to the conditions of others, to the

ness and

comforting of their souls, that they may have cause to bless the Lord On watchfulon your behalf. And, dear friends, under a consideration of the subtle humility. and continual assaults of the enemy of our souls, we find it necessary to put you in mind, that whatever your advancement in the work of religion, or your services in the church, may have been, you have still as great need as ever to dwell in an humble state of watchfulness. Some, whom the Lord hath favoured with the influences of his love, while their hearts remained low and humble in his sight, have, by giving way to the subtle temptations of the enemy, under the specious pretence of enlargement and freedom of spirit, become exalted in their minds, gradually declined from their first love, and from that tender regard and care which once rested upon their minds towards God; and by an unguarded conduct have lost their esteem and service in the church, and brought dishonour on the blessed truth which they had long professed. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth,

take heed lest he fall."1 1743. P. E.

15

to heads of fa

their house

holds toge

ther, and in

the fear of the struct them.

Lord to in

And, dear friends, our advice and exhortation is, that all masters of families, parents, guardians, and tutors of children, would frequently Exhortation put in practice the calling together of their children and household, milies to call to wait upon the Lord in their families; that, receiving wisdom and counsel from Him, they may be enabled seasonably to exhort and encourage them to walk in the way of the Lord, to exercise themselves in reading the Holy Scriptures, and in observing the duties and precepts of holy living therein recommended; admonishing them to keep to that plainness and simplicity, in apparel, speech, and behaviour, into which the Spirit of Truth led our forefathers, and which becomes the humble, self-denying followers of Jesus Christ. 1748. P. E.

16

We beseech you, in your ordinary conversation among men, let your words be few and savoury, and observe the precept of the apostle, On guarded "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth :" so may

conversation

11 Cor. x. 12.

G

conversation.

On guarded your good example, and the gravity and circumspection of your conduct and behaviour, minister matter of just rebuke to those who know not a bridle to their tongues, and who seem not sufficiently aware, that "in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin.” 1755. P. E.

17

On Christian simplicity in conduct.

18

Our concern is to revive a truth which is worthy of general remembrance, that no affectation of singularity was the cause of a demeanour both civil and religious in our forefathers (or in the faithful of this day) different in many respects from the conduct of those among whom we dwell; but they, beholding the vanity, unprofitableness, and insincerity of the salutations, customs, and fashions of the world, and observing the example of our blessed Saviour and that of his followers, with the frequent testimonies recorded in holy writ to the necessity of a selfdenying life and conversation, together with the law and the testimony revealed in their hearts, retained in view the injunction of the apostle, not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that we "may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." May an uprightness of heart, as in the sight of God, ever attend this simplicity of appearance, that none, by a conduct inconsistent therewith, may furnish occasion for the testimony to be evil spoken of, or despised. 1761. P. E.

Frequent waiting in stillness on the Lord, for the renewal of On waiting be strength, keeps the mind at home in its proper place and duty, and and on unpro- out of all unprofitable association and converse, whether amongst sation. those of our own, or other professions. Much hurt may accrue to the

fitable conver

religious mind by long and frequent conversation on temporal matters, especially by interesting ourselves too much in them; for there is a leaven therein, which, being suffered to prevail, indisposes and benumbs the soul, and prevents its frequent ascendings in living aspirations towards the Fountain of eternal life. 1770. P. E.

1 Rom. xii. 2.

19

and shooting for diversion.

We clearly rank the practice of hunting and shooting for diversion with vain sports; and we believe the awakened mind may see, that on hunting even the leisure of those whom Providence hath permitted to have a competence of worldly goods, is but ill filled up with these amusements. Therefore, being not only accountable for our substance, but also for our time, let our leisure be employed in serving our neighbour, and not in distressing the creatures of God for our amusement. 1795. W. E.

Let us, in reverence of soul, avoid too nice an enquiry into the moral causes of such dreadful calamities; but seek, with unremitting solicitude, an entrance, through the strait gate, into that narrow, but not untrodden path, which alike leads to blessedness through every dispensation of the Lord's unerring providence. We in this land, do not live unsurrounded by manifold dangers; nor in an age in which we can dispense with any part of the whole armour of light. The increase of mortality in a country brings the body into jeopardy; but it often arouses the careless, and drives the awakened mind into closer communion with God. But it is the peculiar property of many of the contagious vices and vanities, with which these countries abound, that they lull to security the incautious, even though once aroused; and point their infection at the well-being of the soul. By what means, then, shall we expect preservation? Our belief, dear friends, is, that it will depend on a frequent recurrence to our first principle: even to the saving power of Christ Jesus our Lord, revealed in the heart. "This," said our Redeemer when personally on earth, "is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."" But this, friends, is no trivial nor momentary acquirement. Many of you know that it must be waited for in singleness of heart; and that the important pursuit of this heavenly knowledge should regulate the tenour of our lives. Where,

'The contagious fever which prevailed in Philadelphia in 1798.

2 John xvii. 3.