vices and vanities of the

world.

Against the then, judge ye, would any find leisure for those amusements, in which some in profession with us, are reported to waste much of their time? This meeting has repeatedly testified against vain sports, and places of diversion, as so many allurements tending to draw the mind from its watch, and to lay it open to further temptation. The best recreation of a Christian is the relief of distress; and his chief delight to promote the knowledge, and to exalt the glory, of his heavenly master: and this is most effectually done, under his holy influence, by a life of faith, purity, and general benevolence. False principles too, as well as wrong practices, may have their advocates for a time; but the unspotted lives of the faithful remain to be their best refutation. Let none then start aside at the magnitude of the object, or be too much dismayed because of the little progress they seem to themselves to make in the way of holiness; but, trusting in the Lord, who giveth power to the faint, let us all press after ability to comply with the apostolic advice, "Be ye holy in all manner of conversation."1 1799. P. E.

21

ness and a

growth in grace.

Dear friends, we beseech you to consider the holy gradation of On righteous righteousness, peace and joy; and to mark that the first step is that most comprehensive attainment, righteousness.-Righteousness is immutable justice. It leaves no duty unfulfilled. Man has his full share of love from man; and God, his due reverence, adoration, and praise. Peace then flows as a river, and joy in the Holy Spirit completes the gracious purpose of Christian redemption. "Happy is that people that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord." As the vigorous tree brings forth its fruit in its season, so if any man grow in the Truth, he will bring forth the fruits of Truth, even the fruit of the Spirit, so well described by the apostle to the Galatian converts. And what obstructs this growth in any? We reply, The love of ease: the dread of conflict. But as winter and storms promote the well-being of the outward creation, so tribulation

3

ness and a

grace.

and conflict improve the Christian. They have their appropriate and On righteousappointed end, in the work of sanctification; they arise not out of the growth in dust, but are sent or permitted in the proper seasons; and whoever seeks to escape without his share, rejects the very means of his advancement, and scarcely can hope to attain his due "measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ :" a state of which the same apostle speaks, as attainable by all. 1806. P. E.

We may now turn from subjects which concern every state in life; and direct the course of our Christian counsel to the states more in particular. And first, you who are not intrusted with much of the possessions of this life, you are still the objects of our constant care. The society has long endeavoured to consult your interests, and to place within your reach whatever is necessary for your welfare, and for that of your offspring. And you are equally the care of Him who provides. for the sparrows; to his ear your access is as easy as that of any condition amongst men; and if, by his holy assistance, and by a conformity to his will, you become truly poor in spirit, yours is the kingdom of heaven. But, dear friends, suffer us to remind you, that there is not a passion that can infest the rich, which may not also, in a degree subversive of your peace, be fostered in your minds. You may covet, and give way to pride and anger, and to all the "foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." Therefore do you partake of the universal necessity of paying strict attention to Christ's sacred injunction, when, addressing himself to his immediate followers, he closed his address with these memorable words, "What say unto you, I say unto all, Watch."+

I

As for you, dear friends, who occupy what are termed the middle stations of life, you have every cause to bless the Lord for the sphere in which he hath permitted you to move. In you, seems fulfilled the wish

22 Counsel to the

poor:

to those in stations of

the middle

life:

1

Eph. iv. 13.

2 Matt. v. 3.

1 Tim. vi. 9.

4 Mark, xiii. 37.

to those in the middle stations of life:

to those in

affluent circumstances:

of Agur: "give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me; lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain." Among your number the society has often found many of its more useful members, of its more able advocates. Be content therefore with your stations. Seek not great things for yourselves; yea, "Mind not high things; but condescend to men of low estate." s But above all things, "Follow on to know the Lord;"" or, if you have not known him and served him fully and faithfully, seek him, "with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind," for if you seek him, he will be found of you; and you will remain to be, as many of you have been, supports of the building, under the protecting providence of the Lord; who is the sole and true builder of his spiritual house, the "house of prayer for all people."

And you who are intrusted with much of the good things of this life, you who cannot disclaim the title of affluent-we believe there are among you many good stewards of the temporal things committed to your trust; yet we desire that others may duly consider, whether they are so "rich in faith," as to be "heirs of the kingdom," being fruitful in those good works which are produced by faith. Though, friends, you may not have to labour with your hands, the cause of Truth has business of importance for you to do; and it may be promoted or obstructed by the right or wrong application of your property. Much responsibility lies on you; your property is an additional article in the account; and we much desire that you may be so awake to a sense of these things, as to be prepared to render up your accounts with joy, and to receive the answer of "Well done." The poor and the rich have their appropriate virtues; and, at the same time that each is required to be content and to be humble, we believe it may be truly said, that as contentment is a peculiar ornament of the poor, so is

affluence cir

humility of the rich. Your station in life subjects you, more than to those in others, to be tried by associating with other wealthy persons, among cumstances. the people at large, with whom the cross of Christ is often in too little. esteem. You may be leavened by their conversation and example; and it may operate still more sensibly and rapidly upon your children. Therefore we tenderly intreat you, for your own sake, for that of your offspring whom you are bound to protect, and for the sake of the cause of Truth-we intreat you, dear friends, we beseech you "by the mercies of God," "Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." "For," continues the apostle, "I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." 1808. P. E.

Our solicitude has at this time been awakened for our young men employed as travellers in business. The exposure of these to the temptations to which they are often unavoidably subjected, has tended to draw aside some from that simplicity, that purity of heart and thought, that strict morality, which our Christian principles require. We would submit to the serious consideration of their parents and employers, the extreme danger of sending forth into such service any young persons whose religious principles are not fixed, nor their habits formed; and we would encourage friends in different places, where those in this line of employment may travel, to continue and to extend that kind and hospitable notice which has been already manifested. 1816. P. E.

In a well-ordered family, short opportunities of religious retirement frequently occur, in which the mind may be turned in secret aspiration to the Author of all our blessings; and which have often proved times

23

On young men employ

ed as travel

lers in busi

ness.

24 On short op

portunities of silence on spe

cified occasions.

1 Rom. xii. 1-3.

13

On short op- of more than transient benefit. It is our present concern, that no portunities of

silence on spe- exception to this practice may be found amongst us; whether it take

cified occa

sions.

25

On the right

First-day.

place on the reading of a portion of the sacred volume, or when we are assembled to partake of the provisions with which we are supplied for the sustenance of the body. On these latter occasions, may the hearts of our young friends also, be turned in gratitude to God, who thus liberally provides for them. May the experience of us all be such, that we can adopt the words of the Psalmist, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray."1 1817. P. E.

In turning our attention to the state of the society as it has been observance of now laid before us, the proper employment of the First-day of the week, the day more particularly set apart for public worship, is a subject that has claimed our serious attention. It is no small privilege to be living in a country where much regard is paid to this duty, and it highly becomes us to be careful that our example in this respect be consistent with the profession we make to the world. We desire that heads of families, and our younger friends also, may closely examine, whether they are sufficiently solicitous to improve that portion of this day which is not allotted to the great duty of meeting with their friends for the purpose of Divine worship. To those who are awakened to a due sense of the eternal interests of the soul-and oh! that this were the case with all-we believe that these intervals have often proved times of much religious benefit. Many have derived great increase of strength both at these and other times, from retiring to wait upon the Lord; from reading the Holy Scriptures with minds. turned to their Divine Author, in desire that He would bless them to their comfort and edification; and from perusing the pious lives and experiences of those who have gone before them. But we avoid prescribing any precise line of conduct, believing that if the attention be sincerely turned unto the Heavenly Shepherd, his preserving help and guidance will not be withheld. 1817. P. E.

'Psalm lv. 17.