connive at them, in going from the ancient simplicity of the truth, in which we have appeared as a people called of God, to bear testimony to his name; nor make light of those testimonies, which by our ancient Friends (who trod out the way before us) were borne through great perils and dangers, to the hazarding the lives and estates of many; the weight of whose exercises remains fresh upon the minds of a remnant, to the stirring up of a godly zeal in them against all false liberty, and sinful ease in the flesh, which is too apt to grow among some professing the same truth with us, in this our day, for want of due watchfulness and obedience to the light of Christ, and keeping low and humble before the Lord; by reason whereof, many evils get in'amongst us; viz. Pride of apparel: making of mixt marriages with persons of contrary judgment; bowing, and giving flattering titles to men; the saying of ye, or you, to a single person; and calling the days of the week, and the months, by heathen names, to the declining of truth's testimony, and giving occasion of stumbling to such as are seeking after the knowledge of the same, as it is in Jesus. These things are cause of sorrow of heart and trouble to the Israel of God; yea, cause of great mourning; and call for humiliation and amendment in the camp of God; that every evil and hurtful thing being cast out, truth may prevail, and the professors thereof may stand faithfully against all snares and temptations; that the blessing of God, in which there is no sorrow, may rest upon and abound in the whole church of Christ.

And that our children may be preserved from the wiles of Satan, as much as in us lies, let a godly care and concern be upon the minds of all parents to watch over them, with supplications to the Lord, that they be not drawn away from the innocency, simplicity, and plainness of the way of truth; and labour, in a sense of truth, to reach the witness in them, that they may feel in their own spirits a degree of fear and reverence towards God; and instruct them to follow his counsel, and obey his voice; as the tribes of Israel were required of God to teach his precepts diligently unto their children, DEUT. vi. ver. 7. "And thou shalt "teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them "when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the "way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up,' be you concerned to acquaint them how the Lord led you from one degree of faithfulness to another, in a denial of the world's corrupt ways, language and customs; which while we (in disobedience to him) walked in, we could not enjoy true peace: but as we bore the cross, and bowed to his will, we had an evidence of acceptance with him. And be careful, that none of you, by

So

a neglect herein, become examples unto them to depart from the Scripture language, wherein is true propriety of speech.

And let none exercise rule or government in the church as elders or overseers, but such who are unblameable in conversation and example, free from covetousness, over-reaching, oppression and extortion, &c. persons of good report; even among those who are without; following those things so earnestly recommended by the holy apostles Paul and Peter. PHILIP. ii. 3. "Let nothing be done through strife, or vain-glory; but in lowliness of "mind let each esteem other better than themselves." 1 PET. v. 2, 3. "Feed the flock of God which is among you; taking the "oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy "lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's "heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."

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And as the blessed truth we profess teacheth us to do justly unto all men, in all things; even so, more especially, in a faithful subjection to the government, in all godliness and honesty, continuing to render unto the king what is his due, in taxes and customs payable to him according to law.

The Lord our God, who, for the sake of his heritage, bath often heretofore rebuked and limited the raging waves of the sea, hath (blessed be his name) mercifully dispersed the cloud threatening a storm, which lately seemed to hang over us; which, together with the favour God hath given us in the eyes of the king and government, for the free enjoyment of our religious and civil liberties, calls for true thankfulness to him.

And humbly to pray to Almighty God for the king, and those in authority, for his and their safety and defence, is certainly our christian duty, as well as to walk inoffensively, as a grateful people, towards them.

Finally, dear Friends and brethren, be careful to be at peace among yourselves; to live in love and concord, and keep your meetings therein in the authority of that divine power wherein they were first erected.

And the God of love and peace be with you all, and rule among you by the spirit of his dear Son Christ Jesus. To whom the glory, the kingdom, and governinent over all, belong for ever.

Signed in and on the behalf of the Yearly Meeting, by
BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XXXIX-1716.

Tenderly beloved Friends and Brethren,

We humbly beseech and supplicate our heavenly Father, that sincere love and true peace may increase and abound more and more in all the churches of Christ, and the whole family and heritage of God, in this and all other nations where his blessed work of restoration is begun; knowing, that as these do increase and abound, through sincere obedience to the divine unction received from the Holy One in and among us, there will be the less occasion for the frequent repetition or addition of outward direction; the royal law of love being written in the heart.

Dear Friends,

We have very great cause to be humbly thankful to Almighty God for his many providences over us, and particularly for being delivered from the great miseries and calamities with which these nations were threatened by the late rebellion.

By the accounts received this year, the sufferings of Friends in England and Wales are four thousand six hundred thirty pounds and upwards, chiefly on account of tithes and church-rates; so called; and that there are nineteen Friends now prisoners, and one deceased a prisoner since last year.

We think meet to communicate to you, that we have received divers good and comfortable accounts at this meeting, as well by Friends come up from the several counties of England and Wales, as also by several epistles from Scotland, Ireland, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode-Island, Amsterdam, Harlinhen and Frederickstadt, that Friends in general are preserved in love, and truth prospers in divers parts, and that there is an openness in the minds of people to hear truth's testimony delivered in Friends' meetings, and some convincement.

The consideration of which weighs with us to recommend to our brethren a steady progress in the truth, and a prudent inoffensive conduct and demeanour one towards another in all respects; that no just offence may be given to any upon any account, according to former advices from this meeting, to which we refer; and particularly to the matters contained in the minute of the last Yearly Meeting, for walking charitably and tenderly one towards another, and not judging one another in the case therein mentioned, recommended in writing to the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings which minute we advise may be therein read, and entered in your meeting-books, that the same may be effectually put in practice; and that report thereof be made to the next Yearly Meeting.

Finally, dear Friends, brethren, and sisters, all of you have a godly care of judging or contradicting one another in public meetings, or shewing any marks or signs of division therein, among ministers or others; that being of very pernicious consequence, to bring blame or contempt upon the ministry, and a great hurt to our youth and others. Wherefore all be very careful to shew a good example of sobriety, gravity and sincerity, sound doctrine and speech that cannot be condemned; giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry may not in any wise be blamed; but all gainsayers be ashamed, and truth kept in dominion in all your solemnities. Our dear and worthy Friend and brother, George Fox, bath given the like advice and caution more fully, in the collection of his epistles, folios 92 and 300, to which you are referred.

And for the sake of good order and christian love one towards another in the church, as members one of another, the strong ought with compassion both to help and bear the infirmities of the weak. For we have weak brethren in the church; towards whom our Lord Jesus Christ hath bowels of compassion, and in the spirit of love and meekness would have them seasonably helped and strengthened by their elder and stronger brethren; as he has been compassionate, and hath forgiven and helped them in times of need.

And that gospel order may be carefully maintained and followed, according to the precept and doctrine of Christ and his holy apostles, we recommend to your serious notice and observation the following scriptures; viz.

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MAT. xviii. 15. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him "alone. If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother, &c." Ver. 16, 17. Agreeable to the Mosaical law, in LEVITICUS Xix. 17, 18. "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart. Thou "shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin to lie upon him [or, as in the margin, "that thou bear not sin for "him."] "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbour "as thyself. I am the Lord."

GAL. vi. 1. 66 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye "who are spiritual restore such a one, in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

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JAMES V. 19, 20. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he who con"verteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from "death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

2 COR. vi. 3, 4. "Giving no offence in any thing, that the

"ministry be not blamed; but in all things approving ourselves "as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, &c."

2 TIM. ii. 24, 25. "And the servant of the Lord must not "strive, but be gentle unto all men; apt to teach; patient (or "forbearing); in meekness instructing those that oppose them"selves, if God peradventure will give them repentance, to the " acknowledging of the truth."

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ROм. xv. 5, 6. "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to (or after the example of) Christ; that ye may with one mind "and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus "Christ."

2 THESS. iii. 14, 15, 16. "And if any man obey not our word "by this epistle (i. e. of Paul's), note that man, and have no com"pany with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

"Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all "means. The Lord be with you all.'

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Signed in and on the behalf of the Yearly Meeting, by

BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XL-1717.

Our salutation, in the love of Christ Jesus, our blessed Lord, is freely extended unto you; whose tender care over, and mercy to, this our annual assembly, we do humbly and thankfully acknowledge, in the love, amity, tender condescension, and peaceable procedure thereof, with respect to the divine power and goodness of the Lord our God, and the service of his church and people; sincerely desiring the prosperity of his whole heritage, even in all the churches of Christ among us, in his dear love, unity, and peace, to his eternal glory, and our universal comfort and perpetual joy in the kingdom of the dear Son of God.

We are truly comforted, in that we understand there is such a general concurrence and union among Friends with our former earnest desires and counsel for true and universal love, unity, peace, and good order, to be earnestly endeavoured and maintained among us, as a peculiar people, chosen of the Lord out of the world, to bear a faithful testimony to his holy name and truth, in all respects; and that all that is contrary be watched against and avoided (as strife, discord, contention, and disputes tending to Q