tion was near and having tenderly expressed his concern for us, signified that he had seen in the true light, that the Lord would bring back his people from these things into which they were thus degenerated, but that his faithful servants must first go through great and heavy exercises therein.

On the twenty-ninth day the committee appointed by the yearly meeting to visit the quarterly and monthly meetings, gave an account in writing of their proceedings in that service; in which they signified, that in the course of it they had been apprehensive that persons holding offices in government inconsistent with our principles, and others who kept slaves, remaining active members in our meetings of discipline, had been one means of weakness more and more prevailing in the management thereof in some places. After this report was read, an exercise revived on my mind, which, at times, had attended me several years, and inward cries to the Lord were raised in me, that the fear of man might not prevent me from what he required of me; and standing up, I spake in substance as follows: "I have felt a tenderness in my mind towards persons in two circumstances mentioned in that report; that is, towards such active members as keep slaves, and such as hold offices in civil government; and have desired that friends, in all their conduct may be kindly affectioned one towards another. Many friends, who keep slaves, are under some exercise on that account; and at times, think about trying them with freedom;

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but find many things in their way. And the of living, and annual expenses of some of them, are such, that it seems impracticable for them to set their slaves free, without changing their own way of life. It has been my lot to be often abroad; and I have observed in some places, at quarterly and yearly meetings, and at some houses where travelling friends and their horses are often entertained, that the yearly expense of individuals therein is very considerable. And friends in some places, crowding much on persons in these circumstances for entertainment, hath often rested as a burthen on my mind for some years past: and I now express it in the fear of the Lord, greatly desiring that friends now present may duly consider it.'

In the fall of this year, having hired a man to work, I perceived in conversation that he had been a soldier in the late war on this continent ; and in the evening, giving a narrative of his captivity among the Indians, he informed me that he saw two of his fellow-captives tortured to death in a very cruel manner.

This relation affected me with sadness, under which I went to bed; and the next morning soon after I awoke, a fresh and living sense of divine love was spread over my mind: in which I had a renewed prospect of the nature of that wisdom from above, which leads to a right use of all gifts, both spiritual and temporal, and gives content therein; under a feeling thereof, wrote as follows:

"Hath He, who gave me a being attended

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tion was near and having tenderly express his concern for us, signified that he had seen the true light, that the Lord would bring ba his people from these things into which they we thus degenerated, but that his faithful servan must first go through great and heavy exerc ses therein.

On the twenty-ninth day the committe appointed by the yearly meeting to visit t quarterly and monthly meetings, gave an a count in writing of their proceedings in the service; in which they signified, that in th course of it they had been apprehensive the persons holding offices in government inconsis tent with our principles, and others who kep slaves, remaining active members in our mee ings of discipline, had been one means of weal ness more and more prevailing in the manag ment thereof in some places. After this repo was read, an exercise revived on my min which, at times, had attended me several year and inward cries to the Lord were raised in m that the fear of man might not prevent me fro what he required of me; and standing up, spake in substance as follows: "I have felt tenderness in my mind towards persons in tv circumstances mentioned in that report; that towards such active members as keep slav and such as hold offices in civil governmen and have desired that friends, in all their co duct may be kindly affectioned one towar another. Many friends, who keep slaves, under some exercise on that account; and times, think about trying them with freedo

with many wants unknown to brute creatures, given me a capacity superior to theirs? and shewn me that a moderate application to business is proper to my present condition: and that this, attended with his blessing, may supply all my outward wants, while they remain within the bounds He hath fixed; and that no imaginary wants proceeding from an evil spirit, should have any place in me? Attend then, O my soul! to this pure wisdom, as thy sure conductor through the manifold dangers in this world!

Doth pride lead to vanity? Doth vanity form imaginary wants? Do these wants prompt men to exert their power in requiring that of others, which themselves would rather be excused from, were the same required from them?

Do these proceedings beget hard thoughts? Do hard thoughts, when ripe, become malice? Does malice, when ripe, become revengeful: and in the end inflict terrible pains on our fellow creatures, and spread desolation in the world?

Do mankind, walking in uprightness, delight in each other's happiness? And do these creatures, capable of this attainment, by giving way to an evil spirit, employ their wit and strength to afflict and destroy one another?

Remember then, O my soul! the quietude of those in whom Christ governs, and in all thy proceedings feel after it.

Doth he condescend to bless thee with his presence? To move and influence to action? To dwell in thee, and walk in thee? Remember then thy station, as a being sacred to God.