"

to gain ground amongst the serious religiously disposed Protestants, have often of late occupied my mind. It is much to be feared that the enemy of man's happiness, availingly makes use of this bait to draw aside many who have begun well, and to keep them back from following on in the way of the cross, persuading them that they have already attained;"a that they are "sealed to the day of redemption,”—that because "the Lord hath loved them with an everlasting love," and "with loving kindness hath drawn them, even when they were far from him," "therefore," as an anonymous author expresses himself, "having brought me nigh through the blood of the everlasting covenant, he will preserve me to the end, as much by his invarying truth, as he led me at first by his spontaneous mercy. He himself must, and I doubt not will, enable me to receive the cup of salvation, and to call upon his holy name, as my Lord and my God."-How like is this to the language of presumption, or at least what a danger there is that such an one may be induced to take up a rest short of the true rest.

In meeting this morning, several texts of scripture were brought to my remembrance

a Phil, iii. 12.

which seemed relevent to this subject;, and it appeared to me that although there is a possibility of attaining to a state of acceptance, of stability, of election, from which we cannot fall, yet this is a very high attainment, and not to be presumed on, in our own wills, or creaturely suppositions. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God; and he shall go no more out," a-here we see there must first be an overcoming; "They that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts." "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Have we so overcome?

Are we thus crucified with Christ? Are our wills slain and centered in the Divine will, with all the affections and lusts? If "the Spirit of God beareth witness with our spirits," that we have thus attained, then indeed may we hope "that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord;"-yet, "let him that thinketh, he standeth, take heed lest he fall." e

a Rev. iii. 12. b Gal. v. 24. c Gal. ii. 20

d Rom. viii. 38.

1 Cor. x. 12.

12th Mo. 13th. Having several times lately felt an inclination, to take an opportunity of some conversation with a young woman, who I think seems in danger of being hurt, from taking offence or prejudice against Friends, on account of their dealing with a near relative, I ventured to propose an interview with her this evening, which was readily granted; but while we sat together for some time in silence, I felt so completely stripped, and the subject so taken from me, that nothing at all seemed to open respecting it. In this state I thought it would be quite unsafe to attempt to move, and remembering the advice: "If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise;" I was made willing to appear as a fool, rather than venture in my own will and time. Oh may I experience the natural will to be more and more crucified!

a

1st Month, 3d, 1816.

Poverty and dryness have of late been much my portion; yet not without some faint desires after good. Retirement and abstraction from the world, have not been sufficiently sought after or attended to; and when, at times, a feeling of want, and of my utter inability to keep my

a 1 Cor. iii. 18,

self, has been so far vouchsafed, as to bring me to venture on my knees, as in the presence of Him who sees us as we really are, and who "knoweth what things we have need of before we ask him," I have been preserved from uttering words without life; but have been enabled at times to prostrate myself before him, with some degree of faith, that in his own time he can replenish the thirsty soul. Last evening I was led mentally to crave the blessing of preservation; and in the night I dreamed that two ministering friends came to the house, and that, very soon after, I found myself in company with them; one of them addressing me in the language of the Psalmist: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word," was led to speak in an encouraging manner. I thought, in my dream, that I was in a very comfortable frame of mind; and, on awaking, a precious degree of tenderness remained on my spirit, with desires that the merciful intimation might have a duc effect in quickening to more diligence and watchfulness. Some traces of this feeling were preserved or renewed on my mind, in our meeting this morning; which seemed to me a more solid time than we sometimes experience: "For

a Ps. cxix. 9.

God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not; in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed. Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction." a

9th. "Not unto us, O Lord! not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake." b

31st. "From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said my leanness, my leanness; wo unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously, yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously." "Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth!" c

2d Mo. 6th. At our Monthly Meeting this day, we had the acceptable company of a friend, who has lately been acknowledged a Minister. He was led to speak very encouragingly to a deeply tried remnant amongst us; to hold on their way in humility and devotedness of mind. And at an opportunity at my Sister's in the evening, he was again favored both in testimony and suppli

a Job xxxiii. 14, &c.

b Ps. cxv. 1. c Is. xxiv. 19, 17.