thing may be done through rashness, strife or vain glory, but all with a single eye to the honour of truth, and the good of individuals.

The more we experience a preparation of heart for the exercise of our respective gifts, the more amply shall we evince the expression of the tongue to be seasoned with that living virtue and divine power, which proceeds from our Holy Head, and thus, in conducting the important concerns of society, we shall be enabled to example the beloved youth in a manner which will evidence to them, that neither tradition nor a mere outward education can fitly prepare them for successors in the Church. Upon this subject we are the more solicitous, as we believe many who were evidently under the forming hand, have been suddenly laid hold of, and introduced into service

before that preparation of heart hath been sufficiently experienced, which leads to a reliance upon divine direction, and redeems from a confidence on the natural understanding on the other hand we believe, there has in many places been a want of care in those who are acceptably active in the discipline, rightly to distinguish, and seasonably to bring into action, the talents bestowed upon some in the early stage of life; it being truly desira ble, that by a just discrimination of times and seasons, and of the qualifications bestowed, every gift may be rightly exercised, and a succession of useful members preserved in every rank in the Church.

Let an inquiry be raised in the minds of all the members of the Church, who have had any part of the Lord's work up. on them, how they have acquitted them

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selves in his sight; forasmuch as a day comes on apace, in which an account of our stewardship will be required at our hands.

If this awful sense of rendering an account of our trust, and the importance of being clear from the blood of each other were enough impressed upon all minds, the right exercise of our christian discipline would be a means of our edification in righteousness and preservation from many evils of the world.

We are concerned that the management of our christian discipline be not committed to hands unclean; particularly of such who allow or connive at undue liberties in their own children or families. "If a man, said the apostle, know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?”

In order to unite us more nearly one to another as members of the same body, and to strengthen each others hands in promoting the cause of truth, it is recom mended that Friends stand open to the leadings of the love of God, through Je sus Christ our Lord; and when in that, they feel their minds drawn to sit with any of their neighbouring monthly or quarterly meetings, that they attend there. to, and that such meetings as are so visited, receive such in the same love, and not look upon them as intruders; thus mutual help will be given and received amongst us.

Dear Friends, be patient in the exercise of your gifts and services, and take no offence at any time, because what seems to be clear to you is not presently received by others; let all things in the Church be propounded with an awful re

verence of him that is the head and life of it; who said "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them :" therefore let all beware of their own spirits and keep in a gracious temper, that so they may be fitted for the service of the house of God, whose house we are if we keep upon the foundation that God hath laid; and such he will build up, and teach how to build up one another in him; and as every member must feel life in himself and all from one head, this life will not hurt itself in any, but be tender of itself in all; for by this one life of the word, ye were begotten, and by it ye are nourished and made to grow into your several services in the church of God; it is no man's learning, nor artificial acquirements; it is no man's riches, nor greatness in this world; it is no man's eloquence and na