occasionally made the receptacle of a church at its worship, so peculiarly sacred as that we ought to reverence the very stones? If it be said that this homage is shown to Almighty God, then, I ask, is not the whole creation a fitter temple, and the heavens a fitter roof—beneath which to uncover and adore HIM? I do from my heart believe this thing to be in them tradition, and nothing better-except they choose to have added also superstition, to make it worse: and I would have them seriously consider from this plain instance, whether in some things they might not yet reform further; and go beyond the tradition of the elders in their religious practice.

Now for principle-that solid and most precious thing, which shall outlast all mere forins and traditions. In Matt. xiii., Mark iv., Luke v. viii. xix., we have parables spoken by our Lord; in which under various figures the thing pointed at is, still, the principle of truth and righteousness, advocated by all sound quaker-preachers. But we must bear in mind in hearing them that it is the word preached'-not any thing that man has in him by nature, or which he may acquire himself from another source-nay, not any thing immediately given to him as an individual by revelation, which is here intended.

Christ himself is the sower, going forth to sow the word of the kingdom.' This office he also presently puts upon his disciples; first upon 'the twelve-then upon other seventy also,' whom he sends forth to preach. The success of this preaching depended on a certain predisposition of the mind in them that heard; compared to a variety of soils and situations into which the seed might fall. Such is the case, whensoever oral or written instruction is offered to mankind. Refused or neglected, it falls as seed on the beaten pathway; and lies at the mercy of every roving spirit, that is able to lay waste or steal away such knowledge, till nothing of what was imparted be left in the mind. Received and remembered, it is yet liable to the accidents of distraction by other cares, and discouragement from scorn and opposition, compared to the falling of the seed among thorns, or on the rock superficially covered with a dry soil. Heard with a good will, understood and cherished, it is, however, a portion of Divine knowledge which, small at first as the mustard seed among other seeds we sow in the field or garden, is yet an energetic [inwardly-working] principle, capable like the leaven hid in the meal of sanctifying the whole man, body, soul, and spirit; converting him from the mere human nature to the Divine. The very office of the Church, in giving such instruction to every member by the word, is set forth in the plainest manner by the figure of the woman, who kneads into her three measures of meal that which is to leaven and raise the substance of the future bread.

So much for an individual experience of the effects of principle, the result of sound teaching: now for the case of the many. Christ foresaw that, along with his own sowing and that of the Apostles, there would be found also the work of an enemy-the devil,' our spiritual adversary, Matt. xiii. 28. That an evil principle (darkness substituted for light, Matt. vi. 23,) the result of evil communication' (1 Cor. xv. 33,) would also find place in the minds of men. This was to be dealt

with, not by force and arms (though its fruits be often cognizable by human law, as crimes), but by the just judgment of Christ, in God's behalf; whether in the great day of account which God hath appointed (Acts xvii. 31), or in those Reformations, wrought in successive ages by His power and providence among mankind, in Civil society and in His church. The means being, still, the word preached' with power: -with such power, indeed, to break the stony heart and subdue man's native pride, that some of Christ's ministers have been accounted' sons of thunder- -more than present messengers of peace and pardon: but this brings us to another of our heads-the influence of the truth of Christ.

By both of these, however, by principle and influence, by instruction and example conjoined, were mankind to be treated under the Gospel -that net cast into the sea which gathers of every kind'-and among the contents of which, when drawn to the shore of Eternity, Christ himself and his assessors in the final judgment, shall make the separation between the hypocrite and the sincere in heart; of which man is found incapable. The' tares,' however—all the evil practices resulting from evil principle-with their actors and promoters, shall in the meantime be removed, as in God's harvest, by the severing of the wicked from among the just, (Matt. xiii. 49: Dan. xii.)—the necessary result of all inquiry and reform conducted on Christian principles, whether in State or in Church affairs. And the manner in which the purgation of both has been going on, from the first breaking forth of the light of the Reformation in Europe until now, with the very extensive prospects now opening to Christian teachers, Evangelists and Reformers, in their respective fields of labour, form the most striking interpretation of my texts that could any where be found. And let not my Friends, the Quakers, be blamed overmuch for some portion of involuntary mystical obscurity and doctrinal error in their discourses, if it should appear that they have, beyond most other preachers, succeeded in enforcing on the conscience the great truth wrapt up in these parables, the necessity of sound principle to the success of all REFORM in the earth.

So much as to what relates chiefly to the understanding: in which God, the great FIRST PRINCIPLE, is ever found to be Light, (1 John i. 5,) -knowledge freely imparted, to shew to man his path and duty. Now for that other manifestation of the goodness of God, in which as Love, (1 John iv. 8,) he rules the affections. This Divine influence he sheds abroad in our hearts (Rom. v. 5,) for the vindication of our trust in Him.

Influence is, again, Latin put in English: it denotes a something which is not of ourselves, but derived from another: and which flows in upon our minds and hearts, and affects our conduct for good or evil. But this Divine influence, which is nothing less than the visitations of God's HOLY SPIRIT, if it operate with full effect should at length dwell in us, and become (again) principle-as in the following scriptures: Rom. viii. 9, "If so be the spirit of God dwell in you," (and

ver. 11,) 2 Cor. vi. 16. “ As God hath said, I will dwell in them" [as the temple of the Living God']. And in 1 Cor. iii. 16, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?" The same indwelling of God by the Holy Spirit is fully asserted in the 1 John iv. 12, 15, 16: and of the Holy Spirit (as above in other Scriptures,) Christ saith, John xiv. 16, 17, "The Comforterthe spirit of Truth-dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." also 2 Tim. i. 14.

See

But the same thing is made in Eph. iii. 17, to be Christ dwelling in their hearts by faith; and in Col. iii. the word of Christ dwelling in them: and in 2 John ver. 2, the truth which dwelleth in us [the disciples] and shall be with us for ever. And how dwelleth the power of God in those subject to it, in all these respects, but as an energetic principle of truth and righteousness, of love and meekness, and faithfulness? It is impossible to explain the texts in any other way, as denoting real experience: for if we apply all to the body of Christ, the Church at large, still the thing in the aggregate must consist, (as we learn from various Scriptures also), of the measures of it found in those who are severally parts of that aggregate, and members of Christ's body. For those who would explain it away by calling it a metaphor of Christ and the Church, it is enough to reply that the language is as direct as could be made, without departing from the simplicity of the style of Scripture, and making ‘a Philosophical Essay' of the whole!

Thus is all resolved still, whether in the heart or in the mind, in the affections or the understanding, into the power of God unto salvation-the Gospel of Christ, Rom. i. 16. And if God in the person of Christ be indeed our Lord-the ruling person [princeps, or chief] in all that concerns our salvation, then must God the Holy Spirit-one with the Father and the Word-be the ruling thing [principium, the principle] of our actions and conduct as believers, under the moving and restraining power of which all is done-we partaking of it and co-working with it.

Let us close this part of our inquiry with Paul's own definition of the subject: Eph. iii. 14—19. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth [the unconverted man's] knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."

A sublime piece of teaching this, and which might well bear more of comment and explication! But we must proceed to one more of our distinctions, necessary for present use.

(To be continued.)

J. LUCAS, PRINTER, MARKET-PLACE, PONTEFRACT.

ART. I.-A Chronological Summary of events and circumstances connected with the origin and progress of the doctrine and practices of the Quakers.

(Continued from p. 301.j

A. D. Petitions numerously signed are presented from the Yearly 1833-4. Meeting at large against Tithes. (For these petitions and the proceedings about them, see Art. 2 of last No.) MEETING FOR SUFFERINGS, 5th of 7th Mo., 1833. Geo. Stacey on behalf of the Parliamentary Committee reports that the Petition from our late Yearly Meeting on the subject of Tithes was presented to the House of Commons on the 19th of last Month by Thomas Barrett Lennard, and that to the House of Lords on the 1st of the present Month by Lord Suffield.

4th of 7th Mo., 1834. Geo. Stacey from the Parliamentary Committee reports that the Petition for the abolition of Tithes, &c., was presented to the House of Commons by Sir George Strickland on the 16th of last Month, and that to the House of Peers by Lord Suffield on the 18th ult.

A.D. The Yearly Meeting receives Reports of Subscriptions of many 1837. years standing, applied in aid of the religious and benevo

lent undertakings of the Meetings on the American Continent. YEARLY MEETING, 5 mo. 26th, 1831. This meeting has been introduced into a feeling of much sympathy with our Friends in several of the Yearly Meetings on the American Continent, in consideration VOL. V.

2 c

of the various pecuniary claims to which they have been subjected, from the existing state of things in our religious Society within their limits; and which it understands they have according to their ability met with great liberality. Under these impressions, it is concluded to recommend that a liberal subscription be raised in our several Quarterly Meetings, and transmitted to their correspondents in London, to be appropriated under the care of the Meeting for Sufferings, to the following objects:

1st. To assist in the supply of the Holy Scriptures to Friends in low circumstances; and as this Meeting has understood that an Association of Friends is formed in Philadelphia, for the purpose of meeting the general wants of Friends in America in this respect, it is proposed that reference should be had to that channel for supplying them.

2nd. To assist with small sums of money towards fitting up of Meeting Houses, in places within the limits of some of the Yearly Meetings; where, in consequence of the recent secession from the Society, they are deprived of the use of their Meeting Houses, and it is found that such assistance will prove desirable.

3rd. The offer of some pecuniary aid in the prosecution of the important work of Education; which has, it appears, been under the special notice of some of the Yearly Meetings.*

4th. To assist in the supply of approved writings on our history and religious principles, for the libraries belonging to the Monthly Meetings of Friends in many parts of America; which there is reason to apprehend are at present very inadequately furnished.

YEARLY MEETING, 1837. The following Report from the Meeting

* The following document relating to the first of these American Yearly Meeting Schools, will be interesting to such of my readers as are conversant with our affairs as a Society. ED.

"At a Yearly Meeting held in Philadelphia, for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the eastern parts of Maryland and Virginia, in the 9th and 10th Months, 1794. Third day, the 30th of the Ninth month, P.M. The matter respecting the establishment of a boarding school (brought up from Philadelphia quarter in the year 1792) in order to encourage a guarded education of our youth, under the superintendence and care of this meeting, being now entered upon and considered as the subject appears weighty, and the meeting not being prepared to determine or result thereon; in order to open and throw light on the proposal, it is judged best that a committee be appointed to investigate and digest the same, who (after having had a conference with such Friends as have for a length of time had this concern on their minds) are desired to report their sense and judgment, when prepared. A committee of fifty-four friends were thereupon named to the

service.

"Tenth Month, 3rd. The committee appointed to consider the proposal, brought up in the year 1792 from Philadelphia quarter respecting the establishment of a boarding school for the children of members of our religious society, brought in the following report: To the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania, &c. In pursuance of our appointment we have carefully attended to the concern brought up from the Quarterly meeting of Philadelphia in the year 1792, relating to the establishment of a boarding school; it appearing, that by many friends in