"However positively we may reject or deny our adversaries unscriptural and immaginary satisfaction, let all know this, that we pretend not to know any other name. by which redemption, atonement, and salvation can be obtained, but by Jesus Christ the Saviour, who is the power and wisdom of God." (Yearly Meeting Epistle 1829.)

9 "And in consequence, to call in question the divine authority of a great portion of the sacred writings, and even the authenticity of some parts thereof"

This charge of denying or calling in question the authority of the scriptures, has been repeated so often, and on so many different occasions, by a certain discription of orthodox professors, that they begin to be almost persuaded that it is true. But upon a slight examination, the futility of the assertion, will be apparent. The whole tenor of his discourses proves his belief in the scriptures of truth. His arguments are continually enforced and illustrated by reference to their authority. And his quotations are so frequent, that we have cousted more than thirty in one sermon. He must be the greatest hypocrite in the world, upon the supposition that he should illustrate and enforce his arguments, and recite at every step of his progress, the authority of a book in which he does not believe. His sermons, upon such an assumption, would be the most idle and ridiculous farce, that ever was acted, in the face of a deluded world. Can any man, in a state of sanity suppose, that he would, at the age of four-score years, his head bleached with the frosts of eighty winters, leave the quiet endearments of domestic life, and travel abroad, and spend his remaining strength, to utter, under the guise of solemn gospel truths, deliberate and wilful falsehoods in every sentence? Yet such must be the fact, if he does not believe the scriptures.

But the candor, and honesty, and sincerity which distinguish all his movements, and have characterized all

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his actions through life, forbid such an admission for an instant. No man, in his sober senses, can doubt his sincerity for a moment. His life has been consistent with his precepts for more than half a century. "By their fruits ye shall know them."

The charge then, of calling in question the authority of the scriptures, under all the circumstances of the case, borders so much upon the absurd, that it scarcely deserves a serious refutation. But inasmuch as some have been imposed upon, by the frequent repetition of this charge, we shall examine it a little more particularly.

"Calls in question the divine authority of a great portion of the sacred writing!" "A great portion," in common parlance, means more than half. His own express declaratious, ought to be admitted as decisive evidence of his belief in the scriptures of truth.

The following extracts from his discourses, contain the true doctrine of Friends concerning the scriptures.

"It is my prayer and heart's desire, that you improve and try it. Search the scriptures, as we read the Bereans did, and see whether these things are so. But you cannot know them by reading them merely but as you are directed by the light of the Divine Spirit. Under the influence of that Spirit, you may not only read and understand them, but you will be confirmed thereby."

"This Spirit led the Ancients," (the writers of the scriptures)" and it will lead us. Our experience will correspond" (with theirs,) "when we come to understand this. Our doctrines will be alike brought forth out of the treasury."-(Philad'sermon, 1825, page 17.)

"Oh that we might understand the scriptures as we read. But we cannot understand them, only as we dwell in the light. If we dwell in the light, here it is that we can read them as we ought to read them.”. (lord. page 43.)

"And there are those who assert that I disbelieve the

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scriptures, and that I undervalue them! But there is not a greater falsehood expressed among mankind! And I will assure you my friends, that what I say is truth. I have loved the scriptures of truth, from my youth; 1 have delighted in reading them and perhaps there are none who have read them more than myself. And I presume according to my knowledge, no man has received more advantage than I have, and continue to have, from reading them. And I am at this time co vinced, that wherever I have been called to be mouth for the Lord in the line of the gospel ministry, I need not make this apology, or declaration. No individual ever brought forth more scripture to prove their doctrine, than I have, when under the influence of divine love and truth, that gave forth the scriptures. Divine wisdom knowing the state of the people, that they would hardly receive my doctrines, unless confirmed by scripture testimony; here immediately without the necessity of seeking for it, a passage would rise up in consonance with my assertion or declaration. And I appeal to the people, where my lot has been cast, if this has not been my case. Then what infatuation to say that I undervalue the scriptures.

No, my friends, I do not undervalue the scriptures of truth: but I feel it a duty to set them in their right place and I dare not set them above it. For if I do this, I shall offend my Creator.-I shall offend against that light which is my faith, and my governing principle; and in which I feel peace with God, and with the children of men every where."-Darby sermon, Quaker vol. 1. p. 19.

These extracts ought to be conclusive, and set the question forever at rest. But the discourses from which they are taken, have been in print for a number of years; and yet we find the charge repeated, in an official capacity, by a little company calling themselves a Monthly Meeting. To show that in setting the scrip

tures "in their right place," which is in subordination to the Spirit, Elias Hicks has the example of primitive friends, we shall subjoin a few extracts from their writings.

"The principal rule of Christians under the gospel, is not an outward letter, or law outwardly written and delivered, but an inward spiritual law, engraven in the heart; the law of the spirit of life, the word that is nigh, in the heart and in the mouth. But the letter of the scriptures is outward, of itself a dead thing, a mere declaration of good things, but not the things themselves."-Barclay's Apology, page 88.

"What kind of knowledge wilt thou gather from the scriptures? Not a knowledge which will humble thee, and cleanse thy heart, but a knowledge that will puff thee up and fit thee for slaughter.”—(Pennington, Vol. 1. page 141.)

"The scripture of itself, is a dead letter, for all letters are so in themselves,—and indeed no wo ds are living to any man, whether written or spoken, but as they are made so by the Spirit, in the heart of such a man.”— Penn's Works, Vol. 4, page 471.

"It is the Spirit of God that gave forth the scriptures, which Spirit was and is with us, in the saints, that leadeth into all truth, and teacheth to know all things; and that Spirit of God only is the standing rule to walk in, and to walk by; it was the rule to Abel, Enoch, and Abraham, and the rest of the holy Fathers, that lived before any scripture was written. And it was the rule to the prophets, to Christ, and to the holy Apostles; they all followed the Spirit, and walked in it; and spoke, and wrought, and acted, as the Spirit of God within them, moved them, and led them. It was not the scriptures, but the Spirit that gave forth the scriptures, that was the standing, unchangeable, unerring rule of worshipping, serving, and obeying the Lord God; and the same spirit is the standing rule to us also."

(Edward Burrough, page 484.)

"The spirit of God is the Saints' rule, and that is greater than the scriptures, and the rule of the Spirit of God is above the scriptures."-(Richard Hubberthorn, W. page 142.)

"This I witness to all the sons of men, that the knowledge of Eternal Life, I came not to by the letter of the scripture, nor hearing men speak of the name of God."-Wm. Dewsbury, page 54.

"The scriptures cannot give a knowledge of the Saviour."-G. Fox's "Great Mystery,” p. 140.

"There is none knows Christ nor his sufferings, but by the Spirit of God within."—Ibid. p. 142.

"The Spirit of God and the life, are not in the scriptures, but was in them that gave them forth."-Ibid. p. 224.

Ought not these friends to be anathematized for undervaluing the scriptures, and "calling in question their authority?"

They certainly as richly merit the opprobrious epithet of heretics, as Elias Hicks; for they view them exactly in the same light. If the accusers of Elias Hicks condemn him for placing these writings in their right place, how shall the former escape the same condemnation? Their strictures upon him, and their grounds of accusation against him, if they prove any thing, prove too much. They show that these orthodox censors of this modern Quaker of the old school, have departed from the faith of our predecessors. In condemning him, they virtually, and in effect condemn them. They must stand or fall together.

"To call in question the divine authority of a great portion of the sacred writings!" On the afternoon of the 17th day of the 5th month, in the present year, at Hester street meeting-house, in the city of New York, Elias Hicks made this declaration to a very large audience, when speaking of the law given to the Israelites through the ministry of Moses ;-" He (Moses) wrote,

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