tions. He was also opened into various points of doctrine, since promulgated by George Fox and many brethren, viz. The necessity of the spirit's teaching, and the superior excellence thereof to the letter; the salvability of the heathen through Christ, and the internal operations of the Holy Ghost upon their spirits; the insufficiency of water baptism, and an external commemoration of the Lord's supper; bearing a faithful testimony to the one saving baptism and spiritual communion of the body and blood of Christ. In the writings of the mystics of former times, there appears to me a great mass of abstruse and unintelligible matter, and likewise some glimmerings of divine truth, answerable to the feelings thereof in my own mind, as "face to face in a glass." Let us therefore, who are called Quakers, be cautious how we adopt or reject in the lump, or at least join in the cry of enthusiasm or fanaticism; remembering those epithets were plentifully poured forth on our predecessors in profession, not only by the openly profane, but even by some serious professors, not themselves wholly strangers to inward and heartfelt experiences, but shy of them in those not wholly of the same sentiments. Some inward concern and exercise of spirit hath been maintained, but at other times too much unprofitable discourse hath been attendant.

28. In the forenoon meeting, those present were recommended to an inward feeling after the immediate presence of Christ their Saviour; some

other points of doctrine were also touched upon; it appeared a solid and favored season. Having been sometime absent in London, our friends and neighbours seemed pleased with our return. It is very agreeable to maintain the habits of good neighbourhood and esteem for each other; but infinitely preferable is "the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." May it be increased and multiplied amongst us. Amen.

31. In the preceding night, unpleasing dreams attended; when I waked I looked to the Lord, but thick clouds were before me.

SECOND MONTH, 1801.

4. In the forenoon meeting at Hartford, faith in God and Christ was recommended; as it is written, "ye believe in God, believe also in me."

5. In a meeting for discipline, my mind was oppressed under a sense of some present not sufficiently esteeming the sufferings of Christ, without the gates of Jerusalem, nor having fellowship with him in them; and of a dark libertine spirit that would trample upon those precious testimonies of the cross, delivered to George Fox and others, against hat-honour, the heathenish appellation of days and months, the unchristian language of You to a single person, and the calling of men, master, contrary to the express prohibition of our blessed Lord, Matthew xxiii. 10. “Be ye

not called of men, master, for One is your Master, even Christ." Some well disposed friends may, perhaps, have strengthened these libertines by laying too great a stress on externals: "for in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth nor uncircumcision, but a new creature;" and if those called Quakers walked according to this rule, they would neither wear gay clothing, nor give flattering titles to men. Much expense and exactness in dress, sumptuous houses and costly furniture, comport not with the seamless garment of a crucified Saviour; who was himself the most perfect pattern of plainness, and "had not whereon to lay his head."

9 and 10. These days have I been in the deeps. Deep hath called unto deep." All the waves and billows have gone over me.

II.

"A grievous vision hath been declared. unto me;""My heart and my flesh faileth."

18. I went to the forenoon meeting in great distress; but soon after sitting down, was measurably relieved by an opening concerning a dead and a living faith; the former being barely an effort of the human understanding gathered from without, but the other proceeding from the operation of God upon the heart: the distinction was stated in a short testimony.

22.

This day I read the third part of the Pilgrim's Progress; I do not remember to have perused it for many years; it is not so united with the clouds of Calvinism as the other parts which

were written by honest John Bunyan; and as free from Arminian errors. The following sentiments respecting prayer are peculiarly just and striking. 'Prayer is the soul's discourse or conversation with God: : now, seeing God knoweth all things, and discerneth the secret thoughts of our hearts, it is a thing indifferent, in private prayer, whether we use words or not; for the soul may discourse and converse with God as well in silence as with words; nay, sometimes better :' in short, my judgment is, that in respect to God's hearing us, it is all one whether we use words or not, either in public or private.' Third part, bound, page 79-82.

28. During the course of the present month a little cloud arose, apparently no bigger than a man's hand, which hath thickened so as to darken the face of heaven, and pour down torrents of distress upon my poor soul. I have been broken by a tempest, and my wounds have been abundantly multiplied, but the great Superintendant of the universe "doth all things well," his judgments are righteous altogether; we have all sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God; and manifold have been the iniquities of my youth, and more advanced years: the Lord correcteth our transgressions with the rod, and will not suffer our lives to go wholly unpunished. Blessed are they whose sins are recalled to their remembrance, and go beforehand to judgment, that the transgressors may be made white, and purged by the blood of the covenant. This day I again perused Joseph Ball's account of

B

the dying sayings of his father-in-law R. Reynolds, who had been near forty years a minister in our society; and in his last illness was freshly awakened to a sense of sin, and brought to trust in Christ alone for salvation, who was made sin for us, "that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." The great sin of our deceased friend appears to have been too great an attachment to, and assiduity after, the things of this world; that is not my foible; mine have been manifold.

THIRD MONTH, 1781.

12. Uneasiness and discontent were too prevalent. I was agreeably amused with Dr. Hurd's Tribute to the Memory of Dr. Fothergill; a worthy performance. The extent of Dr. Fothergill's application to professional pursuits, to physical and philosophical correspondences and benevolent communications, was indeed amazing; his encouragement of genius in a further display and extension of the works of nature, was indeed respectable; but much more abundantly so, was his attachment to some doctrines of the Christian religion, which, if not wholly rejected, are at least but lightly esteemed by divers who are renowned in the republic of letters. I should think myself guilty of a neglect injurious to the memory of my deceased friend, did I not observe,' says Dr. Hurd, that he abhorred the prevalent infidelity of the age,