joyment I tasted during the remainder of that week! I sat under the vine, and its fruit was sweet to my taste: I could say with Peter, Lord, thou knowest I love thee. Nor have I yet lost, (through unutterable mercy,) this blessed experience my heart is daily dissolved at the sight of infinite goodness, and every meeting is as the refreshings of the former and the latter rain. How forcibly have the days of my first visitation been revived to my recollection, when, about the age of fourteen, I mingled my drink with tears, and looked for the salvation of the Lord, more than for the morning light! And in this state of fear and watchfulness, I have felt a tenderness in regard to preserving the testimony borne by ancient friends in dress, language, &c. which things thou wilt recollect I had deviated from. And it has been brought before me in much weightiness of spirit, with respect to the propriety of applying for a nearer union with Friends; but not seeing my way clear enough in this particular, I wish to wait for further counsel.

"Oh! my dear friend, the sweetness that results from a daily and hourly self-denial! from a yielding up without any secret reservation to the hand of the refiner! His will, I believe, is nothing less than our sanctification, body, soul, and spirit, and a purity and simplicity in the inmost thoughts. And respecting knowledge, I have seen clearly, that that kind is most to be desired, which conduceth to moral rectitude, and which, laying open the frailty and weakness of humanity, teacheth us where to apply for strength; a knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation. But a knowledge of the sciences, and physical operations of the material world, when unsa

soned by grace, is similar in nature, (though inferior in degree) to that which the devils possess, for they may be supposed to far exceed us in understanding the occult causes of things; but as it is merely knowledge, unmixed with a spark of goodness, they are not thereby rendered the less miserable. Yet a life of self-denial, and inward communion with God, does not preclude a proper and reasonable investigation of His works; on the contrary, it stimulates to a search and admiration of every thing which bears the stamp of a divine hand, and to such a soul, the print of His footsteps is perpetually dis-coverable..

"W.T."

To R. O..

"Penketh, 4th mo. 18, 1816..

Who can tell, amidst the blaze of intellect which has distinguished the commencement of the nineteenth century, if scruples may not arise and multiply on the unchristian, immoral, inhuman tendeucy, of war? Very many,.. I am persuaded, in various congregations, are already convinced of it, but are kept in a kind of Jukewarm, indifferent state, concerning the matter, owing, it is to be feared, to the avowed ap-probation given it by their teachers.. What then is to be done? While the prince of the power of the air' reigns ascendant, we can only repeat,. in the spirit of meekness and hope, "Thy king-dom come! We can only hope (which is not impossible) that pre-disposing causes, in the hand of Providence, may effect such a universal change and revolution in the minds of men, as may finally extirpate the root of bitterness, and!

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the tree designed for the healing of the nations, may flourish in its stead.

"Oh! that we may individually approach a nearer conformity to that Divine Person, who has set the example of meekness, forgiveness, and love, to his followers!

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's very sudden removal is an awful memento, which I earnestly wish may be improved by survivors. It has been remarked, that every thing in nature has a warning voice, which indeed is the case to a reflecting mind. But when death actually makes his visits, and with relentless hand separates beloved relations or dear friends, the subject then assumes a tangible shape; we feel as if a slender thread was all that connected us with time. As if, tottering on the brink of a precipice, the most trifling casualty might serve to force us into the abyss of eternity. Amongst the enigmas which perplex the studier of Human Nature, perhaps none is more strange than the inaptitude we feel towards the contemplation of a future state. Immersed in the cares, the pleasures, and follies of present existence, thousands, nay millions, sail tranquilly down the stream of life, without the knowledge of any destined port; the haven of rest and bliss has rarely occupied their thoughts for a moment; and unless snatched from perdition by a miracle of grace, they sink to rise no more.

Can we ever, amidst this devastating prospect, sufficiently prize our privileges? Possessing a love, an ardent love of literature, we have been guided through its manifold snares, and taught its relative value and dependence on truth. Impressed with awfully sublime views of the nature and attributes of the Deity, the imperfection of man, and the immeasurable

length of that eternity to which he is swiftly hastening, we have been induced, I hope, to endeavour after that purity of heart, which may give boldness in the hour of trial, and confidence at the day of judgment, A wondrous admiration of the richness and extent of the Divine Merey, will, I am persuaded, form part of the employment of glorified spirits; as it so often excites a mixture of rejoicing and astonishment in those who are yet toiling in the wilderness of this world.

"W. T."

5th month 20th, 1816.

In the great mass of society we perceive various degrees of union to exist between individuals. The interests of commerce, the compacts of social life, and the pursuits of artists and literary men are the causes of the most common; but in my opinion there can be no permanent assimilation of soul, which has not religion for its foundation.

"It is true the frivolity of some, and the false sentimentality of others, continually display the enjoyment of an apparent happiness in their connections; but on meeting the chilling blasts of adversity or death, the film mostly disappears, and they are left friendless and comfortless to meet the storm. Pride has its resources, genius its firmness, and the worst passions may be employed in resolutely braving the hour of danger: but religion alone can inspire that fortitude which has humility for its basis, which takes away fear, not by apathy or presumption, but by revealing superior love and superior consolations.

"I am perhaps more led into these remarks

from having just taken a last farewell of a dear and honoured friend, who is in the last stage of a consumption; unable to articulate, with what fervour did he press my hand, and with an expressiveness of manner which I shall never forget! To him, I said, as I mournfully left the room, what is all that this world can afford? Beauty, wealth, knowledge, are alike unavailing; the ground is sliding from under his feet, and a few hours more will conduct him to eternity. What a satisfaction to reflect, that at such a moment, the consolations of religion are his! Under its divinely regulating influence, his life has been irreproachable; and I feel no doubt but his death will be glorious. Oh! if the proficients in the science of war, if the desolators of kingdoms, receive such pompous epithets, in what language ought we to speak of the christian, who, having spent a whole life in pursuits of active benevolence, is just laying down the toils of his warfare? His lahours are at length terminated, his commission fulfilled, his doubts and fears swallowed up in the prospect of victory --a spectacle this, wor thy of men and angels. May we ourselves realize it by a faithful perseverance in those steps of duty and self-denial, which can alone, through faith, give confidence in the hour of trial!

"What an era has the opening of the nineteenth century become! The abolition of that murderous traffic the Slave Trade; the formation of the Bible Society; the extension and increase of Missionary Societies; the national system of education for the poor; and talents, with splendid rank, employing their conjoined forces in the support of a thousand benevolent institutions,. to the defeat of ignorance, and the alleviation of human woe.