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deavour after that preparation of heart which the Lord requires.

"I have no doubt but the cordial reception which the monthly meeting was pleased to give to my request, would afford thee satisfaction. J. B. and W. F. had a solid opportunity at my house the day but one before the meeting; and two days after it, I. and S. H. called to inform me of the result. This was by no means the least interesting part of the concern; our minds, I believe, were drawn together in great love; and much good advice and many sound cautions, were imparted. My anxiety now ought to be, that I may walk worthy of my high calling, and by a life of purity and love, bring no stain on truth and its professors. May I be enabled to follow Christ in the way of regeneration, and to take up my cross in good earnest, forgetting the things that are behind, and pressing forward to the mark of the prize of our high calling, in Christ Jesus!

To M. G.

"W. T."

"Penketh.

"I do feel thankful that the Lord, has enabled me to view my indisposition in the same · light which thou hast seen it, as intended for my good; if it does not make for my temporal, I humbly trust it will for my eternal interests.

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Happiness and misery, as regards circumstances in life, are little more than empty and unmeaning words; that situation is replete with the most happiness, in which we serve God with the greatest assiduity: while, on the contrary, if we neglect to make Him the supreme object of

our affections, however fortune may smile upon us, there can be no solid comfort enjoyed. It is true the trials of life are various, and differ greatly in their weight and extent; some have to wade in far deeper water than others, but I believe that to all such there is a proportionate degree of strength dispensed by the Giver of all grace. If the cup is bitter, it shall be sweetened with the balm of consolation. May I be enabled to exemplify the truth of these positions, by an entire acquiescence in whatever subsequent afflictions I may be visited with.

"I have experienced the advantages that result from laying the burden on the mighty, but to do so requires the mind to be deeply and truly humbled with a sense of its own imperfections, and at the same time fully impressed with the might of its Deliverer. Our spiritual enemies are so active and numerous, as often to prevent us from enjoying these desirable feelings. For my own part I find that the deviations to evil are exceedingly natural and easy. When we go on thinking ourselves safe, we imperceptibly glide into the mazes of error and all the horror of guilt. The solicitations to evil are many; they assail us on every side, in the closet as well as in the market; nay, when we would approach the throne of grace, our offering is too often polluted-with the fervour of devotion there is infused a tincture of pride.

"Let us then, my dear friend, call in the aid of that Power, which can alone enable us to conquer so many formidable enemies. It was once a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, to the children of Israel; and shall the spiritual, Israel be less favoured? Oh, that we could believe,

without ever doubting, that all things shall work together for good to them that love God!

To R. O.

"W. T."

11th mo. 12th, 1816.

"I often feel comforted that I have at length become united, (I trust both in name and spirit,) to that people, who practise the doctrine of the cross: yet I am sensible that there are defections existing; and for the few individuals of

meeting, I have been under some exercise of late; but I am also favoured with a right view of whence our strength cometh, and that though all men should forsake the Lord, yet His truth, and the excellency of it, would remain the "W. T."

same.

To G. C.

"Penketh, 11th mo. 23d, 1816.

"I have much time for serious reflection, and hope I may improve so valuable an opportunity of increasing in heavenly wisdom. I have had clearer views of late of the causes of deviation and slackness n some, so much so, that I have detected a spirit of censoriousness at work in my mind, which, if hearkened to, would lead from love and true charity. Humility begins with correcting errors at home, and exhibits as much tenderness towards offenders as is consistent with truth. Notwithstanding, there is a state of irreligion prevalent with some minds, which cannot but excite sorrow at times, in the hearts of those who have taken up their cross,

and are following their Divine Master in the pathi

of regeneration.

To R. O.

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"W. T."

"Penketh, 12th mo. 13th, 1816.

"It is an excellent precept, though sometimes difficult to practise, not to care for the morrow;' and it is observable, that there is no distinction made in the command: the poor, as well as the affluent, the afflicted in body or mind, all are equally charged, 'not to care for the morrow.' Though this injunction of our Saviour may apply to ourselves, yet it occurs to me, that such a state of resignation would much alleviatethe despair and anxiety of the millions of our fellow-creatures, who are bowed under the yoke poverty. My heart is often affected with a sense of the extent of misery really existing. "I have received a few pamphlets on the subject of war; I feel more than ever convinced of the unlawfulness of this fleau du genre humain. It is dressed up in dazzling colours, sanctioned by the imposing words, Honour, Glory, Valour, and Patriotism; but strip it of this glare and examine it by the pure principles of Christianity, it will then appear to be a hideous monster, a disgrace to human nature, and the source of incalculable misery.

of

"I still find it best, dear friend, to keep from reading strange books, as my mind is thereby at leisure to feel after that pure love which is sweeter than expression can tell. My mind is often affected with a desire that Friends of this meeting might become more spiritually-minded. How much do we lose, if we refuse to live up to.

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the privileges of our great and high calling! Our own loss is very great; but shall we not also be answerable for the poor, lean example which we hold forth to others? My son give me thy heart,' saith the Lord, and I believe this means a gift of the whole heart, without the most secret reservation. This appears difficult to such as have acquired vicious habits, or to those whose good seed is choked by the riches of this world, and the cares thereof.

"Farewell, dear friend, I hope we shall escape many pollutions, and at last be found blameless, through the mercy of our common Saviour.

"W. T."

This letter was nearly, if not quite, the last that he addressed to any of his correspondents; his weakness was so much increased, that in this, and several which precede it, he was obliged to have the help of another person, to write what he dictated.

The symptoms of consumption already mentioned, continued to increase, and at the approach of winter became still more distressing, so as to leave the termination scarcely any longer doubtful.

He had throughout the benefit of the professional advice of the medical friend who has been mentioned before; and though the progress of the disease could not be arrested, yet every measure was adopted that might tend to its mitigation.

The writer of this sketch saw him, for the last time, a few weeks after he had given up the school: he was then much enfeebled in body, but in an excellent frame of mind, manifesting great patience and resignation, He expressed

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