I mean with regard to neglecting coming to your meetings of late, which you will think is very strange: but I have herein followed the dictates of conscience, which affords me some comfort. That great and merciful God, who made me see that I was rebelling against Him, has, in his good time, shewed me, by the manifestations of His holy spirit, the difference that there is in worshipping in our own will and time, and of waiting in humble silence upon that God who worketh by whom he pleaseth.

"It has very often been brought home to my mind when I attended your meetings, that it was strange that both you and 1, and I. G. and many others of your society, should like to read of that great and eminent servant of the Lord, George Fox; and yet it was not noticed (at least not mentioned) that there was so much difference between our way of public worship, and that which he and those holy men practised, who spake not in their own strength, will, and time, but as the Almighty gave them utterance; wherefore, not only from their testimony, but from the Holy Scriptures, I judge it not right that one only should stand up to preach, but that there should be free liberty for any one to open their minds freely, provided it proceed from a divine spring of life, to the edifying of one another; for the apostle Paul saith, 1 Corinthians, 14 c. 31 v. "For ye may all prophesy one by one." Now I would ask, how can this manner or way of worship be carried on so well as in silent waiting upon God, that he may prepare our minds by His Holy Spirit, to do his will, whether to pray, reprove, exhort, &c? But you may perhaps say, that provided the heart be right, it matters not what is the form or way of worshipping.

"We find in the Holy Scriptures, that we are to worship God in spirit and in truth; but how can it be possible that we can at all times worship in the spirit, if we enter upon it at any fixed time without waiting for the drawings and movings of the blessed Spirit? Therefore I believe it is not right for one man or more to be appointed to carry on a religious meeting, as what is this but placing a dependance upon one another, which ought alone to be upon God? For God is all sufficient to supply our wants, but we must ask aright, lest we should receive not. Oh! I feel that it is an awful thing to open our mouths in the presence of Almighty God, and that it must not be done at any time or place when we have a mind; wherefore holy David saith, Psalm 141, v. 3, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." As if he had said, Lord thou knowest that I am a poor, weak, and sinful creature, and know not what to ask, or what to say in thy presence; but, O Lord, guard my lips, lest I should be too forward in my own will, to ask that which is not agreeable to thy Divine will. And again, Psalm 143, v. 10, "Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God! thy Spirit is good, lead me into the land of upright

ness.

"Many passages might be quoted from the Scriptures, all concurring in one testimony: but let us also look into our hearts, let us search narrowly by the light that God has given us; for I believe it is His holy will that we should be led out of this will-worship aforementioned, if we will but stand still in our own minds, and hearken to that still and small voice which cannot be heard or perceived amidst a multitude of words or performances. Could it be possible that each man

could have such a measure of holiness in him, as would qualify him to approach his Maker at any time, there would perhaps be no need of these remarks; but, alas! the case is far otherwise; at best we are but poor depending creatures, that stand in need of a continual supply of grace, of strength, yea, and of knowledge what to say, and this particularly in a public way.

"I beseech you to consider the impressive manner in which these kind of worshippers are warned in Isaiah, Chap. 50, v. 10 & 11. "Who is he among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." But mark, "Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kin-. dled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow."

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6

Penn, in his book entitled No Cross no Crown' speaking on this subject says: "I will close this great Scripture doctrine of waiting, with that passage in John about the pool of Bethesda. There is at Jerusalem, by the sheep market, a pool, which is called, in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda, having five porches; in these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water; whosoever then first, after the trouble of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. A most exact representation of what is intended by all that has been said upon the subject of waiting. For as there was then an outward and legal, so there is now a gospel and

spiritual Jerusalem, the church of God, consisting of the faithful. The pool in that old Jerusalem, in some sort represented that fountain which is now set open in this new Jerusalem. That pool was for those who were under infirmities of body; this fountain for all that are impotent in soul. There was an angel then that moved the water, to render it beneficial; it is God's angel now, the great angel of his presence, that blesseth this fountain with success. They that then went in before, and did not watch the angel and take advantage of his motion, found no benefit of their stepping in: those that now wait not the moving of God's angel, but by devotion of their own forming and timing, rush before God, as the horse into the battle, and hope for success, are sure to miscarry in their expectation. Therefore, as then they waited with all patience and intention [intenseness] upon the angel's motion, that wanted and desired to be cured, so do the true worshippers of God now, that need and pray for his presence, which is the life of their souls, as the sun is to the plants of the field. They have often tried the unprofitableness of their own work, and are now come to the Sabbath indeed. They dare not put up a device of their own, or offer an unsanctified request, much less obtrude bodily worship where the soul is really insensible or unprepared by the Lord. In the light of Jesus they ever wait to be prepared, retired, and recluse from all thoughts that cause the least distraction and discomposure in the mind, till they see the angel move, and till their beloved please to awake: nor dare they call him before his time. And they fear to make a devotion in his absence, for they know it is not only unprofitable, but reprovable."

"Oh! that we were all convinced of these great truths; we should save ourselves from a good deal of wandering, confusion of mind, unnecessary running, &c. Many a time when I have been at a meeting, through not striving to get into a settled state, that is, not having my thoughts clearly fixed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, through my runnings to fro in too much devotion: Oh! what a wild sort of unsettled state my mind has been in. But I have reason to bless God that he has showed me good things, that he has let me see by the light of his countenance behind all vain and earthly shadows, and the traditions of this world, to things that are immortal, eternal, for ever. He has showed me the way; Oh! may I walk in that way: though it be a narrow path, and but litttle beaten by travellers, yet the end will be glorious. And I think that we should run faster, and not with so many slips by the way, if, after we had taken up the cross, we would constantly look forward to the crown. Many a time am I almost as it were ready to fall quite away; so prone is my nature to do ill, that though I have had repeatedly deep and close convincings, yet I feel it hard work to keep from being enchained by him who "goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." May I give ear and heed unto this still and small voice and reprover of sin, unto this heavenly call unto righteousness, which I feel in my heart, and which speaks loud! And may the God of all things, in grace, strengthen, stablish, perfect me! Amen.

"W. T."

Such was the conviction wrought upon his tender mind, that divine worship is a spiritual