their services, yet are now grown cold or lukewarm in spirit, and rather open a door than shut it against that liberty the Truth will not allow of. What or where is the cause? Is it in the Lord or his holy Spirit? Surely no. Truth is as lively as ever, and will so continue in old age, to those who sincerely love and follow the Lord. The fault then is in man: the want of inward waiting and watchfulness, is no doubt the occasion; and therefore it is,

particularly under the consideration of such as these, that I have often cried unto the Lord for preservation to the end; and that if I lived to old age, I might not grow like unto

them.

And as I thus desire for myself, so I can truly say I have often done for thee. I am satisfied the Lord has called thee into, and gifted thee for his service, and that his love and kindness is toward thee; and the desire and cry of thy soul is, that thou mayst be preserved, to serve Him in thy day. Perseverance then, and waiting in that gift which the Lord has given thee and me, is the way and means for our preservation to the end, to give us an inheritance among them that are sanctified in God's kingdom; and that thus it may be with us both, and all the Lord's people, is the very desire of my soul. Amen.

Cork, 28th of First month, 1711.

Dear friend, John Fallowfield,

holy Truth. But oh! for want of more inwardness, and by neglecting the watch, I verily believe many have suffered loss, who once knew good things; and that it may not be so with either of us, is the very desire of my soul.

Cork, 10th of Ninth month, 1712 Dear friend, Henry Gouldney,

Having taken notice of the chief contents of thine, and now in writing feeling my spirit open unto thee in the ancient love, in which we were at first made near and dear to one another in spirit, I send this with the salutation thereof; which love is as fresh with me as at the beginning, and I doubt not but will continue so to the end between us, as we abide in that which is the fountain and spring of true love, namely, the Lord's holy and blessed Truth. And oh! that we may grow therein, to the end of those few days we may have yet to live in this fading and perishing world, is the very desire of my soul.

For surely we have the greater reason to be fearful of ourselves, and cry unto the Lord for preservation, while we have had, and still have, so many examples of those who once were tender and zealous for the Lord's holy name and Truth, who, by giving way to a careless, negligent, and unwatchful spirit, have run into a false liberty, and can now indulge themselves and others in those very things that once they were zealous against; which is a plain demonstration that such have lost their first love, and have forgotten the day of their espousals to the Lord.

But oh! may it never be so either with thee or any of the Lord's people, who yet retain in measure their sincerity unto him. Let then the harms and falls of others be as warnings to us, to keep near the Lord, who will as suredly keep and preserve to the end, if it be not our fault. In order to which, let us dear friend keep continually upon our watch; be more and more inward to the Lord; for surely inwardness, inwardness, is too much wanting among the Lord's people. Had we ourselves been less outward in our minds, and more inward to the Lord, we had known more of his blessed Truth than we do at this day; and therefore, oh! that during the few days we may yet have to spend, we may pray con tinually that the Lord might be pleased to stay our minds upon Him.

I send this with the salutation of dear love, even that love in which all those that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, are near and dear one unto another; and in which love thou hast been often in my remembrance, with desires to the Lord of all our mercies, for thy growth and preservation, with my own, in his holy and blessed Truth. For this we both know, the fault will lie on our side if we are not preserved. I well know thou hast no need of instruction from me, having a better Instructor so near thee, the Lord Jesus in thy own soul, by a measure and manifestation of his holy Spirit; and yet the love of him who hath loved us, does sometimes constrain us in that love to put one another in remembrance of what we know to be our duty. And thus I recommend to thee, what I often do to my own soul, namely, more and more inwardness and waiting upon the Lord: here it is, being upon our watch, that we see the enemy of our souls in all his approaches, and seeing him and flying to the Lord for assistance, we are made able to withstand him. Here also we are ready to hear what our blessed Lord will communicate to us; and thus being inward with him and waiting upon him, we shall assuredly know a growth and progress in his in relation to the admittance of members into

TO JAMES HOSKINS.
Cork, 23rd of Ninth month, 1712

Dear friend,

I observe what thou writest

meetings for discipline. I am of the same mind with thee respecting your nation, as well as what may happen in ours; and I do think, that Friends everywhere ought to be sensible, without the least respect of persons, that such who are admitted ought, in measure, as well to have a concern upon their minds for the Lord's service, as to be honestly inclined respecting their own souls.

Cork, 21st of Twelfth month, 1712.

Dear friend, John Wright,

In that love which reaches over sea and land, do we at this time dearly remember thee, even that love which joins and cements those who love our Lord Jesus Christ and his testimony, making them as bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh in a spiritual sense. The desire of our souls is, that this love may continue between us, in which we may remember one another while we remain in this lower region; and not only be tween us, but that it might also dwell with and be maintained among all the Lord's people everywhere, which would be a mark to the world of true discipleship.

But oh! with great lamentation it may be said, that instead thereof, the love of this present world, and its interests, hath prevailed upon too many of those who are so called, while they have preferred it to the love of the brethren, and the peace and unity of the church; and rather than part with or decline the first, they will sacrifice the last. All which is but too evident among those in whom the seed of life and testimony of Jesus are suffering; while, as we are informed, they seem to have no regard to their tender conscientious brethren, but have already carried and seem resolved to carry things with a high hand over the heads of their brethren; of all which no doubt thou hast heard. Yet the outrageous doings of such, ought not to slacken the hands of those who are truly concerned for the testimony of Truth; but in Truth's way, and in the meek Spirit of Jesus, they should stand their ground and do what they can; and having so done, leave the issue to the Lord, who in his own time will arise and plead his own cause, and appear for those who bear a faithful testimony for his sacred name, which hath been greatly trampled upon by loose libertine spirits.

pleased to look down in pity, and relieve the bowed down, and distressed in spirit, who mourn and lament for the deplorable state of the church, in many places too much governed and overruled by pretended elders and a libertine party.

I

Cork, Twelfth month, 1712.

My dear sister, Mary Beale,

In relation to members of men's and women's meetings, I think I am not, and I hope shall not be, partial even for my own children. must needs say upon judgment, that I think none can or will help the church, but such as are in some measure sensible members, at least they that have an honest, solid bottom, and are subject to the advice and counsel of Friends. If, on the contrary, there is height or stiffness, either in men or women, I must say that I think the admittance of such will rather do the church and themselves hurt than

good.

Cork, 26th of First month, 1714.

Dear friend, James Wilson,

I believe with thee, that there will be need enough of many more right-spirited men at the Yearly Meeting than perhaps may go there; not that I expect they can do much good at this time by promoting good discipline and good order in the churches of Christ; but rather, if it be possible, stand in the gap, and oppose what some loose, libertine spirits would introduce into the churches of Christ. The consideration, that such should have any hand in the government of the churches, hath often wounded my spirit: the Lord, if it be his blessed will, put a stop thereto, and raise up and increase the number of faithful, clean spirited men, truly sanctified in soul, body, and spirit, who may stand as bulwarks against that spirit and flood of liberty and ungodliness, which hath made too large a progress in some of the churches of Christ at this day.

And what is very grievous to consider, is, that some would be accounted as elders, who do greatly strengthen the hands of such libertines, even such as I believe were at first rightly called into the Lord's service, and in the beginning were truly zealous, and rightly concerned for the promotion of Truth, but have now in old age grown lukewarm or cold, having lost their first love and zeal for It is indeed a time of great suffering in spi- the Lord and his Truth. This is indeed larit, to those who are truly concerned for the mentable to consider, and such are examples prosperity of Zion, while the enemies thereof, of warning to us to take heed to ourselves, yet pretended friends to her, do so greatly pre-pointing out to us, that it is not running well vail. What shall the mourners in Zion on for a season, but holding out to the end that this occasion do, but travail with the oppress-gains the crown; for if such had kept to ed, and cry unto the Lord, that he will be Truth in themselves, they would have been

as fruitful in old age as in youth. The fault doubt as he said, he would never deny his then is on man's part, for want of keeping upon their watch; perhaps at first letting in small things; and though seemingly indifferent, yet these have had an evil tendency in the end, too easily sliding into their minds, by which a veil in some degree came over their hearts and understandings, and thus they became more readily drawn into greater and grosser things, to the defilement thereof, until they had at last wholly lost their first love and zeal for the Lord.

TO JOSEPH GURNEY.

every way, but in a more especial manner, five years of age, and having been about five thy growth and prosperity in the Lord's eter- years engaged in the ministry.-Editor.] nal Truth; and that as he hath, I believe, given thee a gift for the ministry, and committed a dispensation of the Gospel to thy charge; so on thy part, thou mayst answer the Lord's love in the right discharge thereof, neither going before, nor staying behind.

Dear friend, do not think I am going about to charge or condemn thee, it is far from my mind to do it. But in the very love of my heart I write, as having in my time seen the great damage and loss of some, who, not withstanding they were rightly called, and gifted for the ministry, have greatly missed their way, and by too much forwardness, and too soon going into long, large, and doctrinal testimonies, hoping or desiring to do service for the Lord, have instead thereof marred the service which they would have had, if they had solidly waited in the measure of the gift given them, that so the true fire of the Lord might have accompanied their offerings, and thereby made their services acceptable. Such as these, I have seen in the end to come to so great a loss, as not to know their right time, when to begin, or when to end, and have thereby lost that service in the ministry, for the edification and comfort of the churches, which otherwise they would have had; as also, instead of rendering them acceptable through their service, it has had the contrary effect, they being disesteemed and slighted. Whereas they who have truly kept in and to their gift, and ministered therefrom, though at times very short in declaration, stopping in due season, as Israel was to do in the wilderness; what these have had to say, has hit the mark, had its due service, and been like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

Dear friend,

Cork, Sixth month, 1717.

It hath been very often upon my mind since thy departure, to visit thee with a few lines, to communicate such things as might in the love of God occur to my mind; and feeling the concern renewed at this time, I herewith in the first place send the salutation of very dear love in the holy Truth, wherewith I love thee, and in which I can truly say I desire thy prosperity every way, but in a more especial manner thy growth and prosperity in the Lord's holy and eternal Truth. And as he has, I am satisfied, given thee a gift for the ministry, so on thy part thou mayst answer his love, by thy obedience in giving thyself up to whatsoever he may be pleased to require of thee, neither staying behind, nor going before, but waiting in the pure light, in which thou wilt truly see thy way, and by which alone the things of God's kingdom are made known and manifested, as well what may relate to ourselves, as what he may require of us to communicate to others according to our several stations in the church.

But oh! for want of true waiting in his pure light, and being continually inward to the Lord, I have seen in my time many who have been rightly called and gifted, who have come to a loss; and at last, some of them have lost their way to that degree, as not to know their right time either when to go abroad, or when to stay at home, or when to begin in testimony, or when to end; by which the service they would have had, if they had truly kept to the light and walked therein, has been marred. And yet perhaps, some of these have retained the form of sound words, and could speak notably too; but for want of being inward enough, and keeping their eye single to the Lord in his gift, whereby their bodies would have been full of light, and whereby they would have seen times, seasons, and things respecting either themselves or others, I say, for want thereof, some have come to such a loss and decay, and have grown so dark, as to go or stay, speak or not speak, in their own time, and not in the Lord's; which has been cause of sorrow and lamentation to those who have kept their habitations in the light, and therein have seen the loss some such have sustained, and all for want of inward watch[See a memorial of the Friend to whom the fulness and walking in the light. I write not next letter is addressed, in "A Collection of these things, dear friend, by way of applicaTestimonies concerning Ministers, &c. de- tion to thee, or to discourage thee in thy serceased." London, 1760. He visited meet-vice, far from it, but in the love of God, which ings in Ireland in 1717, being then twenty- I feel in my heart towards thee, to encourage VOL. II.-No. 11.

Another thing, dear friend, and which I say to you both, is, that you well know the eyes of those where you come will be upon you, some perhaps for evil, as well as some for good; and therefore it will concern you to be very solid and circumspect in your appearance and conversation wherever you come, and not to misuse that innocent, open freedom, which in the Truth you might have or take; remembering what the apostle saith, "All things are lawful but not convenient;" that even the very freedom, which Truth does not disallow, may not be convenient to take or use in many places, or indeed but in a few.

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thee to keep in thy gift; minister therefrom, neither going before, nor staying behind, that the Holy Spirit of Jesus may be thy guide in all things, and that the harms of others by not keeping to and walking in the light, may be our warning; remembering also, what our blessed Lord said to his disciples, "Without me, ye can do nothing." All our strength and ability, then, is in him; and this strength and ability is received from him, by our inward waiting upon him in the gift of his holy Spirit. There it is, that we see our own unworthiness, and ourselves truly as we are; there it is, that we persevere and go on from one degree of strength and grace unto another; there it is we see what the Lord requires of us, either respecting ourselves or others; and there it is also, we see the enemy of our souls in all his appearances and transformations, and are made able by the Lord's strength to withstand him in all his temptations. But oh! this inwardness, this inwardness, has been and is too much wanting amongst the Lord's people, even among many preachers, as well as hearers, whom the Lord in the beginning highly favoured; who, had they continued as inward as the Lord would have had them to be, would have been more eminently serviceable in the church in their day, and attained to a more extraordinary degree of heavenly brightness, and have witnessed more excellent discoveries of the divine mysteries of God's kingdom than they have done. And out of this number I will not exclude myself; well knowing had I been more inward than I have been, my growth in his holy Truth had been greater than it is.

while I continue in his love. O the brokenness and tenderness of spirit that was upon my soul in that day! How I loved the Lord, his Truth, and faithful people! O the zeal, that was in my soul for him! The tender concern that was on my spirit, that I might not grieve or offend him in anything, and that I might not do anything against the Truth, but all the little I could for it! My soul remembers these things at this instant, the sense thereof being renewed upon my spirit, in great humility and thankfulness to the Lord. Then was I fearful and careful how I did eat, how I did drink, how I was clothed in plainness of apparel, what I spake, how I spake, and that my words might be few and savoury; what company I kept, and what fear was I in, lest I might be hurt with the company and conversation of the world! for I found by keeping their company unnecessarily, and with delight, it was like pitch which defileth. The blessed light of my dear Lord did in that day let me see these things, with many more, needless to enumerate, that would be hurtful to me if I delighted in, or used them to please or gratify a carnal mind out of the cross of Christ.

But if I should be asked in old age, How is it with thee? hast thou not since found, there is more liberty in the Truth than in that day, which by thy own account was a time of childhood or youth? Dost thou not now find thou wast then over nice and tender, and more fearful and careful than Truth did really require, as not having had time, and experience, nor yet judgment to discern between things? Yet in great humility, II say, if I should thus be asked, I could anbless his holy name, that I can say, I desire swer in much sincerity, thus: Since my childwith my whole soul, that for the residue of hood, I have no doubt witnessed various states these few days I may have to spend, and I and conditions, and in humility and with great expect them to be but a few, I may be con- thankfulness can say, my time has afforded tinually inward to him. And as this is, I me larger experience, and a greater growth in think, the best wish I can wish for myself, re- the Lord's holy Truth, than in that day. But specting my duty to Him who lives for ever, yet this I testify for the Lord, which I have so, dear friend, I can also say I truly desire found by my own experience, that what the the same for thee. holy Truth led me into in that day, and let And now, my dear friend, as I have hither- me see when I was young, it leads me into to written more chiefly relating to inwardness the same now in my old age. Truth is the and the work of the Holy Spirit within, it is same as it was in the beginning; it changeth in my mind also to write something of the not, neither does it wax old: and if any find effects of the same Spirit, and to what it leads a decay, or in other words, think it gives more outwardly, respecting our conversation, &c. | liberty than in the beginning, I can testify from in the world; in which I can, through the my own experience, that liberty is not of or great mercy and goodness of my God, men- from the Lord, but is of and from man, who tion something of my own certain experi-is departed in measure more or less from the ence. I was young, and now I am old, at least well stricken in years, my dear and blessed Lord was mercifully pleased to reach unto and visit my soul in my young days,and it was the day of my first love and espousals to him, which I shall never forget

Lord. Truth, I say again, waxes not old, though the body may grow weaker and weaker, and may outwardly decay, yet those who keep to the Truth in old age, grow stronger and stronger in the Lord, and in the power of his might; their zeal waxes not old nor cold.