Another material object in our meetings for dif cipline, is, due attention to proceedings in relation to marriage; to take care that the parties are clear of other engagements of the fame kind; that they are not within difallowed degrees of confanguinity; and that, in cafe of previous marriage, the rights of former children be properly fecured : after which, care is alfo exercised that the marriage be concluded in a proper and becoming man

ner.

The register of these marriages; of births and burials; the care of our meeting-houses and burial grounds; the admiffion of members; the granting and receiving of certificates for those who remove from one district to another; with divers other matters, alfo form the fubjects of our care in thefe meetings.

The meetings in which these matters are tranfacted, are called Monthly meetings, from their being held once in every month. They fend reprefentatives, and anfwer queries relative to the general conduct of their members, to other meetings, which are called Quarterly meetings; the principal bufinefs of which is to fuperintend Monthly meetings, and to advise and affift them when occafion may require. Thefe Quarterly meetings alfo fend reprefentatives, and anfwer queries to a meeting which is called the Yearly meeting. This meeting has a general oversight of the society; and makes rules for its government and welfare.

The importance of tranfacting this difcipline in a right spirit, and by those who may be properly qualified, has ever been felt as of no small import

M

ance to its right prefervation; and many are the advices which have been iffued by the Yearly meeting on this fubject. The following, being fhort and comprehenfive, will, I apprehend, afford an inftructive description of our concern in this refpect. "We tenderly exhort, that in all your meetings for the discipline of the church, you wait in humility, to have your spirits brought into fubjection to the Spirit of Chrift; that thereby you may be duly qualified for the work and fervice conducive to the building up of his church; in which work, all who are engaged, fhould be men of upright hearts and clean hands; rightly prepared for the fervice they undertake." 1748.

CONCLUSION.

Addrefs to the Youth on the Remembrance of their Creator.-Reason and Revelation.-The Holy Scriptures and Christianity. Our peculiar Principles.-The Neceffity of Regeneration.-Addrefs to Perfons not of our religious Perfuafion.

IN the defign and execution of this work, my mind has been much influenced by a defire for the welfare of the youth of our fociety, and for their instruction in the principles of true religion. To thefe I feel difpofed to addrefs myself in this conclufion.

Let me remind you, my dear friends, of that wife and pious injunction; "Remember thy Creator

in the days of thy youth."* Confider his operations in nature and in grace; in providence and in redemption. Although in the confideration of all thefe, fome difficulties, not eafily comprehended, may present themselves; yet fo much will be opened to the attentive mind, as will excite the love and fear of Him, "who made the heaven and the earth, the fea, and all that therein is." In entering into thefe confiderations, there are two affiftants afforded us, by our gracious Creator, Reason and Revelation. The former, as well as the latter, is ufeful on this occafion. It is a faculty given us by God; and, if rightly exercised, will tend to promote our knowledge of Him, particularly in the works of creation and nature. When not mifled by the vanity of the human mind, reafon fees and feels its own imperfection; and readily embraces and fubmits to thofe advantages, which revelation affords.

By revelation, I mean to comprehend both that which is mediate, and that which is immediate. The former is communicated in the holy Scriptures, in which we have very ample accounts of the being and nature of God; of his manifold works in creation and in providence; of his love to mankind, particularly in the work of redemption by Chrift; and in affording the affift. ance of the Holy Spirit, to guide and direct into all neceffary truth. It is by this fpirit, which is called the Spirit of God, and of Christ, as proceeding from the Father and the Son, that immediate revelation is received. This revelation produces that knowledge of God and of Chrift, on which

* Eccle. xii. I.

+ Pfalm cxlvi. 6.

knoweth who the Father is, but the Son; and he to whom the Son will reveal him."* And when it pleases God to reveal his Son in any, and obedience is yielded to the heavenly vifion, these then become acquainted with the myfteries of God's kingdom; and are made fenfible, that "flesh and blood hath not revealed these things unto them; . but their Father which is in Heaven."+

As the holy Scriptures are the bleffed means of introducing us to an acquaintance with the way of life and falvation, and of affording us much inftruction in our various duties to God, and one to another; I earnestly prefs on you, my dear young friends, a frequent and ferious perufal of them. You will here find much profitable inftruction of various kinds; the hiftory is, beyond any other, important and interefting; the mystery "makes wife unto falvation." Here you may fee the various dealings of God with his creature man ; you may be made acquainted with the difpenfation of the law, the predictions of the prophets, the miniftration John, and the most glorious difpenfation of the gospel. Beware of fuch publications as have a tendency to create a difrelifh for thefe facred writings. Confider what the ftate of our religious knowledge would have been without them; and look at thofe parts of the world, which have not had the benefit of the Scriptures; or in which the reading of them has been greatly reftrained. When this comparison is fairly made,

* Luke x. 22. + Matt. xvi. 17.

2 Tim. iii. 15. ›

I believe we fhall find abundant caufe to be thankful to the God and Father of all our mercies, for the benefit we enjoy, in having free accefs to those teftimonials of his ways and will refpecting the children of men, with which the Scriptures have made us acquainted. Let them be fairly compared with the various fyftems of religion in the world; and then, although there be fome difficulties, which may not, at once, be fully comprehended (and in what science are there not fuch difficulties ?) then, I fay, the tranfcendent excellence of Chriftianity will be felt and acknowledged; and gratitude fill the heart, for the unmerited love of God, in Chrift Jefus our Lord.

Having fairly appreciated the general principles of Christianity, thofe which are peculiar to our religious fociety, and of which you make profeffion, will, I believe, rife in your view with esteem and attachment. Their confiftency with the Chriftian religion has been already shown; and prefuming you to be fenfible of this confiftency, I affectionately entreat you to be faithful in your adherence to them. Attend to that divine light, that faving grace, that good fpirit, which is placed in your hearts; and which, if attended to, will preferve from the temptations incident to early life; and be your guide and support through the various trials and probations, which now, or hereafter, may be your allotment. Oh! my dear friends, receive this heavenly Vifitant in the way of his coming. Give not up your minds to the pleasures and enjoyments of this world, which will draw away your obedient attention from things, which make for