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10. Much mischief hath been done this week in and about the metropolis, on account of the protestant petition having been presented, but not immediately considered. O! the infatuation that the professors of religion, whose characteristic is peace and love, should by any means become the instigators of bloodshed and devastation; or that they should at any time begrudge others the immunities which they themselves wish to enjoy! "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon," lest the infidels triumph.

"Let

12. I am convinced from a daily heartfelt sensation, stronger than ten thousand arguments, that until we cease to do evil, we cannot learn to do well. No acceptable worship can be either internally or externally offered to the God of truth, while we are acting contrary to the dictates of truth in our own consciences. "There is no peace to the wicked.” "If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us." him who nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." These testimonies were formerly borne by free-grace men, who lived by grace; and they will for ever baffle the efforts of antinomianism. The only ability to cease to do evil is in a divine and supernatural principle,-the grace and truth which comes by Jesus Christ; or in other words, in the Comforter, the agent and representative of the holy head, by which he is present with his people, always to the end of the world; "Christ in them the hope of glory." Some days have been

spent under a sense of his presence, who said to his servant formerly, "Walk before me, and be thou perfect;" be all the glory ascribed to him through Christ Jesus, our only Mediator. Amen.

18. The effusions of anger and evil-speaking have been of late rather suspended, but the hostility within has been at times too sensibly felt. O may not only the branches be lopped, but the root eradicated! When the creation was formed in primæval rectitude, the Divine Originator beheld it was good; but how is the gold become dim since the defection of the first Adam; "how hath the whole creation groaned, and travailed in pain, even until now ;" and they who have received the first fruits of the Spirit, groaned within themselves for redemption from the bondage of corruption.

23. By nature I was in almost all evil." The seeds of corruption, which were sown in human nature by the fall of our first parent, produced many exuberant and bulky plants; some of which were measurably removed in the day of an early and awakening visitation; others have since seemed to perish, and their roots to die in the ground, viz. infidelity, injustice, and the love of money; those which have been the most deeply rooted, and most prevalent of later years, are peevishness and impetuosity. May the command go forth from "the Watcher, and Holy One, Hew down the tree, and cut off the branches, shake off the leaves, and scatter the fruit."

25. The forenoon meeting at Hartford was

rather lively; a short testimony was borne to the Lord Jesus Christ, "the faithful and true witness." M. P. concluded the meeting very accepttably in supplication.

SEVENTH MONTH, 1780.

1. Bodily pain hath of late attended. The sufferings which are sustained in this respect, being unfelt by others, are much unnoticed and uncommiserated by them; but they are known to Him who is touched with a feeling of the infirmities both of the saints, and of the most vile and abject of his creatures, who are alike the works of his hand: "for all things were created by him and for him." O! may my afflictions in the flesh be sanctified by Him "who suffered without the gate," whose head was crowned with thorns, whose hands and feet were pierced.

3. At the monthly meeting, some difficulty attended respecting the acceptance of a paper produced; my lips were sealed in silence; passiveness appeared my proper province. Afterwards a caution was imparted against holding the faith of Christ with respect of persons, and against a spirit of emulation and personal dislike, as equally inconsistent with our Christian discipline.

4. I read Henry Brookes on Redemption, an admirable poem.

9. The meeting at Hunsdon was large. "God

was in Christ reconciling the world to himself." The gracious interposition of the Deity, intended by the apostle in the preceding expression, seemed measurably attendant in a state of silence; and under the ministry of M. P. afterwards, there was a dry wind from the wilderness.

15. Divers vexatious incidents were attendant, and I was wanting in patience and resignation; capital virtues which calm the storms of life. I was too fretful on slight and immaterial events.

16. After a long waiting in deep poverty in the forenoon meeting at Hartford, a degree of travail was begot both on behalf of myself and those présent a short testimony was also borne to that universal redemption which is in Jesus Christ, and the necessity of an inward application thereof, in ourselves, and for ourselves.

20. I went to London. At times I was f !vored to look towards the God of patience and consolation, but the want of due resignation barred the influences which proceed from him'; "for what doth let will let, until it be taken out of the way." During this dispensation I considered the propriety of the apostolic injunction, "Remember them who are in bonds, as bound with them, and them who suffer adversity, as being also in the body:" "bear ye one another's burthens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." A practical adherence to these precepts, next to the grace which is sufficient and soul-saving, would be as the balm of human life; it would alleviate the diversified cup

that is handed forth to mortals; but how deficient am I herein; how deficient also are others.

30. Pretty early at the Park meeting, a degree of solemnity clothed my mind, not without some presentations for a public ministry, which, on proving, appeared immature. How suitably adapted are the following precepts, not only to me, but to all who at any time appear in the ministry. "Be more ready to hear, than to offer the sacrifice of fools." "Be not rash with thy mouth to utter any thing before God." And when thou speakest,

let thy words be few." "Be slow to speak." All true and profitable ministry arises from the ability which the spirit gives in a rightly exercised understanding; as it is written, "I will pray with the spirit and with the understanding also." Nonsense proceeds not from the ability which the spirit giveth. But what is nonsense? Here it may be difficult to draw a line. "For the preaching of the cross is, to them that perish, foolishness:" and "the foolishness of God is wiser than man.”

EIGHTH MONTH, 1780.

1. In the week-day meeting at Horslydown, something opened by way of ministry; but waiting under the opening, silence seemed most advisable; and after long sitting the meeting closed lively. I had rather refrain from speaking, when perhaps I might have spoken with a degree of profit, than

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