the Great Master: "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."

The remarks subjoined, on Election and Reprobation, have in one remarkable instance produced conviction of the unsoundness of that doctrine, which teaches that any are excluded by an irrevocable decree, from working out their salvation with fear and trembling. It is, however, proper to state, that being the observations of an individual, and written altogether in his private capacity, he only, and not the Society of which he was a member, can be implicated in any thing he has said on that or any other subject.

A DIARY, &c.

6th Month, 19th, 1813.

"I WILL turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin." So be it, O Lord, saith my soul!

a

23d. In an opportunity this evening, I was afresh convinced of the benefit of silence above. words. No remark was made by any Friend on the state of the individual case, until I at last ventured to encourage her, by a few words, to express herself, if she felt any thing to communicate; and after some pause, she made an acknowledgment for her conduct, in a broken manner, far more satisfactory than she had be

a Is. i. 25.

fore done. May I more and more silence with all subjection."

"learn in

7th Mo. 13th. After dwelling for some days. in a dry and barren spot, I was favored, on awaking this morning, to feel something of that contriting power, which "bloweth where it listeth," b

18th. The Quarterly Meeting began here.

19th. In the Meeting for Discipline, I was afresh fully convinced of the loss sustained, by the improper backwardness of some qualified members, which often brings others, less qualified, too much forward into action. I felt great fear of being of the number of the latter class, and was thereby, partly, prevented from speaking to a matter, which I had some cause to regret, yet on the whole was favored to feel a degree of tranquillity, with an earnest desire to be enabled, more and more, clearly to see when to speak and what to speak; as well as when to be silent.

21st. Several Friends attended our week-day meeting this day; and we were remarkably

favoured with the sweet flowings of gospel ministry, and fervent supplication, calculated, as all true and living ministry must be, to draw the attention, not to the creature, but to the Creator, and to that power which is to be felt, at favoured seasons, without the intervention of words; yet must be waited for until his own time.

8th Mo. 3d. Our monthly meeting this day was attended by two friends, on their way to Cork monthly meeting, by appointment of the quarterly meeting. Many weighty remarks were dropped by them; and in the previous sitting for worship, one of them was concerned in a weighty manner, to revive the caution: "Watch, therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh."

4th. Went to Cork, to attend their monthly meeting. In the evening, was drawn into a wish for retirement, but did not immediately give way thereto; afterwards, when I had got alone, felt dry and poor for some time, but after a time of waiting, was favoured with a degree of that contriting influence which cannot be of

a Mat. xxv, 13.

man, and which, I am well convinced, is not at my own command. Oh! may I more and more prize and seek after such favours. "Not every one that saith unto me, "Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, who is in heaven."a

27th. In Waterford, in a sitting after breakfast, a Friend feelingly and forcibly recommended the maintenance of a watchful, dependant frame of mind at all times, even when engaged in our outward business; which would have a tendency, even in this respect, to enable us to conduct things in a more satisfactory way, and to the honour of the great name.

29th. I thought I felt, in both meetings, a degree of sincere desire to be enabled to profit by being there; yet for want of maintaining the watch, my mind was too much "busied here and there;" so that what I desired to retain, was suffered to escape.

9th Mo. 6th. Since I made any remark herein, I have mostly appeared to myself to dwell in a land of drought; yet at times have been favoured with desires for preservation against the ene

a Mat. vii. 21,