818 FRIENDS?’

REVIEW.

 

we shall indeed see that our sensual companions
were our greatest enemies, and that a small in-
terest in Heaven, is infinitely more desirable than
the greatest portion of earthly bliss.

“‘T have taken this freedom from the most
earnest solicitude that thou mayest consider, ere
it be too late, whither the road thou art now in,
(how different from the humble state of mind
which dictated the enclosed prayer,) must lead,
and soshun the sorrowful sentence upon Ephraim,
who when young was loved: ‘ He is joined to
idoletet him alones cor ee as

1785. On the 30th of 7th mo., D. C. and
his daughter Martha* attended Burlington
Monthly Meeting, and in the same week were
at the Monthly Meetings of Chesterfield, Spring-
field, Mount Holly and Evesham. ‘ Second-day
following,” he writes, ‘‘I was at Haddonfield,
Third-day at Woodbury, and the next day was
the general meeting, it being the first held there,
by direction of last Quarterly Meeting. It was
very large, and a solid, favored meeting. Samuel
Hopkins, James Cresson and Ebenezer Miller
were present. Thus I was, in the course of ten
days, at seven monthly and one general meeting,
and felt peace and satisfaction therein; but may
leave this remark, that in our meetings for busi-
ness things are generally low. In Mount Holly
a languor and feebleness prevailed to an extent
that I thought I had hardly met with.”

In the district of country immediately sur-
rounding Mount Holly, the people were general-
ly politicians, and many members of the Society
of Friends partook of an excitement which is not
ealculated to promote that spiritual life, which
the circumspect Friend seeks to cultivate.
Whether this was the case at the exact time
now written of, the present writer cannot speak
with certainty, but it was so at a period not long
after, and whether this was a procuring cause of
decline or not, Friends have very much disap-
peared from a section of country which is to a
large extent peopled by their descendants. Yet
whilst the agitations of party politics are cer-
tainly uncongenial to Friends, it is believed
that if they truly walk in the counsels of their
spiritual Guide, none will be truer patriots than
they, and, far from being unfelt for good, and
idlers as regards the general interest of the com-
munity, they will be “‘ as a dew from the Lord,”
exerting an active and beneficial influence around
them. And in the present solemn day, when,
for conscience’ sake, they dare not respond to
their country’s call to arms, it would surely ill
become them to be listless idlers, as though the
valid plea of conscience were used as a mere screen
from danger. They may still effectually serve
their country as good soldiers of Jesus Christ,
whilst “having their feet shod with the prep-

 

*Samuel and Martha Allinson were jthen resident
at Cropwell, S. A. having relinquished his legal
practice and retired to a farm. Martha Allinson re-
turned to Burlington after her husband’s death.

aration of the Gospel of Peace.” Ata time
when vials of wrath seem to be poured upon the
rivers, and the rider of the pale horse ranges
the land, a time emphatically of ‘‘ confused
noises and garments rolled in blood,” many pro-
fessors of religion it may be feared, in their own
unsanctified will, intrude themselves before the
throne of awful majesty, with prayers, ineffectual
because not dictated by, nor in accordance with
“the mind of the Spirit,’ often inspired by re-
venge, and, so far from being in the Divine har-
mony, petition directly opposing petition. If,
then, the peaceable members of a Society which
holds that prayer is only availing as it is in-
spired by Him who hears and can answer it,
(‘the Spirit itself making intercession,’’) will
so dwell in reverent waiting before the Father
of spirits, as to be familiar with the mode of ac-
cess to the place of prayer, if thus they would
bear their bleeding country upon their hearts
before the Lord, can it be doubted that his scep-
tre would be extended ; that his ear would be
bent to hear, and that acceptable prayer,
stirred up in many hearts, would ascend ‘like
the sound of many waters about his throne.”
And surely those who with full purpose of heart
seek unto the Lord, (whatever their religious
profession or name) will prove the most useful
citizens in the day of a nation’s calamity. The
blessing of the Sovereign of the universe, is not
to be left out of account in the preparations for
the general safety. He can stay at once the de-
vouring sword, or confound the most skilful
strategy. ‘ There is no king saved by the mul-
titude of a host; a’ mighty man is not de-
livered by much strength. A horse is a vain
thing for safety: neither shall he deliver-any by
his great strength.”
“ God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts ;
tf ” r his state

Is kingly ; thousands at his bidding speed,

And post o’er land and ocean without rest ;

They also serve who only stand and wait.”

[Diary.] ‘ At our Quarterly Meeting in the
Fifth month, a committee was appointed to visit
Egg Harbor Monthly Meeting, and endeavor to
effect an alteration in the holding of it. It is
held cireular—on the Cape, and on the Egg
Harbor side ; at the last place in a private house
from its first establishment, and about thirty
years in the house of one disowned by Friends,
neither himself nor any of his family being mem-
bers, and his present wife is in membership with
another society. I left home, as one of this com-
mittee, on Fifth-day the of 9th month, 1785,
in company with Job Whitall. At the upper end
of the shore we met William Rogers and wife, |
John Hunt, and Elizabeth Collins. We were
all at the meeting there on First-day morning,
and at one,at the end of the shore in the after-.
noon, which was appointed on our account. On

 

Second-day we attended the Select Meeting con-,