754 FRIENDSY’

REVIEW.

 

truth, ripened at length into a letter, which I
addressed to her, though I had at that time no
view of the service she was preparing for.”

The epistle referred to lies before us, and by
its endorsement appears to have been sent by
the hand of Thomas Stokes, a Friend whom
many still remember. He lived to great age,
and was a remarkable pedestrian. We well re-
member his making a visit to Martha A., having
walked from Camden to Burlington, and return-
ing on foot.

D. C. to Martha Allinson.

My pear Daveuter,—Thou art often in
my mind in great nearness, in that I believe the
forming Hand is preparing thee to be a useful
member of the Church. It is this that renders
thee dearer to me, than merely thy being my
child. This divine love it is that unites in the
closest bonds of union. Embracing its likeness,
wherever it is met with, either in relations or
strangers, is the true unity of the Spirit, built
on that foundation which is immovable by the
trifling occurrences of life. The nearer we live
to the fountain of divine loveythe more are our
hearts replenished with the heavenly treasure,
and the more is the creature changed into its
nature, and enabled to say, “‘ Spring up, oh well
—I will sing unto thee.” *

‘This time of formation is attended with an-
guish and terror, and it must be so. The crea-
ture is forming anew. It is the furnace to refine
and fit for the Master’s use, and the more calm,
quiet, and resigned we are, the less will the fur-
nace have to do, and the sooner will the opera-
tion be over. It was this meek and humble dis-
position that rendered thy dear mother a vessel
of such purity, brightness, and loveliness, and
endowed her with innocent resolution to perform,
fortitude to bear, and resignation unto whatever
was permitted, without a murmur or complaint.
Here is the useful Christian—the saint; enjoy-
ing the serenity of heaven upon earth, evidencing
by conduct that her labor was that the holy will
might be done in her as it is done in heaven.
Thou, my dear, art a child of such a mother.
Copy her example. Let the world through thee
share that blessing it might have received from
her, had her life been lengthened.

If thou shouldst feel an increasing weight laid
upon thee, discharge thy duty faithfully, without
suffering thy mind to be anxious or disturbed at
what thou canst not remedy or amend. Do what
thou findest for thy hands to do in humility and
firmness, leaving the event to Him who governs
in unerring wisdom. ‘ Fret not. thyself because
of evil doers,” nor offend by impatience and a
zeal to have things accomplished in thy own way
and time ; which is often, very often the case
with young and inexperienced laborers, and ever
tends to mar rather than to forward the Master’s
service. But where labor is performed as above,
the reward is sure. Oh, the divine sweetness

 

and bosom satisfaction, when in ino 2
without any mixture of self, we 7 J

little service for the Master. ere. z

of strength is experienced, and, th
ness a growth is known from sta
and to that of a father or mother

How few in our day who reall:
character, and how great the blessing
the community in which they resi
thou mayst so increase in strength an
rience as to become one of the numbe
earnest breathing, which, should I li
will afford consolation in my latest m

ur

he

I was never anxious to hoard up wealth. for

my children, but exceedingly earnest have been
my desires that they may lay up for themselves
treasure in heaven, durable and eterna!
Thus my dear have I sent thee an
of my love and desires for thy mos ‘
good, my motive being to strengthe
courage thee to run with cheerfuln 5
that is set before thee, without wave
doubtful mind, then will thy peace
river, and thy joy be serene as a mornins
clouds.
In near affection to you ‘all, Tam th
father, Davin Co

Woodbury, 9th month 11th, 1783.

     
 
 
 
  
  

The Christian and paternal yearnings brentthan

in this letter were fully answered. His daughter
became a living minister of the gospel of Christ,
sound and discriminating in word and doctrine.
She was a succorer of many, walking h
with her God, poor, yet making many ‘ich ; and
she is still affectionately remembered as a
mother in Israe]l. Nor did that part
parent’s desire fail, which looked to h
ing him comfort in ‘his latest mome nts.

We would call attention to D. C.’s rath
ingly discriminating use of the word sa
above letter, following it as he does by a
planation that fully justifies its employment. In
Holy Scripture the word is abundantly applied
to living persons. Some appear to restrict its
application to those whose probation is ended,
and speak of the departed as “‘ now sainted.”
But we conceive that no one ean be a saint atteg
death, who was not one in life. David speaks of
the “ ‘saints that are in the earth 3” Peter, (Ac
ix. 32,) “came down to the saints at Lydda

   
  
 
  
 

 
  

Paul went to Jerusalem “ to migister
saints,” and he speaks of the ts of
at Collosse, at Philippi, at Ephesus, i sal
household, &c.; and of “the bowels of the sair
refreshed by Philemon. We a are far from ple
ing for any flattering application of t
individuals, but it ought to be borne in
in this present life, all are “ called to
In 1784, there was a division of Haddonfield
Monthly Meeting, and we find the following
minute of Salem Quarterly Meeting held 11th
15th, of that year.

   
  
   
  
 
   
  
   
 

ese o thee

umbly —