FRIENDS’

REVIEW. 615

 

secure felt the effects. Thus indeed does the
Governor of the Universe rule in the kingdoms
of men, and do whatsoever pleaseth him. What
cause wholly to trust in Him!

T attended meeting for worship, and in the
afternoon that for sufferings, which is again to
sit to-morrow, (when those brethren are ex-
pected,) chiefly to consider tests, &. I wish
you may be wisely directed, clear from the mix-
ture of policy with religion. I could never yet
see wherein our testimony confined us to one
ruler more than another, but consider that it re-
quires us to show forth the peaceable, meek and
innocent Christian, under whatever Governor
Providence may set over us. To say we own
this and deny the other power, is the will of the
creature, and, I believe, as distinct from the
testimony we are called to bear, as light is from
darkness.
but to-morrow have other engagements. Whether
the members of this Quarter will be with you is
a question. “Three of them are on the Com-
mittee to visit meetings. Zephaniah Brown was
under the hands of the military last week. He
is come off better than I expected or he de-
served.” " o . sf

Drary RESUMED. “In the spring 1778, when
a garrison of British troops and refugees lay at
Billingsport, not far distant from me, the
nilitia in passing about were sometimes at my
house. I had also used efforts to obtain the
liberty of some prisoners. This afforded matter
for some ill disposed persons to represent me to
the garrison as a very mischievous person, upon
which they threatened to burn my house and
destroy all I had; of which I was informed, and,
as they had done so to several others, it ocea-
sioned me uneasiness. I took two friends, and
went to them to know what they had against
me; but it seemed to have little effect. They
appeared glad of a pretence to plunder those
who would not join with them. 1 was now cut
off from any other reliance than an over-ruling
Providence. After several days of great anxiety,
my mind became calmed undera deep sense of
His power, and it livingly sprang iu my mind
that if I would be still and quiet, without
striving to save what I had, by any contrivance
of my own, and trust my all in the Lord’s care,
nothing should be touched but by his permis-
sion. This afforded much comfort, and a pros-
pect of greater strength, if I could keep my
mind steady in this trust and confidence; since
which I have not lost one shilling in that way,
though I had lost very greatly before. But in
many singular instances I have had reverently to
admire the preserving hand of a tender father,
who is watching over his creatures to. see where
their trust is placed, and is sometimes mercifully
pleased to show us how vain and uncertain is all
human confidence, and how displeasing it is to
Him in whom our trust ought to be wholly
fixed,

I have felt a desire to be with you,

 

_ “ One other instance of this kind I think worth
noting. When Cornwallis lay at Woodbury, his
soldiers had plundered my house, taken my
creatures, &c. Companies of them kept almost
constantly coming and going, taking what they
wished, till it looked as though they would de-
prive me of all I had. A civil Hessian officer
being at my house, persuaded me to go with him
to the General, who would send a sentry ag
guard. “This many Friends had done, and TI:
went, and found many others on the same er-
rand, but the General having rode out, they
Were waiting his return. I soon became uneasy
with the thought of seeking a soldier, with sword
and gun, to protect me, which I saw to be con-
trary to that trust in Providence which I pro-
fessed to the world. Accordingly I soon went —
home, and being much distressed that one in
my station should by my conduct so contradict
my profession, on my homeward way, I fell on
my knees, imploring forgiveness of Him whom I
clearly saw that I had offended. ie
“ Such instances have led me often to reflect
on the state of our Society ; how exceedingly we
fall short of our professed principle, of trusting
singly in Gop, both in spiritual and temporal
things, without leaning to human poliey or to our
own understanding or contrivance, to deliver
out of straits and difficulties of eitherkind. This
we profess in words, but how different our prac-
tice! And how evident then is the occasion for
us to be driven home to our foundation. ‘This,
I believe, is one end for which the present try-
ing season hath been permitted ; oh that we may
improve thereby, and learn wherein our true
strength consists. What can be more pleasing
to our great Benefactor, than to behold in his
creatures a deep sense of their dependence upon
Him, and in the most pinching trials, inward
or Outward, that the mind is trusting in and
leaning upon him alone! How did he prove
Israel to show them that he was Almighty,
and that every other dependence was vain. Sor-
rowful, indeed, is our defection, as a people, from
this fundamental principle which we have so
long been holding upto the world; for, how-

ever we may flatter ourselves, I believe that

people were not more deficient in this faith,
than many of the Quakers are in this day.”

Very similar to the case of David Cooper, last
mentioned, was that of Wm. Edmundson, who,
88 years previously, in time of peril, applied to
Colonel Biarly for a detachment of men to pro-
tect his property, which nevertheless was plun-
dered and destroyed. Well for D. C. that he
was in due time admonished to place his whole
reliance on a higher and all sufficient power.
We see that some in whose hearts there lived a
testimony against war have failed to perceive
the violation of that testimony which is involved
in certain acts from which others conscientiously
refrain. Whilst, therefore, the salutary restraints
of discipline are highly to be valued, much more