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my friends, and their spirits so set against me,
which I was very sensible of. And once, when
much had been said of false brethren, the text
was applied, ‘ our worst enemies are those of our
own house;’ after meeting I was informed
it was made a matter of boast that D. C.
had such a drubbing given him. However, it
neither soured nor discouraged me, but I seemed
to have greater strength to discharge what ap-
peared for me'to doin these meetings. Thus it
continued until the adjournment on Second-day,
at last Spring Meeting, when almost as soon as [
sat down an unusual solemnity covered my
mind, and the command to avoid improper mix-
tures in seed and apparel occurred, and that the
same prohibition nearly concerned us now, that
we suffer not our hearts to be filled with re-
ligion and politics, like the mingled seed, nor
clothed with zeal of an improper mixture ; that
there was no way to avoid this but by keeping
the eye single tothe unerring guide, &c. Thou
mayest remember I dropped some hints of this
kind, in as few words as I well could, and I sat,
for the most part, the rest df the meeting in
great sweetness and quietude of mind, in which
I thought I never saw a greater degree of this
mixture than‘in the deliberations of that day.
And though there appeared opportunities of
making divers pertinent observations, the con-
cern and weight seemed removed, and from the

prospect I then had, I believed myself released |.

from the service, and that it would be right, on
the first opportunity, to appoint anotber in my
stead, in which I have since been much con-
firmed.

And now, my friend, the foregoing may possi-
bly discover that my blindness and stupidity
rendered, me unfit for so important a trust.
However, be assured, I thought myself released
bya superior authority, before I asked it of my
brethren, or I dare not have done it. But this
lessens not my concern and care for the body
(our proper business) according to my measure,
and even for that meeting I feel a sincere desire
that the members may be so wisely directed,
that whatever they publish or give forth may
carry an evidence that it came from Jesus, then
will their weight and authority increase, which,
since these troubles, have greatly diminished.
And let me say, I have long believed the weight
thou bears there renders caution necessary, lest
the dignity and influencethy Master hath given
thee, should be misapplied.

Before I conclude, let me ask, from whence
proceeds the deep-rooted prejudice, sourness and
even bitterness so frequently to be discovered
by expressions from our friends against the
directors of the American measures. Certainly
not from Him who commanded to love enemies.
We read the archangel dared not rail at even
Satan, and we say we cannot use violence, nor
resist evil, because Christ hath forbidden it.

Words cut deeper than swords. Can we suppose

FRIENDS’

 

REVIEW.

he forbade the effects and allowed the cause?
Enmity is the cause of all violence. It is that
which draws the sword. I would to God we
were all as careful to keep the one out of our
hearts asthe other out of our hands. Then would
our conduct in every part demonstrate to the
world that we were indeed his lambs, and trusted
in Him alone, having no expectation from any
outward help. And, when this comes to be
enough the case, perhaps this boisterous sea may
afford a way where there was no way.
With ardent desires that thou and I may in
all our religious movements act under the influ-
ence of that Wisdom that never erred, I rest in
near affection thy real friend.
Dz.”

If the request of David Ceaper, to be re-
leased from his position in the Meeting for Suf-
ferings, was complied with, (as is probable,
be was soon reinstated, as appears from his
journal. Some further remarks under date of
1783, have during the past 18 years frequently
impressed me, almost as being history in the
form of prophecy. The enlightened coneern
which it evinces in view of the dangerous ten-
dency to centralization of power in select bodies,
was not inconsistent with a high regard for the
individuals composing them. That danger,
which for a while received a check, and which
is restrained just in proportion as the leading
minds in the Church truly dwell in the meek-
ness and gentleness of Christ, exists at the
present moment toa sufficient extent to war-
rant the revival of the caution contained in the
following extract from the Journal referred to
above. ‘

“Fourth month, 1783. I am free to make
a few remarks on this meeting [for Sufferings]
which you, my children, may live to see if well
founded. It is now about twenty-five years
since the institution of it, and it ‘consisted: of
twelve members appointed by the Yearly Meet-
ing, and four by each Quarter. In the whole,
thirty-six. There have since been two more
quarters added, making the standing members
forty-four. I was one of the first four appointed
by our Quarter, and have been a member chief
of the time since, and have had an opportunity
to observe the increasing importance of that
meeting, which, though called a meeting,
is but a standing committee of the Yearly
Meeting. And itis a truth which ought never
to be lost sight of, that whenever a subordinate
body becomes too important, either from thew
numbers or the weight of the members, they nat-
urally engross a power and consequence, beyond
the limits intended them: and thus grow, more
or less, out of the reach of that control, the
superior body ought strenuously to marntam.
This, if I am not mistaken, hath already ap-
peared too much the case with that meeting,
and this I fear will increase with time. — Their
name implies their business—‘ Meeting for