First-day, attended at Rose street house in the morning; we had a very trying meeting from the antichristian doctrines we were obliged to hear advanced before a crowded audience, many of whom were not in profession with Friends; in the afternoon attended a solid,

Word, or Son of God, in the fulness of time, took flesh, became perfect man, according to the flesh, descended and came of the seed of Abraham and David, but was miraculously conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary; and also further declared powerfully to be the Son of God, according to the spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead.'

"That in the Word, or Son of God, was life, and the same life was the light of men; and that he was that true light which enlightens every man coming into the world; and therefore that men are to believe in the light, that they may become the children of the light. Hereby we believe in Christ the Son of God, as he is the light and life within us; and wherein we must needs have sincere respect, and honour to, and belief in, Christ, as in his own unapproachable and incomprehensible glory and fulness, as he is the fountain of life and light and giver thereof unto us; Christ as in himself, and as in us being not divided.'

quiet meeting, held in a large school-house at one of the extremities of the city.

Second-day, 2nd of sixth month, 1828, after having sat until near eleven o'clock at night, the Yearly Meeting closed.

Fourth-day, this being the day when the

Christ, called upon, as the primitive Christians did, because of the glorious union or oneness of the Father and the Son; and that we cannot acceptably offer up prayers and praises to God, nor receive a gracious answer, or blessing from God, but in and through his dear Son Christ.' Sewel's History, p. 499.

See

"Besides the palpable errors we have enumerated, Elias Hicks and his adherents deny that mankind sustain any loss through the fall of Adam,* asserting that children come into the world precisely in the condition he did.* They also deny the existence of any evil spirit by which man is tempted, distinct from his own propensities.† Heaven,' they say, 'is a state, and not a place by any means.' Belief,' with them, 'is no virtue, and unbelief no crime:' and however at times they may make high pretensions to the divine light, it is evident that the guide which they follow is their own benighted reason.

"Elias Hicks says, 'In those things which relate "That as man, Christ died for our sins, rose to our moral conduct, we all have understandings again and was received up into glory in the hea-alike, as reasonable beings; and we know when vens; he having in his dying for all, been that one great, universal offering and sacrifice for peace, atonement, and reconciliation between God and man, and he is the propitiation, not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole word. We were reconciled by his death, but saved by his life.'

we do wrong to our fellow creatures; we know it by our rational understanding-WE WANT NO OTHER INSPIRATION THAN REASON AND JUSTICE.' Again: If we transgress against God, or even against our fellow creatures, the act hath its adequate reward, and it will make us sorry for what “That Jesus Christ who sitteth at the right we have done-that is we shall be losers by it, and hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, gain nothing, for no man shall gain by doing evil.' yet he is our king, high priest and prophet in hisHe [the Almighty] has set good and evil before church, a minister of the Sanctuary, and of the us, and left us to elect for ourselves. Quaker, vol. true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not II. p. 258. 9.

man. He is intercessor and advocate with the "As regards morality, they want no other reveFather in heaven, and there appearing in the pre-lation than reason and justice, and when we transsence of God for us, being touched with the feel-gress against God, the act will make us sorry for ing of our infirmities, sufferings and sorrows. And also by his spirit in our hearts, he maketh intercession according to the will of God, crying Abba, Father.'

A

what we have done, that is we shall be losers, and gain nothing. While they speak much of the necessity of divine revelation, reason is held up as the balancing and comparing principle,' by which "That the Gospel of the grace of God should we are to test those revelations, and decide whebe preached in the name of the Father, Son and ther they are imprudent,' or 'counterfeit.' Holy Ghost, being one in power, wisdom and good-simple and child-like reliance upon that faith ness, and indivisible, or not to be divided in the which is of the operation of the Holy Spirit of great work of man's salvation.' God is thus disregarded, and the proud reason of man exalted into the seat of judgment. We need not therefore be surprised at the unsound opinions which they entertain, the contemptuous manner in which they treat the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, contained in the Scriptures of Truth, and the very irreverent and unworthy sentiments respecting the blessed Saviour and Redeemer of men, with which their discourses and writings abound, as if it were a chief object, to decry the Holy Scriptures, and to degrade the Lord of life and glory.

"We sincerely confess and believe in Jesus Christ, both as he is true God, and perfect man; and that he is the author of our living faith in the power and goodness of God, as manifested in his Son Jesus Christ, and by his own blessed spirit or divine unction revealed in us, whereby we inwardly feel and taste of his goodness, life and virtue; so as our souls live and prosper by and in him; and the inward sense of this divine power of Christ, and faith in the same, and this inward experience, is absolutely necessary to make a true, sincere, and perfect Christian in spirit and life.'

"That divine honour and worship is due to the Son of God; and that he is in true faith to be prayed unto, and the name of the Lord Jesus

*See Quaker 1 vol. p. 183. and Phil. Ser. p. 66. † Phil. Ser. p. 163, 166, 257, 258. New York Ser. p. 93. Quaker 1 vol. 146. ¶ New York and Phil. Ser. p. 90, 13, 208.

meeting-house at ten o'clock on sixth-day morning. This step being taken, it evidently wrought such a change in the countenances of the suffering members of this Monthly Meeting as cannot well be set forth in words; thus another day of trial, in anticipation dreaded by not a few, was, in adorable mercy, passed over.

Monthly Meeting for New York is held, as no separation had taken place in it, Friends proceeded to their meeting-house, where the Monthly Meeting is usually held; after the meeting had sat about an hour, one of the separatists proposed they should go to business, and Friends with the separatists, retired to the basement-story as heretofore. Great excitement having taken place in the I had been looking towards Flushing Monthminds of the young people who had gone ly Meeting to-morrow, but my bodily strength. off from the Society, on the occurrence appeared so much exhausted by long sittings of this Monthly Meeting, they gave a very and continual exercise of mind, that I had general attendance. The meeting for disci- concluded I must give up the thoughts of such pline being opened, the clerk of the Yearly an attempt; but as I found I could not get Meeting of Friends of New York laid on the comfortably from under the weight of it, I retable extracts from their Yearly Meeting; the quested my companion to be in readiness, and clerk of the Monthly Meeting, who is in con- we proceeded accordingly. My mind by this nexion with the separatists, laid on the table time had become a little seasoned to bear also extracts from the Yearly Meeting of the these tumults, which I again looked for at separatists, and contended for reading the ex- Flushing. It was expected there would be a tracts from their Yearly Meeting, in which he part of a committee of the separatists' Yearly was warmly supported by their body, but Meeting, both men and women, in attendance. Friends maintained their testimony against at this Monthly Meeting. The clerk of the the propriety of such a step. After Friends Yearly Meeting of Friends of New York laid had passed through a time of sore exercise, on the clerk's table the extracts from that and a determination being manifested on the Yearly Meeting, and extracts from the Yearly part of the separatists to have the extracts Meeting of the separatists were also laid on from their Yearly Meeting read, it was pro- the clerk's table, with an epistle from that posed to adjourn the Monthly Meeting; and body. This produced the like disorder which such Friends as could not favour the disorder-took place in the Monthly Meeting of New ly proceedings, which the meeting had mani-York, but Friends were preserved in quiet, fested a determination to pursue, were re- amidst all the abusive language and provoquested to retire to the back part of the cation they received from some of the memmeeting-house, and appoint a clerk for the bers of the Monthly Meeting and the comday, and then conclude upon a place to ad-mittee of the separatists. Endeavours were journ to; this measure was warmly opposed used by the separatists to prevent those who by the separatists, but Friends retired, being partly accommodated with seats, and getting into as much quiet as the nature of their situation would allow, they appointed a clerk, and concluded upon adjourning to Rose street

were strangers speaking in support of the order and discipline of the Society; after the minds of Friends had been thus exercised for about two hours, in support of their right to have the extracts from the Yearly Meeting of

"The contrast between the Christian principles lowship, nor own them to be of our communion; of our religious Society, and those held by the Se- neither can we correspond with any meetings or paratists, who have adopted the anti-scriptural sen-associations, holding those principles, and set up in timents of Elias Hicks, must be strikingly obvious violation of the excellent order, which has been to every unprejudiced mind. The sorrowful effects instituted among us in the unfoldings of Divine of these principles in deranging the order and wisdom. While we believe it to be a religious subordination necessary to the well-being of our duty, thus to stand forth in the defence of the Gosreligious Society, the disunity and discord produced pel of Christ, against the spirit and principles of by them in meetings and in families, have been libertinism and infidelity, we have no doubt, that very fully developed in the last five years, not only many who have joined in the present schism, have within the limits of this Yearly Meeting, but also been led into it, by the influence of misrepresenin many other parts. We believe it right to bear tation and unfounded prejudice against their breour decided testimony against such principles, as thren, and without a full knowledge of the princitending to destroy all faith in the fundamental doc-ples of their leaders. For such as these, we feel trines of the Christian religion, and to break asun-deep regret and tender solicitude: and it is our der the bands of civil and religious society. And we further declare, that as such who entertain and propagate them, have departed from the teachings of the Holy Spirit, which would have preserved them in the doctrines of Christ Jesus and his apostles, we cannot unite with them in church fel

fervent desire for them, and for all others who have departed from the right way of the Lord, that he may be pleased to renew the visitations of his love and light to their souls, and in his own time, gather them to the fold of Christ's sheep, where they may go in and out, and find pasture.'

Friends were to have sat down to business, as no entrance into the house was allowed, the gates continuing to be kept locked, we quietly moved on in a body to the medical college in Duane street, to hold the adjournment of the Monthly Meeting.

Seventh-day, 7th of sixth month, 1828, in a very feeble state of body, I left New York and rode to Rahway. I could gladly have yielded to more indulgence than has been common with me since I left my own comfortable home, but there was no way for me but to proceed on my journey.

Friends read in their Monthly Meeting, and the determined opposition manifest to it by the separatists and their committee, calling the Yearly Meeting of Friends a spurious Yearly Meeting, and one they could not own, it appeared the best way to suffer those who denied their allegiance to the Yearly Meeting of Friends in New York to go on with their business, and for Friends to sit quietly and not take any active part therein, the clerk of the Monthly Meeting being with the separatists. The separatists proceeded to business; a deputation came in from the women's meeting, informing men Friends of the trying situation First-day morning, I found it hard work to they were placed in, by divers females being prepare for meeting, and had I given way, I present who had no right to sit that meeting, should have concluded I could not sit meeting and who would not withdraw. On which this day; but this I found would not bring the women Friends were informed, the men peace to my own mind, nor would it be likely Friends had concluded to remain in the meet- to secure for me a fresh supply of that help I ing-house and transact the business of the stood in need of, in order to get comfortably Monthly Meeting. Some of the separatists through the journey I had before me; I objected to leave Friends in possession of the therefore resolved to do my best. Whilst meeting-house, for this purpose, but this not I was on my feet in communication, one being generally persisted in, they accordingly plain looking man left the meeting-house, left Friends in the house alone, the clerk and I expected his example would have been taking away with him the books and papers belonging to the Monthly Meeting. The women Friends then came into the men's meeting to say, the separatists had finished their business, but were determined not to quit the meeting-house whilst the women Friends were there. The men's business being nearly finished, they were informed to that effect, and that the men would then give up their house to them to transact their business in; the women therefore took possession of it. Thus closed this trying day; trying, not only as it respected the difficulties Friends had to meet with, but also such well-disposed individu-me, and passed by Rahway meeting. als whose minds had been wrought upon, Second-day, we reached my comfortable either from the affectionate part overpower- home at Philadelphia; here I received the ing their better judgment, or by being argued welcome intelligence, that my kind friend out of it, and had united themselves to this James Emlen had given up to be my companbody. ion in the journey before me, which was not Sixth-day morning, we returned to New a little cheering to my tried mind, under the York, and at the time of the adjournment of difficulties that at present exist in finding suitthe Monthly Meeting went to Rose street. Al-able companions who are able to leave home though some Friends had waited on the pro- for any length of time. perty committee, requesting the use of the Fourth-day, I reached Evesham, and athouse to accommodate the adjournment of the Monthly Meeting, the doors were locked against them; men and women continued to collect in the street until we formed a considerable company. Friends were preserved, under their trying circumstances, in the quiet, Fifth-day, attended the Quarterly Meeting and from much conversation; some aged and for the general concerns of the Society: infirm females taking their seats on the steps Friends were obliged to meet men and women of the houses opposite to the meeting-house, apart, with the shutters closed, to avoid the appeared to excite attention: after waiting a interruptions they had experienced from those considerable time beyond the hour when who had no right to sit in these meetings. In

followed by others; but this was not the case: it proved a day of sore conflict to my mind, yet in that the unruly spirits were made subject, and were induced to remain in the meeting-house and hear what I had to offer to them in the line of the ministry, I was made thankful; as well as in believing my friends were not dissatisfied with this day's work. Rode this night to our friend David Clark's, at Stonybrook, a distance of nearly thirty miles. I felt greatly exhausted when we reached the end of our jouruey; but was comforted that I had not done as my inclination prompted

tended the Select Quarterly Meeting of Haddonfield: I felt well satisfied in sitting down once more with the Friends of this meeting, who remain attached to the ancient order of our religious Society.

this Quarterly Meeting a desire appears to prevail that the discipline may be supported, and Gospel order maintained in all their meetings after the meeting closed I returned to Philadelphia, to prepare for my journey in prospect. On my way across the Delaware in the steam-boat, a large company of separatists were on board, who had been to attend their Quarterly Meeting at Haddonfield. Friends having refused to open the meetinghouse to them, they had obtained forcible entrance some of them in a loud tone of voice, evidently for me to hear, boasted what a comfortable Quarterly Meeting they had, which led me to query in my own mind, how could that be, under the circumstances in which they had gained admittance into the house to hold that Quarterly Meeting; but silence appearing best for me, I observed it.

Sixth-day, my bodily debility so increased, it was necessary I should get into the country; and accordingly I went out to the house of my kind friend Israel W. Morris.

First-day, attended Merion meeting, which was held in a school-house, the meeting-house being occupied by the separatists: our company was not very small; it proved a quiet, and I believe, a comfortable meeting.

Third-day, 17th of sixth month, I rode to Haverford, and attended their week-day meeting; the separatists having the control of the meeting-house, had changed the day of holding the week-day meeting, and locked the meeting-house against Friends on the usual day of meeting; in consequence of which, I was informed by a Friend of the meeting, they met for about two months at the gates of the meeting-house yard, on the day for holding their mid-week meeting, and sitting in their carriages, [wagons, &c.] they held their meetings in that way. A private house being empty in the neighbourhood, Friends have since held all their meetings there. I felt well satisfied in sitting down with the little company I found here.

Fifth-day morning, I left my friend Israel W. Morris's, much improved in my strength, and proceeded to Middletown, to attend the Preparative Meeting. Friends here have separated as respects meetings for discipline, but still meet with the Hicksites in meetings for worship when the Preparative Meeting was opened, a young man, one of the separatists' party, remaining in the meeting, was requested to withdraw, before Friends proceeded with the business; but this he positively refused to do, and after a considerable exercise of patience on the part of Friends, the meeting was adjourned to a private house. Men and women united in considering the subject of a separation in meetings for worship: but on

going into the subject, a fear prevailed in some minds, lest Friends should become weary of suffering, and by this means get from under these trials before the right time; some acknowledging, that, trying as their situation in their meetings for worship had been, yet they would rather endure these sufferings longer, than that the meeting should take any premature steps for relief: it proved, I believe, a humbling time to most. A committee was proposed of men and women Friends, to take the subject under consideration, and report to the Preparative Meeting; and Friends separated under an evidence that the step they had taken, was owned by Divine goodness; and they believed the time was not very distant, when way would clearly open for their release. Friends were not much longer tried by being obliged to meet with this unchristianlike company; for shortly after the subject of a separation had been considered by Friends, the separatists themselves prepared the way for Friends' release. At one of their weekday meetings, before the meeting had sat its usual time, the disaffected part of the meeting rose up in a body, and left the house with a view of breaking up the meeting, but Friends quietly kept their seats; and when they broke up the meeting, an elder reported, that a visit had been made him by one of the separatists on behalf of the whole, telling him they should no longer submit to his breaking up the meeting.

First-day morning, attended meeting at Newtown: the opposing spirit was chained down, although what I had to offer amongst them was such, that I looked for no other than that many would leave the meeting, yet all kept their seats.

Fifth-day, attended Middletown week-day meeting, and the day following Chichester meeting, which was small, but still and comfortable.

First-day, attended Stanton meeting, which consisted very much of young people; it was pleasant to observe the quiet and order that prevailed; although it was evidently to be felt, that the life of religion was at a very low ebb. I felt satisfied I had yielded to come and sit down with this company: I was told it was the most quiet meeting that had been known at Stanton for a long time, there being some very bitter spirits amongst them. We returned to Wilmington in the evening.

Second-day, Friends held their Monthly Meeting here; and several of the Quarterly Meeting's committee gave their attendance. Friends believing it would be to advantage to meet separately, in a meeting for worship capacity, from those who had seceded, a committee was appointed to effect it. I rejoiced

that this step was about to be taken, not doubt-sat a very long time, that I had strength to ing that it would prove one means of their stand up and endeavour to express what I be being better qualified to deal with their delin-lieved I was commissioned with. The meetquent members, some of whose cases they had ing for discipline was to me a very trying one; now taken up. After meeting I rode to Con- fear and dismay evidently prevailed in the cord, and was kindly received by Nathan minds of the few well-concerned Friends who Sharpless; and on third-day, 1st of seventh were left in the meeting, to the hindrance of month, attended Monthly Meeting here; the their coming forward in the right exercise of business of the meeting chiefly consisted in the discipline. Most of the overseers being attending to cases of delinquency, on account gone with the separatists, I requested the of the separation which had taken place in the meeting to turn its attention to the subject of meeting. overseers, and try to settle down into quiet; Fourth-day, attended the Monthly Meeting and then I believed Truth would point out the at West Chester. The meeting was occupied necessity of a few Friends being nominated in the consideration of a separation in meet- to bring into the meeting the names of the ings for worship; a committee was appointed most suitable Friends amongst them, to fill up to consider the subject, and, if way opened for the vacancy in the number of overseers in it, to propose measures for their relief. The both meetings. Although there was a dispocases of their delinquent members also occu-sition manifested in some to put off taking this pied much time. Friends appeared to move step a little longer, yet the meeting went into along in much harmony. Fifth-day, returned a nomination which it appeared was a relief to Philadelphia.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

SEVENTH-DAY, 5th of seventh month, 1828, my kind friend James Emlen and myself took our departure for our intended visit to Ohio. First-day, attended Plymouth meeting, held at the house of Hannah Williams. Here we met from sixty to seventy Friends, many young people, whose countenances I thought denoted they were under the preparing Hand for usefulness in the Society.

to some minds. It was known to Friends of this meeting, that Elias Hicks was at Columbia, where those who had separated from Friends in this meeting were holding their Monthly Meeting, and that Elias Hicks intended having a meeting in Friends' meetinghouse here. This circumstance appeared to bring some of the members of this meeting under difficulty how they should proceed in the case; as it appeared all the trustees of this meeting were with Friends, I thought it was right for me to encourage them to be faithful and do their duty, by warning the door-keeper against opening the house on his or his party's On our way towards Sadsbury, we under-request, whereby Friends would be clear. Afstood Elias Hicks was before us, and had been ter meeting we rode to Lancaster, and took holding a large meeting in an orchard. Fall-up our abode for the night at the house of one ing in company with a serious Episcopalian, of the judges of the district court, by whom who had been at the meeting, I queried with we were kindly cared for. him, was he satisfied with the doctrine he had We proceeded by Abbot's-town to Chamheard? To which he replied, "His doctrine will bersburgh. When opportunity was afforded not do for me; he cries down all laws, both in passing through the different towns and moral and Divine; if people receive his doc- villages, I endeavoured to obtain an interview trines, I should not be safe out of my house with the preachers and serious members of the in the evening, nor in my bed at night." Hav- different denominations of professing Chrising some pamphlets, and the Declaration print- tians, with whom I left a number of the Deed by the Meeting for Sufferings in Philadel- claration and other pamphlets printed by the phia, in which the doctrines of Friends are Meeting for Sufferings in Philadelphia. It apcontrasted with those of Elias Hicks, by ex-peared as I went along, that the principles of tracts taken from his printed sermons, I gave him some for distribution, to wipe away any reproach that might attach to the Society, in consequence of sentiments advanced; which he appeared gladly to accept.

Third-day, attended Monthly Meeting at Lampeter; it being harvest time, I was told the meeting was thinly attended. My mind, early in the meeting was brought under exercise for service, but my faith was at such a very low ebb, that it was not until the meeting had

Elias Hicks were known, and great opposition to them was manifested. As it was understood he was to take this same route, I felt it required of me to inform people thereof, that they might not be taken by surprise should a request be made by his party for the use of any of their meeting-houses in the name of Friends.

At two places where we stopped, I met with some serious individuals, with whom I left some of the Declaration and pamphlets; they