The day before he died, he was under much difficulty in speaking, and said, "Friends, as I know not how long I may have my speech, I now take this opportunity to bid you all farewell." His mother-in-law taking him by the hand, he said, "Dear mother, I have loved thee ever since I was acquainted with thee; and also my dear father, so I bid you farewell-farewell in the Lord. I hope we shall meet again where we shall never part." He further said, "When you perceive that I am going, I entreat you all to be still, and quiet in your minds; for it may be that the Lord will favour us at that time."

He expressed that he had been much comforted. with the company of his friends in this trying time. "It has often revived me," said he, "when I have been very low, to see them come in, and sit soberly." He also expressed much satisfaction with the kindnesses received from his friends. To his sister-in-law, who attended him during his illness, he said, “Thou hast been exceedingly kind to me, in this time of great affliction. I hope the Lord will reward thee." Shortly after, he said, "I long to go. Now I am ready. I am easy, and want to go to sleep." He soon after departed this life, without sigh or groan, on the 24th of the 2d month,

1781.

It was observable, during the whole of his illness, which was upwards of four weeks, that his understanding was preserved clear to the last.

He was the son of Abner and Rachel Hampton, of Rahway.

SOME SERIOUS REFLECTIONS Respecting our Duty to God, our Children, and Ourselves. By Huson Langstroth.

As I believe it was much the concern of our worthy ancestors respecting our meetings for divine worship, that they might be preserved in that awful stillness, which is necessary in order to perform this solemn duty to God;-so it still remains to be the concern of the honest-hearted children of our heavenly Father. These feel deeply exercised on account of the young people, and others, who, for want of keeping their minds centred down in the valley of humiliation (in which only, the Lord can be truly worshipped)-suffer the enemy of all good so to divert and disturb their thoughts, that they have no true knowledge or enjoyment of the satisfaction witnessed by the rightly exercised, in their silent waiting on God, who commands the winds. and waves to be still, the storms to cease, and a great calm to come over the mind..

This is the state we must come to witness, before we can perform acceptable worship to him who is a Spirit, and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth; for he seeketh such to worship him. As we are thus engaged in the spirit of our minds, we come to see our own nothingness, and that it becometh us to wait in quietness till we feel the spring of Life opened, or the arising of the sun of righteousness in our minds; by the power of which we shall be enabled to offer acceptable worship to our heavenly Father. But this influence cannot be expected to be felt while the mind is carried away from its

proper object, into the hurries of the world. Therefore, how necessary it is for us to dwell in this lowly valley of humility, where we may have perfect peace with Him who will be a tender father to his poor, seeking children, and will preserve them from that careless spirit, as they lean on his arm of power, which is always stretched out for their deliverance.

My spirit hath often mourned, under a sense of the great unwatchfulness of many, who profess the Truth, and are pretty constant attenders of our religious meetings. I have feared many of these have let their minds run too much on the transitory things of this fading world; even when assembled in order to perform divine worship. Thus, from time to time, some have given way to the delusions of the enemy, and by that means have got into a poor, dry, stupid state; and so are at ease, under a name of attending meetings, but are not sensible of any spiritual benefit thereby; which often occasions the labour of the faithful to be exceeding hard.

Therefore, how can we expect our meetings to be attended with that awful stillness and solemnity, while such a careless spirit rules in so many, who are at ease in Zion, and while so many are stretched as on their beds of ivory, and taking their repose in the earth, unconcerned for themselves, and their tender offspring! Thus, the children become wounded, yea, sorely hurt, on account of the carelessness of such parents, who suffer their tender lambs, by little and little, to gratify their natural inclinations; first, by complying with their desires in small things, or such as appear small, for want of

keeping to the pure principle of Light and Life, by which they might be clearly scen, and their nature and tendency discovered. Thus, by indulgence in little things, their tender minds become more and more captivated: for although the things, in themselves, may appear trifling, yet they have the tendency to draw fresh objects to the view of these children. Therefore this language and advice is worthy of our serious consideration, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes.'

It is thus that every compliance of parents with improper indulgences, renders them less able to stand with firmness, and they become weaker and weaker in the exercise of right discipline in their families; so that things which once appeared reproachful, become small and of little consequence in their view.

Has not this been the case with too many in this day of ease? And therefore many of our young people appear to be walking in the streets of Babylon, that great city of abominations, imitating the Babylonians in their garments, manners and customs,yet bearing the name of Christians, though by their appearance, it could not be known that they so call themselves.

I have often felt my mind bowed under a sense of these things, which are too apparent amongst us as a people, notwithstanding the labours of those, who, from time to time, are engaged, in tenderness, to advise and caution against such indulgences; and the many advices which have been handed down from our Yearly Meetings, where the honest hearted have travailed under a sense there

of, even from early days. A few of these advices and cautions I here insert as follows.

London Yearly Meeting Epistle, 1688.

"We do entreat and desire all of you, our dear friends, brethren and sisters, that are parents and governors of families, that ye diligently lay to heart your work and calling, in your generation, for the Lord, and the charge committed to you; not only in becoming good examples unto the younger sort, but also to use your power in your own families, in the educating your children and servants, in modesty, sobriety, and in the fear of God; curbing the extravagant humour of the young ones, when it doth appear, and not to indulge and allow of it. And when you see a libertine, wanton spirit, appear in your children or servants, that lusteth after the vain customs and fashions of the world, either in dressings, habits, or outward adornings, and craves your assistance or allowance, without which it cannot get forward, while they are under your government,-Oh! then look to yourselves, and discharge your trust for God, and for the good of their souls; exhorting in meekness, and commanding in wisdom; that so you may minister and reach the witness, and help them over their temptations, in the authority of God's power. And when they feel themselves helped and delivered, their souls will bless God for you, and you will reap the comfort of your labour."

Yearly Epistle, 1735.

"And as it hath been frequently the care and concern of this Meeting, to advise parents, and all who have the tuition and education of children, to bring VOL. IV.-4