hast so 'vilified' one of our noblest preachers in thy letter to the committee, shouldst remain as a member of the meeting." I replied, "Am I not a member? Did I transgress any law? or has any one member a right thus to expel another without law, trial, or ceremony?" He, however, was inspired and inexorable. I thought it useless to return and state the matter to the meeting, though I felt that it was usurpation and oppression. I just bowed and left the imperious zealot. At that time he was very high, inspired, and rising as a preacher,―a man of singular audacity, and, I fear, of wretched principles, as he has lately been convicted, by the society themselves, of some real or alleged iniquity, for which they have degraded and "disowned" him. I know of other oracles that once were like the urim and thummim of old, and whom, when I doubted audibly to my relatives, it was next to impiety and treason! But now where are they? God forbid that I should glory over them, as I do not! But let Friends consider! The stars of their heaven have been shaken; their brightest luminaries have fallen! Any one who can recollect the preachers of Philadelphia and its general vicinity for thirty years, ought to review the foundations of his faith in their holiness and inspiration! I recollect and could rehearse a multitude of facts and names that speak terribly in this relation! But I forbear. Friends there know what I mean!

When I saw, in the committee, the effect of the letter I had written, I commenced an explanation. This was not well received, for it was probably too

convincing. At last said C. very abruptly, "Samuel, dost thou believe the doctrine of predestination?" I regretted the question; for sure I was that neither did they understand the subject, nor could I satisfactorily explain it to them. Still, as it was a plain question of fact, I replied, "I do." "What!" he rejoined, "that horrible doctrine! I am astonished! I would know why thee believes it!" I replied, "Because I believe the Bible; and because that book very clearly reveals it." I here referred to Ephesians, chap. 1, and some other places. It appeared evident from his air that he did not anticipate the hardihood of so full an answer; and I thought that he asked the question as if to awe me into a denial of what he was pleased to predestinate to condemnation. Here the whole circle sat mute, till I turned to B. whom I most respected of the company, a man seemingly of more honesty, intelligence and worth, than I commonly found among them, in argument about religion. "Hast thou, friend B. never seen,” said I, turning to him and using the plain language,' as I did, respectfully to all of them at that time," hast thou never read that doctrine in Paul's Epistles, as well as elsewhere throughout the Bible?" He seemed troubled; but at last replied, "I certainly have seen there what looked very much like it indeed!" said I, "And why then didst thou not believe it?" said he, "As I never can understand it, I always turn over the leaf."" I answered, "If one cannot at all understand it, why does it seem to chafe you so? If we may turn over the leaf of an inspired book that was written on purpose to in

struct us in those things which God judges proper for us to know, and has therefore fully revealed, whenever we happen to dislike a passage, others may do the same; and so the whole Bible will be thrown away! I think this is a solemn and criminal slight put upon the Author of the Bible; and I, for one, should be afraid to do it. To me it seems modesty and piety both, to learn all that he condescends to teach, to trust where we possibly may be unable to solve, and at all events not to omit any part of his communicated wisdom, lest we should find our names omitted from 'the Book of Life,' in the last day: for he says, He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings." 12

I did indeed the more infer and feel that they were ignorant almost of" the first principles of the doctrine of Christ; unstable as water, that could not excel; children, tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive!" I felt too the horrible vanity of their vestimental signals of holiness; hence I pitied them with a bleeding heart, but felt divorced from their communion, and edified in utter detestation of their dreamy tenets. I shook their hands at parting, expressed my soul's wishes for their welfare, bade them farewell, and abjured them for ever. I went home to my mother's, happy and trusting in God, but more than ever penetrated with a sense that Quakerism was a hollow arid shell, in which neither truth nor grace resided, and which should yet be dashed and pulverized by the "iron rod" of the

despised Messiah! "As the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers!" Rev. 2:27. My soul was now in that frame which is expressed in the sober and excellent words of the 124th Psalm. I saw the. way of duty clear, and was calmly happy to walk in it. The storm was over, the agony gone! I felt it sweet and easy to leave all things for Christ, and thought my crosses, crowns; my losses, gains; my privations, privileges!

If on my cheek, for thy dear name,

Shame and reproaches be,

All hail reproach, and welcome shame,

So thou remember me !

That evening, I think, or shortly after, my dear, tender, and most afflicted mother, seeing that all the means and opportunities prescribed for my re-conversion only confirmed me, when I meditated and read the Bible, in a sense of duty to profess Jesus Christ in one of his own churches, now grew inconsolable; and, in a transport of grief, solemnly commanded me, in the name of God, who has required "obedience to parents" in his own word, to yield my purpose and continue a member of the Society! It was an awful and severe crisis! I felt its bitterness, and sympathised with her, whose strong and dear affection deserved for her all that a parent could deserve of a child! My sisters and brothers (I think all) were present. I paused, and then, with entire decision, answered: "We ought to obey God rather than man. Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. If any man come to me, and hate not his

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father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Acts, 4: 19. 5: 29. Luke, 14 26. 9: 62. Matt. 19:29. Mark, 10: 29, 30.) I intend to take stage to-morrow morning, before day, and return to Newark, where I expect soon to be baptized as a christian confessor, and partake at the communion-table with them that believe and know the truth." 1 Tim. 43. This purpose I was enabled to execute; and accordingly, on the seventh day of March, (Lord's day,) 1813, in the second 13 presbyterian church, Newark, N. Jersey, I professed my faith in Christ, was baptized, and did "eat of that bread, and drink of that cup," which symbolizes the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, "who died for us and rose again," according to his own blessed commandment, "This do, in remembrance of me." I was then in the twentieth year of my age. No one whom experience hath not taught, can well imagine what a struggle, and what a triumph it is, for an educated Friend to come to this! Instances of the sort are about as rare in this country as conversions from the Jews; and, while almost equally difficult and desirable, they are much less appreciated by Christians. I did it, however, in the hardihood of principle; conviction of the truth, and faith in