came prepared to adopt a query, to be annually answered, whether Friends were "careful to discourage the unnecessary distillation or use of spirituous liquors?"

To the advocates of temperance and moderation, and those who travail for the prosperity of Zion, and the enlargement of her borders, it may be a subject of regret, that the excellent matter, contained in the "Friendly Advice and Cautions" of Elizabeth Levis, should have remained so long unpublished, and been so little known. The circumstances of the suppression of the Essay, are now out of our reach to explain. We are conscious, however, that the human mind is liable to be influenced by prejudices even against the discoveries of Truth, especially when these come in contact with generally prevailing customs and opinions, or appear through weak or obscure instruments.

SOME FRIENDLY ADVICE AND CAUTIONS, Recommended to the serious consideration of the Profess ors of the holy Truth.-By ELIZABETH LEVIS. Dear Friends, Brethren, and Sisters,

Feeling the flowings of that love which wishes well to the whole family of mankind, with earnest desires that all may come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved, I cannot well omit giving some account of the great exercise that hath fallen to my lot. I have been in deep distress of mind for many days, insomuch that, in the night season, sleep departed from my eyes; until it pleased the Lord to

visit my soul in his love, and bring me to see the cause of my exercises. I was then made to say, in the secret of my heart, O Lord, require of me what thou wilt-I will give up to obey thee, as thou art pleased to enable me. And as I thus became resigned to the will of God, he in great mercy redeemed my soul.

Dear Friends, I never have found any other way to be favoured with true peace, than by submitting to the cross of Christ; and I can say, the Lord never requires any thing of his people, but what he gives ability to perform. Blessed be his holy name forever. He is not a hard master, but a rich rewarder of all them that faithfully wait upon him, and patiently abide under his refining hand, in the time of trial. Oh! that the professors of the holy Truth were willing to come to Jesus Christ, who is the Truth and the life, that he by the fan of his power may separate the pure from the impure;-not only gross evils that are accounted scandalous amongst men, but every thing that would obstruct the life of Truth in the heart.

Dear Friends, there are many snares and hindering things in the concerns of this world; and without due watchfulness, these will be as the little foxes that nip off the tender buddings of truth. Sometimes the Lord, by the light of his holy spirit, gives us to see the uncertainty of those things, and that our greatest concern ought to be, the well-being of the immortal soul. By taking heed to the pure gift, the heart becomes tender; but, for want of watchfulness, it is to be feared, many overlook those tendering visitations; and thus, the pure buddings of divine life have been kept under. For it is the work

of the enemy to fascinate the mind with the enjoyments of this life, by which, advantage has been gained over many, to the great sorrow and lamentation of the mourners in Sion. All this comes, by neglecting to give diligent heed to the gift of God in the heart, which hath light and power in it, to discover and avoid the snares of the enemy, as also how he works to captivate and enslave our minds with the things of this life, which are so uncertain For these things, many exercised minds go bowed down, and heavily on their way, and often cry to the Lord in the secret of their hearts, that if it consist with his will, he would work by his holy spirit, to the arousing of the careless ones, that they may flee from the wrath to come.

to us.

There is a call in my heart to you, my dear friends and fellow-creatures, that you carefully mind the visitations of the love of God to your souls. And I warn the earthly minded, that they may be stirred up to give due heed to the witness for God, in the heart: for, as this pure gift is attended to, it will remove the clods of the earth, that have too long obstructed the growth of the seed which God hath sown there. But for want of this, it is to be feared, some have become benumbed, as to a right sense of the great end of their creation; and that which ought to be their greatest concern, has but little place in their minds, to wit, the honour of God, and the welfare of their immortal souls.

It is in fear and reverence that I am thus concerned to express myself at this time; and in that love which wishes well to all mankind, I am enabled to bear the censure of those whose hearts are not seasoned by the virtue of Truth. I am con

cerned to call on the professors of Truth, that we may be still, and wait upon God; so that by virtue of his holy gift in the heart, we may be sensible what our works are, and what foundation we are building upon. If upon a narrow search, we find we are building upon that foundation, of which our blessed Saviour spoke to Peter, the revelation of the will of God, and on which the church of Christ is built, then the appearance of the Holy Spirit will be with comfort and consolation; although the Lord may sometimes try the faith of these, for the fitting of them for service in his church, when those who are resting in a mere profession will certainly suffer loss. My desire is, that none may slight the day of their visitation, until it be over, when too late, they may have to say, "the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”

I now mention that which hath lain as a burden on my mind; under the consideration of which, I have often been distressed. It is the subject of the unnecessary and too frequent use of spirituous liquors, in the general, and particularly the custom of taking it into the harvest field. This is certainly a great evil, being a means of drawing those whose inclination is after it, into a snare, by which their minds become elevated, and their spirits raised above the pure witness for God, being thereby put out of a capacity solidly to consider how thankfult we ought to be in the time of gathering in the fruits of the earth, through the mercy and favour of God.

It would be well to consider whether they are clear, who put it in the way of such poor creatures, that are thereby rendered unfit for proper labour; and are often not only disturbers of others, who de

sire to be better disposed, but sometimes have overcome some, and been their end. Such are the sorrowful effects of making too free with strong liquors.

There may be some who have gone into the practice of using spirituous liquors, and who are careful to keep things in the best order they can. But if those, whose desire is after it, should come under their care, they will find it difficult to keep such in good order; as I have found by experience, when we were in the practice of it.

A fear hath seized my mind, that some masters of fields, who even make profession of the Truth, are too easily drawn into the excessive use of strong spirits, and thereby rendered very unfit to guide others. Which conduct is a reproach to the Truth they profess, and displeasing to God, the fountain of all our mercies.

There is another case wherein this custom is of pernicious consequence, and I mention it in fear before the Lord; that is, concerning boys and girls being trained up too much in the use of strong liquors, which may in time increase their desire after it. Thus, as they grow up, instead of growing in grace, and true religion, they may grow in drunkenness. This must needs be a sorrowful consideration, that the children of any should be trained after this manner.

cesses.

I believe I am not alone, but others are burdened with that practice, as well as other prevailing exAnd I desire those who see the evil, may attend to it, and bear a faithful testimony against it. by example, as well as precept.