purity of his government may be held forth through us to others.

As my mind hath been thus exercised, I have seen, that to be active and busy in the church, without the leading of the Holy Spirit, is not only unprofitable, but tends to increase dimness; and when way is not open to proceed in the light of truth, a stop is felt by those who humbly attend to the Divine Leader, a stop which, in relation to good order, is of the greatest consequence to be observed. Thus Robert Barclay, in his treatise on discipline, (see pages 65, 68, 84.): "That the judgment or conclusion of the church or congregation is no further effectual, as to the true end and design thereof, but as such judgment or conclusion proceeds from the Spirit of God, operating on their minds who are sanctified in Christ Jesus."

Now in this stop I have learned the necessity of waiting on the Lord in humility, that the works of all may be brought to light, and those to judgment which are wrought in the wisdom of this world; and I have also seen, that in a mind thoroughly subjected to the power of the cross, there is a savour of life to be felt, which evidently tends to gather souls to God, while the greatest works in the visible gathered church, brought forth in man's wisdom, are unprofitable.

When people are divinely gathered into a holy fellowship, and faithfully abide under the influence of that Spirit which leads into all truth, "they are the light of the world." Matt. v. 14. Now, holding this profession hath appeared to me weighty, even beyond what I can fully express, and is what our blessed Lord seemed to have in view, when he proposed the necessity of counting the cost before we begin to build.

I trust there are many who feel at times, under Divine visitation, an inward inquiry after God; and, when such in the simplicity of their hearts, observe the lives of a people who profess to walk by the leadings of his Spirit, of what great

concernment is it that our lights shine clear, that nothing in our conduct carry a contradiction to the truth as it is in Jesus, or be a means of profaning his Holy Name, and be a stumbling-block in the way of those sincere inquirers.

When such seekers as are weary with empty forms, look towards uniting with us as a society, and behold active members among us depart, in their customary way of living, from that purity of life which, under humbling exercises, hath been opened before them as the way of the Lord's people, how mournful and discouraging is the prospect! and how strongly doth such unfaithfulness operate against the spreading of the peaceable, harmonious principle, and testimony of truth among mankind!

In entering into that life which is hid with Christ in God, we behold his peaceable government, where the whole family being governed by the same spirit, and "doing to others as we would they should do unto us," grow up as good fruit from a good tree. The peace, quietness, and harmonious walking in this government, is beheld with humble reverence to Him who is the author of it; and in partaking of the Spirit of Christ, we partake of that which labours and suffers for the increase of this peaceable government, among the inhabitants of the world. I have felt a labour of long continuance, that we who profess this peaceable principle, may be faithful standard bearers under the Prince of Peace; and that nothing of a defiling nature, tending to discord and wars, may remain among us. May each of us query with ourselves, have the treasures I possess, been gathered in that wisdom which is from above, so far as hath appeared to me? Have none of my fellow-creatures an equitable right to any part which is called mine? Have the gifts and possessions received by me from others, been conveyed in a way free from all unrighteousness, so far as I know?

The principle of peace, in which our trust is only in the

Lord, and our minds are weaned from a dependance on the strength of armies, appears to me very precious; and I often feel strong desires, that we who profess this principle, may so walk as not to give just cause for any of our fellow-creatures to be offended at us; that our lives may evidently manifest, that we are redeemed from that spirit in which wars are. Our blessed Saviour, in pointing out the danger of so leaning on man as to neglect the leadings of his Holy Spirit, said, "Call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father When the wisdom from

which is in heaven." Matt. xxiii. 9. above is faithfully followed, and we are therein intrusted with substance, it is a treasure committed to our care in the nature of an inheritance from Him who formed and supports the world. Now, in this condition, the true enjoyment of the good things of this life is understood, and that blessing is felt in which is real safety. This is what I apprehend our blessed Lord had in view, when he said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Selfish worldly-minded men may hold lands in the selfish spirit; and depending on the strength of outward power, be perplexed with secret uneasiness, lest the injured should sometime overpower them, and that measure should be meted to them which they measure to others. Thus, selfish men may possess the earth; but it is the meek who inherit it, and enjoy it as an inheritance from their Heavenly Father, free from all the defilements and perplexities of unrighteousness.

When proceedings have been in that wisdom which is from beneath, and inequitable gain hath been gathered by a man, and left as a gift to his children, who, entangled by the same worldly spirit, have not attained to that clearness of light in which the channels of righteousness are opened, and justice done to those who remain silent under injuries; it hath under humbling exercise of mind, appeared to me, that the sins of

the fathers are embraced by the children, and become their sins; and thus, in the days of tribulation, the iniquities of the fathers are visited upon these children, who take hold of the unrighteousness of their fathers, and live in that spirit in which those iniquities were committed. To this agreeth the prophecy of Moses, concerning a rebellious people: "They that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them." Lev. xxvi. 39. Our blessed Lord, in beholding the hardness of heart in that generation, and feeling in himself, that they lived in the same spirit in which the prophets had been persecuted unto death, signified, "that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world, should be required of that generation, from the blood of Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple." Luke xi. 50, 51.

Tender compassion fills my heart towards my fellowcreatures, estranged from the harmonious government of the Prince of Peace, and a labour attends me that they may be gathered to this peaceable habitation. In being inwardly prepared to suffer adversity for Christ's sake, and weaned from a dependance on the arm of flesh, we feel that there is a rest for the people of God, and that it stands in our perfect resignation to his Holy will. In this condition, all our wants and desires are bounded by pure wisdom, and our minds are wholly attentive to the counsel of Christ, inwardly communicated. This appears to me a habitation of safety for the Lord's people, in times of outward commotion and trouble; and desires from the fountain of pure love are opened in me, to invite my brethren and fellow-creatures to feel for, and seek after that which gathers the mind into it.

Mount Holly, New Jersey, 4th Month, 1772.

JOHN WOOLMAN.

A

WORD OF REMEMBRANCE

AND

CAUTION TO THE RICH.

[First Printed in 1793.]

SEC. I.

Wealth desired for its own sake, obstructs the increase of virtue; and large possessions in the hands of selfish men, have a bad tendency; for by their means too small a number of people are employed in useful things; and some of them are necessitated to labour too hard, while others would want business to earn their bread, were not employments invented which, having no real usefulness, serve only to please the vain mind.

Rents on lands are often so high, that persons of but small substance are straitened in taking farms; and while tenants are healthy and prosperous in business, they often find occasion to labour harder than was intended by our gracious Creator. Oxen and horses are often seen at work, when