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was a good open time in the morning, but more so in the afternoon. At this meeting, there was a merchant of the town, who sent to know if our friends (he not being of our profession) would make a contribution for me, in consideration of my losses. He said he would contribute as much as any, although he had heard me only that one time; but he was informed that we received no money nor pay for our preaching; yet his good will I acknowledged.

The 4th of the third month, I was at meeting at the Spring, where I met with Joseph Gamble, and John Oxley, and his wife, and several others, not belonging to this particular meeting, and we were edified together in the love and life of Christ. I was concerned to speak of the divers visitations and speakings of God to the people since the world began; quoting the words of holy writ, that, "God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things:" and that this dispensation is the last and brightest dispensation of all, and is the greatest and most glorious manifestation of God's love to mankind; and that beside this vocal speaking of Christ, when in the body on earth, he now speaks spiritually: which spiritual speaking of Christ, in and to the true church, and true believers, will outlast time, and endure to all eternity; the great Lord of all, for his unspeakable benefit therein, was praised and glorified, as being alone worthy.

I had divers other meetings on the island, which I pass by, not being willing to be prolix. After a stay After a stay of about nine weeks, we proposed sailing. Judge Gray, a very noted man, and much esteemed among the people, took passage with us; also Joshua Birch, of Bridgetown, for his health, and William Callender, and several others, as merchants. Tho' I came on account of trade, our friends gave me a certificate that I had good service among them, and in my outward affairs had gained esteem among the people, as well as in my service in preaching Christ; all which I acknowledge to be the effects of divine grace; divers friends and acquaintance came to the sea shore at

Speight's-town, and in a great deal of tender christian love, and good desires, we took leave, and committed one another to the protection of the Almighty. We had a comfortable passage, and arrived at Philadelphia, where I was lovingly received by my wife and friends.

In this voyage, a great and weighty concern came on my mind, on account of the young and rising generation, desiring that they might be happy in this world, and in that which is to come. And first, as to this world, I have taken notice, that divers of the youth are too apt to waste their outward substance, which often is given to them, (for when they get it themselves, they are for the most part more saving of it) and this wasting and spending, those sparks call generosity, liberality, good nature, gentility, fine breeding, and abundance of other fine names, not considering the labour and industry, frugality, care, and watchings, of their parents or ancestors, to get what they have. May parents note this well, and not be anxiously concerned to get much wealth, which may be a means to ruin their posterity! and truly most of these spending, drinking, company keeping, gaming, chatting, tippling youngsters, take a great deal more care how they may get money from others, that they may spend it, than how to earn it, or faithfully labour for it themselves; they will beg or borrow, or run in debt, but take little or no solid thought to pay; by which means divers of those topping, beggarly beaus, and spenders, have brought both themselves and relations, parents and friends, to shame and disgrace, and sometimes to poverty, where their relations, and parents have been too liberal. Let all indulgent parents note this also.

And if any concerned person should advise those inconsiderate youths of their evils, it is much if they gain not their lasting ill will, and the epithets of niggards and covetous, ill natured, censorious, sour, morose, &c. However I shall venture to stand the shock of their dis. pleasure, and in as moving terms as I can, consistent with the matter on my mind, entreat them to consider the end of their spending, slothful, idle life, which if continued in, must needs end in their ruin, and they may repent

when it is too late, crying out, Oh! that I had hearkened to the advice of my father and my indulgent mother! Oh! that I had taken the counsel of my good friends in time, then I had not been in this condition, nor in those straits I am now in. This, or worse, must at last inevitably be the condition of those unthinking, time wasting and money spending, evil company keeping young people of both sexes. Some of whom, if they can get it, will spend more in a few hours, than their parents can get in so many days, which is very unreasonable, as well as unthinking; for if the indulgent parents do not hold their hands, truly they must all sink together; and where the parents have been what these sorts of youths call liberal, whole families have by such liberality been undone, which is a case to be lamented by all sober people.

I pray our spending youths to consider, how many brave, fine young men and women, whose parents have left them estates and handsome incomes, have by such extravagances, soon spent all, and sometimes more than all, and disgrace and a jail have been their portion; and how many, by living too fast, have died too soon, much sooner than might be expected, according to the course of nature.

: Wherefore, I would advise them to regard what the wise king Solomon said, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise; she gathereth her food in the summer;" (i. e. she prepares against the winter) though this may be despicable in the eyes of our fine gentiemen and learned spending wits, yet there appears more wisdom in these little industrious animals, than in those great spenders, who in the spring and summer of their years, take so little thought of saving what hath been with so much care gotten for them, or of getting more against their winter or old age; which, if they live, will certainly overtake them, when their youth or summer is gone.

But many youths object against this advice, crying out, as I have often heard, "The aged give this advice when they are old, but did as we do, when they were young as we are;" although this may be true in some,

yet it will not hold good in the general; and if it do in some, is not that maxim good, "Let others harms learn us to beware, before it be too late, that we fall not into the same snare, which hath entangled or caught thousands to their great shame and reproach ?" Again, those who have been so overtaken in their youth, and are escaped out of the snare, are more fit to caution or advise how to escape it, or to shew those paths which lead them into that labyrinth of wo and misery.

The author of all evil useth his utmost skill and power to promote the practices of excessive drinking, &c. among mankind, it being a mighty support to his kingdom; for when the nobility of the understanding is clouded thereby, then, Oh! how many wicked oaths, Oh! what corrupt language, what unhandsome, unbecoming words and actions, are brought forth! How is the sober, chaste soul, offended, and, above all other considerations, how is God dishonoured, and the end of our creation frustrated, and man condemned!

When people are in those excesses, how do they take the sacred name in vain, and so bring themselves in guilty before God, and man; for he has positively said, he will not hold those guiltless who take his name in vain; so that let him plead never so many excuses, he is pronounced guilty by the Judge of heaven and earth: therefore, let me persuade the youth to remember what the Lord by his servants said concerning drinking to excess: "Wo to the drunkards;" and that "no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom." Again, "Wo to them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink," &c. If it be objected, as it often is, when such poor souls are reproved, and their sins set in order before them; we trust in the mercy of God and the merits of Christ; I say this is a good trust and hope, if upon a good foundation; but the wicked must forsake their ways, and the unrighteous their evil thoughts; but what forsaking is that, when strong conviction is upon the soul, to make covenants, vows, and promises, and break them from time to time? And though Christ hath satisfied the justice of the Almighty for sinners, it is for those

who forsake their sins, not those who plead for the prac tice of them, and endeavour, by many vain excuses, to justify themselves in them.

Since then the salvation of the soul is precious, and hath cost the precious blood of the Lamb of God, and is much more precious than health or wealth, why should any be so cruel and hard-hearted to themselves, as, for a little vanity, froth, mirth, toys, trifles, vain sports, and evil pastime, to plunge and sink themselves into the eternal gulph of wo and misery; pray, Oh! pray con sider it, dear youths.

After my return from Barbadoes, in the fourth month, I visited friends' meetings at Burlington, the Falls of Delaware, Abington, Germantown, and was divers times at Philadelphia and Frankfort meetings; which meetings were much to my satisfaction; the Lord being pleased to manifest his goodness to many, as also to my poor exercised soul; for which I was truly thankful unte him.

In the sixth month I was at the general meeting of friends at Darby, in Chester county, which was a large, good meeting, divers friends appearing there in a lively ministry. About this time, some thousands of people came from Ireland, and also many palatines from Hol land; among whom, it was reported, were romans, or papists, several of whom, it was said, gave out threatening speeches, which caused some consternation among the people.

At this large general meeting, I exhorted them to trust in the Lord, and not to distrust that hand which had hitherto preserved us by his providence without outward force; and that though the people who came among us were many in number, yet we, having the Lord on our side, were more than they, in a mystical sense; putting them in remembrance of the prophet, who, when his servant was afraid, prayed to the Almighty, to open the eyes of his servant, and when they were mystically opened, he saw the mountain full of chariots of fire, and horses of fire, and that they were more than their ene mies. I was also concerned to exhort friends to be good

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