never again to be seen or heard of. I thought no mortal could have a lower opinion of me than I then had of myself. Yet at other times, I have found enough to do to keep down proud self, that loves to hear its own praise, and thinks well of all it does. Oh! what need of strict watchfulness! My desires are to be preserved in a line of conduct consistent with the station I occupy in society, so as to bring no reproach on the Truth I make profession of.Rather let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, than that I should forget the goodness of the Holy One to me, and that it is by him I am kept from falling.

6th mo. 5th. Left home in company with my dear friend Nicholas Waln, intending for Maryland Yearly Meeting to be held at Baltimore. In the evening, we arrived at the lower ferry on Susquehanna river, and had to lodge there against our inclination. In this day's journey, I observed in many places the trees were stripped of their leaves by worms, so that their appearance was to me the occasion of solemn and awful reflections. To a humble mind, there is something of Divine admonition in beholding the havock made by these worms. How easily they could destroy the grain also, if commissioned by heaven so to do! I believe it is Divinely intended that we should learn instruction by these providential occurrences; for it is as easy for Him whose armies they are, to send them on the fields of wheat, and allow them to destroy the staff of life, as it is for them to eat up the tender twigs and leaves of the trees in the woods.

The morning was rainy and the river rough, but we crossed in safety, and rode twelve miles to Bush

town to breakfast. Then travelled through the rain and reached Baltimore in the evening; where we lodged at John Brown's, who with his wife was very kind to us. We attended their fifth-day meeting next day, at which my friend Joseph Townsend was married to his second wife, a daughter of George Mathews. On sixth-day I was at their meeting for sufferings, and as its name, so it proved to me. Next day, was at the select meeting, a meeting for worship and also for business. They were exercising to some minds, as were also divers sittings of the Yearly Meeting, on account of some appearances by way of ministry that brought death instead of life. My desires were that I might learn instruction by the things that I suffered, and that silence might seal my lips, rather than I should burden the living seed. A large number of Friends from our Yearly Meeting attended this, and were of use; as Friends here appeared but weak in the exercise of the discipline.On seventh-day I got home and found all well.

14th. Our meeting was remarkably small, particularly on the men's side. It affected my heart with sorrow the greater part of the time of the meeting, in reflecting that a people favoured as we are, should be so neglectful of our duty. I remembered what our forefathers underwent in supporting this christian testimony, by keeping up their religious meetings; also what Christ said, "Other men have laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." For years past, I have been clear in the judgment, that if Friends had been faithful to their principles, the priests of all ranks in christendom would not have continued to stand in the estimation they do at this day; and the light of the glorious gospel of Christ

would have arisen to a much greater degree. But, alas! many are no more than nominal professors, or members by birth-right; and too many have rested at ease, without coming any further. Many are neglected in their youth, and grow up to be men and women, who can scarcely give any reason of the hope of their faith. Surely, a time is coming that will bring us back to our fundamental principle-that will awaken the stupid, the careless and the negligent. Oh! the indifferency of many of our members, with respect to the due, timely and wakeful attendance of our religious meetings! What a contradiction it is to our holy profession, to forsake the assembling of ourselves together for mutual edification! We profess to place full confidence in the supreme Lord and Law-giver, as the teacher of his people himself; we profess to owe to him the tribute of gratitude for his manifold favours,-and yet neglect to hold up this public standard to the world, of acknowledging our trust in his providence and our obligations for his blessings. Is it any marvel, then, that a cloud so often hangs over our assemblies; and that, instead of enjoying the sweet incomes of the Divine presence, we are fed as with the rod? Sometimes, when I am sitting in our fifth-day meetings, and look over the house, I have been ready to think a stranger would hardly believe that same house is so well filled on first-day mornings. On this and other deficiencies, I have often been led into mourn ing, and my heart has been pained because of the hurt of the daughter of my people, the weakness and the wounds which indifferency and lukewarmness have made in our society. Yet surely, the gathering love of the everlasting Father is hovering

over us for good, and would, if attended to, work our deliverance from all hindering things.

To Thomas Byrnes, Baltimore.

Brandywine Mills, 6th mo. 20th, 1787.

My dear young friend,—Thou art almost daily in my remembrance, and I can do no less than manifest my regard and care for thee, in spending a little time to write to thee. I shall treat thee with the same freedom, as if thou wast my own son; for I think I could hardly feel more concern for thee, hadst thou sprung from my own loins. Dear child, when I was last in town, the tears frequently flowed from my eyes on thy account; but I said, what can I do for him? I must leave him here in a place that looks like leaving a lamb in the midst of wolves. But I remembered there was an all-seeing, protecting God who delivered David, when a youth as thou art, out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear: and I cried to him to preserve thee also. This, I am satisfied, he will do as thou makest it thy study and care to fear and serve him as David did. Doubtless he is as able and as willingly disposed, as ever he was, to manifest his fatherly care over all those that seek him early. Let it then be thy engagement to remember thy Creator with reverence and fear; assured that the fear of "the Lord keeps the heart clean;" yea, that it is as a "fountain of life to preserve from the snares of death."

Thou art now grown to the years of maturity and manhood; and though thou art fatherless, yet remember thou hast an aged mother who loves thee. Suffer me to intreat thee not to grieve her righteous soul, nor bring down her gray hairs with sorrow to the

grave: but yield thyself to be actuated and governed by the dictates of Divine grace,-the principle of Divine light and life bestowed upon thee, and do not stifle conviction, by disregarding its illuminations. Let not the ardour of youth prompt thee to neglect thy duty,-thy indispensable duty to Him who formed thee for a purpose of his own glory. Remember him, fear and serve him at all times; for thou knowest not how soon thou mayst be brought before his dreadful tribunal.

There are those around thee who will be artful in persuasion, to draw thee in the way that they go; but they cannot force thee. Do not suffer thyself to be carried away by their intreaty. The power of acting or withholding lies in thy own breast; and if thou wilt but attend to the voice of wisdom, thou wilt be preserved. Hear now this language which she utters: "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee, so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;-if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous; he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thy heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul,discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall