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 mourning, 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

keep thee;-to deliver thee from the way of evil. men, from the man that speaketh froward things;from those who leave the paths of righteousness to walk in the ways of darkness;-who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;— whose ways are crooked and they froward in their paths. To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words, (0 my dear child, give attention to this) which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.— None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. But do thou walk in the way of good men and keep the paths of the righteous; for the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it; but the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it."

I might copy much more of the words of wisdom as applicable to thy case; and which I hope thou wilt attentively read. Read it often, and be not backward in letting me know whether thou receives my letters

or not.

30th. I am still deeply concerned for thy preservation; for I think I often see thee in very great danger. Thou art surrounded with temptations; many endeavouring to draw thee from the paths of piety and virtue. Dost thou not see thyself exceedingly exposed; and that if thou art not very watchful and careful, they will prevail against thee, to the wounding of thy own soul? But if thou duly remembers and fears the Lord who beholds us at all times, those temptations will never be able to overcome thee.

Thou can hardly be more closely tried than Joseph was; and though thy trials may not be in the very same way as his was, yet every thing that leads from the holy command, or manifested will of God, if yielded to, is a transgression and will ultimately prove our ruin. So that I wish thee to be always fortified with that grace which induces to say on the presentation of every temptation, "How can I do this wickedness, and sin against God?"

Whatever arguments may be used to draw thee into things inconsistent with our religious principles and holy profession, yield 'not thereunto, I affectionately intreat thee; for, the moment thou does so, thou loses ground, and thy strength goes from thee, as Samson's did. Mark the consequence,-blindness, derision and shame. So that thou canst not be too careful: to tamper at all with temptation to evil, is to lose ground; and it is vain for any to imagine they can go only so far and no farther. I know what I say by sad and sensible experience; having trod the path of youth and exposure to dangers before thee, as well as felt the chastising rod for transgression. Thus, in pure love and good will, I am led deeply to feel for and to desire the preservation and the good of all; and particularly those who feel to me as my own children. Oh! that it was in the power of my pen to convey to thee the tender feelings of heart I am now possessed of, on thy account: surely, they would then have place with thee.

Remember my love to John McKim, Joseph Townsend, William Trimble, and their families.— With the salutation of dear love to thyself, I bid thee farewell, and remain thy unfeigned friend, HUGH JUDGE.