will be found so in the day of awful account, to steer clear of mixing the flashes of our own imagination with the openings of Truth; and this is sometimes done by standing too long. It is a brave thing to begin in the life, to move in it, and to end in it, to cast anchor in deep water;-or, in other words, while there is solemnity over the mind and over the meeting. What a sweetness there is to be felt, and a secret rejoicing before God; having evidence that we have been preserved, not only in standing up, but also in sitting down! I have known lively testimonies much hurt by over-standing the right time of closing. Oh! that all may be preserved from offering strange fire before the Lord.

17th. A remarkable wet season. Flax and barley much beat down. The past winter killed much of the wheat, the remainder is now threatened with mildew; and in some parts of Bucks county it is said. the crops are almost wholly cut off by an insect called the Hessian fly. When I attended Long Island Yearly Meeting some years ago, this insect was there, and destroyed most of their wheat. Surely, these things are intended for our instruction. If we would but hear the rod and him that appointed it, heavier chastisements might be prevented. Fulness of bread and abundance of idleness hath prevailed in the land, and I believe the inhabitants thereof will be brought down. It seems to me that a day of humiliation and deep distress is coming upon us.

7th mo. 10th. At our preparative meeting, the Queries were read and answered. It was a close, searching time, in which Friends seemed willing to get to the bottom of things, and not gloss over smooth answers, as is too much the case in some places. A

consideration concerning the use of fans in our solemn meetings, claimed the deep attention of some minds; and it was judged unbecoming the occasion of our assembling together to wait upon God. As the women were most implicated in this custom, the subject was weightily laid before their meeting; and a belief was entertained, that as Friends keep under this concern, it will be productive of good.

Oh! that Friends every where and in all things, did but live answerable to their holy profession! Were they but duly subject to the Divine principle and power that first gathered our worthy predecessors from amongst the nations, what bright and shining lights they would be in this day! We are a large body of people, scattered pretty much over this continent, and did we live up to the principles we make profession of, what an influence our example would have among others! What a terror and check to evildoers! for there is a dignity in the Truth, and a nobility in living answerable thereunto, which keeps transgressors in awe. But, alas! there is such a mixing with the people of the land, that our society is falling far behind what our forefathers were, in many respects.

20th. Being first-day, I was at Kennet meeting in the morning; had hard work, but the meeting ended to the solid comfort of some minds, and the holy Arm was magnified. In the afternoon, I attended a meeting at Thomas Carlton's. The old man being unable to get out, Friends appointed a meeting at his house, to be held once a month. It was a good opportunity, and I returned home in the evening, most of the way after sunset; but the ride was agreeable, having the company of John Kendall, John Way and

John Haines, three clean-spirited young men who had had a desire for some time to attend the afternoon meeting at Thomas Carlton's, and had concluded to go this day without knowing of my being there. May the arm of everlasting kindness be round about them.

21st. By the operative effects of the power of Truth in the obedient mind, victory over wrong things is not only obtained, but strength, wisdom and understanding are furnished, so as to keep the ground we have gained, and to move forward in what is called the Lamb's warfare, under his direction and government. We have few (if any) greater enemies to contend with, than the undue love of those things belonging to this world, with which we are connected. They lie close to us, and in times of seeming prosperity and peace, we are too apt to become too much attached to them: they prevail over us, like the old inhabitants of Canaan did over the Israelites. But it is through inattention and unwatchfulness in us, as it was in them. We see in many instances, where there has been a fair beginning in a religious life, and for a time a hopeful circumspection, that for want of watchfulness and a steady care, the mind becomes gradually weakened, and a withering ensues; till, at length, numbness and insensibility bring forth sorrowful fruits of defection from the purity of Truth. Yet some of these, as to outward appearance, manifest some zeal and exactness for outward order and discipline in society: but the life being wanting, their labours in a public or private capacity do not profit. If we are useful members of the church of Christ, there must be a warfare maintained against the spirit of this world in all its forms and shapes, until we

obtain a complete victory over it. Even the lawful things appertaining to this life, if suffered to gain an undue ascendency, bring the mind into captivity; and thus "the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in (through unwatchfulness) choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." Thus also, the work of reformation is kept back, both in individuals and in. the community. The pleasing prospect of accumulating wealth, and obtaining estates for posterity, has carried away many, even of our society, from the principles of our holy profession. Hence, the departures from moderation, plainness and simplicity among us. The children of such, must have an education answerable to their expected fortunes (so called;) and in acquiring it, many are grievously exposed to temptations which, it is to be feared, produce ruin and destruction to their immortal souls. For, not content with what they can acquire at home, they must be sent abroad to become more learned, to gain information and a knowledge of the world, and to become more polished in their manners.— Since my acquaintance with Friends, I have known plain and goodly lads or young men, sent over sea for this purpose; who, on their return, have very much, and in some cases altogether, banished the very appearance and plain language of Friends.

From these and other causes, on looking over society, I have observed the withering and declension that have taken place in some families, whose forefathers were renowned for their worth in our religious community. I could name many in city and country, where whole families are almost extinct, as to any prospect of being useful in the church. Sure

ly, the defect is not in the principles of Truth we make profession of. Surely, our christian discipline, if duly and properly exercised by faithful Friends, under the influence of meekness and wisdom, would go to prevent such departures from the plainness and simplicity and moderation of Truth.

27th. A few days ago, I went to Philadelphia to try to get my rent lowered, and this day I received a letter to that import, which has been some relief to my mind. Since I have lived at Brandywine, I have been oppressed with high rents, and in the difficulties consequent thereon, I have often remembered these expressions of the prophet, "What mean ye, that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor?" I believe renters are too generally oppressed by their landlords in many places, and that it is an evil in the land, arising from covetousness. My heart feels for the poor, the widows and the fatherless; and the distresses of the oppressed are at times heavy upon my spirit.

8th mo. 29th. My beloved friends, Norris Jones, Sarah Harrison, and Lydia Hoskins, came to Wilmington. They have been from home nearly twelve months in Truth's service, southward to Carolina and Georgia. They attended our meeting on first-day, in which Norris appeared in a few words to my comfort and rejoicing. Sarah Harrison not feeling easy to return home, but having her mind drawn towards Friends on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, they all set out to travel that way on the 2nd of 9th month, 1788. I accompanied them as far as Chester river, and was at five meetings with them. The seed of life lies low in many places, and they that are baptized into a feeling sense thereof, must go down into