and acting in thee, is thy only life, the life of thy immortal soul; and this thou receivest not from thy progenitors, as any inheritance of theirs to transfer through the medium of generation: but it is the breath of the Almighty, the eternal wisdom of God, who, after he had created man and woman, breathed into them the breath of his own life, and they became living souls. Why should man who is beholden to another, be proud of that which he receives, when it is in the power and at the will of the proprietor to take it again at his pleasure? There is not a greater vanity among rational beings, let it appear in what shape it may, than pride; and in professedly religious characters it is a monster of great deformity: but humility raises the dignity of human nature, and is beautiful in all its appearances.

8th mo. 21st, being first-day, our meeting was very small. In the morning sitting, this language was revived among us, "It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man; yea, it is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in princes.” In the afternoon, none of our men elders attended.

22nd. The alarm of the yellow fever took place in the 7th month, while I was from home. It began at and about Coffee-house Slip; and the people from the eastern parts of the city thronged to the north side for refuge, but the alarm soon spread and drove them from thence. A great part of the city is now in a manner deserted. The fever continues to prevail, and it is a solemn, serious time. People are yet daily moving out, and great is the consternation that abounds. Our neighbours in Pearl street have nearly all left town, so that it seems very desolate and lonely, and we may truly say, "How doth the city sit

solitary that was full of people!" Oh! that the inhabitants did but fear the rod and him that hath appointed it! Oh! that they were rightly engaged to sanctify a fast, to bow before the Lord God of hosts, and to let him be their fear and their dread.

So lately as the 4th of the 7th month, the people were parading through the streets of the city with great pomp and splendour, as though they neither feared God, nor regarded man: and now, behold, at the lifting up of the rod of the Almighty, they have fled as chaff before the wind, and as driven stubble before the whirlwind. The people have more generally left the city now than they did in 1798; altho' it was then much more mortal than it has yet been this season.

31st, was our preparative meeting,-a very small number attended, but we went through the business by a little after one o'clock. It is good to have our trust and confidence in eternal help. Next day, was our monthly meeting, held in course at Flushing on Long Island,—a solid, good meeting, tho' a searching one. My wife and myself attended, as did nearly all the Friends who stay in town. In the evening, we returned to the children, and I felt comforted.

9th month 4th. Our first-day morning meeting was larger than usual, principally made up of young people, a number of whom were not members of our society: it was a solid, comfortable time. Afternoon meeting, small. In the evening, I attended a meeting at Brooklyn, appointed by Stephen Grellette. The number of deaths reported daily, is about eight to twelve, and new cases, between twenty and thirty.

These awful visitations are not for nothing. The universal Parent of mankind afflicteth not willingly,

nor grieveth the children of men. There is a cause; and until the cause shall be removed, we may expect the chastising rod of the Almighty. Our country has grown very populous; riches from all quarters have been flowing in, and earnestly grasped after by many among us. The natural consequence is high living, grandeur, pomp and show, great houses, rich furniture and costly attire. The fashions and customs of foreign nations have been introduced, and have found an easy entrance among the inhabitants. But lately, when this city was in health, scarcely a day passed but there were notifications, inviting the people's attention to the theatre. These places are frequented, not so much by the lower classes, as by those esteemed of the highest rank,—people of distinction, education, and what are called refined manners. In these sinks of corruption, they spend night after night, unto the last night in the week; and then, what state must their minds be in to present themselves at their places of worship on first-day! While these practices continue and are thus upheld, together with balls, dancing and gambling rooms, pleasure gardens, and many other evils, what calamities and scourges may we not look for? Surely, unless the people turn at his reproof, our country is fast ripening for heavier judgments than it has yet felt. For God will bring every work of darkness and wickedness to judgment, with every secret thing. How greatly indeed have all ranks fallen short of the purity of life and conversation, becoming christians!-The sober and reflecting heathens (as they are called) would shudder at many things that are practised by professing christians. Surely, there is cause for great mourning and lamentation, by all serious people

throughout the land, in a view of the backslidden state of professed christendom.

8th. This afternoon I attended a meeting appointed by Stephen Grellette; it was held in a new building in George's street, in a neighbourhood where are a number of sailors' boarding-houses, and where the people do sin with a high hand. Granting licenses to unprincipled men, and suffering so many taverns to be kept, has become a great evil. Oh! what places of corruption to the poor youth who are put to a seafaring life! Surely, the mayor, justices and influential men ought not to suffer such things, but consider themselves so much interested in the welfare of the people as to have better order. They should act under God, as his ministers, so as to be a terror to evil-doers and a praise to them that do well.

10th. The fever continues to carry off from eight to ten in a day; and though its progress is slow, yet if it should go on till cold weather, a large number of people will be removed to the silent grave. Yesterday morning we were alarmed with a cry of fire, which had got to a great head before the people collected. It broke out in a bake-house from the oven, and ten houses were burnt down before it could be stopped. This morning an attempt was made to set fire to a house in Fair street: fire was put to a straw bed, but was discovered before it broke out in a blaze. It was thought there were some bad designing persons in that neighbourhood. Our situation is indeed a serious one; for the people are so gone from that part of the town that a fire might get to a great head before much help could be obtained. The wicked-ness of man is great, and those who wish to have opportunity of plundering, are most to be dreaded.

11th. This morning we had a second meeting in George's street. A large collection of people attended, more than the house could hold: and though it is considered one of the worst neighbourhoods in the town, the Lord was graciously pleased to give ability to labour among them, and to sound an alarm and solemn warning to the rebellious. Truth's testimony was above all their wicked spirits and chained them down; many minds were affected, and, considering the rawness and ignorance of the people, they conducted far better than I had expected,-and many of them took leave of us in a friendly manner.

This morning, my ostler, a coloured man, was taken down with the prevailing fever. As he had not lodged in our house, we provided a place for him. where good care was taken of him.

13th. The fever appears to be increasing; thirteen deaths in the last twenty-four hours. For some time past, the bells for what is called public worship, have not been rung in this city. The appearance of religion seems almost to fall at such times. Surely, the religion inculcated by Jesus Christ and his apostles is too little practically known in its holy reality at the present day; while yet there is much that may be called fashionable and speculative religion prevailing. But the people generally are not disposed to bring their conduct to the standard of Truth, and so attempt to lower the standard to suit their manner of life. It is greatly to be feared that multitudes of professing christians will be found no more favourably circumstanced, than those formerly who drew nigh with their mouths and honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from him. "My sheep," says Christ, "hear my voice, and they follow me."