ly impressed with the necessity and beauty of unity and harmony among Friends. On this subject, the following remarks were made.

"This state will evermore be blessed with the circulation of life from member to member. They are engaged in mental prayer, breathing for one another, and they partake one with another, to the rejoicing of each other's hearts. But we find a breach of this unity prevents the heavenly blessing: For "if thou bring thy gift before the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." So, we need not expect our offerings to find acceptance, until we do our part of the work of maintaining love and unity. When we have faithfully done our duty in the Divine sight, then we find acceptance. And, "if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established; but if he neglect to hear them, tell it to the church." See the beautiful order established to maintain love and unity, and to be qualified to say; Lord, forgive me my trespasses, as I forgive them that trespass against me. So we may find that all hard thoughts one against another ought to be removed, before we can be rightly prepared for Divine worship.

But it appeared to me that Friends had been much behind-hand in this needful work of maintaining unity;—that they had felt some dislike to one another's

conduct; and for want of taking timely care to discharge themselves of their uneasiness, they had from time to time laid up these things in their minds, till some had got many accounts, old and new, against some of their friends, which had never been settled, or blotted out of their minds by the forgiving spirit of charity. These things produced shyness, and obstructed brotherly freedom and harmonizing love: so that they could not feel united for the prosperity of Truth, and for watching over one another for good. And some, knowing that they had given cause of uneasiness to their brethren, were willing to find something to charge their brethren with. Parents had infused their prejudices into the minds of their children. And when they assembled for Divine worship, the faces of each other revived the "aughts" they had against each other. These, not being prepared to receive the heavenly anointing, their minds were entertained with the failings of their brethren. Corrupting food! for any to feed upon the faults of others! These things stagnate the circulation of life in meetings, and may be compared to the foxes which spoil the precious vines.

As I endeavoured to be faithful, in this plain way of labour, I felt an increase of the precious ointment, and my heart was filled with gospel doctrines; so that I had to drop one sentence, and then to wait to feel strength of body to speak another; and endeavoured to arouse the meeting, both by precept and example, that we might endeavour to find some place in our friends' minds, to pour forth our concern for each other's preservation. For surely brotherly freedom ought to be used among Friends. It is a badge of dis

cipleship, and where freedom cannot be used there is a state of bondage."

The meeting held long, and it was a solid time of renewed visitation.

After this, my affliction increased so that I many times did not get out to meetings. Dr. furnished me with opium pills and advised me to use them, that my pain should not keep me from sleep. I asked him whether it would not benumb my sensitive faculties: but he thought it would not. I found it lessened the sensation of pain; so that I could lie still, and feel disposed to sleep, which was very comfortable to nature. But on strict examination, the pain still remained, and the disease was not likely to be removed. I found also that my ideas were not clear. It has a tendency too, to lessen all concern or anxiety about things, either present or any future state of being. Therefore I could not feel free to make much use of that which stupifies the talents given me "to work out my salvation through tribulation, fear and trembling."

I considered, in my deep afflictions, when I could not sleep, that the Creator of man is omnipotent, and that he permits afflictions for man's future happiness; that all things may work for the good of those that truly love and fear him. The Lord's prophets passed through many afflictions and troubles: and Christ, our holy pattern, was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," and felt the agonizing pains of death. He submitted to the Father's will in them, saying "not my will, but thine be done." So, when I have been enabled to follow the example of Christ, in submitting to the cross, I have found hard things

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wine & gall offered to Christ on the cross a stupefying influence it is said she refecter it.

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made easy;-my mind quieted in sweetness and borne up above pain, to rejoice in tribulations, and behold the mysteries of Heaven revealed to my understanding. This is much better than the operation of opium.

When we have given up all things to the Father's will, and by his purifying baptisms are made clean, then are we restored into the Creator's image of holiness. Oh! how much better for man to be awakened by afflictions, so as to experience this happy state; having the eyes sufficiently anointed to see things as they are in the Divine sight, and coming to buy gold tried in the fire, so as to be rich in Heaven-and having white raiment-knowing that the Lord hath clothed his nakedness,—than to be in a state of benumbed deception of being rich and full, when, in the Divine sight, he is poor and miserable, blind and naked. Did not Christ declare that many would be deceived, and not able to enter the kingdom of Heaven, where no unholy thing can enter?

Those that walk in the way of self-denial, and whose work has been to lay up treasure in Heaven, often bring their deeds to the light to know whether "they are wrought in God;" and if not, that they may be reproved-these have not much for the fire of judgment to kindle upon.

These are willing to go down into baptisms like one formerly who desired that he might be purged and clean, that he might be washed and made whiter than snow. How can any expect to be prepared for that holy place, without going down into deep judgments, and searching, fiery baptisms, to refine them as pure gold? The prophets, Christ and the apostles, pointed out these things; that the old earth and the

old heavens must pass away, and all things be made new. Darkness is to take place on this world's enjoyments. The prophet Joel says: "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth; blood and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood." And the apostle Peter declared that "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which, the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat: the earth also and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up. Seeing then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for, and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

I have often thought, that seeing these bodies of flesh must shortly be dissolved, and our spirits be removed to a new place of abode, what manner of persons ought we to be indeed; employing ourselves in holy, godly conversation! I have often desired that I might not hear much of the vain, trifling conversations of this world; so that I might not be drawn into them: as these things have a tendency to beget into the same likeness. I wish for my words to be fewer and more savory, "for in the multitude of words (Solomon said) there wanteth not sin."

In the spring of 1806, I felt drawings to attend the Yearly Meeting. My mind was brought into a sympathizing feeling with the state of society; and a deep