But alas! what a stir the opposite principle makes within us, in order to keep us in bondage to ourselves. Happy is it for all those who take up the cross, deny self, and press on, following the Divine guide. Although clouds and darkness may gather around us, and the strength and power of the subtil reasoner may try us, yet let us still persevere through all;fleeing as from Babylon to Bethel, the house of God. We have a Helper that is near, and stronger than our strongest enemies; and if we draw near to him, so as daily to dwell in the house of prayer, he will reward us in his own time with the evidences of his love.. What though the ascent to the mountain of the Lord's house is laborious, all our toil will be abundantly repaid at last.

Those dear children who begin early to tread the path that leads to Zion, if they continue faithful, will prove to be the salt of the earth. I feel them at times preciously near to my best life.

I have just returned from meeting; a favoured, yet trying season to me; for my lot seemed to be like travailing in the deeps, that light and life might be in dominion. Oh! that we may so live in this life as to meet and live in the never-separating realms of perfect peace hereafter; and may we all so run that we may attain to this gracious privilege and enjoyment, is my fervent wish.

The 2d of the 10th month, 1803. I am comforted, and feel thanksgiving in my heart, that some of my children are passing on in the high way to sanctification; choosing the path that leads to Zion, and trying to walk steadily through this probationary world of snares, dangers and trials, to a land of permanent rest

and peace. My heart sympathizes with them, and I feel a near uniting in spirit, much desiring their preservation. I know there is a power altogether able, and who waits to be revealed to the mind that looks for and desires his holy aid and protecting care, in order to become clothed with the garments of Divine approbation, the pure and white raiment of righte

ousness.

What choice living, where love and unity is preserved among near neighbours and near connexions! But in order to enjoy this there needs a being grafted into the true vine, where all the branches partake of the one living sap, flowing from the essential Root. These, and these only can feel as brethren and sisters descended from the one Father. Oh! that there were more of this precious love and unity in the Divine life, prevailing amongst mankind!

I often think of my absent children; but I have found it best to submit to cross occurrences and trying dispensations, with cheerful submission and calm resignation. This soothes the rough passage of life to a quiet calm. May we always lay hold of this anchor of hope, till landed in a more serene and tranquil country, when these decaying and painful tabernacles are laid aside. Mine is such; but let us never heed them, if we can but hear the melodious, peaceful sound, breathed within us by the heavenly Guest that chaseth away the darkness and bringeth the approach of a joyful morning.

The 5th of the 2nd mo. 1804. I hope I may ever stand open to reproof and instruction. But what an enemy to good is this busy, active self! The heart of man is said to be deceitful, and even desperately

wicked when selfishness governs it; and the query is, Who can know it? Why, the Light discovers it, even in its close lurking places, to those who are advancing in obedience and faithfulness to their God.

I can sympathize with those who are, under discouragement; for the principle of darkness seems ever striving to keep us off the right ground. Oh! how many by-ways, snares and dangers surround us! But it is so permitted in the wisdom of our Creator, that we may know our safety is in watchfulness and humility. This life is like a field of warfare and combat. A watch and piquet guard is necessary to be set, to announce the approach of the enemy in all his policies and devices. If in the arduous task, we faithfully attend to the General's motions and orders, we need not fear him, though with his fiery flying legions he may lurk in ambush ready to surprise and lead us captive. Let us, therefore, keep close to the Light, in a humble acknowledgment and sense of our own nothingness without its preserving power. Those that humble themselves shall be in due time exalted; and they who lean on the arm of Omnipotence, shall witness peace and preservation.

There is, as it were, a right arm, a right eye, and a sacrificing an only son, sometimes called for and to be given up by us: and if we are obedient to the requiring, we shall be numbered with the faithful, and have an inheritance with those who through tribulation have their robes washed and made white. If, through this probationary state, we run well to the last, we shall inherit the promises.

But it must be by passing through the furnace, that the dross and mixtures of impurity will be separated;

so that we may become pure. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Let us be faithful, and watch unto prayer; for the house of prayer is an asylum and safe enclosure, where the spirit sometimes breathes with groanings that are unutterable. Dwelling here with ardent desires after God, we shall witness the saving, protecting care of our Almighty Father.

This language often passes through my mind,"Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation:" for it is only while we are on the watch that we are safe; for when we are off our guard, we soon fall into error. Hence the apostle exhorts, "Pray without ceasing." Keep alive a continual desire of preservation from all evil. It is well for us to be sensible that we stand in need of help and support from above: and though at times we may feel as if the earth with her bars was about us continually, but if we look with our inward eye towards God's holy temple, we shall yet live, and, in his own time be quickened and enabled to rise above all.

10th month. Thou wishes me to write, my dear Sarah; and if I pen my present feelings, they may tend to add some anxious, sympathetic sensations to thy mind. I feel for thee; and if I have acted imprudently, oh! tell me freely; for I can bear it. I know it is profitable and necessary to pass under the dispensation of condemnation, and bear the yoke when we have erred. But, my dear child, have patience, and let thy mind dwell in that which will enable thee to rise above the little trials that may attend thy path..

But I

Such a mournful prospect is sometimes presented to my view, that I am ready to say, "all flesh is grass, and all the goodliness of this world is as the flowers of the field. The grass withereth," and the goodly things of time are soon gone; and I may say there is much that is vanity and vexation of spirit. fear I sometimes indulge too much in viewing the gloomy side of things; and it is wrong to give way to it too much: while it is right that we should have a correct sense of this probationary pilgrimage, so as to meet all events properly, that they may be rightly improved by us. I hope thou knows by living experience that there is a great first Cause who holdeth the world as in a balance, and offers his gracious promise of rewards to those who press forward through difficulties and discouragements, in a faithful reliance on his Almighty arm.

I dont know whether there is another like me, that writes so little to cheer up the drooping spirits of my children. But they can bear with and understand the language of a mother who has been many years in a school of the discipline of adversity, wherein I have learned to see and read many of the false glosses of things that are perishable. Hence, such as my lesson, so is my theme.

30th. As I came home from meeting, viewing the dark clouds in the north-west, my mind was turned to my children who are soon to be exposed on an unknown, rough, mountainous road; with their backs on their kindred and native home.

I sometimes feel very sorrowful, when a gloomy view of this world is presented, wherein there are