needless trouble to Friends here); so we intreat you to be more careful therein for the time to come.

Also it is the earnest desire of this meeting, for the Lord's sake, the honour of his name and truth, and the good of our posterity, that a godly care be taken by you for the due education of Friends' children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and in plain and modest apparel, and in truth's language, as becometh our holy profession and christian religion. And that all parents be good examples to them accordingly, and prevent and restrain them from the pride of life and corruptions of the world, as much as in them lies.

Finally, dear Friends, keep all your meetings (as well those for good order, charity, and christian discipline, as those set apart intirely for the worship of God) in his love, and in the name, power, and peaceable spirit of his dear Son Jesus Christ, which is the alone true authority of all our meetings; for" without him we can do nothing." And in his blessed power stand fast in righteous judgment over all unruly and disorderly spirits, that would break in upon the good order and discipline settled amongst us; as well as over all those that seek to lay waste the testimony of truth, and cause the offence of the cross to cease.

cr

And we beseech you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for his sake, as his family and house, let his peaceable wisdom and spirit bear sway in and among you all, and in all your meetings. And let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory, but let all things be done without murmuring and disputings. And all live in love and peace; be of one mind and one accord, and the God of love and peace will be with you, and bless you in your christian care and service of love one towards another, for his holy name and blessed truth's sake.

Signed in behalf of our said Meeting, by

BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XXIV-1701.

Dear Friends and Brethren,

In the love of God, which we have in Christ Jesus, we dearly salute you; and desire the sense of his goodness to us until this day, may be continued unto the end to his whole heritage.

We greatly rejoice. to hear of your affairs relating to truth's prosperity, and that love, peace and unity, are continued and increased amongst you; as also in the godly concern, and christian

care, that is upon the spirits of faithful Friends one towards another; and keeping to truth's testimony in all respects, and particularly in that part for which many chiefly suffer; blessing the Lord, that he hath given them not only to believe, but also to suffer for his name and truth's sake.

And if any weakness, shortness, failure or unfaithfulness appear in any professing the same truth with us, we hope faithful Friends and brethren will continue their christian care for their help, instruction and admonition, in the love and power of the Lord, as in his wisdom they shall see cause; still aiming at their good, their inward peace of conscience, and salvation in Christ Jesus.

The relation we have received by divers epistles from foreign parts, of truth's prosperity, and the faithfulness of Friends therein (viz. from Ireland, Scotland, West-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode-Island, Carolina, Virginia, Jamaica, Antigua, Maryland, Barbadoes, Bermudas, and Holland) was very acceptable unto us. And we have an account, from divers parts, of Friends' great sufferings in England and Wales, to the value of above 5000l. since the last year's account; and there are still continued thirtyseven Friends prisoners, although there have been thirteen discharged since the last Yearly Meeting. And the sundry sufferings do appear to be mostly on the claim of tithes; and divers of them by the old destructive course of proceeding to excommunication, imprisonments, and sequestrations; notwithstanding the sundry late acts (declared to be) "For the more easy recovery, &c." Which severe proceedings Friends may tenderly acquaint the bishops and civil magistrates of.

Our testimony against tithes and forced maintenance in this gospel day, being received from Christ, our head and high priest, is not of our own making or imposing, nor from the tradition of men; but what we have from him, by whose divine power we were raised up to be a people, and by which we have been preserved to this day; knowing that his ministry and gospel are free, according to his own express command, "freely ye have received; freely give."

The Friends that are in captivity in Barbary are duly taken care of by Friends. And their ransom, having been agreed for some time, it is hoped will shortly be effected. One young man has been convinced there lately.

As we are truly comforted to hear of Friends godly care for the good education of their children in the fear, nurture, and admonition of the Lord, in sobriety, modesty, and plainness of habit and speech; so it is earnestly desired that the same care may be continued and universally increased and put in practice; and, as

cause shall appear, to stir up all concerned faithfully to discharge their duty therein, as in the sight of God.

And as we are glad to hear of Friends' care, in making due provision for the education of their children in necessary learning; so it is desired that no poor Friend's children may want any such learning.

We sincerely desire all Friends to dwell in brotherly love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace: and according to the ancient apostolical exhortation, "let your "conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ:" that we may so hear of your affairs, as that ye stand in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel; that in the unity thereof all may be so preserved, that none of you may be carried away with any wind of doctrine, by the slights of men, and cunning craftiness; whose designs the Lord has greatly disappointed, yet do they still lie in wait to deceive. Therefore let your tender care be exercised towards them that are but weak in the faith, to strengthen and encourage them against that apostate spirit which would scatter and draw back to perdition.

So heartily wishing and desiring that all may persevere in the blessed truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray God that his grace and peace may be with you all unto the end.

We have great cause to be humbly thankful to the God of all our mercies, for that present ease and liberty we enjoy through the favour of the government; and the comfortable enjoyment of the Lord's blessed presence, which has been largely manifested with us in this our solemn assembly, and is an encouragement to us to continue this our Yearly Meeting; which is agreed to meet again at the usual time, if the Lord see good.

Signed in behalf of our said Meeting, by

BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XXV-1702.

Dear Friends and Brethren,

The salutation of our dear and ancient love in the fellowship of the blessed gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our heavenly head, which he hath visited us with, to the opening of our understandings, and quickening of our hearts to serve him in our generation, reaches unto you his churches and people where ever settled, all over the world; desiring that grace, mercy, and peace, fear, love, and obedience, may increase and abound among

you, to the glory of God, the unity of his church, and your mutual edification and comfort in the Lord.

According to our accustomed manner, we have held our General Meeting in this city, at the usual time; wherein divers mat ters came before us, and under our consideration, relating to our religious society, which we have thought fit to communicate to you as followeth :

That from those Friends that came up to this meeting from the several counties of England and Wales; as also by several epistles from foreign parts (viz. Bermudas, Pennsylvania, Jamaica, Long-Island, Rhode-Island, North Carolina, Holland, Scotland, and Ireland,) we have received accounts that great love and unity is among Friends, and truth prospers and spreads in many places; which was very comfortable to us; and we greatly desire the same may be abundantly increased and multiplied amongst

you.

We understand also, that although since the last Yearly Meeting fifteen Friends have been discharged from their imprisonments, there yet remain prisoners in divers parts of England seven-and-thirty Friends, mostly on the account of tithes; and that sufferings on the same account amount to more than four thousand five hundred pounds; although some other sufferings of the same nature are not yet finished.

And whereas we formerly gave you some account of the hopes Friends had, and endeavours used, for the redemption of Friends, captives in Barbary; we now let you know, that John King, Richard Robertson, Thomas Walkedon, Robert Finley, James Burgoine, Joseph Bigland (being all of our Friends who remained alive in that long and sore captivity,) have been this year redeemed; whose ransom hath cost Friends upwards of 4801. including one George Palmer, a Friend's son of Pennsylvania recommended from thence; towards whose ransom they also did contribute. Divers of which redeemed Friends have tenderly and gratefully acknowledged Friends' love and care of them.

And there having been also of late considerable disbursements for assistance of suffering and necessitous Friends, so that the former collection, that was made for the general service of Friends, is now wholly expended; it is therefore tenderly desired, that a voluntary and charitable contribution may be made in the several meetings concerned; and what shall be so collected we desire may be sent up to Tobias Collet, Richard Hawkins, Peter Briggins, John Freame, Samuel Waldenfield, and Roger Newham, or some of them.

And since the books of adversaries are industriously spread in many parts of the nation, for the aspersing ancient Friends, and

defaming our true christian doctrines; it is therefore desired that Friends, in their several Monthly Meetings, will appoint some judicious Friends to read over such answers as have been or may be written, to clear truth from their injurious calumnies; that Friends thereby understanding the controversy, and the falseness of our adversaries' accusations, may be the better able to vindicate truth and Friends, as occasion may be offered; and, if the service shall so require, to send for more than the common proportion of answers, to disperse among Friends or neighbours where need shall appear.

We earnestly desire, that all professing the blessed truth with us, be very careful to keep their words and promises, by paying their just debts without unreasonable delay; and do justice to all men, for righteousness sake, and to prevent the great reproach and scandal of defrauding any persons, by breaking in their debt, or otherwise injuring any. And where it shall happen any differences may arise, to shun going to law one with another; but that such differences may be justly and speedily ended, according to advice formerly given in this behalf.

And dear Friends and brethren; although we have not been altogether free from some exercises, yet our gracious and tender Father hath, at this our solemn meeting, highly favoured us with his power and refreshing presence; which hath deeply affected and closely united the hearts of Friends in the bond of peace and love; which the enemy of all truth and righteousness has often, but in vain, attempted to break. And that all such attempts may always prove vain, we earnestly beseech Friends every where to keep in that love and humility in which our unity and fellowship will be always dear and valuable: that so, when it shall please the Lord to give Friends opportunity to meet again (which we hope will be at the same time the next year, to which this meeting doth now adjourn), we may have a sense of one another in the same divine love and life in which we part.

Signed by appointment of this Meeting, by

BENJAMIN BEALING.

EPISTLE XXVI-1703.

Dear and well-beloved Friends and Brethren,

Who are sanctified and preserved in Christ Jesus, grace and peace be increased and multiplied unto you all. We tenderly salute you, as partakers with us in the spirit of love and life;