that I were able to believe that all of us, who stand in the station of Ministers and Elders, had escaped this too general contagion of the love of the world; but with sorrow it must be acknowledged, if we speak the truth, that there is reason to fear the complaint of the Almighty, through one of his servants formerly, may apply to some of this class: "The leaders of this people cause them to err." (Isa. ix. 16.) And such a line of conduct, if persisted in, must in the end prove fatal in its consequences.

Let none be saying I expose things too much; for those to whom these remarks apply have been exposing themselves more already for our hearers and the world at large are quick-sighted, and although our defects may have been passed over in silence, as respects notice thereof to ourselves, yet they do not pass unobserved, or without being remarked upon as to others: nor is it to be desired they should-the people are not to be expected to take things upon trust, or pin their faith on our sleeves, but to see and know for themselves. The enemy of all good is not idle, but ever alert, and ready with baits suited to answer his purposes; so that when the good hand has been turned towards any, and they have been favoured to see and feel the need of a still further separation, in love and affection, from all sublunary things, and the mind has become exercised with desires to experience this, then he has endeavoured to counteract the gracious design of Omnipotence by raising mountains of discouragement and difficulty in their way; endeavouring to persuade that the path thus opened to their view is not to be trodden by mortals; and as a confirmation of these his evil suggestions, turning their attention towards such in a more particular manner, who stand in the fore rank, and are making a great profession, but not coming up in a consistent conduct; and hereby, there is a reason to fear, the pure witness in such is often again put to silence.

I cannot doubt but that a desire to do "a great stroke of business," get great riches, and make a great figure in the world, is as much some men's besetting sin, as ever the love of strong drink has been that of others. But where the temptation is yielded unto, which of these do we conceive to be the greatest sinner? He whose mind and faculties are so besotted with strong drink, that he is thereby rendered unequal to the performance of either his civil or religious duties; or he in whom the same effect is produced by an overcharge of business for this must be the case; it must

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disqualify for a faithful discharge of civil as well as religious duties, when the mind and spiritual faculties of any person are so benumbed and overcome, if not "with surfeiting and drunkenness," yet with "cares of this life," (Luke xxi. 34.) with the love of his gold and silver, houses and lands; so intent on his mortgages and bonds; his interest and compound interest; trying to make a heaven here below! In this state, his religious performances and offerings are made like the niggard's,-grudgingly. If at meeting, scarcely in due time, and with his heart so full of the world, that as he brought it to meeting with him, so there is reason to fear he returns with it again; and before he gets well off the premises, he has a touch about it with some one, it being the thing that lies nearest to his heart! And if the church trust him with any of her concerns to execute, it must give place to every of his temporal engagements, and only have the refuse of his time,perhaps an evening, after the fatigue of the day, when the poor mind is more fit for sleep than religious exercise! Is it to be expected that delinquents, who may be visited by such, should be brought to a due sense of their outgoing, and be reclaimed; when the language so fitly applies, of " Physician, heal thyself?" I am aware the former character is deemed the most immoral, but I am not able to bring my mind to believe it the most sinful: for if our minds are but unfitted for a faithful discharge of our civil and religious duties, whether such disqualification proceeds from the love of gold, or of strong drink,-I believe the crime is alike in the Divine estimation. I believe I am safe in saying, I have not been wanting, at times, in endeavouring to cast a veil of charity over the conduct of some of my friends, who, it is evident, have in this way become Satan's bond-slaves; and at such times, my heart is made sad on their account, under an assurance which cannot be controverted,-that whatsoever our temptations and besetments may be, if we are but in good earnest willing to resist and overcome them, he that covets great trade, great riches, and to make a figure in the world, as well as he that covets strong drink, will experience a way, a sure and certain way, to be cast up in due time by the Lord; for his escape from this, otherwise, impassable gulf, between him and an eternal resting place with the righteous. For the self-same Divine principle of light and life, which our worthy forefathers believed in, followed, and were actuated by, is still with us, as the cloud by day and pillar of fire

by night; (Nehe. íx. 12.) is still experienced by those who wait for it, and found by such as submit to its government, an all regulating principle, subduing every inordinate affection and disposition. It says, availingly, from time to time, to such who thus continue subject to its controlling power, hitherto shalt thou go, but no further with safety, in thy worldly concerns and engage

ments.

But if we will continue to harden our hearts against its holy intimations and restraints, me must expect to wander into the many bye-ways and crooked paths of the enemy, making for ourselves a labyrinth which we may never get clear out of. There is reason to fear this has been the case with many; and I firmly believe restraint to be needful, not only as to the quantity of trade or business in which we may engage with safety to ourselves, but also as respects the nature and quality of such our worldly concerns that it may preserve us not only from an overcharge of business, but also from being engaged in such business, as either directly or indirectly tends to lead away the mind from the pure, peaceable, self-denying path, and to foster the contrary disposition in ourselves or others.

How remarkably was this manifest in the members of our society in the beginning, until the enemy was permitted to try us with the bait, which has not failed to take with some of all classes in society, riches, worldly prosperity! And in proportion as the mind has been let out, and desire increased after these, it has become indifferent as to consequences,-neither fearing the overcharge of quantity, nor properly regarding the quality, of business. Happy had it been for many, in the present day of sore conflict from the general depression of trade, had they willingly and timely yielded to those Divine intimations! For I believe none ever turned aside from the path of safety totally ignorant thereof: but that in the beginning of their erring and straying, the witness for God followed them, and at times smote them; but if we disregard its invitations and secret monitions, it is then most just, on the part of Almighty God, to leave us to the power and insinuations of Satan, (2 Cor. iv. 4.) the god of this world, who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience. (Ephes. ii. 2.) But even while thus promoting the cause of the evil one, such may continue to make a fair show in the flesh, as to a profession of religion, and be very tenacious respecting some externals, (as were the Phari

sees,-(Matt. xxiii. 23.) things comparable to the mint, anise, and cummin; and in which Satan will not oppose them, so long as they rest herewith satisfied, and continue to rebel against the light, (Job xxiv. 13.) refusing to submit to the heart-cleansing operation of God's word and power, which only can effectually cleanse the inside of the cup and the platter. (Matt. xxiii. 25, 26.)

Happy, I say, had it been for many, had they attended to the pure limitations of truth, who are now plunged with their families into accumulated difficulties, and unlooked-for distress; and respecting whom the declaration of the Apostle has been verified, "They that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. vi. 9, 10.) And it is to be feared there are many more of this description, who, at times, quake for fear of that which (without divine interposition) seems coming upon them. And is it to be wondered at, that these things should happen among us, when the conduct of many under our name is so opposed to the profession they are making; (Exod. xviii. 21.) which demands of us that we be found men fearing God and hating covetousness. (Prov. xxviii. 16.) How opposite is this disposition of mind to that of the love of the world! For as this disposition is brought about in us, and abode in, the mind as much dreads the very approach of any of Satan's gilded baits, as if surprised by a rattle-snake, or other venomous creature, whose wound is fatal :-because, if we suffer ourselves to be beguiled by him, spiritual death will surely follow. And this has been verified, respecting many, since I first became acquainted with the Society of Friends; many who gave proof that they were the visited children of the Lord our God; who had covenanted with Him, and, for a time, evidently confirmed the same by sacrifice; but for want of continuing to ask wisdom daily, (James i. 5.) to go in and out before the Lord with acceptance; (for I find, if we are favoured to possess it, we must daily ask wisdom of Him who still fails not to grant liberally ;) and by giving the things of this world the preference, riches and greatness,-they have been suffered to obtain their heart's desire. But it has been evident, that which they thus coveted did not come alone, but attended with its never-failing

companion. (Hab. ii. 9.) For those who covet an evil covetousness, must expect to possess leanness of soul also; the sorrowful consequence of which will be unfruitfulness towards God. (Ps. cvi. 15.) Which, although it may appear to be very slow in its gradations, yet such may rest assured that it will take place, whatever they may have known aforetime of an enlargement of heart towards Him and his cause. For when the door of the heart becomes open towards covetousness, and the love of this world, and there is a stumbling at the cross of Christ, (Gal. vi. 14.) a refusing to become crucified unto the world, and the world unto us, this love of God, once known and felt, in time takes its departure again. O, these spots in our feasts of charity! (for such I fear they have been to many who have been called together by the Lord's messengers.) These wells without water, these clouds without rain! These stumbling-blocks to others, and to the youth among ourselves. Who have been coveting an evil covetousness, launching out into a great way of business, which truth never justified them in! And even some among us, not satisfied, when a kind Providence has so favoured them, as that there has been an ample supply from their present business for basket and store, to satisfy their thirst of more, have infringed upon the rights and privileges of others, adding one fresh business to another. How does such a mode of procedure comport with a people professing (as we do) to be dead to the world, and alive unto Him whose apostle declared: "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John ii. 15.) From whence proceeds this conduct? Let the just witness tell us, my friends! and may it arouse us before it be too late! Let such no longer continue to say, "To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain ;” (James iv. 13, 14.) whereas they know not what shall be on the morrow but let them be willing to yield to the restraining influence of God's word and power.

Consider from whence this determination proceeds, which many among us appear to have made; this willingness to sacrifice every thing that should be nearest and dearest to them, in order to add ten thousand to ten thousand, and twenty thousand to twenty thousand, and double and treble it again and again (if possible)let these things speak for themselves! Can they proceed from any other disposition than the love of the world? Oh! let such