consider, if the Apostle's declaration be no true, (as to them) that the love of the Father is not in them. For many years, I have esteemed it a reproach to such a society of professing Christians as we are, when any of our members have been summoned from works to rewards, and have left behind them such large sums of money of their own accumulation. Oh! what a cloud has it brought over their very best actions, however conspicuous they may have stood in society. Oh! the sorrowful feelings I have been dipped into at times on the account of such. Language fails me to set them forth: it is painful to me thus to expose myself on this sorrowful subject; (for such I have often experienced it to be ;) but I believe that if my feeble efforts be accepted as a peace-offering, that which appears to be the "whole counsel" must be imparted. (Acts xx. 27*.)

Some have replied, when remonstrated with on these subjects, that they are at a loss to define the word " enough ;" but this difficulty, I am of the mind, rests with themselves; in the first place, through an unwillingness to have their wants circumscribed by that power which is from above; and in the next, for want of a sincere desire to have this word defined for them, by that wisdom which is as competent to direct in this as in any other important step in life. As it is a duty we owe to the body, to make suitable provision for its comfort and convenience, especially for old age, that we may rather be helpful to others than require their help; so, likewise, to put our children in the way to get their living by moderate industry, and provide for such of them as may not be in a capacity to help themselves; when a kind Providence has entrusted to us so much as may answer these purposes,-if, after this, there remains a disposition to accumulate, then, I believe, we are violating that command of the Divine Master,"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth," (Matt. vi. 19,) and are giving full proof where our heart are. Not that I apprehend it would be better for all such who have thus attained, to quit their trades and occupations; because some may be more in

*I would not be understood as charging such as leave large property behind them, which they inherited. And with regard to the disposal of such property by will, were sentiments of the kind here enforced more prevalent, I believe it would be more distributed; and that this would be conducive to the solid peace of such as thus dispose of it in time.

the way of their duty, in continuing to pursue them honourably; when (besides introducing deserving persons as their successors) they may be the means of helping those who are not able to help themselves, (with which description of persons the world abounds,) such as the widows and the fatherless; and the infirm, who frequently are obliged to labour under extreme pain and suffering. But there must be no adding to the "enough," lest that enough, which has been mercifully dispensed, be taken away again; for ❝ covet all, lose all," has been the reward of such conduct many times.

I am aware of the trying state of trade and commercial affairs, and the great difficulty many honest minds have had to struggle with, who are obliged to give credit in their trade; thus depending upon others to make good their own payments. Yet I believe, that complaints of want of punctuality in fulfilling engagements would not continue among us, were we in earnest to do every thing in our power, that the chief cause, the inordinate pursuit of business, might be removed. What sorrowful instances of notorious and scandalous failure have of late years happened amongst us, for want of the timely exercise of this care! How have the records of our Monthly Meetings been sullied by report after report of this kind; principally through the want of observing the limitations of truth in our trade, and exercising a care that our way of living might in all things be consistent with what we profess. The excellent advices that are annually read in all our Meetings, I have long been led to fear, are become, to many who hear them, as a stale thing; but this is not the case with the right-minded, who are desirous of receiving help every way.

However, by others' harms, let us take warning. Friends! lessen your temporal concerns; you that have been permitted, so far, to weather the storm that has been long gathering, and at times has blown a heavy gale. And notwithstanding there has been some intermission, something at times which might be termed sunshine, with a hope that the worst was past, and that better times, as to commercial affairs, were hastening, how soon has the expectation of such been disappointed, and how many, that have thus been tempted to venture out on the vast ocean of commerce, have become a total wreck! Has not the next cloud that has gathered still exceeded those which went before, in magnitude and terrific appearance; sometimes as if ready to burst and carry destruction

before it every way? Friends! lessen your trade and business with all the resolution your are capable of mustering, taking especial heed to the good pilot at the helm. Get into a safe port ;-to as safe an anchoring place as the nature of your various outward circumstances, in these times, will allow of. Otherwise, it has long been my belief, these instances of want of punctuality, and failure in the discharge of just debts, will more and more increase amongst us. Because, it is my belief, the day of the Lord is coming" upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: and upon all the cedars and upon all the oaks of

of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up; Bashan; and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up; and upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures." (Isaiah ii. 12-16.) Read the remainder of this remarkable chapter, together with the foregoing one. And let none say, "We have long since heard such things-they were long ago proclaimed in our ears by an Emlen and a Scattergood; but what has come of it ?" lest our calamity come upon us as a thief in the night, in a day when we look not for it, and at an hour when we are not aware! (1 Thess. v. 2, 3. Matt. xxiv. 44— 51. xxv. 13.) Oh! remain no longer unwilling to act the part of wise mariners, you that sail on the wide ocean of trade and commerce, and have its tempestuous billows oftentimes to contend with, and to whom it has appeared as if nothing less than a total wreck could be the result! For when danger like this threatens him, he looks well to the helm, reduces his sails, and lightens the vessel by lessening his cargo, rather than risk the loss of the whole. I am aware of the distress the creaturely part must have to endure, before the mind is at all likely to be brought into a willingness to take such steps as these. And I think I can feel much for those of my friends who have families, and have so far extended their manner of living, as that from the depressed state of trade, and the various losses they are assailed with, their income barely covers their expences, while perhaps their families are increasing. For it is gratifying to our nature to appear to the world to be increasing in substance; but mortifying to retrench, lest it should be suspected that we are going down hill in the world. But this must be done by many among us, or I am greatly mistaken in what has long been the feeling of my mind. Friends!

you must be content with a half loaf, which is better than no bread at all. Lessen your business and regulate your family expences accordingly, otherwise you may be brought into the same trying situation many are now in, who once carried their heads very high in the commercial world, and moved in what are called the more genteel circles, but who have now no bread at all that they can strictly call their own.

I am now under the necessity of claiming your attention, my dear Sisters! in order that you may do your part, in facilitating the escape of your husbands and parents from the troubled waters and sunk rocks of commercial difficulty, which the keen eye of human policy is so often unable to discover; for with you, generally, rests the management of household affairs: it is also principally for the supply of these, that the labouring oar is kept tugging You must be willing, mothers and children, to examine closely the mode and circumstances of your expenditure, with a mind made up to relieve, as far as in you lies, the head of the family, who may have both wind and tide to contend with. Lower your top-sails, and

Search your houses, search

tighten every rope where it is needful. your tables, search your garments; and where any expense can be spared, without lessening your real comforts, seek for holy help to rid the vessel of it. I am well aware it will require holy help to take such steps; but this, I am assured, will not be wanting, if sought after in a proper disposition of mind. And we shall find, that those things which have been sacrificed, being calculated only to gratify the vain mind in ourselves and others, and pamper a depraved appetite, had not the effect of adding real comfort to our hearts. Regard not "the world's dread laugh," but set your intimates and neighbours this salutary example. Show them the way to live well at little expense: an example I believe we are called upon, as a religious society, in a peculiar manner to be holding up, especially in the present state of the nation. And however this may prove a sore conflict to the fleshly part, by letting us down in the eyes of the world, yet in the end we shall appear more honourable than some among us of late years have; who have gone on, pushing business to keep up an appearance which their circumstances did not justify; clothing and feeding themselves and their children with that which they were not able to pay for. And, Friends! you that are of ability of body, learn to wait

more upon yourselves, and bring your children to do the like. I find I am never better waited on, than when I wait upon myself. Teach your children industry, and a well-regulated economy: I fear there is too much need, in the present day, to press this wholesome practice. For, next to a truly pious example, you cannot bestow upon your children a better portion. This appears to have been much the case with our first Friends; and it had been better for many of our youth, had their parents trode more in the footsteps of these. Labour is a part of the penance enjoined to the fall:-By the sweat of thy brow shalt thou get thy bread. (Gen. iii. 19.) This sentence pronounced upon Adam, descends to all his posterity; suitable employment, under the regulating influence of an All-wise Creator, is salutary both for mind and body, and qualifies us the better to feel for, and proportion labour to, those who may be placed under us. It may even prove a secondary means of keeping our nature under subjection; which, we cannot be ignorant, is corrupt, and requires much subduing;something to check its impetuosity, and bear rule in all our actions. There is yet another precious advantage results from bringing up children in habits of well-regulated industry and economy: little business will then be found sufficient to bring up a family reputably, when our wants are confined to real comforts and conveniences, which truth allows as far as ever our circumstances will warrant them. It is those things which have nothing to recommend them but show, and an appearance of what the world calls gentility, that are opposed by the truth in each of our minds, did we but attend to it more faithfully. For want of this attention, how many have become slaves to appearances! And where this well-regulated industry and economy are wanting, and idleness and fulness of bread prevail, how little is to be observed, in the conduct of such, of reverential thankfulness for the bounties they are receiving from heaven!

When we are content to move in this humble sphere, we are prepared the better to meet such reverses as may come upon us. Let none among us say in his heart, "I am out of the reach of reverses;" because none are out of the reach of reverses. For, however variously our outward substance my be secured, all sublunary things are unstable as the waters; and various as may be our resources, every supply may be cut off: the Philistines may be permitted to stop up all the wells which we have dug for our