selves and our children. (Gen. xxvi. 15.) The Most High may permit his little army to enter into our vineyards and olive-yards, and strip us of all, without power on our part to prevent the devastation. For what the palmer-worm leaves, the canker-worm may eat; and what the canker-worm leaves, the caterpillar may so destroy, that not the least vestige of our once greenness and greatness may remain. (Joel i. 4.) This has been the case with many within my memory. The crafty have been so taken in their own craftiness, and the lofty so brought down from their seats, and men of low degree exalted, that he who was the servant has become the master of his once master, and even his master's children have served his children! (Job v. 13.) What has been may be again. For thus has the All-wise Disposer, to whom belong the cattle of a thousand hills, and every visible thing, (for nothing is mine or thine, any longer than He sees meet we should possess it,) evinced his sovereignty and power to humble his creature, man: convincing him thus of the great uncertainty of all visible things! (Ps. 1. 10.) And may these turnings and overturnings which we hear of, (and some more keenly feel the smart of,) in commercial concerns, and in families, prove the means of stimulating us to leave the things that are behind, (all of which are perishing,) and press forward to those which are before, which are eternal!

I am afraid, my dear sisters, to close this subject without adding another hint, as essential to our being the better able to keep our family expenditure within its proper bounds; having myself experienced its salutary effects, when I had a numerous family around me. It is, to determine to purchase with ready money the various articles consumed for family use; and that we resolve to perform this, however mortifying it may prove, by depriving us of many things the natural disposition may crave, in ourselves and children. I believe great advantage will be found to result from such a practice, both to parents and children; more particularly to such as, at times, feel themselves straitened to carry on their business reputably. For when these difficulties are felt by an honest mind, it becomes obligatory on such, (if they get through them,) closely to inspect the manner of their expenditure; and this will afford an opportunity of timely checking any unnecessary expense that may have crept into the family. But when things for family consumption are mostly, if not all, had upon credit, this opens a wide door, both for parents and children, to greater indifference, both

as respects expediency and cost, than Truth at all justifies; and the children of such parents are in danger of being brought up, ignorant of the real use or value of property. When numbering my blessings, I esteem this as not one of the least that my heavenly Father has bestowed upon me, that He kept me in a little way of business, and a care to keep my family expences within proper bounds, and taught me the lesson of contentment with little things because, now I am advanced in life, I am satisfied I escape manifold perplexities, which would have been at this time my attendants, had I sought after greater things as to this world. The purchasing goods for family consumption on credit, often proves a serious inconvenience to those on whom such are depending for supplies, especially if they are not before-hand in the world for it too frequently proves, that such purchasers are not very ready to make payment in due time; and when this is the case, are they doing as they would be done by?

I have long viewed it as a mean practice to consume, in any way, the property of another person before I have paid for it, (except under some peculiar circumstances ;) for general usage does not justify me, or any other person, (to say no more,) in wrong practices, especially to a people making the high profession we do. For we are not to view things as the world does; but through a more pure medium, with the eyes of truth and uprightness. I want us more frequently to recur to that which we are making profession of, and as frequently compare our practice therewith; bringing all our deeds to that light by which, in a future day, they will be judged: for I cannot refrain from expressing a jealousy, that too many amongst us are swerving into this dangerous track of the world. One of the diadems with which our first friends were decked,—one of the many jewels that shone in their character, and adorned their profession, was the care they manifested to have nothing but what they could well pay for; so that, should reverses come from the many perils they were, in various ways, liable to, none might be losers by them. This, in due time, with an uniform, consistent, upright conduct, in other respects, procured for them that confidence in the minds of all ranks, and that respect which they so long maintained. I am not able to close this subject without intreating such, to whom these remarks may apply, not to set light by them. Look seriously at the subject, and make a stand, and hold up your testimony by example, against this

baneful practice: for so I doubt not it has been to thousands, and the inlet to those embarrassments that have at last overtaken them. If we are willing to be found thus standing in our proper allotment, we may prove, in degree, instrumental in the Divine Hand, to check that torrent of evil which so sorrowfully pervades all classes. For the practice has overspread the nation, of supporting an expensive manner of living upon credit, which, if not timely checked, there is reason to fear may contribute, amongst other evil practices, to work its ruin. We have stood high, as a religious society, in the esteem of others, for nearly a century and a half, in regard to honesty, integrity, and an exemplary conduct. Can we with truth say, we believe we have been rising higher in this respect of later years ? I fear this has not been the case, but that the many sorrowful failures, the multiplied instances of want of punctuality, that have, of late years, occurred among us, with various departures, in other respects, from our well-known principles, have given a severe shock to that confidence in us, which once had place in the public mind.

The door has of late been set open, much wider than was the experience of our first friends, for the members of our society to associate with those of other religious professions, in the management of the various institutions for benevolent purposes that are on foot. Let us be careful, that this does not lead us to assimilate ourselves to the world. The world hated our first friends, because they maintained a faithful protest against its spirit, its maxims, and manners; but, in proportion as we put away from us the weapons of the Christian's warfare, and join in league with the world, a wider door of admittance into all companies, and all societies, will be opened to us. Thus, we have indeed occasion to look well to our steppings and our standing; remembering that so far as we join ourselves to the world, in any respect, we shall be condemned with the world. "If ye were of the world, (said our blessed Lord to his immediate followers,) the world would love its own but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John xv. 19.)

In order that we may not further forfeit the confidence of the public, but regain that which we may have lost, let me again repeat the caution, that by others' harms we may take warning; and by our future conduct give proof of our belief in this incontro

vertible truth, that "a man's life, (or the true enjoyment of it,) consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Luke xii. 15.) Let us learn that essential lesson of contentment with little things as to this world; remembering that He, whom we profess to take for our leader, declared respecting Himself, although Lord of the whole world, "the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head :" (Matt. viii. 20.) so void was he of any earthly inheritance! It was the exhortation of the prophet to Baruch, the son of Neriah, "Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not; for behold I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest." (Jer. xlv. 5.) Whilst then we are engaged to circulate more generally among mankind at large, publications explanatory of our religious principles, and religious tracts, may we give proof, in the first place, of their happy effect upon our own minds. For example will do more than precept; actions will speak louder than words: so shall we, each one, become a preacher of righteousness, that cannot fail to reach to the pure witness in the minds of others. Thus may we become as saviours on Mount Zion; for saviours shall come up on Mount Zion, to judge the Mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's." (Obad. v. 21.)

And let us all retire to our tents; for, if I am not mistaken, such are the signs of the times, that they loudly call upon us so to do, and there closely to keep. The Lord is this tent, unto which the true Israel of God must flee to be safe; and as there is thus an abiding in Him, who is the munition of rocks, should the potsherds of the earth begin to smite one against another, (Isaxlv. 9.) such will be preserved from smiting with them, in word or deed, and escape that danger which will, more or less, follow those who are found so meddling; and that perturbation of mind, that instability of confidence, and want of support, under the varied probations that may, in unerring wisdom, be permitted to overtake; which ever was, and will be, the case of those who make flesh their arm. (Jer. xvii. 5—8.)

I cannot forbear to express a fear, that there are among us who are not sound in the faith, as it respects an entire reliance on the all-superintending care of Divine Goodness, in times of danger and difficulty, but who are making flesh their arm; and when, at

times, their minds are awakened to behold the approach of danger, as respects national affairs, are placing their confidence in (what they esteem) the wise conducting of a well-disciplined army, and a large store of weapons of defence; all which may effect the very destruction of those who are thus relying upon them, instead of the living God for preservation.-Such is the great uncertainty of all human events! It must, with reverence, be acknowledged, by every serious observer, that the Divine protection has long been over us as a nation; and, for the sake of the few righteous amongst the different professors of the Christian name, is still, I believe, mercifully continued. But how soon, or how suddenly, this may be withdrawn from us as a nation, because of our multiplied transgressions, is altogether unknown to us; but should this once be permitted, and the chain of the evil power be loosened for a time, this arm of flesh, which there is reason to fear many are depending upon for support in such perilous times, will become but as tow in the furnace! Happy will it be, in that day, for those who have made the Lord alone their refuge, and placed their dependance on that Omnipotent and Omnipresent Being, who will prove, in such seasons, a covert from the heat; shelter from the storm; and, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land, (Isa. xxv. 4 ;) a day and time when the minds of all may be clad with dismay as with a garment, for fear of what is coming upon this part of the Lord's footstool! And, friends, let us dare not to meddle with political matters; but renewedly seek for holy help to starve that disposition, so prevalent in us, to be meddling therewith. Endeavour to keep that ear closed, which will be itching to hear the news of the day, and what is going forward in the political circles. We shall find there is safety in so doing: it is the only way for us to experience our minds to be preserved tranquil, amidst all the commotions, all the turnings, and overturnings, that may be permitted to take place, when the measure of iniquity may be filled up. I have found that if we suffer our minds to be agitated with political matters, our dependance becomes diverted, by little and little, from the true centre and place of safety; where perfect peace is experienced, though the world, and all around us, may speak trouble, Such as have this dependance, will know it to be a truth, fulfilled in their own individual experience, that "They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever:" (Psalm cxxv. 1, 2.) and that "as the mountains are