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النشر الإلكتروني

A

LETTER

FROM

A YOUNG WOMAN

ΤΟ

A MEMBER OF THE RELIGIOUS

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, (Pricksite

?

WITH

HIS REPLY.

PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY JOHN TOWNSEND,

No. 94 NORTH FIFTH STREET.

John Richards, Printer.

1830.

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A LETTER, &c.

IT has been said, "uncommon times demand uncommon deeds." In taking up the pen to address Dr. I am actu. ated alone by that sincere regard for his character, which induces me earnestly to desire his immortal welfare. A mind brought to the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus, looks round upon a dear deluded multitude taken captive in the snares of Satan, and while it offers unto heaven the overflowing tribute of gratitude for its own deliverance, earnestly desires to make some feeble effort towards leading others also to sound the notes of kindred praise, and to join in ascribing salvation unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. O! Dr. --! the individual who now ventures to address you, is one, who feels as if her feeble pleading could scarcely be heard amid the throng of unbelievers around you. She has no personal acquaintance with you-she never listened to your conversation on general topics, and probably never may, at any future period. But she has seen you at the couch of sickness; she has seen you, by the benignant smile of sympathy, soothing the suffering invalid, and with accents of sweetness, cheering the room of sorrow. And, oh! I have said, shall such a mind be inveigled into those absurdities and awful delusions, as ridiculous to every truly sober understanding as they are dreadful to the view of any Christian! Shall such a mind be led captive in the most fearful species of enthralment, that of blasphemy and infidelity under the imposing garb of the most refined spirituality-of the most professedly sublime and elevated religion! Shall such a mind be indeed so far drawn away as to reject the atonement of that blessed and kind Redeemer, who shed his blood for the remission of sins; and be so far deceived into that rejection, as to admit the assertion, that an outward offering cannot

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purify the soul! O! Dr. -!if you value your immortal wel. fare, if you dread eternal ruin, return! return! or rather, let old things be passed away, and all things become new-not on the ground of your original principles, which must fall before sound reason or correct investigation, but on the firm basis of Scripture truth! It is never derogatory to a truly great mind to own that it has been mistaken. Dare to think, and to search-not by setting up some unhappy chimera, called inward revelation, for your guide, but by being outward enough to devote yourself to the prayerful study of holy Scripture, with earnest application through the blood of the covenant, for the enlightening of renewing grace! A mind like yours ought to be devoted to the cause of that Redeemer whose name it would so truly adorn. I have spoken the truth to you fearlessly; but I desire to speak it in that love, in which I fear you too seldom hear it. Think not any thing about the poor, weak instrument, through which this call is sent you think only of the earnest invitation it contains, to come, taste, and see that the Lord is gracious.

There is no way but the blood of Jesus, whereby to enter the holy of holies. That you may earnestly seek to find that for yourself, the new and living way, and that you may enter therein, is the ardent desire, and has been the prayer of one who bears the reproach of Christ as a contemned outward Presbyterian.

THE REPLY.

My esteemed young friend-for so I can truly call theeI have received thy letter through my friend E. M. It breathes a spirit of sincerity and a pious desire for my immortal welfare, which I can assure thee I reciprocate.

Happy is that mind that is really brought to the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus. I can agree with thee, that it looks around upon a deluded multitude with feelings of concern and sorrow. So far as my experience has extended, my

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sorrow is not so much on account of absurdities and delusions on matters of religious opinion, according to my standard of judgment; but it is on account of the actions of many professing Christians: for persons of sober understanding may entertain very different views as to what it is that constitutes the ridiculous and dreadful to any Christian. Yet I fully admit that enthralment to be fearful indeed which leads to blasphemy and infidelity under the imposing garb of the most refined spirituality.

I think, if I know my own heart, I humbly desire that old things may pass away, and that all things may become new; and, I may add, all things of God. But I am not yet prepared to regard these old things as the "original principles" of the religious Society of Friends; neither can I admit that these principles must fall before sound reason or correct investigation, believing, as I do, that they stand on the firm basis of Scripture truth. As soon as my judgment is convinced to the contrary, I shall be ready to abandon them, and acknowledge that I have been mistaken. While I feel heartily disposed to think and to search, and desire to give to holy Scripture and outward views their just place, yet bear with me, when I say, that to me, inward revelation is not an unhappy chimera, but my anchor of hope in the hour of trialfor through this blessed medium, the soul is at seasons favored to commune with its God.

Some of my ancestors were bright and shining lights in our religious society in the days of the first convincement, when Fox, Penn, Penington, Barclay, and a host of worthies stood forth, as undaunted champions for the truth as it is in Jesus, although assailed by the high professors of their day with the epithets of Deists, Blasphemers, Infidels, &c. &c.

My venerable parents lived to extreme old age, giving ample evidence in life and conversation, that they were disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus. They died in peace. They knew in whom they believed, and they trusted their salvation on a practical conformity to the blessed principle of truth which we profess, and I am also willing to trust mine. They taught me, even in early childhood, to rely on an inward monitor--on the

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