to the throne of his grace, and the life and power of the gospel would spread in our families. He who was the friend of faithful Abraham would clothe us with greater au thority and qualification to command those of our household. And our precious offspring, beholding the solemnity and sweetness of our spirits, would feel an early and dutiful attachment to us; they would not be difficult to command, but would be led into obedience by the concurrent operation of our divine guide, who is ever willing to assist us in every duty which he is requiring at our hands. He is able to meet with our children when they are in their retired places, and if we were wit nesses for him, would make our conduct instrumental to awaken his light and truth in their souls. But in the present state, how many who are parents have been unfaithful; and turned their attention to an outside religion, fulfilling the works of the law, which never made the comers thereunto perfect, careful to lay a fair foundation in the world, and to lay up treasure on earth; very industrious and frugal, plain in living and plain in manner, but enemies to the cross of Christ, not scholars in his school, and therefore not qualified to in

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struct their children; but their spirits being in the world, their conversation relates to it; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. When the rising generation are educated under these circumstances, and the conversation they daily hear is bounded by temporal concerns, the effect must be to obstruct the growth of the seed of the kingdom of heaven in them; and it afterwards seems to require something like a miracle to bring their minds back to the principle we profess. If in our religious meetings they are sometimes spoken to in the demonstration and power of the spirit, they find, on their return home, that they are soon landed in the same round of subjects and conversation. Thus the Lord's work is re tarded in its progress in the souls of the youth, and many of them grow up but with little religious concern about them. It appears to me, therefore, that the day calls for an awakening testimony to be borne among the people, both among the professors and others and I am often put in mind of the instruction given to the disciples. "Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth

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labourers into his vineyard." Mat. ix. 37, 38. At this day, there are bright talented men in the society, and I have no doubt the head of the church has often awakened their souls, by his all powerful word of truth, and brought them to see the neglected state of his cause. And I believe, that if such were faithful to the day of their visitation, they would be taken from their state of worldly security, as well as from their worldly pursuits, and prepared for the Master's use; and a beautiful band would be raised to proclaim the wondrous works of the Lord. The church would be replenished with judges, as at the first, and counsellors, as in the beginning. I have felt an awful blank in my day, a blank which I have seen is owing to the unfaithfulness of the strong men of the world in the present time; and I believe, that unless these who have been cared for by the bishop of souls, become obedient to, the heavenly vision, and submit to walk in the straight and narrow way, the seed of the kingdom in them will be so deeply buried in their earthly nature, that the warming beams of the sun of righteousness will no more act upon it, and they be left to themselves. But O! ye quicke ened souls, of every description and station in

the church, let us unite, and with all humility, patience, and perseverance, fulfil the work of our day, and though we should, in the assemblies of the people, have little else but trialsand sufferings, may we be kept the Lord's time, and in no instance attempt to reign, while he that is our best life is in suffering. But as we remain inwardly attentive to the unfolding of his light, we shall be opened in a clear sight of the state of the seed of the kingdom, and our ministry will be crowned with a holy and penetrating authority; the weak will be strengthened, the hungry fed, the blind brought to see, the deaf to hear, and the dead in trespasses and sins quickened and brought to life. I have seen that much depends, in this day, upon the leaders of the people keeping their feet upon the true and living foundation, walking in the light, even as He, our Holy Head, is in the light; and I am satisfied, that the more these are concerned to have their lamps trimmed,. and their lights burning, the less they will be moved by what may be going on in the earth. For it is a consequence of the truth, where it has the full government, to make its followers unchangeable. It is itself so, and all they who come to live in it, are grounded and set

tled on an unchangeable foundation.

And though they see all things change around them, they have a holy habitation unmoved; and protected by him that has all power in heaven and in earth. Now, those who enter this holy and heavenly habitation, they are redeemed from the spirit and love of this world; and they know, that as the kingdom of their Lord is not of this world, so neither is theirs; and though they are subject to every ordinance of man, for conscience sake, yet they are not in the spirit or measures of the kingdoms of this world. They may see the governments of men turn and overturn, but on their part they neither build up nor pull down; neither their joys nor their sorrows depend upon the measures of this world; but only and alone upon the dispensations of their Divine Master. I wish not to tire my reader by speaking of the state of a dedicated follower of Christ; but I much desire that my fellow professors of the same faith, as we believe we are called to lift up an ensign to the nations, even the ensign of peace, may be so guarded as to keep separate from every measure which may in any degree disqualify for this important service. And I have no doubt but, whatever persecutions and trials may come