37. And being the seed of the woman, chosen of God to bruise (or rather crush) the serpent's head, to keep the commandments of God, and maintain the testimony of Jesus, it is your inestimable privilege to follow the example of those through whom you have been begotten into the enduring substance of eternal life. And being called and chosen, be ye faithful to prove that you are not bastards, but sons and daughters, just and rightful heirs to the promised inheritance, through whom all the families of the earth shall be blessed, in turning every one from his iniquity.

38. Finally, Brethren and Sisters, farewell. Be wise, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind; keep the gift of God, and the gift of God will keep you. Live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you, and establish you unshaken, and immovable, in his kingdom of righteousness and eternal truth.-AMEN.

A brief COMPEND of the Practical Principles by which the Society is guided in all its institutions.

1st. Purity in mind and body, including a virgin life, as exemplified and inculcated by Jesus Christ, as the way that leads to God. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."

2d. Honesty and integrity in all their words and dealings; according to the precept of the Saviour, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

3d. Humanity and kindness to both friend and foe. "Charity never faileth." "Love is the fulfilling of the law." "Overcome evil with good." This rule comprehends the proper conduct towards all the animal creation.

4th. To be "diligent in business serving the Lord." All labor with their hands, according to their strength and abilities; all are industrious, but not slavish. "Idleness is the parent of

want."

5th. To use prudence, economy, temperance and frugality, but not parsimony; agreeable to the Apostolic injunction, "Let your moderation be known to all."

6th. To keep clear of debt. "Owe no man any thing but love and good will."

7th. The suitable education of children, in scriptural and other useful knowledge and science, Their schools are acknowledged, by the District Superintendents, to be at least equal to any country schools in the states where they are located.

8th. A united interest in all things is their general order; but none are required to come into it, except as a matter of free choice; for this order is not a principle; but is the result of mutual love and unity of spirits; and cannot be supported where the selfish relations of husband, wife, and children exist. This order is the greatest and clearest demonstration of practical love. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

9th. Suitable employment and exercises to be provided for all, according to their genius and circumstances. Their general employments are agriculture, horticulture, and useful mechanical arts. Thus all may be busy, peaceable, and happy.

10th. All are suitably provided for, in health, sickness, and old age; all being equally of the one "household of faith." And, from a comparison of statistics, it is evident that, on an average, the health and longevity of the members fully equal that of the individuals of any community of which we have any

account.

Indeed, to sum it all up, to seek and practice every virtue, without superstition, is the leading tenet of their profession. "Add to your faith, virtue," &c.

APPENDIX.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE
UNITED SOCIETY.

In order to have a just view of the preceding work, it should be understood that, from the beginning, all the works of God, have been progressive, growing into higher and higher degrees and orders, of maturity and perfection. But the Divine sphere of orders and perfections was never brought to light, until revealed See 1 Cor. by the pure Spirit of Christ, in his first and second appearing.

2. During the many ages of antichristian darkness, when the rights and consciences of the human race were bound in the fetters of ecclesiastical bigotry, and the chains of tyrannical and arbitrary power.

3. Faithful witnesses, chosen and appointed of God, had from age to age, borne testimony against this beastly and bloody power of antichrist, millions of whom had fallen victims to his cruelty; but, under the invisible and restraining power of Christ, this beastly influence began to be cut off at the time appointed.

4. The people called Quakers were the last, who were persecuted unto death, for the testimony which they held; but, as the work among them never advanced to a separation between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of this world, hence in process of time, distrusting the providence of God, and petitioning the same antichristian power for toleration and protection, and taking part in the wordly government under the dominion of antichrist, they gained an honorable standing in the world, but lost that degree of the light and power of God, in which they had at first stood for a time.

5. Soon after this, the spirit of prophecy appeared in those called French prophets, attended with the most convincing evidences of Divine power; but these extraordinary appearances were not of long continuance.

6. However, a few of those French prophets came over to England about the year 1706, and opened their testimony in and about London, which was a means of great awakening, and numbers received their spirit, which continued to operate, in a greater or less degree, until its principal effect was produced in a small body of people, who were gathered into a society, under the

ix 12.

special ministry of James and Jane Wardley, among whom was a particular work of preparation for the true and real manifestation of Christ. This work began in Bolton and Manchester, in the county of Lancashire, in England, about the year 1747.

II. 1. James Wardley, a tailor by trade, and Jane his wife, who wrought at the same occupation, had belonged to the society of people called Quakers; but, receiving the spirit of the French prophets, and a further degree of light and power, by which they were separated from that community, they continued for several years, disconnected from every denomination. During this time, their testimony, according to what they saw by vision, and revelation from God, was, That the second appearing of Christ was at hand, and that the Church was rising in her full and transcendant glory, which would effect the final downfall of antichrist.

2. From Bolton they removed to Manchester, and lived for a number of years in Canon Street, with John Townley, who was by trade a bricklayer; and possessed considerable property. Here the number of persons forming their society, was about thirty.

3. James and Jane Wardley, as well as most of the society, were in low temporal circumstances; but as John Townley was wealthy, he contributed liberally to the support of such of the society as were needy; on which account he sustained much injury in his property, by persecutors. The meetings of the society were held both at Manchester and Bolton, (which were twelve miles apart,) but more generally at Manchester.

III. 1. John Townley had a measure of faith in the testimony of James and Jane Wardley; his wife was a member of the society, and had great power of God, and the gift of prophecy. John Hocknell was her natural brother; he lived in Cheshire, twenty-four miles from Manchester. According to the account of his daughter, Mary Hocknell, he, having separated from the Church of England, had joined the Methodist society, and had stated meetings at his house; till visiting the society at Manchester several times, and afterwards being visited by James Wardley, about the year 1766, he received faith in his testimony.

2. And, being very zealous for the cause, and a wealthy man, a number of poor members of the society were gathered and supported at his house, which, at first displeased Hannah his wife, and her natural relations, (the Dickins family,) who were wealthy and high-spirited people; whereupon three of her brothers, with the assistance of a magistrate, had John put into prison at Middlewich, four miles from his own house. He was tried and released. Soon after, Hannah became a member of the society, and continued through all the increase of the work, till she departed this life (in America) sound in the faith of the Gospel, A. D. 1797.

IV. 1. About this time, [1766,] and onward, the Believers frequently held meetings at John Partington's, in Mayor-town, as they passed and repassed from Manchester to John Hocknell's. The manner of public devotion practised by the society, while under the ministry of Jane and James Wardley, was, in divers operations of the Spirit and power of God, according as they were moved from time to time.

2. Sometimes, after assembling together, and sitting a while in silent meditation, they were taken with a mighty trembling, under which they would express the indignation of God against all sin. At other times, they were affected, under the power of God, with a mighty shaking; and were occasionally exercised in singing, shouting, or walking the floor, under the influence of spiritual signs, swiftly passing and repassing each other, like clouds agitated by a mighty wind.

3. From these strange exercises the people received the name of Shakers, and by some were called Shaking Quakers; but, from the time of James Wardley's ministration to the present day, they have been most generally known and distinguished by the name of Shakers. But their being led into shaking by the power of God, is an evident sign, to discerning minds, of the Divine nature of the work.

V. 1. The work which God promised to accomplish in the latter day was eminently marked out by the Prophets, to be a work of shaking; and hence the name was very properly applied to the people, who were both the subjects and instruments of the work of God in the latter day.

translation

of Isa. ii. 19, 21.

Ezekiel, 20.

Xxxviii. 19,

2. Thus the Lord promised that he would shake the earth with Lowth's terror; that "in that day there should be a great shaking in the land of Israel;" that he would "shake the heavens and the earth;" that he would "shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations should come." And, according to the Apostle, that "yet once more, he would shake, not the earth only, but also heaven; signifying the removing of things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."

3. All these prophecies particularly alluded to the latter day, and now, in reality, begin to be fulfilled; of which the name itself was a striking evidence; but much more the nature and operations of the work. Therefore it was, that the present work of God began in shaking, both as a preparatory, and an increasing work, for the full and final manifestation of Christ. And this particular operation was a significant token that God was about to shake to the foundation, and utterly ruin all the corrupt systems of men, and their false notions of the work of God, and of the use and end of his creatures.

4. The effects of Christ's first appearing, were far from fulfill

Isa. xiii 13.

Joel, iii 16.
Hag. ii. 6,
Heb. xii.

7. 21.

26.