BARCLAY.
(Continued from page 134.)

To one of another profession and a zealous
Minister.

the true Life. And that-if it were only that | SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF JOHN -would make him essentially different from other men, even when he mixes with them, and seems to catch their tone, -among them, but not one of them. And that Life within him is Christ's pledge that he shall be yet what he longs to be-a something severing him, separating him, consecrating him. For him, and for such as him, the consecration prayer of Christ was made. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world: Sanctify them through thy Truth: Thy word is Truth." These views of F. W. Robertson are in accordance with those expressed by many of the early Friends. Thus Wm. Penn says, "Jesus Christ, in life, doctrine and death, fulfilled his Father's will and offered up a most satisfactory sacrifice; but not to pay God or help Him (as otherwise being unable) to save men." "He came to his own, but his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

26th of First Month, 1838. My Dear Friend.-It is time I acknowledged thy favor of the 21st ult., which has not been lost upon me. I accept thy kind and sincere notice of me, and also of my books, with, I trust, the like genuine Christian feeling. That we have been made somewhat acquainted one with another has been cheering to me, as one of those many providential marks of favor shed upon us through our whole lives by the author of mercies. It has seemed to me sometimes as though our dear Lord and Saviour, in condescension to our frequent breathings to him, the Head of his own church, for the spread of his blessed gospel of peace, truth, and righteousness in the earth, and our jealousy for his honor, (according to our measure of light and discernment,)— had caused us to come across each other's path; that he might renewedly show us, that he bas other sheep who are not of this fold, where we have been accustomed with joy and comfort to feed and lie down. That we should find, on near inspection of each other's views on sacred things, many and important shades of difference, will not assuredly either stumble or surprise us. higher than our highest thoughts of them, as The ways of God in his works of creation are are also the acts of Providence; how much more then must we expect them to be so in his deal"Notings and dispensations with the soul of man individually, and with his church collectively. Truly the workings of his grace and power in and towards us are infinitely diversified. through all, what he looks for in us all, however variously situated, dealt with, and gifted, is,Religion, or the devotional part of it, is that our hearts being quickened and renewed by nothing but the communion of the soul with Him, should be turned towards Him, and knit God; and therefore by its necessary condition to Him in faithfulness, in true uprightness, to is seclusive. There is no piety of a multitude. serve and to trust in Him, with a perfect heart, The worship of a congregation is the worship and a willing mind. Ah! how he touches, softof so many hearts, each rendered a degree more ens, humbles these proud, hard hearts of ours, fervent than otherwise by the power of sym- these fallen, but aspiring natures, these froward, pathy. But if the elements of worship have wayward tendencies; and woos us to be wise not been brought together from the depths of indeed, by learning of Him how to be simple as individual spirits, they exist not at all. In all little children,-submitting, bearing, and taking true worship, whether the scene be the place of his yoke upon our spirits. How prone we still public convocation or the closet, the soul brings are, to take back the government into our own its immortal substance, and its personal destiny, hands, by leaning to our own understanding, by and its particular interests-its recollections, its consulting with flesh and blood,-while we prohopes and its fears-yes, itself, as if it were the fess to be asking counsel of God and of Christ; only created existence, or in oblivion of all and thus practically we shrink back, and shun others, before the throne of God. How vivid to offer up our all, as a whole burnt offering; soever may be the emotions that spring from but even keep back the best part of that, the heart in its sympathy with others, they can which is often called for unequivocally at our never come into comparison with those that be-hands. Alas! in reference to divine things, who is long to its own ultimate welfare. there that follows the Lamb whithersocver be leads or looks to the puttings forth of the Shep

That glorious change which is wrought in the dedicated soul by the operation of the Holy Spirit, through which man becomes a child of God, is the only true reconciliation. It was formerly expressed by the compound word Atone-ment, which is thus defined by Johnson, "to be in concord." When this concord pre-higher vails, Heaven, or the reign of God, is already begun, and the regenerate soul at the prospect of death can say with the blessed Jesus, my will but thine be done."

(To be continued.)

COMMUNION WITH GOD.

ISAAC TAYLOR.

But

herd's hand, and waits to hear his voice? Who is
there, that, in all his proceedings and his specu-
lations, or opinions, says,-"That which I know
not, teach thou me; "lead me in thy Truth
and teach me, for thou art the God of my sal-
vation, on thee do I wait all the day?" Who
is there that takes up the daily cross in reli-
gious points,-casting down imaginations and
selfish reasonings, despising the shame with the
fear and favor of man ?-who is not conformed
to this world even in little things, but trans-
formed by the renewing of the mind, and in
this way proving what is the Divine will?
These effusions, which arise whilst responding
to thy communication, I trust, will not be
deemed obtrusive, if they are superfluous.

To Gracechurch Street Monthly Meeting of
Friends.

Beloved Friends, Brethren, and Sisters Having now held a minute, granted me by the Monthly Meeting for above three months, setting me at liberty to visit the families of Friends at Stoke Newington, it seems to be upon me as a duty to communicate with you on it. In the movement I made towards obtaining it, by an application rather unusually sudden, and in that respect unexpected by myself, I had, and up to the present time have had, sweet peace,-an ample reward, (however unworthy,) for a sacrifice which cost me no small degree of resignation of my own will. I endeav ored to give up "in simplicity and godly sinAfter all, my dear friend, how near one to cerity," to that which seemed to be manifested another are all those, who being once afar off, as present duty in the Divine sight; and dared are brought nigh by the blood of Christ; who not look outward in any sense or manner; and love him and his appearing, and who follow him therein I desired, if a spectacle, to be also an in the regeneration. They are brought near to ensample to the whole flock: for not one among each other in Him; they are baptized by one us can, in my apprehension, do better under Spirit into one body, and are given at times to any circumstances. On proceeding in the drink into one cup. Have these not abun- weighty engagement before me, I may acknowdant occasion to forbear one another in love, if ledge, that, although no wonderful outpouring they do not wilfully transgress against know- of divine power was my portion, I was merciledge and beyond faith; for whatsoever is not fully favored, during the few days that I of faith is sin. Surely those that are zealous entered upon the work, with such a sense that for the fulfilment of what they understand to the Lord preserveth the simple and the upright, be the command of Christ and his apostles, have insomuch that it was as my meat and drink, to great need to see that they follow up all that is be thus among my friends: hard things were commanded-such as to resist not evil, to re- made very easy, and bitter things full of sweetspect not the persons of the rich, as in the epis-ness; a gentle flowing stream of heavenly goodtle of James; and many other precepts, that are very generally made of none effect by religious professors, and reasoned away.

Ab to be able to say with the apostle, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me," &c.; how full,-how supremely desirable! Then the wisdom of man becomes fully subjugated, where the gospel, the power of God, has free course.

Farewell! the Lord be between us, and with
us, henceforth and forever. With Christian
love to thee and thy wife and sister,

I remain thy friend, J. B.
[In the Eleventh month, 1837, he laid be-
fore his Monthly Meeting a religious concern,
which had rested a considerable time on his
mind, to pay a visit to the families of Friends
of his own Particular Meeting at Stoke New-
ington: much sympathy and unity prevailed on
this occasion, and he received the encourage-
ment of his friends. Under his very infirm
bodily condition, he could proceed but slowly in
this service. In the Second Month following,
he believed it right to address his Monthly
Meeting: a copy of his communication will best
explain his views and feelings on this occasion.]

ness being extended in every hour of need, though in a way humiliating to the creature, so that nothing in the flesh could glory.

Endeavoring to look closely to my steppings and to my Master's pointings as to them, I did not see it my place to join any brother or sister fellow laborers in the ministry, similarly exercised; yet truly rejoicing, that the Lord of the vineyard should be pleased to lay his hand upon any, and open their way before them. With regard to myself, the burden seemed greatly withdrawn, and removed from me, even before I was wholly laid by with indisposition; and ever since, my mind has been altogether released from any further obligatiou to pursue the visit, and now at length in a way that makes me believe it safest for me to inform the meeting to this effect, and to return the minute to your hands. I cannot place this conclusion to any outward account, though my health and constitution seem more than usually affected, so as for a long time entirely to prevent my getting out to meetings; but in my best moments, I have the comfortable persuasion and trust, that He, who is no hard master, and lays no more than is meet on any of his poor exercised children, has an equal right to call in as to put forth;-to bring out his own purposes in his own ways, which are higher than ours; and

could have done it with less difficulty; but such were the extent and pressure of my business that to do it then seemed impossible. The subject made me unhappy, and after much deliberation I sought relief to my troubled feelings by most solemnly renewing my promise to God. I said when the pressure of my business is past I will devote my whole attention to a preparation for eternity

"No sooner had I fixed my mind on this course than my anxieties left me-the strivings of the Spirit ceased in my bosom, and ceased forever. When sickness warned me of approaching death I sought to fix my feelings on the subject, but in vain. There was a gloom and terror drawn around religion at which my soul shud lered. I felt that I was forsaken of God, but it did not move me. I had no love to God, no repentance for sin, nor wish to forsake it. I felt nothing but the sullen gloom of despair; I knew I was in the hands of a justly offended God, from who I expected no mercy, and could ask none; with these feelings I am about to enter the eternal world. To you, my children, I can only say, profit by my example. Quench not the spirit; seek religion now, if you would avoid a miserable eternity; put not off the concerns of your soul tillThe sentence died upon his lips; his strength, which had been all summoned to make this last effort, suddenly failed; he fell back on his bed, and with a groan that seemed to speak the terrors of futurity, the immortal spirit took its flight from that body which it had inhabited nearly fourscore years, to receive according to that it had done.

or benevolence primarily, and to find our own gratification incidentally. The way of the world is quite the reverse of God's. God says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of another." The world reverses it, and says, "Let every man take care of himself, and then all the world will be taken care of." "Let every man take care of Number One," is the vulgar expression, "and everybody will be well cared for." Since the world began the experiment has been going on, and few have obeyed God, and few have really attempted to live with all their life-forces concentrated to the good of society and the well-being of their fellow-men. But these few have found inward and outward satisfaction. They have found that joy and peace which is without expression. Whereas, those men that have attempted to make themselves happy by the law of self-seeking have invariably all the way through been witnesses to the truth of God's law. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself," is the key-note of the universe. How shall any man fall from the pitch, and yet be in harmony iu music? And if this be the structural idea of the human mind, how shall a man run against it and expect his mind to work in barmony? A machine will sooner run contrary to its nature and yet operate effectually, than this most delicate and complex machine of the mind will run contrary to the creative idea and still bring happiness. See how men have sought it in selfish ways. See how they have sought it in power and influence. See how they have sought it in wealth. See how they half-have sought it in pampering their flesh. See how they have sought it in giving to their appetites all that the heart could desire. And what have been the results? Are the men that thus live for self the happy men? Show me the Contrast the man who lives purely for pleas men whose faces are serene. They are men of ure and the man that lives purely for duty, and faith. They are men of piety. They are the you will find that the pleasure-seeker reaps less men that live for others. Show me the men of pleasure than the man that does not seek it. that are forever secking their own good. They In the case of the latter there may be fewer are the corrugated men. They are the electric sparks, there may be fewer blazes, men whose brows have been plowed, and there may be fewer bonfires; but there is an with a redbot share at that. I defy comeven pleasure, a steady flowing pleasure, a va-parison. Go where you will, and while men riety of pleasure, and a susceptibility to pleas are yet young, and unexpanded, and elastic, ure, which in the end overmasters and over-they may show no signs of sorrow: but after measures the pleasures of those that live merely for pleasure. And so it will be found in retrospect that men who live merely to make themselves happy in this life are more burdened and less happy than men that take on the yoke of duty, and by the burden of duty find rest.

It is easier to make a complete sacrifice which will fully satisfy conscience, than a sacrifice which falls short of it.-Select Memoirs of Port Royal.

TRUE HAPPINESS.

Living for enjoyment first, and with benevolence incidental or alternative, is one way. God's way is to live under the royal law of love

they are forty or fifty years old, look among those that live for this world only, and tell me whether wealth, or influence, or pampering makes men happy. Tell me whether they are not sad, sorrowful, restless, and complaining; saying to the last, even in the mutterings of death," Who will show me any good? while the men that walk as if sweet flowers and fragrant dews dropped upon them are the men that fol

low Christ, and like him give their lives fFthe | 2091 were minors. From the same document world. There is a generosity in their joy. we learn that there were then 3480 minors, There is an unfailingness in its supply. It springs from a source that never went dry, and never will. And so long as God is God, and continues to reproduce creation upon this great law that force is to go with benevolence, so long human society will be a witness to all that self-seeking leads to sorrow and that benevolence is the true road to happiness.-Exchange

FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER.
PHILADELPHIA, FIFTH MONTH 11, 1867.

We ask the attention of our readers to the advertisement in another column of the forth

prung from parents, one of whom was a member of our Society, which did not give the children a right of membership. It will be observed that this class was about equal in number to the diminution that had taken place subsequent to the year 1829.

From these statistics we must conclude that the Society within the limits of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is diminishing in numbers, and there is every reason to believe that a similar result is taking place in all the Yearly Meetings with which we correspond.

It appears from a communication published coming History of the Religious Society of some weeks since in Friends' Review, that the Friends, by SAMUEL M. JANNEY.

THE PROSPECT BEFORE US.-It has, of late, become a subject of interesting inquiry in our Religious Society whether we are increasing in numbers, or on the decline,-whether, as a church, we shall continue to live, or are destined to extinction. The love of life is a concomitant of health, and this applies as truly to bodies organized for associated action as to the individuals who compose them.

"'Tis life whereof our nerves are scant;
More life and fuller, that we want;
No heart in which was healthful breath,
Has ever, truly, longed for death."

Yearly Meetings called Orthodox are also diminishing in numbers in all the states on the Atlantic seaboard; but those in the Western. states, except Ohio, are probably on the increase.

It has been usual for some of our members to account for our supposed stationary condition by remarking that we are not a proselyting society. This is very true, but not very consoling. The primitive Christian Church was a proselyting society, and Friends in the days of George Fox were imbued with the same spirit. Their ministers travelled throughout Europe, and many of them visited the West Indies and the North American Provinces. In nearly all Protestant countries they made proselytes, and established meetings. In Catholic countries their efforts were not so successful, it seemed

To be indifferent about the perpetuation of a society that we believe was raised up by Divine Providence for the promotion of Christ's king. dom-the reign of Peace and Love-would indicate a want of religious vitality, which, if it become general, must soon lead to decay and as though the ground was not prepared for the

extinction.

In the year 1829, being two years after the Separation, there was a census taken of the members of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, by which it appeared that the number, in connec tion with us, designated as Friends, was 18,485, the number of those called Orthodox Friends was 7,344, and of neutrals, or undecided, 429, making an aggregate of 26,258. In this enumeration the minors were classed with their parents or guardians.

In the year 1863 another census was taken of those in connection with us, belonging to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and published in the extracts from its minntes. From this it appears that the number was 14,992, of whom

seed they had to sow.

The fervent piety and zeal of those sons of the morning were sustained by a living faith, and tempered by Christian charity. Their knowledge of the Scriptures was extensive and accurate, and in the education of their children they were careful to make them acquainted with those precious records. This duty of parents has, for many years past, been too much neglected, although frequently and earnestly enjoined by the several Yearly Meetings.

If we continue to rely upon birthright membership for the continuation of the Society, we must make greater efforts to instruct the youth, and to impress upon their minds the principles. of our profession. There is in associated ac