Star.
London, England, 1831-06-11 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

4

.11 ;

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The Epistle fr' the Yearly Meeting, held in London, by
adjournment, from the 17th of the sth month, to the ith
.4* the same, inclusive 1831.
r TUE QUARTERLY AND MONTHLY MEETINGS OF
FRIENDS, IN GREAT BRITAIN, IRELAND, AND ELSE-
GDERE.

DEA R FRIENDS—Peeling our hearts warmed
eith love towards our brethren and sisters, wher-
ever situated, we do not hesitate again to salute
plu ; and to express our desire and prayer, that
g•raco and peace may be' multiplied unto von from
is:D our FATHER, and from the LORD JESUS
it wr.

We have again to rejoice in the condescension
i•ft he Great Head of tbe Church; for while we have
tliund abundant cause for humiliation, in the de-
ficiencies which continue to prevail amongst us, we
may gratefully acknowledge thatHa has not cast off,
his unworthy children. He has enabled us to conduct
the business which has come before us in love and
harmony, and has graciously bestowed upon us a so
leinn and refreshing sense of his mercy. We have
received an Epistle from our dear brethren in Ireland,
and one from each of the yearly meetings of our
friends in North America ; and have been com-
forted by these renewed tokens of Christian affec-
tion. The epistles from our friends in America
afford an evidence of their continued zeal for the
cause of CHRIST ;,yet we deeply sympathise with'
them in the trials to which they are still exposed,
and desire to commend them to the grace and
goodness of GOD.
While thus assembled in large numbers ne have
been led to feel for those of our dear friends who
are scattered in solitary places, and who are accus-
tomed to meet for the purpose of worship in very
small companies. May such be encouraged to a
persevering diligence in the performance of this
Christian duty. It is consoling to remember that
Goo is every where present to bless his faithful
children, and that our holy REDEEMER manifests
himself by his spirit to the two or three who are
gathered together in his name. Many valuable
members of our society have been trained for use-
fulness, by the Divine hand, in very secluded si-
tuations ; and the consistent example even of a so-
litary individual may be of great use in promoting
the cause of truth and righteousness. As such
enoeavour to maintain their religious principles
riithfully, others may in the end gater round them.
Our we!l-kno*n practice of assembling for wor-
ship at an appointed time during the week, besides
the first day, has again been a subject of religious
exercise amongst us. Thus to leave our outward
concerns in humble dependence upon GOD, and in
solemn silence to wait together upon Hier, we be-
lieve to be acceptable to our IlEit V ENT. Y FATHER,
and eminently calculated to promote our religious
edification. We desire to encourage our dear friends
every where to a diligent attendance of these meet-
ings ; the neglect of them is an affectingtication
of a lukewarm mind ; and there is su y great
clanger that we shall hinder our religious progress
if e. e refuse to avail ourselves of so valuable a
privilege.
We would remind our beloved brethren, that
unless we are pressing forward towards Zion, the
city of the living GOD, we may soon lose our re-
maining strength, and become immersed in the
spit it of the world. How earnestly will they who
are seeking to make progress in the spiritual
course, ask and wait for that holy aid which con-
stitutes the life and strength of the renewed soul.
It was by a constant reference to the Spirit of
CHRIST in the heart, that our early predeces-
sors were enabled to support their Christian
testimonies under severe persecution; as well as
to maintain that standard of Christian principle
by which they obtained, from those who injured
them, so high a character for strict veracity and in-
tegrity in all their transactions. We entreat you,
dear friends, to consider whether the LORD is not
requiring of us, individually, a fuller surrender of
the natural will, a greater degree of decision in
giving np all for CH RIST, and a more ardent pur-
suit of heavenly things—" If ye then be risen with
CHRIST, seek those things which are above,where
aitteth on the right hand of Gun."
A just view and full belief of the astonishing
fact, that Goo sent his only begotten Son into the
world to save us, is we believe suited, beyond all
other things, under the power of the HOLY SPIRIT
to bumble us in a sense of our own corruption, and
to excite in our own minds fervent gratitude to-
wards the AUTHOR of all good. Under the influ-
ence of this gratitude, may we all devote ourselves
without reserve to the service of our REDEEMER !
When love for CH HIST has expelled from our
hearts the love of the world, we shall no longer go
iialting on our way in a condition of weakness,
but shall experience growth in grace, and in the
knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS
Cll RUST.

We have been once more led to take a view of
the responsibility which attaches to parents and
heads of families. To train up our children, ser-
vants, and those under our care both by example
and precept, in a religious life and conversation,
consistent with our Christian profession, is a duty
of a very serious nature. We beseech our dear
1.1 iends to reflect on its vast importance, and in
order to perform it rightly, to press after true god-
liness. Never shall we be found faithful stewards
in this respect, until we are ourselves men of.
prayer. weaned from the spirit of the world, and
walking in the reve. ent fear of Coo our Father.
We have, on the present occasion, deeply felt the
loss of some of our beloved friends, lately removed
by death, whose labours were greatly esteemed
amongst us, and who, we humbly believe, have en-
tered into their rest. Our hearts are also turned in
christian sympathy to those who, by their increasing
mlirmities, are prevented from giving us their com-
pany. We highly value that travail of soul which our
elder brethren and sisters in the LoRD (now that their'
day of active service is nearly over) are maintaining
fur the good of the Church, and its preservation in
Christian purity ; we honour them for their works'
sake. We tenderly desire that now, in the evening
cf !ife, they may partake of the rich consolations
hick are in C It IST JESUS ; and that, being pre-
sci in faith and patience unto the end, whilst
tii•-y have to say with the Psalmist, " My flesh and
my heart faileth," they may adopt the language,
•' but (ion is the strength of my heart, and my
po;:tion for ever."

To our young friends, particularly, we would
ffecti -tely recommend a frequent recurrence to
principles of our religious profession,
consider to be those of pure Christianity.
iishment iu these principles would, we
preserve us consistent both in faith
Iractice, and prevent us being improperly

moved, by the varying notions which are so
common in the present day. We long to im-
press upon you, dear young friends, the beauty
and value of an early end of unreserved dedi-
cation of yourselves to GOD : cultivate a ten-
der and enlightened conscience, and obey His law
with all sincerity. Be faithful in maintaining your
plainness of speech, behaviour, and apparel. Che-
rish those wholesome restraints of a guarded and
religious education, of which the evident tendency
is to keep you out of the way of evil. We entreat
you to avoid speculation and disputation on religious
subjects; for these will hinder, instead of promoting
your growth in grace. Let all your conversations
on the sacred truths of the Gospel be conducted
under a due sense of their importance, and in the
true fear of GOD. Carefully peruse the Holy
Scriptures, and meditate upon them in private.
Above all, delight yourselves in communion with
Goo, and lead a life of prayer : then will the blessed
ord of promise be your's, " I will be a FATHER
unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the LORD A LMIG HTY."

It is satisfactory to observe, that, with little ex-
ception, Friends continue to bear a faithful and
Christian testimony against the payment of tithes
end other ecclesiastical demands. The amount of
distraints made upon the members of our Society
(r these claims, during the last year, as reported to
this meeting, is upwards of fourteen thousand two
hundred pounds. May we ever bear in mind the
ground of our testimony against the anti-christian
imposition of tithes, and be steadfast and consistent
in upholding our views of the spirituality and free-
dom of the ministry of the Gospel. We consider
those views to be founded on the very nature of the
Christian dispensation, as well as on the plain com-
mand of Crt 'ST, " Freely ye have received, freely
give." Our testimony on this subject is purely
Christian ; and hence it becomes highly important
that, in all our proceedings for its maintenance, we
should act as becometh our high profession ; and by
the meekness and consistency of our conduct, exalt
it in the sight of those with whom we associate.
We are much impressed with the belief that in this
and other respects, there is more than a common
call on the Christian for watchfulness. It is a time
of unusual excitement, as relates both to religion
and politics : while, therefore, we rejoice in the
assured belief that the MOST 11101 i ruleth in the
kingdoms of men, and that the events which he or-
dains or permits, will ultimately promote the wel-
fare of his children, we feel an earnest solicitude
that Friends every where may be weaned from the
spirit of a contentious and fluctuating world. " He
that dwelleth in the secret place of the MOST
HIGH, shall abide under the shadow of the AL-
M/611T V."

To do all things in the name of JESUS, to obey
the dictates of his Spirit, and humbly to follow his
example, will be found our highest interest and our
beat security. Let us, then, beloved friends, seek
to be clothed with the meekness and gentleness of
CUBIST ; walking circumspectly before GOD, and
endeavouring to perform all our relative duties
in his holy fear. And, since " love is the fulfilling
of the law," let us pray that we may be endued
with charity, not only towards each other, but
towards our fellow men of every class and description.

Finally, may we be found faithful and obedient
in suffering with CHRIST, and be made abundant
partakers of his life-giving power. Thus shall we
be prepared, at the solemn close of life, to unite
with his redeemed followers in the triumphant song,
" Unto HIM that loved us and washed us from our
sins in his own blood, and bath made us Kings and
Priests unto GOD and his FATTIER; to HIM be
glory and dominion for ever and ever.—Amen."
Signed, in and on behalf of the Meeting, by
JOS IA H FORSTER,
Clerk to the Alerting this Year.

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