Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-09-28

OF tlne ana IL VIII DC wei ioT YOU 10 reflect.
and 10 know, how far you have kept yourselves
6 unspotted from the world."(h) Some of
you, also, have ben engaged in long course
| of profession and to some of you, we trust
| it may be SAID, You have known him that i,
from the beginning" We beseech you to
pause and to ponder the path OF your feet (sA
Is your situation nearer than when you be-
Isved ?() Is your present state answerable
to the love with which you were visited, and
attracted in the morning Of your day ?(m) and
is your love now, equal to the love of your es.
pousals? Fruits of increasing love to God
are manifested in variety of ways; and pro.
badly not in any one more clearly, or more &C
ccptable to him than by tokens OF regard for
the plants of his hand, the visited youth of his
church. 1t is remarkable that when our Lord
thrice put the question TO his jealous disciple,
Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, lowest thou
me ? (n) the only consequent injunction
was, Feed my lambs-feed my sheep"
There are various ways too, In which
this may be effected by precept, by sympa-
thv, by assistance in their spiritual icul,ics;
but above all, by steady, uniform, circumspect
example and this dear friends, as you know,
cannot be afforded to them, unless you expert
ence fresh supplies of spiritual strength to pre-
serve yourselves in dedication, faithtulness, &
the fear of the Lord II CIV fruitful of advan-
tage, then is an observance of the comprchen-
sive command of Christ; Il say uEto all,
Watch ROY Thus young and old may be
helps to each other: for as He that watereth
shall be watered himself'f) The disciple
who by the benefit of holy example and sound
precept, contributes to forward others in
the path of righteousness and peace will
receive an increase of ability himself to hold
on his way; and the faithful members of
the gathered church will become each O.
theirs Joy in the Lord
We have received at this yearly meeting,
an acceptable epistle from Ireland, and from
each Of the North American Yearly Meetings.
The latter continue steadily occupied in en-
deavoring not only to build up our own soci-
ETY. in Christian practice, but to diffuse the
benefits of their Christian charity beyond our
limits. Two of them, namely, those of Ma
ryland and Carolina, have lately again became
advocates with their respective legislatures,
for the oppressed brethren of the African
race and though yet in vain, not with dis
enlargement to farther intercession and
three of them, those of New-York, Pennsyl-
| vania, and Maryland, are still attentive to the
benevolent object of attempting to civilise
their Indian neighbors
The sufferings reported this year amount
in all to about tzvelve thousand seven hundred
rounds. Ecclesiastical demands form the
bulk, and the military ones considerable
part, and few Friends have been imprisoned
| for refusing to serve in the militia.
Now, friends, as in our religious refusal tor
pay tithes, and take our part with others in
military service, our object is to bear testi-
mony to the freedom of gospel ministry, ard
to the supremacy Of Christ, as teachers in the
heart and also to lis reign Of peace in the
kingdom of this world )" Cd We desire that
! in all your conduct among men, YOU may walk
worthy of the high profession which you
| make in which truly christian endeayor you
will continually feel the need of his inward
support.
Many are the duties incumbent on the fol-
lowers of Christ, and all require the support
of his presence for their due performance.
Without me-" they are his own words, eye
can do nothing" (r) We feel inclined at this
! love, to remind you of that indispensable du-
ty, the acknowledgements of our dependence
on his power, by duly assembling at the sea-
sons appointed for waiting on and worshipping
God. Deficiencies, indeed, in this respect do
not in general appear to increase, and we are,
aware that we often renew our tender exhor1I
tations on this subject-Once more, dear
| friends, let this exhortation 60 forth. Ccusi+
der the motives of deficiency, such of you as
may be conscious of it. If, as the apostle
has declared the presenting of your bodies be
reasonable service" (s) we beseeeh you
| to examine into the cause that it is too often
intermittsd. 1t is not that in greater or less
degree, you may still be conformed to this
world !" () But recollect this conformity
will still prevent the christian professor from
being transformed by the renewing Of the
mind; and from proving Gas who at the
Tenn approaching close will not rejoice to have
proved , "what is the good and acceptable,
and erect will of God.'
Now the God of peace, that brought a.
gain from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great
Shepherd of the Sheep, through the eyerlast-