The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-10-15
DisceiIanp.,
THE EPIST'LE


month, to the 3oth Of the ssinc, Inclusive,
1917.
70 Me Quarterly and Monthly Meenngs Of
Frienas, in Great Britain, Ireland and else-
svhere.
DEAN FRiEaDs, the love of our Heavenly
Father has prevailed in this, our annual as.
sembIy, IL has united Us in tho fellowship
Of the gospel, and has extended to orr dear
absent brethren. Undor this inluesce, our
confidence has been renewed, t;,st rhe foon-
da,ion upon which tho righteous in oil ages
have butt their faith and their hob., is forev-
ar i'm ,nutabic. Notwithstanding eur own
in6nniucs and the discouragement which
surround US, wc have felt the consoliDg per-
suasion that the Lard is s,iIl mindful Of US.
He who has blessed US ard our forefathers
gilb macy tokens of bic divine regard, is
yet waiting I'd SHOW himself gracious--and
by the Spirit Of his 500, is calling us to pu-
rlty of heart, and 10 Tiolines IA all manner Of
conversation. Mey we thea consider The
sacred do.ics which dcvoivc opoo us as Chris.
iisns the awful responsibility We are nnder
IS TO a right use OF all those gifts end tscn,s
with which we have been intfOstcd and tho
necessity Of becoming more spiritually
minded people.
In turning oar attcution to the state Of So
ciety as il has bcen now laid before Us, the
proper employ uicnt OF the first Day of tho
week, the day more particularly set apart for
public worship, is q subject that has claimed
our serious attention. 1t is no small priv
ilcge 10 DO living IN a country where much
regard is paid to this duty, and il highly be-
comes US to be careful that our example IN
sAis respect be consistent with tho profession
We make to the word.--Wc desire that heads
of families, and eur younger frieods also,
may closely examine whether they are suif
silently soIici,ous TO improve that portion OF
this day which is COW allotted TO The great
duty of mestieg with their friends for the
purposs of divine worship. To tho . who
are awakened TO a due sense of the eternal
Interests Of the soul--and oh that this were
tao case with all I'VE believe that these in
tcrvais have often proved times Of Nuch re-
ligious benefit. Many have derived great
Increase oi Strength both at these and sther
times. from rotiring TO wal, rtpon 'he Lord;
from reading the llJ'y Sx tiptores v.tn. minds
turned TO their Divine An,hor, in tcs're that
he would bless hem 10 iheir comiori aue cd.
ihcafion ; and fom pessuipg he pious lives
snd expe riencc Of those who have gone b.
fore them Dat we hvoid prescribing any
pt.ciaa line oi cobduct, bcl.cviog that " me
aticn, ion be sincerely ,u~ncd unto he Heav-
en'y Sncphsrd, bis r'escrciHg heip and
guitsn,e will not DC wi'hseid.
Those h tho class wl.op We have JUS,
been .iaSidscssing, May ae,os' ttel that
thcir faith Is low, woca ahout To attend thett'
mosunGa in the conrss oi ths wesk, II may
bo ardev great ou,watt AHiso,ues, These
sac, ices of ,ine and oppOTtusi,!os OF with
hrA rlos from woridiy.ca,e,, onvo been bies-
In
oi ddop trial and discourage nGnt, times Of
refs Iias from the ptGsence OF che Lord.
Th. wa,ung, depenicnt mind has thus been
enabled to put on strength topersevcte IN 'he
Ch. istian course aud undes the pressure oil
unany troubles and perpexities, to expert
cnee an iocrease Of faith 10 ,bo mercifui and
omoipoicnt care Of our gteat Crcalor.--Bc
encouraged then, dear friends, not to neglec,
your, meetings, however small but TO believe
that by q dnigcnt attendance Of ,hem,, and
right engagement Of mind therein, you will
be strengthened to fill up your stations as
faithful and devoted Christians.
In well ordered family, short opportuni-
Mites Of religious retirement freqoen,ly oc-
cur, in which tho mind pay DO turned IN Sc
sret aspira,io 10 the autho, of our blessings;
and winch have often proved times Of more
shan transient benefit. l, is our present con.
ccrn, thar no exception TO this practice may
DO found amongst US: whether II take place
on roading Of portion Of the sacred VOL
umc, or when we arc assembled to partske Of
Ihc provisions with which We are supplied
tor the sustenance Of the body. On these
latter occa sions, may Tho hearts OF our young
friends also be turned in gratitude to God,
who thus libcrally provides Tor them. May
the experience of II, oil be such, that we can
adop, the words Of tho Psalmis,--" Evening
and morning, aud afternoon, will pray
PS iv Is.
In our last years epis,lc, we had to remark
,he failure OF some Of our members IN paying
their just debts' We have been again deep.
ly panied on finding that some dissraeetul
eases Of this kidd have since occu3cd.
Whilst VIC lament the condition Of such as
have thus wounded their own peace, and
brouuht condemnation Oh themselves, We al.
so feel very tenderiy both Tor tho ncar rela-
,;,.s of ,hese, and for thcir creditors who