The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-08-26
THE Epls1LE

To The Quarterly and Monthly Meetings
Of Friends in Great Britain, q ireland,
aud elsewhere.
Dear Friends-We have again to &C.
knowledge the unmerited mercy of our
Heavenly Father. We have been sensi-
bic OF renewal Of our strength from Him
the inexhaustible Source of good in
which we have been united one unto ano.
Their, and have felt the current of Chris.
tiaD love to flow to all our dear brethren
and sisters. Our beloved elder friends.
both present and absent, living in differ
ent parts OF the nation, who love the
Truth, and who have, through the course
OF many years endeavored faithfully to
serve their creator, are brought near un-
to US in the fellowship of the everlasting
Gospel. We desire that il may please
the Lord to comfort and strengthen these
in their declining years that He who has
been their morning light, may be their
evening song.
We have at this time been renewedly
convinced, that the gathering and estab-
fishing Of our religious Society, was not
the effect of human wisdom. 1t pleased
the Lord by the powerful influence OF his
Eternal Word, on the hearts of our faith
| tut predecessors, to prepare them to re-
ceive the Truth in the love it. They con.
suited not with fesh and blood, but obey
ed the heavenly call. They were
strengthened to bear, with frmness and
meekness, the SCOTS and prosecutions,
and imprisonments, TO which they were
subjected. In supporting their religious
testimonies, they sought not the praise of
men, but the appreciation of God. Be-
ieving that their views oil the design in
the coming of Christ, and of the nature
OF his dispensatioD, were confirmed TO
their understandings, by the power of his
Spirit, they suffered freely and cheerful
ly for his name. Their patience and for
titude, and their firm reliance on the
Lord alone for deliverance from the hands
! OF their prosecutors, gave clear proof OF
their sincerity, and ultimately secured a
free and undisturbed profession of their
religious principles. And 1t has BEEN UNI
} der the influence of the same Almighty
Power, that we have been preserved a
united religious body, and that these ,esti-
monies have been faithfully borne a.
, mongst us from generation to generation.
} The great truths Of Christian doctrine
} are Of individual application; and we feel
} it to be our duty TO press upon all our
members closely to examine, each for
0 himself, how lar he is building on Christ
0 the sure foundation. Are you, dear
0 friends, daily waiting, in faith, before the
S Lord for the gentle limitations of his
0 Spirit? are you, with alacrity of heart,
0 yielding to the discoveries of the light oil
Truth, and thus preparing the way for
} further manifestations of the Divine will ?
1t is indeed of especial importance. that,
in the first place, you seek for the aid of
the Holy Spirit, to enable you to perform
all the commandments Of Christ openly
to acknowledge, by life and conversation,
that you look unto Him, as your Exam
pie, your Leader, and your Saviour. The
talents with which you are intrusted,
and for the right use of which you must
sooner or later render an account, are
never occupied SO acceptable in the Di.
vine sight, as when they are cheerfuIly
and unreservedly devoted to the service
and disposal of Him who gave them.
Whenever these talents arc employed on
the great truths of redemption, and other
articles of Christian faith most surely be.
lIeved amongst US, let il be done under a
humbling sense Of the limited powers of
the human mind, and with reverence and
fear, as in the Divine presence. Then, we
believe, there will be abundant cause to
acknowledge the manifold blessings
which the Lord has provided for all,
through Christ, our holy redeemer.
Each Of us is assailed by his peculiar
| temptations. Amidst the various beset.
menis by which we are surrounded, some
have 10 cont nd with love of money
others are liable to give way either to
hasty or an ungenerous temper; others
10 an indulgence in the fading pleasures
and batteries Of the world; but it is the
blessed nature Of the religion of Jesus, to
regulate our affections, to change our
hearts, and To- establish us in charity.
neekness, and self-denial. Examine
yourselves, then, daily, and see whether
1t IS your sincere and leryent desire, tha,
the words Of your mouths, and the nedi
tatons OF your hearts, may be acceptable
in the sight Of the Lord; and that He
may be indeed your Strength and your
Redeemer.-(PS. xix. l4.)
Beloved Brethren and Sisters-our
earnest concern for all is, that each NAV
stand fast in the liberty wherewih Christ
has made US free.-(Gai. v. We re-
Ioice in the belief that there are more