Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-10-05
REAIGA0US
THE, EpISTLE

From the Yearly Meeting, held IN London, by
| adiournments from the 22d OF the fifth
month, to the 3lst of the same, inclusive, to
the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings OF
Friends, in Great Britain, Ireland, and else
| where.
DEAR FRIENDs-We have again 10 &C
knowledge Inc nnmerited mercy OF our
Heavenly Father-We have been sensi-
| bic of a renewal oil our strength from
him, the inexhaustble source OF good.
in which we have been united one unto
| another, and have felt the current OF
| Christian love to How to all our dear bre-
thren and sisters. Our beloved elder
friends, both present and absent, living
in different parts OF the nation, who love
the truth, and who have, through the
course o. many years, endeavo rcd faith
fully to serve .beir Creator, are brought
near unto Us in the fellowship of the
everlasting Gospel. We desire that it
may please the Lord to comfort and
strengthen these in their dec lining, ears !:
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 esta-
blishlng Of our religious society, was mol.
the effect of human wisdom. 1t pleased
the Lord by the powerful influence Of bis
eternal word, on the hearts of cur faith
fnl predecessors, to prepare them to re-
ccive The truth in the love of it. They
consulted not with flesh and blood, but
obeyed the heavenly call. They were
strengthened 10 bear, with firmness and
meekness, the SCOTS, and prosecutions,
and inprlsonmens to which they were
subjected In supporting their religious.
testimonies, they sought not the praise OF
men, but the appreciation Of God. Be-
lieving that their views OF the design in
the coming C! Christ, and of the nature
OF his dispeDsaiion, were confirmed to
their understandings, by the power Of his
Spirit, they suffered freely and cheerful
ly for his name. Their patience and ior-
,iinde, and their reliance on the Lord
alone for deiverance from the hands Of
their prosecutors, gave clear proof Of
their sincerity, and Ultimately secured
free and untilslurbed profess ion of their
religious principles. And i, has been
under the influence of the same AL
mighty Power, that we have been pre-
served united religious BODY, ana that
these Testimonies have been faithfully
borne among US from generation to ge-
neratlon.
The great truths of Christian doctrine
are of individual application and we
feel it to be our duty to press upon ali
our members closely to examine, each
for himself, how far he is building on
Christ, the sure foundation. Are you,
dear friends, daily waiting, in faith, be-
fore The Lord for The gentle limitations
Of bis spirit ? are you with alacrily of
hearts yielding TO the discov cries of the
Light of truth, and thus preparing the
way for further manifestations ofihe Dit
vine will II is indeed oi special impor-,
lance, 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 example, your leader, and your
Saviour. The talents with which you
are ntrusted, and for the right use of
which YOU must sooner or later render
an account, are never occupied so &C
accepiably in the divine sight, as when
they are cheerfdlly and unreservedly de-
voted to the service and dispose! Of him
who gave them. Whenever these ia
Tents are employedon the great truths of
redemption, and other articles of Chris
tan faith most surely believed amongst
US, let it be done under an humbling
sense of the limited powers of the hu-
man mind, and with reverence and fear,
as in the divine presence. Then, we be-
lieve, 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 assaied by his peculiar
temptations. Amidst the various be-
sediments by which we are surrounded,
some have to contend with love of mo-
ncy; others are liable to give way either
TO an basty or ungenerous temper; others
to an ndu lgence in the fading pleasures
and batteries OF the world: but il is the
blessed nature fthe religion OF Jesus, to
regulate our affections, to change our
hearts, and to establish us in charity,
meekness, and self-denial. Exaimne
yourselves, then, daily, and see whether
ii is your sincere and lervent desire, that
the words Of your mouths, and the medi-
tatons of your hearts, may be acceptable
in the sight of the Lord; and that He
may be indeed, your Strength and your
Redeemer.
Beloved brethren and sis,ers-orr ear