Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-29


| Discipline of the Church, Oh! that we may
| seek for a right qualification to treat with OIL
! tenders in the spirit of restoring love,-most
carefully guarding against the influence of par
| ~ feeling, which may, almost imperceptIbly,
entwine itself in movements professedly design
ed TO support the Discipline Of Society. Let
US remember that It's original and primary OBJ
iect is, 10 seek and to save-nol TO destroy. II
we in spirit OF violence seize the Discipline
as sword, to be welded in the will and wisdom
CT man, we thereby depart from our ancient
| and Christian Principle, aud wound the cause
of truth and righteousness.
! Our profession is high and holy; and let US
be increasingly concerned to walk consistently
herewith. The patient sufferings ofour faith
full predecessors finally established for them an
excelIen, name, even amongst their prosecutors.
They held up with practical clearness peacea-
BILE testimony against "wars and hghtings, and
by scrupulous adherence to the principles Of
Justice, became proverbial for their integrity
In the present affecting state Of things, we
feel deeply concerned that their example Ia
these respects may be kept steadily in view
that our religious testimonies may never be
wounded by contending for property and assert
! ing our rghts;-tha no course be pursued, al
though sanctioned by the laws ot The eAceIeh'
civil government; under which we live, that may
be at variance with the Spirit Of that holy Law
civer. who taught his disciples, "lf any man
will sue thee al the law and take away thy coat,
let him have thy cloak ALSO" and who SET forth
his situation as il related to this world when
he said, "The foxes have holes, and the birds
OF the air have nests, but tine son oil man nam
not where to lay his head
And we tendely eXhor, that in places where
our members constitute the larger part ot.any
meeting, their conduct may br regulated by
the rule laid down by our blessed Lord: "W hat
soever We would that men should do 10 you, co
We even so TO them "
The discipline under which we act, positively
discourages members of our Society from su-
ing each other al law. To violate this DIscl-
plne in meeting capacity, is not only de-
parture from our established order, but is cal
culated to injure US in the eyes of sober inqulr-
ers after truth, and 10 disturb the peace OF our
own minds.
Dearly beloved Young Friends! how shall we
address you in language sufficiently expressive
Of the tender solicitude which we feel for your
welfare. We are fully aware that many OF you
have witnessed scenes Of contention, painfully
affecting to the inexperienced mind, and caIcu-
lated to produce The inquiry, "Who shall show
Us any good" But remember, dear children,
"The foundation CT God standeth sure, having
this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. y
Although there may have been sea ons when,
as amidst the rag ing of the pillows, you have
been ready 10 cry ont, Lord save US or we per-
ish, yet may YOU remember that the Almighty
Power which rebuked the winds and the waves,
lis the same that IL ever was, and is still gra-
c0usly disposed to- say 10 tho humble tossed
mind, "Peace, be s,ilI,"~
Retire then, we en,reat you, from all airy spe-
cuation5 on religious subjeCts-from all light
, ard chafy conversation. Enter into your clos
ets-shut the door--commune with your own
hearts and be still. Thus you will learn in the
school Of Christ. Your religious experience
will be gradually enlarged, and as you CONT
nue. humble and obedent, you will be raised up
a righteous generation, and will stand as faith
!ul advocates for the law and the testimony Of
our God. There will arise from amongs, you
=. Judges at the first, and counselIors as at the
beginning instead of the fathers there will be
the sons, and instead Of the mothers there will
be the daughters.
The language of The Meeting for Su1erings,
IN The introduction TO the Book of Advices pub.
lshed under the reclion Of our Yearly Meets
ing in 1903, appears peculiarly adapted to our
present situation, and is Us follows:
"Ihe following extracts have been compiled
Tor the benefit Of the members Of our Yearly
Meeting, that observing the travail Of the
Church under various concerns, which in di-
vine wisdom have been communicated for its
weighty attention. they may be drawn TO the
principle of Life and Light manifested in the
mind, which points out the path Of duty and
can alone preserve therein.
Our ancient Friends and their faithful sue
cessors to the present day, have earnestly la
boured to turn the attention ofall to this pure
spirit: knowing from experience, that it is the
means appointed by God for efieclng our SAL
walton, and the only foundation Of all true reli>
gion and worship AS by this we have been
led into divers testimonies which have distin-
guished US from most other professors Of the
Christian name, we fer,ently desire that all our
members may walk by the same rule and mind
the same thing-thus every one filing his place
in The body, we shall grow up into Him in all
things, who is the Head, even Christ"
We recommend these ad,iccs to the weigh