The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-09-21

Iotn OF the ruin Month, TO the 9th OF the
same, inclusive, 1881.
To the Quarterly and Monthly Metings of
Friends IN Great Britain, Ireland and else
1ohere.
I DEAR FRIEEDs,-Feclng our hearts warmed
with love towards our brethren and sisters,
wherever situated, we do not hesitate again 10
| salute you ; and TO express our desire and pray
er, that grace and peace may be multiplied unto
you from God our Father, and from the Lord
Jesus Christ
We have again to rejoice in the condescen-
sion Of the Great Head of the Church for,
while we have found abundant cause for lIumil-
latlon, in the deficiencies which continue 10 pre-
vail amongst us, we may gratefully acknowl-
edge that He has not cast off his unworthy chill.
dren. He has enabled US TO conduct the bust
ness which has come before us in love and har.
mony, and has graciously bestowed upon % a
solemn and refreshing sense of his mercy.
! We have received an Episilc from dear
brethren, in Ireland, and one from each of the
Yearly Meetings Of our friends in North Amer.
| lea ; and have been comfortcd by these renew
ed tokens of Christian affection The Epistes
| from our friends in America afford an evidence
! of their continued zeal for the cause of Christ;
| yet we deeply sympathize with them in the Fri.
ais to which they are still exposed, and desire
to commend them TO the grace and goodness Of
! God.
While thus assembled in large Numbers, we
have been led 10 feel for those of our dear friends
| who are scattered in solitary places and who
are accustomed TO meet for the purpose of wor-
ship in very small companies. May such be
encouraged to a pe:severing diligence in the
performance of this Christian duty. 1t is con-
soling to remember, that God is every where
/ present to bless his faithful children, and that
/ our holy Rcdeemer maniests himself by his
spirit, TO the two or three who are gathered TO-
gether in his name. Many valuable members
OF our society have been trained for usefulness,
by the Divine hand, in very secluded situations ;
and the consistent example even of solitary in
diVidual may be of great use in promoting the
cause of truth and righteousness. As such
endeavor TO maintain their religious princi.
pies faithfully, others may in the end gather
round them
Our well-known practice of assembling for
worship at an appointed time during the week,
besides the first day has again been a subject of
! religious exercise amongst us. Thus to leave
our outward concerns, in humble dependence
upon God, and in solemn silence, TO wait togeth.
er upon Him we believe to be acceptable to our
! Heavenly Father. and emlnentiy calculated to
| promote our religious edifcation. We desire
! TO encourage our dear friends every where.
! to dlligent attendance of these meetings the
! neglect of them is an affecting indication of a
danger that we shall hinder our religious pro.
gress, if we refuse TO avail ourselves of SO valu.
able privilege.
We would remind our beloved brethren, that
unless VIC are pressing forward towards Zion,
the city of the living God, we may soon lose
our remaining strength and become immersed
| in the spirit of the world How earnestly will
they who are seeking to make progress in the
spiritual course, ask and wait for that holy aid
which constitutes the life and strength of the
renewed soul. 1t was by a constant reference
| to the Spirit of Christ in the heart, that our
| early predecessors were enabled 10 support
their christian testimonies under severe perse-
! cutlon, as well us TO maintain that standard Of
Christian principle by which they obtained,
from those who injured them, so high charac.
ter for strict veracity and integrity in all their
! transactions. We entreat you, dear friends, 10
consider whether the Lord is not requiring Of
| us, individually, fuller surrender of the natu
raj will, greater decision in giving up all for
! Christ, and more ardent pursuit, of heavenly
things. " If We then be risen with Christ, seek
those things which are above, where Christ
stitch on the RICH: hand of God
just view and full belief of the astonishing fact
that God sent his only begotten Son into the world
to save us, is we believe suited, beyond all other
things, under the power of the Holy Spirit, to hum
bic us in a sense of our corruption, and TO
| SHo III our minus IerVent gratitude towards the
Author OF all good. Under the influence of this
gratitude, may we all devote ourselves without re-
serve to the service of our Redeemer When
! love for Christ has expelled from hearts the
love of the world we shall no longer 60 halting on
our way IN condition Of weakness, but shall ex-
perienee growth in grace, and in the knowledge Of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We have been once more led to take view Of
the responsibility which attaches to parents and
heads Of families. To train up our children, sci
wants, and those under our care, both by example
! and precePt, in religious life and conversation,
J consistent with our Christian profession is duty
J OF a very serious nature We beseech our dear
friends to reflect its vast importance and in or
der to perform it rightly to press after true godli
ness. Never shall we be found faithful stewards in
this respect, until we ourselves men of prayer,
weaned from the spirit of the world, and walking
IN the reverent fear of God our Father.
We have on the present occasion deeply felt the
loss OF some of our beloved friends lately removed
by death, whose labors were greatly esteemed
among us, and who, we humby trust, have enter
ed into their rest. Our Ihearts also turned in
Christian sympathy to those who by their ncreas-
ing infirmites prevented from giving US their
company. We highly value. that travail of soul
which our elder brethren and sisters in the Lord,
now that their day of active service is nearly over
are maintaining for the good of the church, and its
preservation in Christian purity we honor them
for their works sake. We tenderly desire that
now, in the evening of life, they may partake of
the rich consultations which are in Christ Jesus
and that, being preserved in faith and patience
to the end, whilst they have to say with the Psalm
list, My flesh and heart faileth," they may adopt
the language but God is the strength of my heart,
and my portion for ever"
TO our young friends particularly, we would al-
lectionately recommend frequent recurrence to
the first principles of religious profession, and
which we consider to be those of pure Christani-
y. An establishment in these principles would,
we believe, preserve us consistent both in faith and
practice, and prev ent our being improperly moved
by the varying notions which arc so common in the
present day; We long to impress upon you, dear
young friends, the beauty and value of early and
unreserved dedication OF yourselfto God cultivate
tender and enlightened conscience, andobey his
law with all sincerity. Be faithful in maintaining
your planness of speech, behavior and apparel
Cherish those wholesome restraints of guarded and
religious education of which the evident tendency
is TO keep you out of the way of evil. We enlreat
you to avoid speculation and disputation of reli-
gous subjects; for these will hinder instead Of
promoting your growth in grace. Let all your con
versations on the sacred truths of the Gospel, be
conducted under due sense of their Importance
and in the true fear of God. Carefully peruse The