be imagined; never could I have answered it to myself, much less to that adorable and merciful Saviour, who, in wholly unmerited grace, has rescued me and snatched me as a brand from the burning, if I had allowed myself silently to retire from so dangerous a profession.

Whether I have made any unjust charges against the principles or practices of the Society, may be better judged of after the perusal of what I am about to write, than can be seen by the letter which is under my review; for it appears to me, however unintentional on the part of the writers, to contain a very partial exhibition of the whole subject. In the first place, it seems to be insinuated that I am charging the whole Society with being deists. Now really this is not the case: we know that persons may in the first instance be deceived with regard to the direct tendency of the principles they profess to hold; which principles also may not have so full a hold upon them as might be supposed to be the case, by the manner in which they speak or write of them. And we also know that many who are educated in the profession of certain principles, may see through the fallacy of them, and yet, from not knowing how to liberate themselves from the trammels of their profession,

without the trying alternative of taking up with something which they think would bring them into other conscientious difficulties, are induced to continue in their profession. Such as these may be every day afflicted with the evidence of the fallacy of the principles they profess, and are certainly deserving of much sympathy. But, for all this, it by no means follows, that we are to view the principles in any other than their true light, or, for the sake of sparing the feelings of those who are firmly attached to them, to abate any thing of a plain statement of their real nature, when fairly brought to the only proper test-HOLY SCRIPTURE, because the immense interests at stake far outweigh any consideration of a little present pain or mortification; and I must be allowed to say, that I do not write as a speculative, but as a practical man. I have really tasted the indescribable bitterness of the principles I complain of; and I am sure, so far from its being my wish to excite unpleasant discussion, or to bring discredit on any persons living, or to the memory of those who are removed from the present stage of existence, the idea of such things is a real grief to me.

It appears that Friends, from the very first, were, by pious and judicious persons of various

denominations in the Christian church, warned of the extreme danger of their principles: this faithful dealing seems to have been uniformly met by any thing but what was most desirable— the acknowledgment and rejection of the errors. The effects, however, which have manifested themselves during the last forty years, if no others of an unfavourable nature had been observed longer ago, must be considered as fully justifying the painful anticipations of Christians who lived in the days of George Fox. Ever since those days, at longer or shorter intervals, watchmen upon the walls of Zion* have given alarms concerning the dangerous nature of the "inward light," which has all along been considered as the very foundation of Quakerism; and that it is so, I shall soon bring forward quotations from the acknowledged, and at this day strongly recommended writings of Friends, to prove. Such quotations might be increased to an amazing extent, but I must of course be satisfied with presenting a very small number.

When I consider the professedly spiritual, but really infidel publications that are read and circulated by the generality of Friends, even by many who are in the influential stations of

* Baxter, Bunyan, Owen, Leslie, &c.

"Ministers," "Elders," and "Overseers:" and that the author of the "Beacon" is the subject of what appears to me to be persecution, for having published a most salutary warning against doctrines, the prevalence whereof is proved by the conduct which is shown towards the author, and the general denunciation of his book: it is impossible for me not to entertain very distressing apprehensions relative to the extensive diffusion of just such mystical deism in the Society as, from the nature of its professed principles, might be supposed to be of indigenous growth in it. But I am sure it is to me the subject of unfeigned joy and thankfulness also to believe, that an increasing number are rising up in the Society, who are cordially embracing the genuine doctrines of the gospel; and are, in the midst of many trials and disadvantages, adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour; and that there have been such in all ages of the Society.

In my turn, therefore, I must be allowed to remonstrate against the construction which, at page 22 of the letter which is addressed to me,* is given of some expressions of mine, and is certainly straining them beyond any thing that

* When reference is made to this publication, it will be distinguished thus" Letter."

I intended, or that can fairly be made of them. Surely, when thirty thousand persons in America alone, have, within the last few years, openly become "Hicksites," and, with the profession of high spirituality, are really denying the efficacy of that precious blood, without the shedding of which, by our adorable Saviour, there could have been no remission of sins; and if (according to page 25 of the "Letter") "the evils which led to the OUT-BREAK were the growth of years," there can be nothing very wonderful if one, who has been made to feel in his inmost soul the curse of such doctrines, and that he was himself just on the crumbling brink of the yawning gulf, should express his "fear" that even tens of thousands, dreadful as is the thought, may have sunk into ruin. Whether my fears be groundless or not, I must leave it to others to form their own judgment, but I have considered it my duty to express them; and would to God they might be groundless: far be it from me to judge individuals; I look at the mass, and, contemplating their professed principles, cannot view it otherwise than as presenting a most affecting and appalling aspect. I also know that the rescue which has been so graciously afforded to me is owing to no sagacity of mine, but in my