mation was uttered, "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth; as gardens by the river's side; as the trees of lign-aloes, which the Lord hath planted; and as cedar-trees beside the waters." And of this favoured people, it was declared on the same occasion, "Israel shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations." It may, by many, be deemed presumptuous, to attempt to assign, for our society, a similar position in regard to other religious bodies: but when duly considered, will it not be seen that there is an accordance in the two cases? It is true, we are not an exclusive people; but were we not called out of the world, to be a special people? Peculiar testimonies are committed to our charge: and, above all, we specially profess to have our dependance for counsel, under all circumstances and in all emergencies, on the divine principle of light and life inwardly revealed; and to wait oftener than the day, in the silence of all flesh, for its holy illuminations and leadings: and although, in the view of some, it may savour of sectarianism, to suppose that there is danger for the young and inexperienced, indeed for any of us, to associate so intimately as we do, with such as see not eye to eye with us in this respect, as well as in respect to our subordinate characteristic testimonies; there seems to be too much reason for apprehending, that such association has often proved a snare to many of our members; and that it is a cunning device of the enemy to draw them away from the simplicity of the truth, and from implicit submission to the teachings of Christ's Spirit within them. Thus, under the specious pretext of liberality, or perhaps even of usefulness, a relaxation in the support of testimonies, for which our worthy ancestors were made

she had even tried them who said they were apostles, but were not; and had found them liars: and yet her condition was pronounced by Him whose eyes are "as a flame of fire," to be so fallen, that, unless she repented, her candlestick would be quickly removed out of his place.

In another land, lamentably has the enemy of all good succeeded in beguiling many unstable professors with us into a reliance on their reasoning powers, and a consequent adoption of doctrines utterly at variance with our religious profession: doctrines which are the bitter fruit of that wisdom which is from beneath. There is cause for much thankfulness that a barrier has hitherto been generally opposed to the introduction of these doctrines among friends in this land: but is there not danger, that unless we are preserved in abiding watchfulness and deep humility, our "loins girded about, and our lights burning," we may, while zealously opposing one error, be entangled in another? In endeavouring to uphold even right principles, there is reason to fear that if we neglect to stand upon our watch, and to set us upon the tower, we shall ourselves be beguiled into a dependance on the form instead of the power and if in this way, the subtle enemy can but draw us from the pure life, his purpose is as effectually answered as if he had betrayed us into open apostacy.

In days that are past, the Scripture declaration, that Israel should "dwell alone," was often quoted as applicable to our society. A similar application of it in this day, will probably induce considerable censure: nevertheless I freely own it to be my conviction, that it always has been and still is, an appropriate adaptation. It was when Israel was abiding in his tents, separate from the surrounding nations, that the emphatic excla

mation was uttered, "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth; as gardens by the river's side; as the trees of lign-aloes, which the Lord hath planted; and as cedar-trees beside the waters." And of this favoured people, it was declared on the same occasion, "Israel shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations." It may, by many, be deemed presumptuous, to attempt to assign, for our society, a similar position in regard to other religious bodies: but when duly considered, will it not be seen that there is an accordance in the two cases? It is true, we are not an exclusive people; but were we not called out of the world, to be a special people? Peculiar testimonies are committed to our charge: and, above all, we specially profess to have our dependance for counsel, under all circumstances and in all emergencies, on the divine principle of light and life inwardly revealed; and to wait oftener than the day, in the silence of all flesh, for its holy illuminations and leadings: and although, in the view of some, it may savour of sectarianism, to suppose that there is danger for the young and inexperienced, indeed for any of us, to associate so intimately as we do, with such as see not eye to eye with us in this respect, as well as in respect to our subordinate characteristic testimonies; there seems to be too much reason for apprehending, that such association has often proved a snare to many of our members; and that it is a cunning device of the enemy to draw them away from the simplicity of the truth, and from implicit submission to the teachings of Christ's Spirit within them. Thus, under the specious pretext of liberality, or perhaps even of usefulness, a relaxation in the support of testimonies, for which our worthy ancestors were made

willing to suffer the loss of all, has followed in various ways. Is it not sorrowful to observe, that divers, if not nearly all of those precious testimonies, are now, by many amongst us, evaded, if not wholly relinquished? Is not the plain language in addressing an individual too often avoided? And when speaking to or of individuals or companies, are not terms customary with the world, and sometimes scarcely consistent with truth, adopted as substitutes for proper names, or for other correct appellations; because these latter might sound uncouthly to those who do not scruple to receive honour one of another? among which terms may be noted, as pre-eminently inconsistent with our profession, titles indicative of what are called degrees in divinity. Again, how great is the present deviation from plainness of apparel; also in regard to hat-honour, and the adoption of names of days and months derived from heathen idolatry; and the designation of quarter-days from popish massdays-in prefixing the term "Saint" to names of places or parishes; and in calling a building appropriated to public worship, a church :—all so pointedly testified against by our ancestors in the beginning: to which may be added, the attendance by some of missionary meetings; and occasionally, even of assemblies for worship, in which forms and ceremonies are introduced, against which, also, our faithful predecessors, in the authority of truth testified, and from which they laboured earnestly to draw off the people. In this day, the testimonies committed to our charge are the same. Yet, far be it from me to pass censure upon my Christian brethren of other denominations. I believe that there are among them, many sincere in heart, according to the degree of light they have received: but if we would point out to them that which they have not yet