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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/ancienttestinnonyOOsoci
THE
ANCIENT TESTIMONY
OF THK
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS,
COMMOXLY CALLED QUAKERS,
RESPECTING SOME OP THEIR CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES AND PRACTICES.
REVIVED AND GIVEN FORTH BY THE YEARLY MEETING, Held in Philadelphia in the Fourth Month, 1843.
PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED BY JOSEPH RAKESTRAW. 1843.
CONTENTS.
Introductory Remarks, 5
Of the One true God, &c 12
Of Divine Revelation, 18
Of the fallen State of Man, 33
Of the Universality of the Light of Christ, . . 36
Of the Holy Scriptures, . 41
Of Justification, 50
Of Baptism and the Supper, 58
Divine Worship, 62
Ministry, 64
Prayer, 66
War, 68
Slavery, 71
Trade and living, 73
Parents and Children, 77
Conclusion, 81
At a Yearly Meeting held in Philadelphia^ by adjournments, from the llth of the Fourth month, to the 22nd of the same, inclusive, 1843, —
The Meeting for Sufferings having been brought under much exercise, on account of the attempts of the enemy of all righteousness to lay waste some of the principles and testimonies of our Religious Society, as set forth in the Writings of our early Friends, particularly in the Apology for the true Christian Divinity, written by Robert Barclay, — a work with which we have divers times declared our unity; they have prepared and produced to this Meeting, an address to our members, reviving those Christian doctrines, and some of the practices of our anci- ent Friends, which having been read, and time spent in solidly deliberating upon its important contents, it was united with by this Meeting, and the Clerk is directed to sign it on our behalf. The Meeting for Sufferings is authorized to print such number as they may deem proper, for general circulation amongst our members and others. .
THE
ANCIENT TESTIMONY
OF THE
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
In taking a view of the state of our religious So- ciety, and of the great unsettlement which prevails in the world, in regard to various subjects of a reli- gious and moral character, we have been brought under feelings of earnest and affectionate solicitude, on behalf of our beloved brethren and sisters ; and agreeably to our ancient practice, are religiously en- gaged to address them.
We feel a fervent desire, that by humbly seeking for and following the leadings of Christ Jesus, the Shepherd and Bishop of souls, we may all experi- ence preservation from the many dangers and temp- tations which abound in this day of shaking and commotion, and witness an establishment upon that Rock which cannot be moved, and which has been the unfailing refuge and support of the righteous in every generation.
We are persuaded that this is the only ground of preservation and of safety. It is not in the power of any man, whatever may be his intellectual endow- ments, or his acquired knowledge, to withstand, by his own efforts, the force of temptation, or to direct
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
his Steps safely through the difficulties and dangers which attend his earthly pilgrimage. It is only as we " trust in the Lord with all our hearts, and lean not to our own understanding," that we shall be ena- bled, through the inshining of the light of Christ Jesus, to detect the various snares which the enemy of man's happiness is insidiously laying for our en- tanglement, and be endued with strength and wisdom to escape them.
Under the guidance of this divine Light, the holy ancients in all ages were enabled to overcome the wicked one, and to obtain a good report as those that pleased God. It was this that separated our worthy predecessors from the corrupt manners, friendships and religions of the world ; led them in the way of the daily cross and self-denial, and made them living witnesses of the power and coming of the Lord Jesus. Through its immediate discoveries, they were given to see the emptiness of an outside religion — rest- ing in a profession of truths which, though good in themselves, were not livingly and practically expe- rienced ; by it, they were released from those forms and ceremonies imposed by the will and wisdom of man in this glorious gospel day, which is a dispen- sation of life and substance, not of types and shadows; and were constrained to bear a constant testimony to the necessity of resisting and overcoming sin in all its motions ; and of witnessing the inward Hfe of right- eousness begun, carried on and perfected in the soul, by the immediate manifestation of the power and spirit of Christ Jesus, as the only solid foundation for the hope of everlasting life and happiness.
We believe that a loud and solemn call is renew
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
7
edly extended to the members of our religious Society, to come up fully and unreservedly in the belief and observance of those spiritual doctrines and holy practi- ces, which conspicuously distinguished our honourable predecessors ; that being brought more entirely under the government of the Spirit of the Lord, the source of all saving knowledge, we may really be taught of God the things which belong to the soul's salvation, and humbly and steadfastly walking in the light, may have true fellowship one with another, and know the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all sin.
The present is a period wherein we apprehend the enemy of souls is busily at work, endeavouring, with all the deceivableness of unrighteousness, to beguile the unw^ary, and to draw us away from a steadfast adherence to those doctrines and practices into which our primitive Friends were thus divinely led ; in order, if possible, to frustrate the work of regeneration in individuals, and to hinder the spread of those princi- ples and testimonies which, we believe, we were raised up as a people, to uphold and promulgate in the earth.
The doctrine of the immediate manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the soul of man, and the necessity of submission to his renewing and transforming power there, by w^hich sin is effectually withstood and over- come, and Christ faithfully followed in all his requir- ings, aims a more direct and deadly blow at anti- christ's kingdom, than any other ; hence his enmity against it is the greater, and he is busy in endeavour- ing to pervert and obscure it ; while as it stands di- rectly in opposition to the unregenerate nature of man, so he is most willing to have it concealed from his view.
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
We have seen, during a season of trial which but a little while ago passed over us, the attennpts of the grand deceiver to invalidate and bring into disrepute the doctrine of immediate divine revelation, by lead- ing many who made profession of it, but were not faithful to its teachings, under the pretext of greater spirituality than their brethren, into a denial of some of the fundamental truths of the Christian religion ; especially in reference to the authenticity and divine authority, of the Holy Scriptures, and the divinity and offices of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This mournful declension brought deep sorrow and painful exercise upon many faithful Friends; who, through divine mercy, were preserved from the delu- sion, and engaged to lift up the standard of truth against its progress. Not having been permitted to lay waste the Society by means of this dark and be- wildering stratagem, the enemy is now assaihng us on the other hand ; endeavouring to draw away from the spirituality of the gospel — to induce an undue de- pendence upon outward means, and to settle down at ease in a literal knowledge and belief of the truths of the Holy Scriptures.
Another device is, to set individuals at work, in the will and w^isdom of the natural man, to comprehend and explain the sacred truths of rehgion ; to bring them down to the level of his unassisted reason, and make them easy to the flesh ; so as to avoid the mor- tifying experience of becoming fools for Christ's sake, and taking up the daily cross to the wisdom, the friendships, the honour and the fashions of the world. Others he is leading into great zeal and activity in undertakings of a religious or benevolent character,
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIEXDS.
9
which, however laudable their objects may be, are not their proper work and business; but engross the time, talents and attention, which ought to be devoted to the all-important concerns of the soul's salvation ; and being in some measure substituted for that, pro- duce great and serious loss to such individuals.
At different periods since we were first gathered to be a people, individuals have arisen among us, who have not submitted to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so as to experience the death of self and a resurrec- tion into newness of life — or having known it, have fallen away from that happy estate, and endeavoured to lay waste the doctrines' they once professed. Through the friendships of the world, and the desire after an easier way, they have become ashamed of the simplicity of the truth, and offended at the re- proach which the worldly professor attaches to the self-denying religion of the cross of Christ ; and their spiritual vision becoming thereby clouded, they have promulgated sentiments repugnant to our Christian faith, and to the spiritual nature and universality of the gospel, as set forth by our early Friends; particu- larly by Robert Barclay, in his able and excellent "Apology for the true Christian Divinity;" a work which has been frequently published and spread by our Society, as a correct exposition of its doctrines, and which we would recommend to the careful and serious perusal of all our members.
These defections are no new thing, nor are they peculiar to our Society; many, in different ages of the church, having made shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, and for a time brought much suffer- ing upon the faithful followers of Christ. But it is
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
worthy of observation, that those among us, who have thus turned against the truth and Friends, even though they were once eminent and useful instru- ments, have generally fallen away, so as to lose what they had known of the life and power of godliness; the men of this world have gathered them into their fellowship, and like withered branches, all greenness has been dried up.
During the season of trial already alluded to, when some of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity were denied by those who have since separated from us, many, from a sincere desire to maintain those precious doctrines inviolate, came forward in their defence. For want of coming under, and keeping to the unfoldings of divine light, by which alone the spiritual eye is enabled to see clearly, and a qualifi- cation is experienced to bear a true testimony to the gospel in its fulness, some of these, in their efforts to advocate those doctrines, have not sufficiently kept in view the internal operation of the gospel, as the power of God unto salvation; nor borne a clear and une- quivocal testimony, as our ancient Friends did, to the universal appearance of Christ in the souls of all men, as " the true Light, which lighteth every man that Cometh into the world."
Seeing the errors which arose from undervaluing the Holy Scriptures, there has been a tendency to run into the opposite extreme, and to exalt them into a place and office which they do not claim for them- selves, and which derogate from the work and office of the Holy Spirit.
In attempting to counteract the sorrowful effects resulting from a denial of the benefits which accrue
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIEXDS.
11
to mankind from the sufferings and death of Christ, as the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, the subject has been pressed so far as to give countenance to the idea that Christ has paid the debt, and done the work for us, without us ; and that by a profession of faith in and reUance upon him, as their atonement and righteousness, the ungodly may be justified without experiencing sanctification through the power of the Holy Spirit.
For want of duly considering that the unfaithful- ness or inconsistency of false professors, is no argu- ment against a truth, sound and profitable in itself, we apprehend that the high pretensions to the light of Christ, made by those who separated from us, have induced some to undervalue this fundamental doctrine of Holy Scripture, and to treat it in a manner calcu- lated to derogate from its sufliciency as the primary rule of faith and life; or to take such an imperfect and mixed view of it, as to lessen the value and im- portance which it justly holds in sound Scripture doc- trine.
We think the influence and effects of these things are to be discovered in our favoured Society; and under a renewed fervent desire to discharge our reli- gious duty in the sight of the great Head of the church, and an afiectionate concern for our beloved fellow-members, that we may all come into the unity of the faith ; striving together, through the Lord's gracious assistance, for the spreading of his kingdom, and the growth of each other in the pure unchange- able truth ; we feel engaged to caution our dear Friends against the dangers to which we have thus briefly alluded ; and to revive some of the doctrines and tes-
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
timonies which our religious Society has always held, and still most surely believes ; as well as to im- part some tender counsel respecting other matters, which may endanger their stability, and the peace and prosperity of the Society at large.
OF THE ONE TRUE GOD, AND THE THREE THAT BEAR RECORD IN HEAVEN.
We believe in one only wise, omnipotent and everlasting God, the creator and upholder of all things, visible and invisible, — and in one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, the mediator be- tween God and man, — and in the Holy Spirit, which proceedeth from the Father and the Son ; one God, blessed forever, to whom belong all glory and honour, adoration and praise, forever — Amen.
In speaking of the infinite, eternal Being, we have always considered it most proper and consistent with his all-glorious and incomprehensible existence and attributes, and safest for us, finite creatures, to confine ourselves to the language of Holy Scripture. For this reason, and because it tends to perplexity and doubt, the Society has always objected to the use of the terms person and personality, in speaking of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Man may think, by his wisdom and learning, to define the Divine ex- istence, and render it more intelhgible than the holy men who wrote under the immediate guidance of the Holy Ghost; but we believe that all such attempts will ever be vain and futile, and that it is our duty humbly to receive, and rest satisfied with, the descrip-
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 13
tion of the Three that bear record in heaven, given to us in the language of Holy Scripture, v^^ithout at- tempting to pry further into this sacred mystery. To speak of the Supreme Being as constituted of three persons, and to attempt to define in familiar terms the relative place and office of each, we believe does not tend to edification, but is calculated to lessen that reverence and fear which ought always to clothe the mind in speaking of Almighty God; tends to bewilder and confuse the sincere inquirer after truth, and not only leads into- unprofitable speculation, but may give ground to the sceptic to cavil at the Christian religion.
Our ancient Friends, though often assailed in refer- ence to this article of their faith, by persons who la- boured to draw them into the use of terms which they considered improper and unscriptural, steadily refused to depart from the language of the prophets, and of our blessed Lord and his apostles, in relation to it ; even though they were charged with unsoundness of prin- ciple, because they rejected those scholastic terms of their opponents.
George Fox, in a work entitled, "An Answer to all such as falsely say the Quakers are no Christians," writes thus on this subject, viz :
" We own the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as the apostles have declared. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth ; for there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one ; and there are three which bear record in earth, which we own. And now let* none be offended, be- cause we do not call them by those unscriptural names of Trinity and Three persons, which are not
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
Scripture words ; and so do falsely say, that we deny the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, which three are one, that bear record in heaven, &c.; which three we own with all our hearts, as the apostle John did, and as all true Christians ever did, and now do. And if you say we are not Christians, because we do not call the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the Trinity, distinct and separate persons, then you may as well conclude that John was no Christian, who did not give the Father, Word, and Holy Ghost, those names.
" We believe, concerning God the Father, Son, and Spirit, according to the testimony of the Holy Scrip- ture, which we receive and embrace as the most au- thentic and perfect declaration of Christian faith, being indited by the Holy Spirit of God, that never errs : 1st. That there is one God and Father, of whom are all things ; 2ndly. That there is one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom all things were made, who was glorified with the Father before the world began, who is God over all, blessed forever; that there is one Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father and the Son, and leader and sanctifier, and comforter of his people. And we further believe, as the Holy Scriptures soundly and sufficiently express, that these three are one, even the Father, the Word, and the Spirit."
Robert Barclay, in his Confession of Faith, says : " There is one God, who is a Spirit; and this is the mes- sage which the apostles heard of him and declared unto the saints, that he is light, and in him is no darkness at all. There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. The Father is in the Son, and the
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIEXDS.
15
Son is in the Father. No man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. The Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. For the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now^ the saints have re- ceived, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that they might know the things which are freely given them of God. For the Com- forter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father sends in Christ's name, he teacheth them all things, and brino^eth all things to their remembrance.''
Concerning the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, William Penn says: "Because we have been very cautious in expressing our faith concerning that great mystery, especially in such school terms and philoso- phical distinctions as are unscriptural, if not unsound, the tendency whereof has been to raise frivolous con- troversies and animosities amongst men, we have by those who desire to lessen our Christian reputation, been represented as deniers of the Trinity at large ; whereas, we ever believed, and as constantly main- tained, the truth of that blessed Holy Scripture three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, and that these three are one ; the which, we both sincerely and reverently believe, according to 1 John V. 7. And this is sufficient for us to believe and know, and hath a tendency to edification and ho- liness; when the contrary centres only in imagina- tions and strife, and persecution, where it runs high, and to parties, as may be read in bloody characters in the ecclesiastical histories."
The following is extracted from a work written by
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
George Whitehead, entitled, " The Divinity of Christ, and unity of the Three that bear record in heaven, and the blessed end and effects of Christ's appearance, coming in the flesh, suffering and sacrifice for sinners, confessed and vindicated by his followers, the Qua- kers."
"The divinity of Christ confessed by us called Quakers, and what we own touching the Deity or Godhead, according to the Scriptures ; That there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, — and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. That there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, and that these three are one, both in divin- ity, divine substance and essence ; not three Gods, nor separate beings, — that they are called by several names in Scripture, as manifest to and in the saints; (for whatsoever may be known of God, is manifest in man; Rom. 1.) and their record received as the full testimony of three, by such as truly know and own the record of the three in earth ; and yet they are eternally one in nature and being; one infinite wis- dom, one power, one love, one light and fife, &c.
" We never denied the divinity of Christ, as most injuriously we have been accused by some prejudiced spirits, who prejudicially, in their perverse contests, have sought occasion against us ; as chiefly because when some of us were in dispute with [others,] we could not own their unscriptural distinctions and terms, touching the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit ; to wit : of their being incommunicable, dis- tinct, separate persons, or substances; whereas, the Father, the Word, and Spirit, are one — not to be
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIEXDS. 17
compared to corruptible men, nor to finite creatures or persons, which are limitable and separable. For the only wise God, the Creator of all, who is one, and his name one, is infinite and inseparable. And the Father's begetting the Son, and the Spirit's being sent, we witness to and own, as he said, * Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.' And he hath sent his Spirit into our hearts — and that the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father, yea in the bo- som of the Father ; so that they are neither divided nor separate, being one, and of one infinite nature and substance — Christ being the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature, by whom all things were created, both in heaven and in earth. Yea, the Son of God is the brightness of his glory and the express image of his substance. And that it was in due time that God was manifest in flesh, as in the fulness of time God sent his Son — and the Son of God was made manifest to destroy sin — and a mani- festation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit M^thal. So the manifestation of the Father, of the Son, and Holy Spirit, we confess to and own to be in unity, and so the only true God, according to the Scriptures.
" And that Jesus Christ being in the form of God, thought it no robber}^ to be equal with God, and yet as a Son, in the fulness of time was sent of the Fa- ther, and took on him the form of a servant, in which state he said, 'My Father is greater than I.' And he learned obedience through suffering, and was made perfect, and is become an everlasting High Priest, after the order of Melchizedeck, and is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him ; and
3
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
God hath given us eternal life in his Son. And unto us a child is born and a Son is given, whose name is Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlast- ing Father, the Prince of peace, and he is over all, God blessed forever, even the true God and eternal life. So that the deity or divinity of Christ, in his eternal, infinite, glorious state, we really confess and own, having known his virtue and power to redeem us from our vain conversations, and to save us from wrath to come.
"And we judge that such expressions and words, as the Holy Ghost taught the true apostles and holy men, mentioned in the Scriptures, are most meet to speak of God and Christ, and not the w^ords of man's wisdom, or human inventions and devised distinctions, since the apostles' days."
OF DIVINE REVELATION.
The doctrine of immediate divine revelation, which was soon lost sight of in the apostacy, and even treat- ed with derision and scorn, ahhough clearly set forth in the Holy Scriptures, and its necessity and use am- ply testified to ; was revived and abundantly preached by the early members of our Society, as the glory and life of the gospel dispensation. Through the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit on their hearts, they came to see their own fallen condition, and their need of a deUverer nigh at hand, and not afar ofl^ ; and obeying its divine openings, they w^ere brought to the true knowledge of God, and of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as their Redeemer and Saviour. They could testify to others what their eyes had seen, and their
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
19
hands had handled of the good word of life, and of the powers of the world to come : the Holy Scrip- tures were livingly and savingly opened to them by this divine anointing ; and their faith did not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God revealed in their hearts.
It is no marvel that to those who had been thus divinely gathered from the teachings and commenta- ries of men, to Christ Jesus, the minister of the sanc- tuary and true tabernacle, which God hath pitched, and not man, the doctrine of immediate divine reve- lation should be very precious, and should form a principal theme in their wTitings and discourses. They not only knew in whom they believed, but also that it was not of man, nor by man, but by the reve- lation of Jesus Christ in the soul, that they came to this saving knowledge. While other professors, too generally, were resting in a bare belief of what Christ had done for them, without them, and in a literal knowledge of the Holy Scriptures ; these converted and regenerated witnesses of the truth as it is in Jesus, were made partakers of that faith which is produced by the testimony of the Spirit of Christ in the heart, by which they not only received him as their Redeemer and Saviour, in what he graciously did and suffered in the flesh, as the propitiation for sin, and as their mediator and intercessor ; but like- wise in his inward and spiritual appearance, to bap- tize and sanctify them ; so as to prepare their souls to partake of the fulness of the blessings which the gos- pel confers.
In setting forth the belief of the Society respecting this important doctrine, Robert Barclay states that,
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
*' Seeing, *no man knoweth the Father but the Son^ and he to whom the Son revealeth him and seeing * the revelation of the Son is in and by the Spirit therefore the testimony of tiie Spirit is that alone by which the true knowledge of God hath been, is, and can be only revealed. As, by the moving of his own Spirit, he disposed the chaos of this world into that wonderful order in which it was in the beginning, and created man a living soul, to rule and govern it, so, by the revelation of the same Spirit, he hath mani- fested himself all along unto the sons of men, both pa- triarchs, prophets and apostles ; which revelations of God by the Spirit, whether by outward voices and ap- pearances, dreams, or inward objective manifestations in the heart, were of old the formal object of their faith, and remain yet so to be ; since ' the object of the saints' faith is the same in all ages, though held forth under divers administrations.' Moreover, these divine inward revelations, which we make absolutely necessary for the building up of true faith, neither do nor can ever contradict the outward testimony of the Scriptures, or right and sound reason. Yet from hence it will not follow, that these divine revelations are to be subjected to the test, either of the outward testimony of the Scriptures, or of the natural reason of man, as to a more noble or certain rule and touchstone. For this divine revelation, and inward illumination, is that which is evident and clear of itself, forcing, by its own evidence and clearness, the well-disposed understand- ing to assent, irresistibly moving the same thereunto, even as the common principles of natural truths do move and incline the mind to a natural assent."
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIEXDS. 21
With reference to the various outward sources of knowledge, he says, " I would not, however, be under- stood, as if I hereby excluded those other means of knowledge from any use or service to man ; it is far from me so to judge, as concerning the Scriptures in the next proposition will more plainly appear."
Having laid down the position, that the knowledge of the Father is by and through the Son, he proceeds to show that the revelation of the Son is by the Spirit. " Where it is to be noted," he says, " that I always speak of the saving, certain, and necessary knowledge of God, which, that it cannot be acquired otherways than by the Spirit, doth also appear from many clear Scriptures. For Jesus Christ, in and by whom the Fa- ther is revealed, doth also reveal himself to his disciples and friends, in and by his Spirit. As his manifestation was outward when he testified for the truth in this Avorld, and approved himself faithful throughout — so being now withdrawn as to the outw^ard man, he teaches and instructs mankind inwardly by his own Spirit. He standeth at the door, and whoso heareth his voice and openeth, he comes in to such. Of this revelation of Christ in him, Paul speaks, in which he places the excellency of his ministry, and the certainty of his calling. And the promise of Christ to his dis- ciples, confirms the same thing, ' Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the w^orld ;' for this is an inward and spiritual presence, as all acknowledge."
Again, the apostle says, " What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
know the things that are freely given to us of God." From which Robert Barclay argues, " If that which appertains properly to man, cannot be discerned by . any lower principle than the spirit of man, then can- not those things which properly relate unto God and Christ, be known or discerned by any lower thing than the Spirit of God and Christ." Again, " that which is spiritual, can only be known and discerned by the Spirit of God ; but the revelation of Jesus Christ, and the true and saving knowledge of him is spiritual, and therefore can only be known and dis- cerned by the Spirit of God." The same apostle also asserts, that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost; from which Robert Barclay argues, " If no man can say Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost, then no man can know Jesus to be the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost ; and if no man can know him to be the Lord but through this medium, then there can be no certain knowledge or revelation of him but by the Spirit."
" That these revelations were the object of the saints' faith of old, will easily appear by the definition of faith, and considering what its object is. Paul de- scribes it two ways : Faith, says he, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ; which, as he illustrates it by many examples, is no other but a firm and certain belief of the mind, whereby it rests and in a sense possesses the sub- stance of some things hoped for, through its confi- dence in the promise of God ; and thus the soul has a most firm evidence by its faith, of things not yet seen nor come to pass. The object of this faith is the pro- mise, word, or testimony of God speaking in the mind.
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIE\DS.
23
Hence it has been generally affirmed, that the object of faith is God speaking ; which is also manifest from all those examples deduced by the apostle throughout that chapter, whose faith was founded, neither upon any outward testimony, nor upon the voice or writ- ing of man, but upon the revelation of God's will manifest unto, and in them ; as in the example of Noah. Thus, ' by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house ; by which he con- demned the world, and became heir of the righteous- ness which is by faith.' What was here the object of Noah's faith, but God speaking unto him ? He had not the writings nor prophesyings of any going be- fore, nor yet the concurrence of any church or peo- ple to strengthen him ; and yet his faith in the word, by which he contradicted the whole world, saved him and his house. Of which also, Abraham is set forth as a singular example, being therefore called the father of the faithful, who is said, against hope to have believed in hope ; in that he not only willingly forsook his father's country, not knowing whither he went, in that he believed concerning the coming of Isaac ; but above all, in that he refused not to offer him up, not doubting that God was able to raise him from the dead; of whom it is said, that in Isaac shall ihy seed be called. The object of Abraham's faith in all this, was no other but inward, immediate revelation, or God signifying his will unto him inwardly and imme- diately by his Spirit."
In outward and natural things, we often rely upon probabilities and the testimony of others : but in mat- ters which pertain to the salvation of the soul, there
^4 THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OP
can be no effectual faith but that which is produced by the immediate operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart, inclining and enabhng us to believe what it re- veals to us there, as well as those things which are recorded in the Scriptures of Truth. This faith is not an inherent principle or natural faculty of the human mind, which can be exercised when, and as a man pleases, though it will always be given to those who seek it in a humble and childhke spirit, of Him who is the author and giver of it. *' Whatsoever is born of God," saith the apostle, " overcometh the world ; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." No faculty or principle natural to the mind of man, can give this victory. " By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves ; it is the gift of God." This grace of God teaches us to deny all ungodliness, and the world's lusts ; and where it is received and obeyed, it gives faith to be- lieve that we shall be strengthened and enabled by it to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. Thus wc are saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ through faith in him ; and as we continue to believe in and follow him to the end, we shall know him to be the finisjier, as well as the author, of this hving victo- rious faith.
" He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself:" this witness is the Holy Spirit, by which the Son of God reveals himself to the soul, gives it faith to believe in his all-powerful name, and as he is obeyed and followed, he displays his almighty power and goodness, in pardoning its past sins — de- livering it out of the bondage- of corruption, and trans- lating it into the liberty of the sons of God. Thus,
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Christ is experimentally known as the Redeemer, Sa- viour and Sanctifier of his people ; and those only have a right to call him so, whom he thus saves from their sins, by his own blessed Spirit. " Wherefore I give you to understand, saith the apostle, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed; and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." Through living experience of his power in breaking up the strong holds of sin and satan ; delivering them from worse than Egyptian bondage and darkness, and bringing them into the marvellous light of the Lord, these can truly say that Jesus is their Lord and Saviour; and while they keep under the government of his Spirit, they can never do or say any thing that derogates from his divine character or offices, nor from the testimony of the Holy Scriptures.
After stating that some persons confess that the Holy Spirit now leads and influences the saints, but that he does it only by enlightening their understandings to un- derstand and believe the truths delivered in the Scrip- tures ; Robert Barclay further says, This opinion is not altogether according to the truth, neither does it reach the fulness of it. Because there are many truths, which, as they are applicable to individuals, and most needful to be known by them, are in no wise to be found in the Scriptures. Besides, the Spirit not only subjectively helps us to discern truths elsewhere delivered, but also objectively presents those truths to the mind. For that which teaches me all things, and is given me for that end, without doubt presents those things to my mind which it teaches me. It is not said, it shall teach you how to understand those things that
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are written [merely] ; but it shall teach you all things. Again, that which brings all things to my remembjance must needs present them by way of object." This is also evident from the nature of the New Covenant, which is expressed in divers places : " As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord ; my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever." — ** The perpetuity of this promise is fully expressed ; and it was immediate, for there is no mention made of any medium. He says not, I shall by means of such writings or books convey such words into your mouths ; but my words, I, even I, saith the Lord, have put into your mouths. This must be objectively, for the words put into the mouth are the object presented by him. He says not, the words which ye shall see written, my Spirit shall only enlighten your understand- ings to assent unto ; but positively, my words which I have put into thy mouth : therefore upon whomsoever the Spirit remaineth always, and putteth words into his mouth, him doth the Spirit teach immediately, objectively and continually."
*' The nature of the New Covenant is yet more amply expressed in Jeremiah, and repeated by the apostle in these words ; * For this is the convenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord ; for they shall all know
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me, from the least to the greatest.' The object here is God's law placed in the heart and written in the mind ; from whence they become God's people, and are brought truly to know him. In this then the law is distinguished from the gospel : the law before was outward, written in tables of stone, but it is now inward, written in the heart. Of old, the people de- pended upon their priests for the knowledge of God ; but now they all have a certain and sensible know- ledge of him. How much then are they deceived, who, instead of making the gospel preferable to the law, have made the condition of such as are under the gospel far worse. For no doubt it is a far better and more desirable thing to converse with God im- mediately, than only mediately, as being a higher and more glorious dispensation ; and yet these men ac- knowledge, that many under the law had immediate converse with God, whereas they now cry that it is ceased."
" Under the law there was the holy of holies, into which the high priest entered, and received the word of the Lord immediately from betwixt the cherubims ; so that the people could then certainly know the mind of the Lord : but now, according to these men's judgment, we are in a far worse condition ; having nothing but the outward letter of the Scriptures to guess and divine from. But Jesus Christ hath pro- mised us better things, though many are so unwise as not to believe him, even to guide us by his own uner- ring Spirit ; and he hath rent and removed the veil, whereby not only one, and that once a year, may enter; but all of us, at all times, have access unto him as often as we draw near unto him w^ilh pure hearts.
SJ8 THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
He reveals his will unto us by his Spirit, and writes his law in our hearts. And where the knowledge of God is put into the mind and written in the heart, there the object of faith and revelation of the know- ledge of God is inward, immediate and objective; and this is the situation of every true Christian under the New Covenant."
In replying to the objection, that if men be now immediately led and ruled by the Spirit of God, they may add new Scriptures of equal authority with the Bible, and that every one may bring in a new gospel according to his fancy, — Robert Barclay observes, "We have shut the door upon all such doctrine, af- firming that the Scriptures give a full and ample testi- mony to all the principal doctrines of the Christian faith. For we do firmly believe that there is no other gospel or doctrine to be preached, but that which was delivered by the apostles ; and do freely subscribe to that saying. Let him that preacheth any other gospel than that which has been already preached by the apostles, and according to the Scriptures, be accursed. So we distinguish between a revelation of a new gos^ pel and new doctrines, and a new revelation of the good old gospel and doctrines ; the last we plead for, but the first we utterly deny. For we firmly believe, that no other foundation can any man lay than that which is laid already."
William Penn, in writing on the same subject, says: "By revelation we understand the discovery and illu- mination of the Light and Spirit of God, relating to those things that properly and immediately concern the daily information and satisfaction of our souls, in the way of our duty to him and our neighbour. We
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renounce all fantastical and whimsical intoxications, or any pretence to the revelation of new matter, in opposition to the ancient gospel declared by Christ Jesus and his apostles ; and therefore not the revela- tion of new things, but the renewed revelation of the eternal way of truth."
That true Christians in the present day are to be immediately led and governed by the Holy Spirit dwelling in the heart, is evident from many Scripture promises and declarations. Our Lord himself, a short time before his ascension, gave this promise to his dis- ciples: "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for- ever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him : but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Again he says, " But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." " Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth ; for he shall not speak of himself ; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak : and he will show you things to come."
We are here told, first, who this is, designated by the several names of the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost, the sent of the Father in the name of Christ ; secondly, where he is to be found ; He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you; and thirdly, what his work is; He shall teach you all things, bring all things to your remembrance, and guide you into all truth.
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That the Holy Spirit is to dwell in the saints now, and that these promises were not made to the immediate disciples of our Lord only, but to all who receive him "when he knocks at the door, and obey his voice, is proved by many passages in the Scriptures. Paul says to the Romans, "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you ;" and to the Corinthians, " Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost w^hich is in you, which ye have of God." What is this but affirming that they in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, are no longer in the flesh, or of those who please not God, but are become Christians indeed; and in the same verse above quoted, he tells the Romans that " if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his that is, he is no Christian. He then who acknowledges himself a stranger to the work and government of the Spirit of Christ in his own heart, has not attained to the least measure of Christian experience; nay, has not so much as embraced the Christian religion, not- withstanding all he may otherwise know and believe about Christ, or how much soever he may be ac- quainted with the letter of the Holy Scriptures. If the Spirit is taken away, Christianity is no more Chris- tianity, than the dead body of a man is a man, when the soul is departed. Whatsoever is excellent, what- soever is noble, whatsoever is worthy, whatsoever is desirable in the Christian faith is ascribed to the Spirit.
To this, true Christians in all ages attribute their strength and life: by it they declare themselves to be illuminated, converted, regenerated and redeemed from the world. By it they are strengthened in weak-
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ness, comforted in affliction, armed against temptation, fortified against sufl^erings, enabled to triumph over their persecutors, and to hold communion with God. It is the Spirit that quickeneth; it was the Spirit that gave them utterance ; it was the Spirit by which Stephen spake, so that the Jews were not able to resist. It is such as walk after the Spirit that receive no condemnation, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes them free from the law of sin and death; and it is by the Spirit of God dwelling in us that we are redeemed from the carnal mind. It is the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us that quickeneth our mortal bodies; it is through the Spirit that the deeds of the body are mortified and life obtained. It is by the Spirit that we are adopted and cry Abba, Father; for it is the Spirit that beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. It is the Spirit that helpeth our infirmities and maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered ; and it is by the Spirit that the glorious things which God hath laid up for the righteous, which neither outward ear hath heard, nor outward eye seen, nor the heart of man conceived by all his reasonings, are revealed unto us. It is by this Spirit that wisdom, knowledge, faith, tongues, prophecies are imparted to man, and it is by it that we are all baptized into one body and made to drink into one cup. In a word, there is nothing relating to the salvation of the soul, that can be rightly performed or effectually obtained, without it.
This gift of the Holy Spirit, which comes through our Lord Jesus Christ, is indeed the glory of the gospel dispensation; and we believe that if the professors of the Christian name, would lay aside the prejudices of
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education and their preconceived opinions, and con- sult the testimony of the Spirit in their own hearts, they would find that whatever of spiritual comfort, strength, or other benefit they partake of, is not to be ascribed to their forms or ceremonies, nor does it come through them, but from the inward operations of the Holy Spirit; and that if they were weaned from those outward observances, and their attention and dependence placed upon this blessed source of divine consolation and strength, they would be made the joyful partakers of much fuller manifestations of his glorious presence and power. The more we are brought into humble child-like reliance upon Christ, and obedience to the dictates of his Spirit, the greater degrees of faith will be granted us in his power to deliver us out of all evil, in his wisdom and goodness to guide us in the way everlasting, and in his unfailing strength to enable us to perform the will of God ; by which his faithful followers will grow in divine know- ledge and experience, and be built upon Him, the Rock of ages and the foundation of many generations.
We have dwelt the more largely upon this doctrine, because we believe it to be of great practical import- ance, and are apprehensive that it is not sufficiently regarded or lived up to, by many under our name. It is our earnest desire, that none among us may be drawn into the adoption of sentiments, or the use of expressions which tend to weaken a belief in the imme- diate guidance of the Spirit of Truth, or put the Holy Scriptures into its place and office, thinking that by the study of them they can come to the saving know- ledge of spiritual things, and esteeming them, instead of the Spirit, the principal means for the enlightening,
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conversion and edification of mankind, or of unfolding to the mind the divine will concerning us.
It pleased the Lord, by his blessed Spirit, to give our primitive Friends to see the deadness and form- ality of the religious professions of their day; to bring them out of the observance of those forms and cere- monies which yielded no life or peace to their panting souls, and to gather them into reverent, silent waiting upon himself, for a qualification to perform that wor- ship which is in spirit and in truth. In faithfully following his heavenly guidance, they were united in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, and all spake the same language, come out of what society or from what country they might ; and thus harmoniously travailing together for the honour of God and the spread of the kingdom of Christ, they were like a city set upon a hill that could pot be hid ; many souls were awakened and converted, through their instrumentali- ty, and joined the Society, and they were successfully engaged in diffusing a knowledge of the doctrines and testimonies of the gospel in many parts of the world. May we all be sincerely engaged to follow them as they followed Christ, that others seeing our good works, may glorify our Father w^ho is in Heaven.
THE FALLEX STATE OF MAX.
Max w^as created in the image of God, capable of understanding the divine law, and holding communion with his Creator. Through transgression he fell from this blessed state, and consequently lost the heavenly image. His posterity come into the world in the image of the earthly, and until renewed by the quick-
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ening power of the grace of God, they are fallen, degenerated, and dead to the divine life in which Adam originally stood, and are subject to the power, nature and seed of the serpent; and not only their words and deeds, but their imaginations are evil perpetually in the sight of God, as proceeding from this depraved and wicked seed. Man therefore in this state can know nothing aright concerning God; his thoughts and conceptions of spiritual things, until he is dis- joined from this evil seed, and united to the divine light, are unprofitable to himself and to others.
Although we are not punishable for Adam's sin, and do not partake of his guilt until we make it our own by transgression, yet we cannot suppose that, de- scended from Adam, man has any natural light, or moral faculty pertaining to his constitution, that can give him a sense of his fallen state, or bring him out of it into that spiritual fellowship and communion with God, which Adam fell from. Whatever real good any man doth, it proceeds from the seed of God in him as a new visitation of life, in order to bring him out of his fallen state ; which though it be placed in him, is not of him.
Where the apostle asserts that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law, he is not to be understood as speaking of man's own nature, which he hath as man, for this would make him contradict himself; since he declares that the natural man re- ceiveth not the things of God, for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, for they are spirit- ually discerned. The nature by which the Gentiles did the things of the law, cannot therefore be the fallen corrupt nature, but the renewed spiritual nature, pro-
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ceeding from the regenerating power of divine grace, which is evident from what follows — " these having not the law, that is outwardly, are a law unto them- selves, w^hich show the work of the law written in their hearts." Now the law^ of God is among the things of God, — and the apostle says, the law is spirit- ual, holy, just and good ; and the Scriptures declare, that the writing of the divine law^ in the heart, is an essential part of the New Covenant dispensation, and therefore it can be no part of man's nature.
However early children give evidence of the effects of the fall, and of a sinful nature, they cannot be sinners from their birth, because there can be no sin where there is no transgression ; and where there is not a capacity to receive a law, it cannot be trans- gressed. The testimony of the apostle is very posi- tive to this point; "Where no law is there is no trans- gression " but sin is not imputed when there is no law." To account a child guilty or obnoxious to punishment, merely for an offence committed by its parents, before it could have any consciousness of being, is inconsistent both with justice and mercy; therefore no infant can be born with guilt upon its head. Those are by nature children of wrath, who walk according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that worketh in the hearts of the children of disobedience. Here the apostle gives their evil walking, and not anything which is not reduced to act, as a reason of their being children of wrath. Besides the natural alienation from the internal life of God, as they become capable of distinguishing the monitions of truth in their consciences, the bonds of corruption are often strengthened by habitual indulgence of the car-
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY OF
nal propensities against the sense of duty, and thus all who have arrived at such a degree of maturity as to be convinced of right and wrong, have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
But whatever Adam's posterity lost through him, is fully made up to them in Christ, and undoubtedly his mercy and goodness, and the extent of his propitia- tion, are applicable to infants, who have not person- ally offended, as to adults who have ; and little chil- dren who are taken away before they have sinned, may with perfect confidence be resigned as entirely safe in the arms of their Saviour, who declared " of such is the kingdom of Heaven."*
ON THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE LIGHT OF CHRIST.
In reference to the universality of this divine light and grace, we believe in accordance with the testi- mony of Robert Barclay; "That God, who, out of his infinite love sent his Son the Lord Jesus Christ into the world, who tasted death for every man, hath given to every man, whether Jew or Gentile, Turk or Scythian, Indian or barbarian, of whatsoever nation, country or place, a certain day or time of visitation, during which it is possible for him to be saved and to partake of the benefits of Christ's death. That for this end he hath communicated to every man, a mea- sure of the light of his own Son, a measure of grace or of the Spirit, which the Scripture expresses by several names, as sometimes of ' the seed of the king- dom,' * the light that makes all things manifest,' ' the word of God,' or ' the manifestation of the Spirit
* See Barclay's Apology and Phipps' Original and Present State of Man.
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given to profit withal,' 'a talent,' 'a little leaven,' * the gospel preached in every creature.'
" That God, in and by this light and seed, invites, calls, exhorts, and strives with every man, in order to save him ; which, as it is received and not resisted, works the salvation of all, even of those who are ignorant of the death and sufferings of Christ and of Adam's fall ; both by bringing them to a sense of their own misery, and to be sharers in the sufferings of Christ inwardly; and by making them partakers of his resurrection in becoming holy, pure and righteous, and recovered out of their sins. By which also are saved they that have the knowledge of Christ out- wardly, in that it opens their understandings rightly to use and apply the things delivered in the Scriptures and to receive the saving use of them. But that this may be resisted and rejected by both ; in which then, God is said to be resisted and pressed down, and Christ to be again crucified and put to open shame, in and among men : and to those who thus resist and refuse him, he becomes their condemnation."
" We do not understand this divine principle to be any part of man'^^QiaRire, nor yet to be any relic of any good which Adam lost by his fall, in that we make it a distinct and separate thing from man's soul and all the faculties of it.-- There are some that lean to the doctrine of 'Socinus or Pelagius, who persuade themselves through mistake as if this divine light which we preach up, were some natural power or fa- culty of the soul, and that we only differ from them in the wording of it, and not in the thing itself. Whereas there can be no greater* difference than is betwixt us in that matter ; for we certainly know that this light
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of which we speak, is not only distinct, but of a dif- ferent nature, from the soul of man and its faculties."
After treating at large upon the universal appear- ance of the Holy Spirit to all men, he adds :
" By this we do not at all intend to equal ourselves to that holy Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of the virgin Mary, in whom all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily, — so neither do we destroy the reality of his present existence. For though we affirm that Christ dwells in us, yet not immediately, but mediately as he is in that seed which is in us; where- as He, the eternal Word, which was with God and was God, dwelt immediately in that holy Man. He then is as the head and we as the members — he is the vine and we the branches."
And again, "We do not hereby intend any ways to lessen or derogate from the atonement and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but on the contrary do magnify and exalt it. For as we .believe all those things to have been certainly transacted which are recorded in the Holy Scriptures, concerning the birth, life, miracles, sufferings, resurrection and ascension of Christ, so we do also believe that it is the duty^i^f every one to be- lieve it, to whom it pleases God to reveal the same, and to bring them to the knowledge of it; yea, we believe it w^ere damnable lunbelief not to believe it when so declared ; but to resist that Holy seed, which, as minded would lead and incline every one to believe it, as it is offered unto them ; though it revealeth not in every one the outward and explicit knowledge of it, yet it always assenteth to it, where it is declared.
" Nevertheless, as we firmly believe it was neces- sary that Christ should come, that by his death and
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sufferings he might offer up himself a sacrifice to God for our sins; who, his own-self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, so we believe that the remission of sins which any partake of, is only in and by virtue of that most satisfactory sacrifice and no otherwise ; for it is by the obedience of that one that the free gift is come upon all to justification."
We have thought it proper thus to revive our an- cient and acknowledged doctrine, concerning the uni- versality and efficacy of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit or the Light of Christ, which we believe is, in mercy, extended in a greater or less degree, to every man without distinction of nation or colour, during his day of visitation ; because in reference to those who have not been favoured with the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, opinions are afloat, the tenden- cy of which is to obscure our well known principle; re- presenting the guide of such, in the things pertaining to salvation, to be a moral faculty, the light of nature, or a sense of the moral law, implanted in the consti- tution of man, 6zc., and denying that the declarations of the apostle where he says, " the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal," and, "The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men," have any reference whatever to the circumstances of mankind at large, and that it is very doubtful whether the testimony of the evan- gehst respecting our Lord Jesus Christ, " that was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," has any such application — sentiments wdth which we have no unity, being repugnant to our Christian faith.
Another reason for setting forth afresh our belief
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On this point is, that some modern writers, under the pretext of upholding the inward hght, are promulga- ting a system which gives that appellation to a phan- tom of their own creating ; and which they also de- signate as the light of universal reason, the voice of universal conscience, the instinct of Deity, and other similar terms ; which they represent as a redeeming principle implanted in man's nature, capable of spring- ing up and producing all that man can know of God, of duty and the soul ; and that the soul of man is itself a living fountain of immortal truth. Such de- lusive notions are entirely at variance with our Chris- tian faith, and appear to us no other than the refined speculations of a disguised deism, which virtually denies the truth of divine revelation, the divinity of Christ, and his various offices in the work of man's salvation.
Our religious Society has never professed or be- lieved in any other principle or power in man, to redeem him from evil, than the Holy Spirit, the hght of Christ or the grace of God, which shines in and appears unto all men, and was purchased for us by the sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ; and we consider it a gross abuse and perversion of our Christian character and profession, to connect them with the erroneous notions above alluded to.
Various are the specious forms, in which infidelity is disguised in the present day, in order to conceal its real character, and recommend it to the adoption of the inexperienced and unwatchful ; and the nearer it counterfeits the truth, the greater is the danger to be apprehended from its approaches.
When once the mind is set afloat on the troubled
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sea of creaturely imagination and vain speculation, no matter at what point in religion it may be aiming, it is liable to be tossed about by every wind that blows, and to be carried away by every plausible theory or argument, which may be started by men of greater cunning or more powerful intellect than its own ; and having parted from its heavenly Pilot, it is in immi- nent danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.
We feel it to be a duty to warn and caution all our members against imbibing or adopting sentiments, which would tend, in any wise, to shake their confi- dence in the truths of the Christian religion as they are recorded in Holy Scripture ; and to be careful not to put themselves in the way of hearing or read- ing any thing which would have such a tendency; it having been found by sorrowful experience, that some, who thought themselves fortified against a spirit of unbelief, have had their rehgious principles gradually undermined, by thus needlessly exposing themselves to temptation.
ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
Our religious Society has always believed that the Holy Scriptures were written by divine inspiration, and contain a declaration of all the fundamental doc- trines and principles relating to eternal life and salva- tion; and that whatsoever doctrine or practice is con- trary to them, is to be rejected as false and erroneous ; that they are a declaration of the mind and will of God in and to the several ages in which they were written, and are obligatory on us, and are to be read, believed
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and fulfilled through the assistance of divine grace. We esteem it an unspeakable favour that it has pleased the Lord to preserve them to us, and the more we come under the government of the same spirit which inspired the holy men who wrote them, the more truly shall we prize them, and delight to read and meditate upon the precious truths they contain.
It continues to be our unabated concern to encou- rage all our members to practice the frequent perusal of them, with their hearts turned to the Lord, that so he may be pleased to open their understandings to receive that spiritual benefit which he designs they should convey, whether it be in doctrine, correction, reproof, or instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. We also exhort parents and those who have the care of children, to educate them in the knowledge of the Scriptures, which plainly set forth the miraculous birth, holy life, wonderful works, meri- torious death, resurrection, glorious ascension, media- tion and intercession, of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Saviour and Redeemer, and also the blessed gift of his light and grace, freely dispensed to every man to profit withal.
While we thus highly value those sacred records, and recommend them to the diligent attention of all, we also feel jealous for the honour of our Lord and Mas- ter, and for the glory of the gospel dispensation ; and it is our desire, that in setting forth the benefits confer- red upon us through the Scriptures, our members may be very careful not to be drawn into the adoption of sentiments, or the use of terms or phrases, common with many in our day, which ascribe to the Scriptures,
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instead of the Spirit of Christ, the office of bringing the soul under a sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, of enlightening and converting it, of unfolding all the duties it is required to perform, and bringing it to the saving knowledge of God and Christ.
We believe the Holy Scriptures to be the words of God, written by holy men as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; but to the Saviour of men, and not to the Bible, belong the titles of the Word of God, the Bread of Life, and the Light. It is He only, who can im- part to the soul the sincere milk of the word, and the bread and water of life ; who reveals himself and the divine law in the hearts of his humble and obedient children; and if we would partake of the benefits of gospel truth, and come to that knowledge of the Su- preme Being and -his beloved Son, w^hich is saving, it is indispensably necessary that we draw near to Him, through the Spirit, who is the way, the truth and the life. So far from any advantage arising from setting the Holy Scriptures above their true place, and that which they claim for themselves, we believe that it is productive of serious injury, and may tend to with- draw the faith and attention of the visited soul from the inward appearance and teachings of Christ, the incorruptible Seed and Word of God, by whom alone we can be quickened, regenerated and made alive unto God.
In the progress of this great work, he is often pleased to make use of the sacred records as a means to in- struct, encourage and comfort the aw-akened mind; which, however, is not to turn its attention to them as the guide, and the source of divine light and life, but lo draw it unto himself, that it may have life, and ex-
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perience the fulfilment of the promise, *' All thy chil- dren shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." " Search the Scriptures, said our blessed Lord, to the unbelieving Jews, for in them ye think ye have eternal life ; and they are they which testify of me ; but ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life." It is our sincere engage- ment that we may be individually concerned to hold and use all the gifts, and the means, which our hea- venly Father has graciously provided for our conver- sion and furtherance in the way of life and salvation, in due reverence and esteem. That to Him, and to his beloved Son, and to the word of his grace, the first and highest place and honour, may ever, with all hu- mility, obedience and fear, be ascribed; and to the Holy Scriptures the second place, as a means for which we are bound to be humbly thankful to him, and dihgently to improve by the assistance of his Spirit, to our everlasting advantage.
Impressed with the importance of these views, and with the danger of being drawn away from a clear and full acknowledgment of our doctrine herein, we are engaged to revive the following passages from the Apology, viz :
" From these revelations of the Spirit of God to the saints, have proceeded the Scriptures of Truth, which contain a faithful historical account of the actings of God's people in divers ages, with many singular pro- vidences attending them ; a prophetical account of several things, whereof some are already past and some yet to come ; also an ample account of all the chief principles of the doctrine of Christ, held forth in divers precious declarations and exhortations, which,
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by the moving of God's Spirit, were upon sundry oc- casions spoken and written unto some churches and their pastors. Ne\^ertheless, because they are only a declaration of the Fountain and not the Fountain itself, they are not to be esteemed the principal ground of all truth and knowledge, nor yet the adequate primary rule of faith and manners. Yet because they give a true and faithful testimony of the first foundation, they are, and may be esteemed a secondary rule, subor- dinate to the Spirit, from which they have all their excellency and certainty. For as by the inward tes- timony of the Spirit we do alone truly know them, so they testify that the Spirit is that guide by which the saints are led into all truth ; therefore according to the Scriptures, the Spirit is the first and principal leader. Seeing then we do receive and believe the Scriptures, because they proceeded from the Spirit, for the same reason is the Spirit more originally and principally the rule.
" Though then we do acknowledge the Scriptures to be very heavenly and divine writings, and the use of them to be very comfortable and necessary to the church of Christ; and admire, and give praises to the Lord for his wonderful providence in preserving these writings so pure and uncorrupted as we have them, through so long a night of apostacy, to be a testimony of his truth against the wickedness and abominations even of those whom he made instrumental in preserv- ing them, so that they have kept them to be a witness against themselves; yet we may not call them the principal Fountain of all truth and knowledge, nor yet the first adequate rule of faith and manners, because the principal Fountain of truth, must be the Truth
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itself, whose certainty and authority depend not upon another.
" If by the Spirit we can only come to the true know- ledge of God ; — if by the Spirit we are to be led into all truth, and so be taught of all things; then the Spirit and not the Scriptures, is the foundation and ground of all truth and knowledge, and the primary rule of faith and manners. The very nature of the gospel declareth that the Scriptures cannot be the only and chief rule of Christians, else there would be no dif- ference between the law and the gospel."
" There are numberless thin^rs with reo^ard to their circumstances which particular Christians may be concerned in, for which there can be no particular rule had in the Scriptures ; therefore the Scriptures cannot be a rule to them [in those things.] As for instance, some are called to the ministry of the word : Paul says there was a necessity laid up'on him to preach the gospel, and woe is unto me if I preach it not. If it be necessary that there be now ministers of the church as well as then, there is the same necessity upon some more than upon others to occupy this place ; which necessity, as it may be in- cumbent upon some particular persons, the Scriptures neither doth nor can declare.
" If it be said the qualifications of a minister are found in the Scriptures, and by applying these qualifi- cations to myself I may know whether I be fit for such a place or not, I answer; The qualifications of a bishop or minister, as they are mentioned both in the Epistle to Timothy and that to Titus, are such as may be found in a private Christian, yea, which ought in some measure to be in every true Christian; so that
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this giveth a man no certainty. Every capacity to an office gives me not a sufficient call to it. Again ; by what rule shall I judge if I be so qualified? How do I know that I am sober, meek, holy, harmless? Is it not the testimony of the Spirit in my conscience that must assure me hereof? And suppose I was qualified and called, yet what Scripture rule shall in- form me whether it be my duty to preach in this or in that place, in France or England, Holland or Germany? Whether I shall take up my time in con- firming the faithful, reclaiming heretics, or converting infidels, as also in writing epistles to this or that church? The general rules of the Scriptures to be diligent in my duty; to do all to the glory of God, and for the good of his church, can give me no light in this thing ; seeing two different things may both have a respect to that way; yet I may commit a great error and offence in doing the one, when I am called to the other. If Paul, w^hen his face was turned by the Lord toward Jerusalem, had gone back to Achaia or Macedonia, he might have supposed he could have done God more acceptable service in preaching and confirming the churches, than in being shut up in prison in Judea; but w^ould God have been pleased herewith? Nay — certainly. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and it is not our doing that which is good simply, that pleaseth God, but that good which he willeth us to do.
"Moreover, that which, of all things, is most need- ful for a Christian to know, viz: whether he really be in the faith and an heir of salvation or not, the Scrip- ture can give him no certainty in, neither can it be a rule to him. That this knowledge is exceedingly de-
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sirable and comfortable all do unanimously acknow- ledge; besides, it is especially commanded, * Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates V * Where- fore the rather, brethren, give all diligence to make your caUing and election sure/ Now I say, what Scripture rule can assure me that I have true faith, and that my calling and election are sure V
After examining various suggestions he says ;
" Moreover the Scripture itself, wherein we are so earnestly pressed to seek this assurance, does not at all affirm itself a rule sufficient to give it, but wholly ascribeth it to the Spirit. * The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.' * Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.' * And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.' "
" If it then be asked whether I think hereby to ren- der the Scriptures altogether uncertain and useless, I answer, not at all : Provided, that to the Spirit, from which they came, be granted that place which the Scriptures themselves give it, I do freely concede to the Scriptures the second place, even whatsoever they say of themselves, which the apostle Paul chiefly mentions in two places, viz : * Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scrip- tures might have hope.' ' The Holy Scriptures are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
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correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.'
" Secondly : God hath seen meet that herein we should see as in a looking glass, the conditions and experiences of the saints of old, that finding our expe- rience to answer to theirs, we might thereby be the more confirmed and comforted, and our hope of ob- taining the same end strengthened; that observing the providences attending them — seeing the snares they were liable to, and beholding their deliverances, we may thereby be made wise unto salvation, and sea- sonably reproved and instructed in righteousness. — This is the great w^ork of the Scriptures, and their service to us, that we may witness them fulfilled in us, and so discern the stamp of God's Spirit and ways upon them, by the inward acquaintance w^e have with the same Spirit and work in our hearts. The pro- phecies of the Scriptures are also very comfortable and profitable to us, as the same Spirit enlightens us to observe them fulfilled and to be fulfilled. In all this it is to be observed, that it is only the spiritual man that can make a right use of them : they are able to make the man of God perfect; so it is not the natural man. And whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our comfort — our, that is, for the believ- ers, or for the saints ; concerning such the apostle speaks. Peter plainly declares, that the unstable and unlearned wrest them to their own destruction. These were they who wxre unlearned in the divine and hea- venly learning of the Spirit, not in human and school literature, in w^hich we may safely presume that Peter himself, being a fisherman, had no skill."
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In setting forth the use and service of the Holy Scriptures to the church, as a secondary rule, subordi- nate to the Spirit of Truth, he further says, " We do look upon them as the only fit outward judge of con- troversies among Christians, and that whatsoever doc- trine is contrary unto their testimony, may therefore justly be rejected as false. And for our parts we are very willing that all our doctrines and practices be tried by them ; which we never refused, nor ever shall, in all controversies with our adversaries, as the judge and test. We shall also be very willing to ad- mit it as a positive certain maxim, that whatsoever any do, pretending to the Spirit, which is contrary to the Scriptures, be accounted and reckoned a delusion of the devil. For as we never lay claim to the Spirit's leading, that we may cover ourselves in any thing that is evil, so we know that as every evil con- tradicts the Scriptures, so it doth also the Spirit in the first place from which the Scriptures came, and whose motions can never contradict one another, though they may appear sometimes to be contradictory to the blind eye of the natural man."
JUSTIFICATION.
The love of ease naturally leads men to prefer an assent to the truths of religion, rather than submission to the practical operation of it on the heart. It is much easier to profess faith in what Christ has suf- fered an3 done for us, than to yield obedience to the daily cross, and endure the portion of suffering inse- parable from the baptism of the Holy Ghost, by which the corruptions of the heart are removed.
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From the rise of the Society, Friends have unequi- vocally declared their faith in the efficacy of the pro- pitiatory offering which our Lord voluntarily made of himself for the sins of the whole world. George Fox early testified respecting his crucifixion, that "at that time, the sins of all mankind were upon him, and their iniquities and transgressions, with which he was wounded ; which he was to bear and to be an offering for as he was man, but died not as he was God ; so in that he died for all men, tasting death for every man, he was an offerinoj for the sins of the whole world." But while they fully believed that remission of sin and reconcihation with God was obtained onlv through Christ and his most satisfactory offering, they also believed that no man was justified while he continued in sin, whatever might be his profession of faith. These devoted ministers of the gospel as it was opened to them in its primitive purity, accordingly preached in life and doctrine, the indispensable necessity of holiness, with- out which the Scriptures declare, that no man shall see the Lord ; and they placed justification where the apostle places it, in connection with being washed and sanctified, but not as preceding sanctification.
When they went forth in their ministry, they found the different professors pleading for the impractica- bility of being free from sin in this life, while they considered themselves justified by faith in the Lord Jesus ; alleging that our sins were imputed to him, that he suffered instead of us the penalty of infinite wrath and vengeance due to our sins, and thereby fully satis- fied divine justice ; and they rested in the false hope, that though they lived in sin, Christ was their surety and they were saved by his imputed righteousness.
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They argued, that as God has made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, therefore as our sin is imputed to Christ, who had no sin, so Christ's righte- ousness is imputed to us, without our being righteous. Friends bore a decided testimony against this sin- pleasing doctrine, declaring that were the sentiment admitted, that God was so reconciled with men as to esteem them just while they were unjust and continu- ing in sin, he would have no controversy with them, which would make void the great practical doctrines of repentance, conversion and regeneration. Though Christ bore our sins, suffered for us, and among men was accounted a sinner, yet they denied that God ever reputed him a sinner, or that he died that w^e should be reputed righteous, though no more really so than he was a sinner. They understood the apostle, when he speaks of our being made the righteousness of God in Christ, to mean, that we are to be made really righteous, and not by imputation merely ; for he ar- gues against any agreement between righteousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness. Our Lord, in all his doctrines and precepts, enforces the necessity of good works ; and although properly speaking, we are not justified for them, yet we are justified in them, agreeably to the apostle James, " Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." " For as the body without the spirit is dead, even so faith without works is dead also."
We apprehend that some may be in danger of fall- ing back into the errors against which our early Friends testified ; and while endeavouring to counter- act the spirit of infidelity, which denies the propitia-
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tory efficacy of the death of Christ, they may run into the contrary extreme of attributing the justifica- tion of the ungodly to a professed reliance on the atonement and an imputed righteousness, without ex- periencing true repentance and the sanctification of the Spirit. To the repenting, returning sinner, who of himself has nothing on which to rest his hope of for- giveness and acceptance with his offended Maker, the mediation, intercession, and propitiation of the Re- deemer of lost man, is inexpressibly precious. It is through Him alone that the door of hope is opened, and all who receive into their hearts the gift of grace which comes by Him, and yield to its convicting power, by which alone they can be brought to see their sinful state and to repent as in dust and ashes, will in the Lord's time, through faith and submission to him, know the blood of Christ to cleanse them from all sin, and from the guilt of sin.
Robert Barclay lays down the doctrine of Justifica- tion in these terms : " As many as resist not the light of Christ, but receive the same, it becomes in them a holy, pure and spiritual birth, bringing forth hoHness, righteousness, purity and all those other blessed fruits which are acceptable to God ; by which holy birth, to wit, Jesus Christ formed within us, and working his works in us, as we are sanctified, so are we justi- fied in the sight of God, according to the apostle's words ; ' But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' Therefore it is not by our works wrought in our will, nor yet by good works considered as of themselves, but by Christ who is both the gift and the giver, and the cause producing
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the effects in us, who as he hath reconciled us while we were enemies, doth also in his wisdom save and justify us after this manner, as saith the same apostle elsewhere ; ' Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that, being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal Hfe. This is a faithful saying ; and these things I will that thou affirm constantly; that they which have believed in God might be careful to main- tain good works.' "
"We renounce all natural power and ability in our- selves, to bring us out of our lost and fallen condition and first nature; and confess that as of ourselves we are able to do nothing that is good ; so neither can we procure remission of sins or justification by any act of our own, so as to merit it or draw it as a debt from God due unto us; but we acknowledge all to be of and from his love, which is the original and fundamental cause of our acceptance.
" God manifested this love towards us, in the sending of his beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world, who gave himself an offering for us and a sacri- fice to God, for a sweet smelling savour; and having made peace through the blood of the cross, that he might reconcile us unto himself, and by the eternal Spirit offer- ed himself without spot unto God ; suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us unto God.
"For as much then as all men who have come to man's estate (the man Jesus only excepted) have sinned,
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therefore all have need of this Saviour, to remove the wrath of God from them due to their offences. In this respect he is truly said to have borne the iniqui- ties of us all in his body on the tree ; and therefore is the only Mediator, having qualified the wrath of God towards us, so that our former sins stand not in our way, being by virtue of his most satisfactory sacrifice removed and pardoned. Neither do we think that re- mission of sins is to be expected, sought or obtained any other way, or by any work or sacrifice whatso- ever ; though they may come io partake of this remis- sion who are ignorant of the history. So then Christ by his death and sufi?erings hath reconciled us to God, even while we are enemies ; that is, he offers recon- ciliation unto us ; we are put into a capacity of being reconciled. God is willing to forgive us our iniquities and to accept us, as is well expressed by the apostle ; * God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath put in us the word of reconciliation.' And therefore in the next verses, the apostle entreats them in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God ; intimating that the wrath of God being removed by the obedience of Christ Jesus, he is willing to be reconciled unto them, and ready to remit the sins that are past, if they re- pent.
" We consider then our redemption in a two-fold respect, both which in their own nature are perfect, though in their application to us, the one is not nor can be, without respect to the other. The first is the redemption performed and accomplished by Christ for us in his crucified body without us : the other is the re- demption wrought by Christ in us, which is no less pro-
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perly called and accounted a redemption than the for- mer. The first is that whereby a man, as he stands in the fall, is put in a capacity of salvation, and hath con- veyed unto him a measure of that power, virtue, spirit, life and grace that was in Christ Jesus, which as the free gift of God is able to counterbalance, overcome and root out the evil seed, wdierewith we are naturally as in the fall leavened.
" Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteous- ness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." Here the apostle holds forth the extent and efficacy of Christ's death, show- ing that thereby and by faith therein, remission of sins that are past is obtained, as being that wherein the forbearance of God is exercised towards man- kind. So that though men for the sins they daily com- mit deserve eternal death and that the wrath of God should lay hold upon them, yet by virtue of that most satisfactory sacrifice of Christ Jesus, the grace and seed of God moves in love towards them during the day of their visitation ; yet not so as not to strike against the evil, for that must be burned up and des- troyed, but to redeem man out of the evil.
" By the second we witness this capacity brought into act, whereby receiving and not resisting the light, spirit, and grace of Christ revealed in us, which is the purchase of his death, we witness and possess a real, true and inward redemption from the power and prevalency of sin, and so come to be really redeemed, justified and made righteous, and to a sensible union and friendship with God. Thus he died for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity; and thus we 'know
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him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellow- ship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death.' "
Richard Claridge on the subject of justification, says : —
" In a word, if justification be considered in its full and just latitude, neither Christ's work without us in the prepared body, nor his work within us by his Holy Spirit, is to be excluded, for both have their place and service in our complete and absolute justification. By the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ without us, we truly repenting and believing, are, through the mercy of God, justified from the imputations of sins and transgressions that are past, as though they had never been committed : and by the mighty work of Christ within us, the power, nature, and habits of sin are destroyed; that as sin once reigned unto death, even so now grace reigneth, through righteousness, unto eter- nal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. All this is eflfected, not by a bare or naked act of faith, separate from obedience, but in the obedience of faith, Christ being the author of eternal salvation to none but those that obey him."
To those who receive him in his spiritual appear- ance in the heart, whether they have ever heard of his coming in the flesh or not, he giv^es power to be- come the sons of God ; and if any through weakness or unwatchfulness fall again into sin, he is their pro- pitiation, and will forgive and blot out their transgres- sion, if they turn again to Him and sincerely repent. As the Lord Jesus is thus revealed in them, converting, regenerating and renewing the soul by his Holy Spirit, if they persevere in faithfulness, they experience Him
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to be made unto them of God, wisdom, righteous- ness, sanctification and redemption ; they are made one with Him, as the branches with the vine ; they put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and in their respective measures are made partakers of the divine nature, and of what he has done for them ; so that his obedience becomes theirs, his righteousness theirs, his death and sufferings theirs. Thus they are renewed up into the image which Adam lost by transgression, and walking in the light, as God is in the light, they have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses them from all sin.
BAPTISM AND THE SUPPER.
The subjects of water baptism and the use of bread and wine, have recently engaged much atten- tion among Christian professors, and we trust the minds of many are gradually preparing for the recep- tion of views respecting them, more consonant with the spirituality of the gospel dispensation. It is there- fore highly important, that our members should faith- fully support our testimony in these particulars, and be careful not to be ** entangled with the yoke of bond- age;" " the beggarly elements and carnal ordinances," from which our forefathers were redeemed by the out- stretched arm of divine power.
We should ever bear in mind that, the Son of God came into the world to put an end to sin, to finish trans- gression, and to bring in everlasting righteousness; and that if this all-important work is accomplished, it must be carried on and perfected in the heart of man by the
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Spirit of God — no outward ceremonies can ever effect it. The dispensation of types and shadows, wilh its " divers washings" or baptisms, was finished and passed away when our blessed Lord was crucified ; and was succeeded by the more glorious dispensation of the gos- pel, which is spirit and life to the penitent and obedi- ent soul. The Holy Scriptures plainly declare that there is now but one baptism ; and that this one bap- tism sav^es the soul ; " not by the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but by the answer of a good con- science towards God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Few of the advocates of water baptism con- tend that it is necessary to salvation ; while the New Testament uniformly represents the baptism of Christ, which is with the Holy Ghost and fire, as efiectual in purifying the soul from the defilement of sin, and con- sequently essential to its salvation.
The forerunner of our Lord testified, " 1 indeed baptize you with water unto repentance ; but he that Cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear ; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire; whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff* with unquenchable fire." These striking figures are a lively representation of the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who submit to his operations, where- by they are thoroughly refined from the pollution of sin, and the transgressing nature winnow^ed aw^ay, so as to prepare the soul for being gathered into the hea- venly garner.
To those who thus yield themselves to this fiery baptism, and follow Christ in the regeneration, the
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apostle addresses this language ; *' ye are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power : in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcis- ion made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ ; buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from the dead."
As many as are thus baptized into Jesus Christ, are baptized into his death ; and like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so these also walk in newness of life. " They have put on Christ," and " become new creatures ; old things are passed away ; behold all things are be- come new, and all things of God." This, and this only, is the baptism of the gospel, and this is com- plete and effectual in itself; without the addition of any outward washing or sprinkling, — which relate to the body only, and can never affect the soul.
Our views respecting the participation of the Lord's supper, are of the same character. The passover supper, at which Jesus gave the bread and wine to his disciples, was abolished, with the rest of the Jewish ceremonies, at his death ; and although the disciples, from their attachment to the law of Moses, practised it after that event, as they did circumcision, and ab- staining from blood and from things strangled ; yet we / find nothing in Scripture to warrant the assumption that it is a standing ordinance in Christ's church He himself declares, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you : whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last
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day ; for my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." When his disciples murmured at this doctrine, he told them, " It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life."
We believe that this communion of the body and blood of Christ, without which we cannot have eter- nal life, is inward and spiritual, — a real participation of his divine nature, through faith in him, and obedi- ence to his Spirit in the heart; by which the inward man is daily nourished and strengthened, and kept ahve un- to God. This is the true communion of saints, in and with Christ Jesus their Lord, and it is not confined to those who have the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, or of the coming and sufferings and death of the Son of God, as the propitiation for sin ; but is graciously granted to every sincere and obedient soul, who is faithful to the degree of light and knowledge with which it is favoured, agreeably to the testimony of our Lord himself ; Behold I stand at the door and knock : if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with me."
Having thus set forth the views which we as a peo- ple have always believed and maintained, in regard to these important doctrines, we think it right renewedly to call the attention of our members to-some of those Christian testimonies, into which the Lord was pleased to lead our worthy predecessors, and which it is no less obligatory on us faithfully to uphold at the pre- sent day.
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DIVINE WORSHIP.
Divine worship is the highest and most important duty in which the mind of man can be engaged. It is no less than holding intercourse with the Father of Spirits, and offering the tribute of homage and adora- tion to " the High and lofty One, who inhabiteth eter- nity, whose name is Holy;" but who condescends also, to "dwell with him that is of a. contrite and humble spirit; to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." This solemn act is not dependent upon, or necessarily connected with, any thing which one man can do for another; but must be performed between the soul and its Almighty Creator ; for " God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth."
Acceptable worship cannot be offered, but through the assistance of the Spirit of Christ; he being our Mediator by whom only we can approach unto God, and from whom we must derive, for this engagement, both "the preparation of the heart and the answer of the tongue." In order to experience this necessary quali- fication, it is our duty to have the mind withdrawn from all outward objects, and reverently and humbly to wait upon the Lord in the silence of all flesh ; that so he may be pleased, through the revelation of his Spirit, to give us a true sense of our needs and a knowledge of his will, and enable us to offer a sacri- fice well-pleasing in his sight, whether it be in silent mental adoration ; the secret breathing of the soul unto Him ; in the public ministry of the gospel, or vo- cal prayer or thanksgiving. Those who thus wait upon the Lord, and depend upon the assistance of his
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Spirit, will often be favoured with a broken and con- trite heart, a sacrifice which, it is declared, He will not despise — their spiritual strength will be renewed, and they will experience a growth and establishment in the blessed* truth. These, however small their num- ber or remote and solitary their situation may be, are the true worshippers whom the Father seeketh to wor- ship him ; and to whom the Lord Jesus will fulfil his gracious promise, " Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
We tenderly entreat all to be constant in assembling with their brethren on first-days, and other days of the week when meetings for Divine Worship are held, in order to bear a public testimony to our dependence upon the Father of mercies, for the blessings we en- joy, and to experience a renewal of our ability to live in his fear, and to labour in his blessed cause and ser- vice. Let us not suflTer the improper influence of tem- poral things, an indifferent or lifeless state of mind, the smallness of the number who meet, or the absence of a vocal ministry, to discourage us from diligently attending all our religious meetings ; remembering that it is our reasonable service to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. Where this is the sincere engagement of those gathered, whether it may please him to authorize any public ministry or not, the great minister of the sanctuary, Christ Jesus, will, in his own time, dispense to the wait- ing soul, that divine consolation or instruction which He sees to be best for it. Let none then, be weary or ashamed of our ancient and noble testimony to the excellence of silent waiting upon God ; it having been found, in the experience of many of his servants, a
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most profitable exercise of mind, and one which he has graciously been pleased eminently to own and bless.
MINISTRY.
As it is the prerogative of the great Head of the church alone to select and call the ministers of his gospel, so we believe both the gift, and the qualifi- cation to exercise it, must be derived immediately from Him ; — and that as in the primitive church, so now also, he confers them on women as well as on men, agreeably to the prophecy recited by the apostle Peter, " It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy ;" and on my servants and on my handmaidens, I will pour out, in those days, of my Spirit ; and they shall pro- phesy respecting which the apostle declares, " the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
The gift being free, the exercise of it is to be with- out money and without price, agreeably to the com- mand of our Lord, " freely ye have received, freely give."
The apostle Paul, in speaking of his ministry de- clares, " I neither received it from man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ;" that the exercise of it was " not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;" and that his " speech and his preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power ; thdt the faith of his hear-
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ers might not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." We believe that the experience of every true minister of Christ will correspond with that of the apostle ; and therefore, our religious Society, from its first rise, has borne a constant and faithful testimony against a man-made and hireling ministry, which derives its authority and qualification from hu- man learning and ordination; which does not recog- nise a direct divine call to this solemn work, nor ac- knowledge its dependence for the performance of it, upon the renewed motions and assistance of the Holy Spirit, vouchsafed on every occasion ; and which re- ceives pay for preaching.
We apprehend, that the selection of one man to speak to an assembly, who is always to perform that service at the stated times of meeting, whether di- vinely called to it and assisted, or not; to the exclu- sion of all others, whatever may be their religious exercises or apprehended duty, is an unauthorized as- sumption of power, greatly prejudicial to the welfare of the church; and a direct interference with the di- vine prerogative of Christ, whose right it is to dispense his gifts to whom he will, as saith the apostle, " to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom ; to ano- ther the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit ; to another faith ; to another the gifts of heahng — to ano- ther the working of miracles — to another prophecy — to another discerning of spirits — to another divers kinds of tongues — to another the interpretation of tongues : But all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
It is our earnest concern, that none of our mem- 9
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bers may countenance or encourage a hireling and man-made ministry, by attending at places where it is allowed, or in any other way; but that all may faithfully uphold our Christian testimony herein, for w^hich our forefathers suffered deeply, both in their property and persons, many of them even unto death.
PKAYER.
Prayer is a duty inseparable from the life and growth of a Christian. Whenever he is upon the watch, it is the clothing of his spirit. He cannot main- tain the watch against the insidious machinations of his unwearied enemy, without the constant aid of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit, which reminds him of his need of holy aspirations to the throne of grace for preservation, and for forgiveness of his misteps when off the watch, influences and prepares his heart to breathe ^ forth fervent desires before the Lord, for strength to stand against the wiles of the devil, that he may be built up and preserved upon the Rock Christ Jesus. When through divine love he is made sensible of the Lord's holy presence, prayer or praise arises in his soul ; and thus he is permitted to hold communion with the Father of mercies, the God of all consola- tion. But it is only through the Spirit of our Holy Intercessor and Advocate with the Father, that the heart is thus influenced and enabled to put up availing prayer. None need doubt that this indispensable quali- fication will be furnished if they humbly seek it, and are obedient to the divine will in this and other duties.
At those seasons of divine visitation, when the con- victions of that grace which strives with all to save
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 67
them, are pressing upon the rebellious transgressor, as they are yielded to, a cry for mercy and forgiveness is raised by the Holy Spirit in the heart, which will reach the gracious ear of Him against whom they have sinned, and will be accepted.
Were the command of our Lord to " w^atch and pray continually," hved up to, there w^ould be no for- mal prayers; and where that is not regarded, formal prayers will not avail as a substitute. Many of our early Friends had been educated in the habit of " saying their prayers." as it is termed, at stated periods ; and when it was given them, in the light of Christ Jesus, to see their own conditions, and that he required a thorough change of heart, they were convinced that those cus- tomary prayers, in which the spirit of supplication was not poured forth from on high upon the indi- vidual, would not avail anything, and they were res- trained from the practice and from teaching them to their children. They clearly saw and felt, that He only, to whom the apostles applied, could teach them how to pray and what to pray for; under his gui- dance their Uves became lives of prayer and w^atch- fulness, and many of them attained to an extraordi- nary growth and fixedness in the blessed truth.
Like the qualification for gospel ministry, we have always believed that the putting forth of the Shepherd of Israel is requisite for the duty of vocal prayer in our religious assemblies, a service in w^hich the spiritual w^orshipper can fervently and cordially unite, when it is performed under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is one of the most solemn acts in which man can be engaged, and when prostrated in the presence of the great I AM, our words should be few and weigh-
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ty. We would carefully avoid discouraging any from a faithful compliance with this duty, when divinely opened to them ; but there is need of caution, lest any fall into a habit of kneeling in meetings, as though they could hardly be commenced or concluded properly, without vocal addresses of this nature. Such a prac- tice tends to lessen that reverence and holy fear, which all ought scrupulously to maintain in approaching the sacred presence ; and meetings are greatly injured by such unauthorized communications, — sometimes run- ning into lifeless declaration, and also asking amiss, which bring death over a meeting instead of life, and eclipse the excellency of the gift of prayer.
May all then be watchful and attentive to the gentle intimations of our holy high Priest, who will clothe with deep humility and awe; and when he sees it pro- per, will grant to his servants the spirit of supplication, and strengthen them to offer living prayers, with the spirit and with the understanding also, which will find acceptance with him, and tend to the refreshment of his church and people. ,
WAR.
It being the nature and design of the Christian re- ligion, to subject the angry and revengeful passions of human nature to its benign influence and government ; those who have fully submitted to its transforming power, must necessarily be redeemed from the spirit in which wars and fightings originate. The gospel of Christ breathes peace on earth and good will to men, — and the precepts of its divine Author entirely preclude the indulgence of a disposition which would resent an
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injury or inflict one upon a fellow creature. Ye have heard, says he, " that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth ; but I say unto you that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." " I say unto you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you ; do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." If then we would be children of God, and joint heirs with Christ, we must love our enemies instead of hating them, — do good to them, instead of injuring them; and not seek to avenge ourselves for wrongs which may be inflicted upon us.
It is also worthy of our serious consideration, that in our Lord's instructions on the subject of prayer, we are taught that the measure of the forgiveness which we receive from our heavenly Father, will be that which we exercise toward our fellow men. " Forgive us our debts, — as we forgive our debtors." " And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any, that your Father also, which is in heaven, may forgive you your trespasses." " But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you." Thus it is evident, that the Spirit of the gospel is that of universal love and forgiveness ; and wherever these plain and unalterable commands of Christ are duly regarded, strife, malevo- lence and discord, must come to an end ; " violence will no more be heard in the land, wasting or destruc-^ tion within its borders ;" but the prediction will be ful- filled, "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks ; nation shall not
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lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." When we contemplate these blessed effects of the religion of the Prince of peace, and con- trast them with the fierce and cruel passions which rage upon the battle-field; the injuries inflicted by man upon his fellow; how many immortal spirits are hurried unprepared, into an awful eternity, — guilty perhaps of a brother's blood ; the cry of the mourning widow and of the bereaved orphan ; how mournful is the prospect, and how deeply is it to be deplored, that • any of the professors of the Christian name should countenance a system, so directly opposed to the pre- cepts of Christ, and so offensive in the sight of heaven.
Although our portion of the land has been long ex- empted, through divine favour, from the desolating scourge of war, and the members of our religious So- ' ciety have not been called to suffer as in former years, in support of our testimony on this subject, — yet we greatly desire, that in this day of ease, we may not become indifferent to its importance, or in any degree relax in its faithful maintenance. We feel a fear, lest some among us, for want of due consideration, may be induced to pay those pecuniary demands, which are exacted by the laws, in lieu of military service, or connive at, or encourage the payment of them by others, — a practice highly discreditable to any making profession of the truth, and against which we feel bound to bear our testimony. However remote the connexion may seem, between the payment of such a fine and the cruel operations of active warfare, they are parts of the same iniquitous system. The exac- tion of such fines, is also an infringement of our liberty of conscience ; inasmuch as it requires us to pay for
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the exercise of a religious scruple, the free enjoyment of which is a natural and inalienable right. We are therefore engaged again to press upon all, the upright and faithful support of our testimony in this respect; and where a distraint or imprisonment is the conse- quence, to bear it in a meek and becoming spirit, so as to evince that we are actuated by rehgious mo- tives. Meetings are enjoined to be careful annually to collect and forward such accounts, agreeably to ancient usage.
SLAVERY.
We wish, renewedly, to call the attention of Friends, to the righteous testimony which our religious Society has long borne against holding our fellow men in bond- age. When we remember that the victims of this system of wickedness and cruelty, are our brethren ; children of the same universal parent; for whose souls Christ died as well as for ours, and that they are de- signed to be fellow- heirs with us of immortality and eternal life, — the sufferings, the degradation and the wrongs they endure, cannot but awaken our sympa- thies, and incite the inquiry what the Lord is calling for at our hands, in their behalf The sin of slavery, with its multitude of attendant evils, hangs as a dark cloud over our land, and portends the approaching in- fliction of divine judgments. We continue to feel an unabated concern for the spread of the testimony against slavery in the earth ; believing that as the spirit of the gospel is suffered to prevail among the professors of the sacred name of Christ, it will bring with it peace on earth and good will to men, without
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distinction of nation or colour ; — " will loose the bands of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free."
Our forefathers engaged in this concern, under the constraining influence of religious duty and a sense of justice; and as they endeavoured to prosecute the work with a steady reference to the guidance of " the wisdom which cometh down from above ; which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be en- treated, full of mercy and good fruits ; without parti- ality and without hypocrisy," it pleased the Lord eminently to bless the labours of the Society. Know- ing that times and seasons are not at our command, but are in the hand of Him who can turn the hearts of men, as a man turneth a water-course in his field, they endeavoured, in their public labours for the pro- motion of this worthy cause, to feel the way open; to watch the pointing of the Divine finger, and to move in his fear and counsel. Thus they were pre- served from rash and imprudent action ; from intem- perate zeal, and from being swayed by animal excite- ments, which often impel those who yield to their in- fluence, into measures, which, instead of promoting, retard or frustrate, the objects which they professedly have in view.
When a fierce and angry spirit is indulged, even in opposing what is glaringly wrong, it raises a corres- pondent feeling in those against whose conduct it is directed; and closes the mind against the force of those arguments, which, if presented in the meek and gentle spirit of the gospel, would probably produce conviction.
We w^ould caution all our members, to beware of
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a spirit of this description, on the subject of slavery; and to take care that in the anxiety to be doing son:ie- thing, — political motives, party feelings, unsound prin- ciples, and other influences equally at variance with a right exercise of nnind, be not mixed up with it; to the great injury of the cause, and of the individuals who suffer themselves to be drawn into such coalitions.
While, therefore, we would encourage all our mem- bers to dwell under^a lively feeling of the wrongs of our fellow men, and of the enormity of the system by which they are enslaved and oppressed, — we believe their safety and preservation as individuals, and the progress of this righteous testimony, so far as respects our religious Society, very much depend upon their keeping within its bosom in their efforts to promote it; and carefully attending to the unfoldings of duty in their own breasts, by which they would be kept from joining in associations, or engaging in measures, u^hich, however plausible they may appear, would endanger their growth in best things, and their stabihty and use- fulness as members of the body.
TRADE AND LIVING.
We believe the call of the Lord is renewedly ex- tended to us as a people, at the present time, to come back to the example set us by our primitive worthies, in regard to moderation in trade and business, and simplicity and humility in the style and furniture of our houses, — in our manner of living, and in dress, ad- dress and demeanour; that so we may again faithfully uphold our testimony in these respects, in support of which they underwent much reproach and suifering.
7
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Their eye being directed toward an enduring inher- itance, and their hearts set upon things above, they sought not after greatness in this world, but passed the time of their sojourning here in watchfulness and fear, and in great simplicity of heart, as well as of living and demeanour ; endeavouring by their integrity and uprightness, and the purity of their example, to reach the divine witness in all, and to promote the love of truth and righteousness among men. In minds thus bent on seeking a more glorious inheritance than the things of time can afford, the love of the world could have little influence. They were bright examples of justice, of moderation in business, in their houses, their dress and language, and of the self-denial which the gospel enjoins, in all their conduct and conversation.
But, dear Friends, has not a departure from this sim- plicity and heavenly mindedness, led many among us into the love and eager pursuit of the riches and hon- our of the present world ; producing the fruits of pride, emulation, and a love of grandeur; bringing in many imaginary wants and foolish fashions; to satisfy which, has led into hazardous speculations and a pursuit of business, incompatible with our holy profession ; which has engrossed the time and talents, so as to leave but little of either, or of inclination, to attend to the mo- mentous concerns of religion, to the right education of their children, or the promotion of the welfare of our fellow men. The mind thus absorbed and encum- bered, is unfitted for religious thoughtfulness, as well as religious service; and for breathing daily after the spiritual riches, which are enjoyed in humble commu- nion with God.
We believe that the pecuniary distress which pre-
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 75
vails so extensively over our country, and those con- vulsions which have swept away from many, a large portion of their property, are dispensations permitted by infinite Wisdom, to show us the vanity and uncer- tainty of all temporal possessions, and to turn the minds of the people to the necessity of endeavouring to lay up treasure in heaven, " where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through and steal."
Fervent is the solicitude we feel, that we may all " hear the rod, and him who hath appointed it and be deeply engaged to have our affections weaned from the perishing things of this life, and fixed upon that which is to come. Thus would our desires be moder- ated, and our wants circumscribed by the limitations of the holy truth ; — pride, avarice and ambition, would be laid in the dust, and we should be constrained, by the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, to seek first the kingdom of heaven, and the righteousness there- of,— in the humble reUance, that He who knoweth w^hat things we have need of before we ask him, will not fail to grant them unto us. In this lowly, humble state of mind, the desire to accumulate money, or to make an appearance in the world corresponding with others, would be mortified and subdued ; and as the meek and self-denying followers of Him, who though Lord of all, had not whereon to lay his head, we should be contented with that simplicity and modera- tion which comport with our Christian profession, and receive with grateful hearts, whatever our hea- venly Father saw meet to dispense.
Ma)7*s'lich as have lost much of their earthly sub- stance, endeavour to profit by the dispensation, as a
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fatherly correction from the hand of Him, who afflict- eth not willingly; and cheerfully accommodate them- selves to the change in their circumstances, by a cor- respondent reduction in their expenses, rather than seek to recover what they have lost, by an undue ex- tension of business.
We affectionately and earnestly warn all to " take heed and beware of covetousness, which is idolatry;" w^hether it be in making haste to be rich by embark- ing in large business, or by indulging a penurious and hoarding disposition in a smaller way. It is a saying which experience abundantly verifies, that " they that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition : for the love of money is the root of all evil, which, while some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced them- selves through with many sorrows."
One of the great deceptions to which mankind are liable, is looking for happiness where it is not to be found ; and being ensnared by the love of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, they miss the true en- joyment, as^^ell as the great object, of life, which are only to be found in the love and service of God.
May all then abide under the daily cross, whereby the earthly mind, which hath its delight in the plea- sures and treasures, and fashions of the worfd, may be crucified ; that being redeemed out of these things, which so manifestly hinder the progress of the soul heavenward, we may become, more and more, a seri- ous and self-denying people, adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
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PARENTS AND CHILDREN.
We affectionately entreat those who are placed in the responsible stations of parents and caretakers of children, to endeavour to train them up, by precept and example, in a holy life and conversation, and in sim- plicity and plainness of attire and language ; remem- bering that they are precious lambs entrusted to their care, by the great Shepherd of the sheep, to whom they must give an account for their souls, in the day when he shall make inquisition into their stewardship. Much depends upon the example set before them ; the minds of children being very quick in discerning what objects have the first place in the affections of those who are over them.
If they see that the parents' hearts are set upon the things of this life — that they are fond of making a show and appearance among men — running greedily after gain, though perhaps derived from small earnings or penurious savings — or that they are adorning their houses and children with finery and costly things; their infant minds will soon imbibe similar views and feelings, and be estranged from the simplicity of the cross of Christ, and the love of their Redeemer.
In the ordering of divine providence, great influence is attached to the parental relation ; and where its du- ties are faithfully performed in the fear and counsel of the Lord, restraining in the holy authority which he gives, as well as admonishing and persuading them in his love — we believe the declaration will be verified, " train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is oH, he will not depart from it."
Although we have always believed, that the first- #8
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day of the week is not the Christian sabbath, (that being a state of spiritual rest to the soul) and that there is no inherent holiness in it above any other day, it being our duty to keep every day holy unto the Lord, — and that agreeably to the saying of the apostle, no man is to judge us in respect of an holy day, or of the sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come; yet we have ever been concerned to enjoin upon all our members, the due observance of that day, as a season of rest from all unnecessary labour, and of religious retirement and meditation.
We wish renewedly to impress upon parents, the importance of having their families collected during that part of first-day which is not appropriated to public worship, that they may be kept from unprofit- able company, from idly rambling abroad, or needless visiting ; and pass the time in suitable religious read- ing or other serious employment; that thus they may not only reap the benefit of setting apart one day in the week, more particularly for religious purposes, but that our example as a religious Society may be such as becomes a people professing godliness.
We feel a fear, lest there are some parents who are so bound to their worldly interest, as to have little con- cern for their offspring, neglecting both their literary and religious education; and others, who are in a state of lukewarmness respecting the everlasting well- being of their interesting charge; and from an unwil- lingness to cross their inclinations and exercise a salutary restraint, are suffering them to indulge in many hurtful things, and to wander from the path of self-denial.
Great must be tlie condemnation of such parents, in
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a day to come, if they persist in such courses. Instead of "their children rising up and calling them blessed," it may be sorrowfully the case, that the sins of the children will be in some measure chargeable upon the neglect of the parents, and not only be visited upon them by bitterness and anguish in this Hfe, but add to their guilt in that which will never have an end.
O then, look to yourselves, we beseech you, and discharge your trust for God, and for the good of their souls, — exhorting in meekness, and commanding in wisdom ; that so you may minister and reach to the ■witness, and help them over their temptations in the authority of the Lord's power; and when they feel themselves helped and delivered, their souls will bless God on your behalf, and you will reap the comfort of your labour.
We feel a fervent exercise on behalf of the visited children of our heavenly Father, in w^hose view the glory of this world has been stained, and their spiritual eyes anointed to see the transcendent beauty and ex- cellency of the pure unchangeable truth. We appre- hend these are often discouraged, in beholding the declension from ancient zeal and uprightness ; and that unless they are watchful, and singly attentive to their heavenly Counsellor, they may be induced to set- tle down at ease, short of the attainment of that entire redemption and sanctification, w^hich is held up as the mark for the Christian to aim at. Lean not, we be- seech you, upon the arm of flesh, in yourselves, or even in the most favoured of the Lord's instruments, but let your dependence be upon God alone. In this day of unsettlement and shaking, there are many voices to be heard which are not in unison with the
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voice of Christ Jesus, our holy Shepherd ; and your safety will very much depend upon maintaining, through divine assistance, a state of inward retire- ment and stiHness of mind ; that so you may be fa- voured 10 distinguish his voice from that of the stran- ger ; and reverently to wait on Him for the unfoldings of his blessed will concerning you.
In this state of patient waiting for Christ, and child- like obedience to His requirings, you will be safely led forward in your Christian course, step by step, as He sees you are able to bear it ; your experience and knowledge in divine things will be gradually enlarged by Him ; you will be preserved from falling into errors in faith or practice; and from running before your guide, and engaging in things, which, however laud- able in themselves, are not the work in which He designs you should be employed.
As you thus rely in simple faith upon Him and His teaching, following whithersoever He leads, — but not daring to move without His putting forth, He will not fail, in His own time and way, clearly to open before you the path of allotted service, and to give you wis- dom and strength faithfully to walk therein. He will baptize you again and again, with the baptism of His own Spirit, in order that the vessel may be sanctified and kept clean for the reception and occupancy of the gifts which He may see meet to bestow upon you, for the edification of His church; and as you diligently employ these in His fear, and to IJis glory, depending upon the strength which comes from Him, you will, through His mercy, be numbered among those, who, " having served their generation by the will of God," shall receive " the end of their faith, even the salvation
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of their souls," and hear the consoling language, "Well done, good and faithful servant, — enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
Ii^ presenting these innportant subjects at this time to the serious and weighty attention of our beloved Friends, we would affectionately and earnestly exhort all to let them have due place in their minds, and to be steadfast and unmoveable in the faithful maintenance of all our doctrines and testimonies, always abounding in the work of the Lord, and scrupulously guarding against every thing which w^ould tend to weaken their attachment to our holy profession.
In connexion with this subject, we believe it right to spread a caution against the indiscriminate reading of books, which purport to be of a rehgious charac- ter. Many of these contain much that is inconsistent with our Christian principles and testimonies, — and though interspersed with other matter, which is sound and instructive, yet this is rather calculated to render such works more injurious, serving as a cover for erroneous opinions, and thus more easily insinuat- ing them into the mind. That the course of reading pursued by individuals, has a direct and powerful ten- dency to mould their religious sentiments and prac- tices, is a truth abundantly confirmed by observation. It has also been found, in the experience of many, that the frequent and familiar perusal of treatises and forms of expression in reference to religious topics, which are not in accordance with our view^s of the spiritual- ity and purity of the gospel — and of modes of defin- ing and explaining doctrines, which differ from the simple and scriptural methods used by the Society although they may at first strike us unpleasantly an
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as being objectionable, yet by frequent repetition and dwelling upon them, this feeling is lost ; the mind is gradually led to look upon them as matters of indif- ference, or of very little moment, and thus by degrees imperceptible perhaps to its clouded vision, the w^ay is prepared for its departure from a full belief and ac- knowledgment of the Truth as it is in Jesus.
We believe, that in this way, many sincere and seeking minds, who have been sensible of the day of the Lord's merciful visitation, and measurably yielded thereto, have lost their strength, become involved in doubt and perplexity, — and for want of keeping singly to the unfoldings of the light of Christ, " blind- ness in part hath happened unto them so that after having begun in the Spirit, and run well for a time, they have turned, as it were, to the beggarly elements, and sought to be made perfect by the works of the flesh. Thus, the unsanctified activity of the natural mind getting up, they have grown weary of the path of self-denial and the daily cross, and of " the patient waiting for Christ," — have marred the work of re- generation in their own hearts, and eventually thrown off their religious profession.
Next to the Holy Scriptures, we would recommend all to read frequently in the writings of our worthy predecessors. In them may be found clear and en- larged views of Christian doctrine and practice, given forth by men who were subject to the divine govern- ment in themselves ; and having tasted of the good word of life, and the powers of the world to come, could testify from living experience, to the blessed efficacy and truth of the principles they professed. They furnish us also with lively and instructive ex-
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amples of love to God and faith in Christ ; of zeal and devotedness to his cause — of patient, unwearied labours, and the meek endurance of privations, re- proach, derision, and cruel persecution, even unto death, for the spread of the kingdom of their dear Redeemer, and the testimony of a good conscience ; and as a convincing evidence of the reahty of their religion, a fulness of peace and joy, and a well- grounded hope of immortality and eternal life, when brought upon the bed of sickness and of death. Let us, then, be conversant with the waitings of these devoted servants of Christ, and endeavour, through di- vine assistance, to follow in their footsteps, and main- tain the same faith ; that so, in the end, we may reap the same blessed and everlastingly glorious reward.
May all carefully avoid a disputatious spirit, that would be cavilUng about niceties of doctrine, and questions which gender strife and contention, — seeking to be wise above what is w^ritten in the Holy Scrip- tures,— and to reason and argue about those things, which Divine Providence has not seen meet to reveal to us. And let all beware of resting in a bare ac- knowledgment, even of the most sound and consistent principles; ever remembering, that a profession of the Truth will add to our condemnation, if we are not endeavouring to live in conformity with it. It is only as we bow to the visitations of divine love, in mercy extended to our souls, and submit to the heart-chang- ing and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, that we can show forth in our life and conversation, the blessed effects of the doctrines we profess, even the fruits of the Spirit, which are declared to be "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.
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THE ANCIENT TESTIMONY, &C.
meekness and temperance." Without these, the most correct belief will be " but as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal." Our blessed Lord has solemnly declared, " Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." And as we make a high profession of the inward work of the Spirit of Truth, in redeeming the soul from every sinful lust and inordinate affection ; separating it from an undue attachment to the things of time and sense, and fixing its hopes on those enduring treasures which are laid up in heaven for the righteous, — so if we fail to show forth these, its certain and happy effects, in our daily walk among men, — we shall not only baulk our holy profession, but bring upon our- selves greater condemnation, than those whose eyes have not been anointed to see so fully into the nature of the religion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May we then, dear Friends, under a solemn sense of our great responsibility as His professed followers, be incited to a jealous watchfulness over ourselves, and a holy fear lest we fall short of the mark for the prize of our high calling, which is no less than Christian perfection ; that, daily seeking to the Lord for strength and wisdom, we may be enabled to overcome the wicked one, — and doing the will of God from the heart, we may, through His adorable mercy, experi- ence preservation from the evils which abound in the world, and be prepared to stand with acceptance be- fore the Son of Man.
Signed by direction and on behalf of the Yearly Meeting _ aforesaid.
WILLIAM EVANS, Clerk this year.
A
"^BRIEF STATEMENT
OF THE
RISE AND PROGRESS
OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS,
AGAINST
SLAVERY AND THE SLAVE TRADE.
Published by direction of the Yearly Meeting, held in Philadelphia, in the Fourth month, 1843.
PHILADE LPHI a:
PRINTED BY JOSEPH AND WILLIAM KITE, No 50 North Fourth Street,
1843.
At a Yearly Meeting held in Philadelphia, by adjournments from the 17th of the Fourth month to the 22nd of the same, inclusive, 1843.
A history of the rise and spread of a religious concern among Friends in this country, on account of holding their fellow men in bondage, and showing its progress in meetings and among the members, until slavery was abolished within the Society, by the persevering efforts of indefatigable labourers, having been pre- pared by the Meeting for Sufferings, it was read and approved ; and that meeting directed to have such an edition printed as they may deem expedient ; and circulate the work among our members and others.
• Extracted from the Minutes,
William Evans,
Clerk to the Meeting this year.
INTRODUCTION.
It was intended to include in the following pages, an account of the labours of Friends, in all the Yearly Meetings where slavery once existed, to induce the members to set their slaves free ; and letters were accordingly addressed with a view of procuring the information necessary for drawing up such a sketch. From two of the Yearly Meetings, however, the in- formation could not be obtained ; as the documents in relation to the subject were so circumstanced, as not ^ to be readily accessible. It is believed, however, that the means used in the limits of those meetings to con- vince the understandings of the members of the iniquity of slave holding, and to induce them to give the negro the enjoyment of his natural right to liberty, were essentially the same as those detailed in the subsequent narrative.
It is obvious, that in so brief a space as this essay affords, a very imperfect view of the arduous and unwearied labours of the Society in the cause of free- dom could be given ; but perhaps enough is said to show the benefit of patient, persevering labour, under the influence of gospel love, in checking, and finally eradicating an evil, which long-established custom had sanctioned, and which was interwoven with all the social relations, and with the strongest feelings of self interest. Should it happily be the means of inciting others to pursue the same course in reference to slavery, the object of its publication will be obtained.
A
BRIEF STATEMENT, &c.
It having pleased the Great Head of the Church to enhghten the minds of some of our early Friends to see the iniquity of holding their fellow men in bondage, at a time when many of our members were themselves slaveholders ; and the Society of Friends having been, through faithfulness, favoured to clear itself of that opprobrium of the Christian world, we have thought that a narrative of the steps by which this reforma- tion was effected, would be both strengthening to those who, being slaveholders, feel the awfulness of their responsibility ; and encouraging to all as an example of patient perseverance in bearing a faithful testimony in the meekness and gentleness of the gospel, against the evils which are in the world.
At the time when the Society of Friends arose, there were great numbers of slaves in the British pos- sessions, more especially in the West Indies, Virginia and the Carolinas. Many of their owners were among the early converts to our Society, and Friends who had emigrated thither from England, fell into the cus- tom and purchased slaves.
We learn this from the earnest exhortations of George Fox and his fellow labourers to Friends to
-1*
6
SLAVERY AND
treat their slaves with Christian care and humanity,
and to prepare them for freedom.
Such was the counsel given by George Fox to Friends in Barbadoes in 1671.
"Respecting their negroes, I desired them," says he in his journal, " to endeavour to train them up in the fear of God, as v^ell those that were bought with their money, as them that were born in their families, that all might come to the knowledge of the Lord ; that so with Joshua every master of a family might say, * As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.' I desired also that they would cause their overseers to deal mildly and gently with their negroes, and not use cruelty towards them as the manner of some hath been and is ; and that after certain years of servitude they should make them free."
In a public discourse spoken in that island, he bears the following remarkable testimony: " let me tell you it will doubtless be very acceptable to the Lord, if so be that masters of families here, would deal so with their servants, the negroes and blacks whom they have bought with their money, [as] to let them go free after they have served faithfully a considerable term of years, be it thirty years after, more or less, and when they go and are made free, let them not go away empty handed,"
George Fox visited that island in company with Wm. Edmundson, and their earnest labours with the masters on behalf of the slaves, gave rise to a report that they were exciting the latter to revolt ; a report which George Fox promptly pronounced to be a wicked slander. Four years afterwards, William Ed- mundson again visited the island; and the same slan-
THE SLAVE TRADE.
7
ders being revived, he was taken before the governor, as appears by his journal.
It was probably during this second visit that he ad- dressed an epistle to Friends of Maryland, Virginia, and other parts of America, which contains the fol- lowing passage : " And must not negroes feel and par- take the liberty of the gospel, that they may be won to the gospel ? Is there no year of jubilee for them ? Did not God make us all of one mould ? And did not Jesus Christ shed his blood for us all ? And what if they were of Ham's stock, and w^ere to be servants of servants 1 hath not that been fulfilled upon them ? and must that yoke always rest upon their bodies, or ra- ther be laid upon Ham's spirit wherever it is ? and doth not Christ take away that wall of partition be- tween people and people ? and is it not now that God is no respecter of persons, but of every nation, tongue and people, he that fears God and works righteousness shall find mercy? and should not we show forth the mercies and kindness of God to our fellow creatures ? And doth not the prophet say the Lord will stretch forth his hand to Ethiopia, and will set up his altar in Figyipt which David several times calls the land of Ham ? And Christ's command is to do to others as we would have them to do to us ; and which of you all would have the blacks or others to make you their slaves without hope or expectation of freedom or lib- erty 1 Would not this be an aggravation upon your minds that would outbalance all other comforts ? So make their conditions your own ; for a good conscience void of offence, is of more worth than all the world, and Truth must regulate all wrongs and wrong deal- ing."
SLAVERY AND
These extracts prove that the sin of slaveholding was seen in its true hght by some of the most eminent of our early- Friends. That many bore a faithful tes- timony from that time forward, will be shown from the ofRcial records of the Society.
At the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania and New Jersey held in 1688, a paper was "presented by some German Friends concerning the lawfulness and un- lawfulness of buying and keeping of negroes; it was adjudged not to be so proper for this meeting to give a positive judgment in the case, it having so general a relation to many other parts, and therefore at pre- sent they forbear it."
Diligent search has been made at various times for the paper spoken of in the above extract, and there is reason to fear that it is no longer extant. The Ger- man Friends who presented it are understood to have been emigrants from Kreisheim, who had estabhshed themselves in the neighbourhood of Germantown.
The first official step of the Society in regard to trading in negroes, appears to have been taken by the Yearly Meeting of 1696, which issued the following advice to its members. " Whereas, several papers have been read relating to the keeping and bringing in of negroes ; which being duly considered, it is the- advice of this meeting, that Friends be careful not to encourage the bringing in of any more negroes ; and that such that have negroes, be careful of them, bring them to meetings, have meetings with them in their families, and restrain them from loose and lewd living as much as in them lies, and from rambling abroad on First-days or other times."
William Penn felt and mourned over the state of
THE SLAVE TRADE.
9
the slaves, but his attempts to improve their condition by legal enactments were defeated in the House of Assembly. The following minute of the monthly meeting of Philadelphia made in 1700, bears witness to his zeal for their welfare. " Our dear Friend and governor having laid before this meeting a concern that hath laid upon his mind for some time concerning the negroes and Indians, that Friends ought to be very careful in discharging a good conscience towards them in all respects, but more especially for the good of their souls, and that they might as frequent as may be, come to meetings upon First-days, upon considera- tion whereof this meeting concludes to appoint a meet- ing for the negroes, to be kept once a month, &c., and that their masters give notice thereof in their own fam- ihes, and be present with them at the said meetings as frequent as may be."
The quarterly meeting of Chester was at that time the most southern branch of the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania, and comprised all the meetings south of Philadelphia quarter, as far as Hopewell in Virginia. The attention of its members was early turned to this subject, and in the Sixth month, 1711, the following minute of that quarter was sent up to the Yearly Meeting.
" Chester monthly meeting's representatives remind- ed this meeting that their meeting was dissatisfied with Friends buying and encouraging the bringing in of negroes, and desires the care and notice of the Yearly Meeting ; and the above particulars to be according to order, presented by the representatives of this meet- ing in writing to the next Yearly Meeting." The Yearly Meeting of that year notices this minute, and
10
SLAVERY AND
adds, that " after a due consideration of the matter, the meeting considering that Friends in many other places are concerned in it as much as we are, advises that Friends may be careful, according to a former minute of this Yearly Meeting, (1696,) not to encour- age the bringing in of any more ; and that all mer- chants and factors write to their correspondents to discourage them from sending any more."
In the following year, (1712,) the Yearly Meeting in its. epistle to the London Yearly Meeting, expressed its concern on the subject of slavery, and pointed out the causes of the increase of slaves, in the following strong language. " And now dear Friends we impart unto you a concern that hath rested on our minds for many years, touching the importing and having negro slaves, and detaining them and their posterity as such, with- out any limitation or time of redemption from that con- dition. This matter was laid before this meeting many years ago, and the thing in some degree discouraged, as may appear by a minute of our Yearly Meeting, (1696,) desiring all merchants and traders professing Truth among us, to write to their correspondents, that they send no more negroes to be disposed of as above ; yet notwithstanding, as our settlements increased, so other traders flocked in amongst us, over whom we had no gospel authority, and such have increased and multiplied negroes amongst us, to the grief of divers Friends, whom we are willing to ease, if the way might open clear to the satisfaction of the general ; and it being last Yearly Meeting again moved, and Friends being more concerned with negroes in divers other provinces and places, than in these, we thought it too weighty to come to a full conclusion therein ;
THE SLAVE TRADE.
11
this meeting therefore desires your assistance by way of counsel and advice therein, and that you would be pleased to take the matter into your weighty conside- ration, after having advised with Friends in the other American provinces, and give us your sense or advice therein."
The tenor of the advice given may be learned from the epistle to London of the Yearly Meeting of 1714.
" We also kindly received your advice about negro slaves, and w^e are one with you that the multiplying of them may be of dangerous consequence, and therefore a law was made in Pennsylvania, laying a duty of twenty pounds upon every one imported there, which law the Queen was pleased to disannul. We could heartily wish that a way might be found to stop the bringing in more here ; or at least, that Friends may be less concerned in buying or selling of any that may be brought in ; and hope for your assistance with the government, if any farther law should be made, dis- couraging the importation. We know not of any Friend amongst us, that has any hand or concern in bringing any out of their own country ; and we are of the same mind with you, that the practice is not com- mendable nor allowable amongst Friends ; and we take the freedom to acquaint you, that our request unto you was, that you would be pleased to consult or ad- vise with Friends in other plantations, where they are more numerous than with us; because they hold a correspondence with you but not with us, and your meeting may better prevail with them, and your advice prove more effectual."
"The subject was again introduced from the subordi- nate meetings into Chester quarterly meeting, in 1715,
1^
SLAVERY AND
and the following minute forwarded to the Yearly- Meeting : " Chester monthly meeting having laid be- fore this meeting that they are under a great concern at Friends being concerned in importing and buying of negroes, and do request the concurrence of this meeting with them, that Friends be not concerned in the importing and bringing of them ; and Newark monthly meeting also requesting the discouraging of ' the same practice ; this meeting taking the same into their serious and weighty consideration, it is the unan- imous sense and judgment of this meeting, that Friends should not be concerned in the importing and bringing of negro slaves for the future ; and that the same be laid before the next Yearly Meeting for their concur- rence therein." All that the Yearly Meeting was able to do at this time is expressed in the following minute of that year, (1715) : "If any Friends are concerned in the importation of negroes, let them be dealt with and advised to avoid that practice, according to the sense of former meetings in that behalf ; and that all Friends who have or keep negroes, do use and treat them with humanity and with a Christian spirit ; and that all do forbear judging or reflecting oi^one another, either in public or private, concerning the detaining or keeping them servants."
The Friends of Chester quarterly meeting, not rest- ing easy under this minute, renewed their solicitations in the following year. By minute of Fourth month, 25th, 1716, Chester monthly meeting desires that the quarterly meeting will take into their further conside- ration, the buying and selling of negroes, which gives great encouragement for the bringing of them in : and that no Friends be found in the practice of buying any
THE SLAVE TRADE.
13
that shall be imported hereafter." This minute was forwarded by the quarterly to the Yeai'ly Meeting, where it met with but a cold reception, viz.
" As to the proposal from Chester meeting about negroes, there being no more in it than was proposed to the last Yearly iMeeting, this meeting cannot see any better conclusion, than what was the judgment of the last meeting, and therefore do confirm the same ; and yet in condescension to such Friends as are strait- ened in their minds against the holding them, it is de- sired, that Friends generally do, as much as may be, avoid buying such negroes as shall hereafter be brought in, rather than offend any Friends who are against it ; yet this is only caution and not censure."
It thus appears that all that could at this time be gained, was to prohibit Friends from bringing in ne- groes from Africa or elsewhere, and to advise that they should not purchase such as were imported, and that they treat with humanity and in a Christian man- ner, those already in their possession.
The first step being thus taken, and the meeting not being prepared to go further, an interval of ten years occurs without any notice of the subject, but in which the sentiments of Friends appear to have been prepar- ing for another advance in this righteous testimony.
In the Fifth month, 1729, the faithful Friends'^ of Chester montlily meeting " offer to the quarterly meet- ing, that inasmuch as we are restricted by a rule of discipline from being concerned in fetching or import- ing negro slaves from their own country, whether it is not as reasonable we should be restricted from buvincr of them when imported ; and if so, and the quarterly
2
14
SLAVERY AND
meeting see meet, that it may be laid before the Yearly Meeting for their approbation and concurrence." The substance of this minute was adopted by the quarterly meeting, and sent to the Yearly Meeting of that year, (1729,) which deferred the consideration for one year, and in 1730, issued the following advice.
" The Friends of this meeting resuming the consi- deration of the proposition of Chester meeting, relating to the purchasing of such negroes as may hereafter be imported ; and having reviewed and considered the former minutes relating thereto, and having maturely deliberated thereon, are now of opinion, that Friends ought to be very cautious of making any such pur- chases for the future, it being disagreeable to the sense of this meeting. And this meeting recommends it to the care of the several monthly meetings, to see that such who may be, or are likely to be found in that practice, niay be admonished and cautioned how they offend herein.'*
This advice was renewed in 1735, and repeated annually thereafter (with the exception of 1740,) until 1743 ; and it appears that reports were annually sent up, stating the care of the subordinate meetings in these particulars.
From the minutes of several of the meetings, it ap- pears that frequent labour was extended from this time forward, to induce those who were in the way of buy- ing or of selling slaves, to cease from the practice.
In the First month, 1738, Haddonfield quarterly meeting directed the monthly meetings to make inqui- ry into, and to answ^er in their reports, the situation of their members, " respecting the buying and selling slaves."
THE SLAVE TRADE. 15
In the Seventh month of that year, the monthly meetings reported that they were mostly clear of buy- ing and selling slaves.
That this labour was not ineffectual, and that it was not confined to a single quarterly meeting, is apparent from the followins; minute.
" Divers Friends in this meeting," says the Yearly Meeting of 1738, "expressed their satisfaction in find- ing by the reports of the quarterly meetings, that there is so little occasion of offence given by Friends con- cerning the encouraging the importing of negroes ; and this meeting desires the care of Friends in their quarterly and monthly meetings, in this particular, may be continued."
In the year 1743, the following query was adopted, and directed to be regularly answered :*
*' 11th. Do Friends observe the former advice of our Yearly Meeting, not to encourage the importation of negroes ; nor to buy them after imported ?'
* The meetings for discipline in the Society of Friends, are of four grades, Preparative, Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly. The first pre- pare the business for the Monthly Meetings, which may be considered the executive part of the Society ; the Quarterly Meetings exercise a supervisory care over the Preparative and Monthly, which are subordi- nate to them, and the Yearly Meeting includes the whole ; exercising a general care over all departments of the Society, and making all the rules for its government. The queries are answered by the inferior to the superior meetings, and relate to the due attendance of the members at meetings for Divine worship and for the transaction of the discipline ; to the maintenance of love and unity ; the proper religious and literary instruction of the children; the care of the poor; the observance of temperance, and of moderation in business, manner of living, &c. ; the due support of discipline, and of the various Christian testimonies wliich the Society believes itself called to uphold. The answers to these que- ries are annually sent up to the Yearly Meeting, so as to place before that bedy the religious condition of all its subordinate branches.
16
SLAVERY AND
In 1755, this query was thus modified : " 10th. Are Friends clear of importing or buying negroes ; and do they use those well which they are possessed of by inheritance or otherwise ; endeavour- ing to train them up in the principles of the Christian religion V*
While the Society was thus clearing itself of the importing, and selling and purchasing of negroes, the concern was spreading on account of slavery itself, and Friends in various quarters, felt more and more deeply, its utter repugnance to the spirit of the gos- pel. Among the foremost of these were John Wool- man and Anthony Benezet, whose writings a few years subsequent to this period, had so great an influence upon public sentiment. John Woolman's attention was more particularly turned to this subject in the year 1742, in consequence of being requested by his em- ployer to write a bill of sale for a negro woman whom he had sold. The thought of writing an instrument of slavery for one of his fellow creatures was uneasy to him; yet through w^eakness he yielded; but at the exe- cution of it was so afflicted in his mind, that he felt constrained in the presence of his employer and the purchaser, to declare his belief that slave keeping w^as a practice inconsistent with the Christian religion. From this time forward, he was a constant and earn- est pleader wdth his brethren for the liberty of the slave.
In the year 1754, he pubhshed his Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes, W'hich was widely and usefully circulated among Friends.
In the same year, an epistle to its members, the substance of which was sent up from Philadelphia
THE SLAVE TRADE.
ir
monthly meeting, and which is supposed to have been from the pen of Anthony Benezet, was issued by the Yearly Meeting. This paper shows the increasing hold which the subject had taken of the Society, and is a document well worthy of being again revived. It is as follows :
" Dear Friends. It hath frequently been the concern of our Yearly Meeting, to testify their uneasiness and disunity with the importation and purchasing of ne- groes and other slaves, and to direct the overseers of the several meetings, to advise and deal with such as engage therein ; and it hath likewise been the contin- ued care of many weighty Friends, to press those that bear our name, to guard as much as possible, against being in any respect concerned in promoting the bon- dage of such unhappy people ; yet as we have with sorrow to observe, that their number is of late increas- ed amongst us, we have thought proper to make our advice and judgment more public, that none may plead ignorance of our principles therein ; and also again earnestly exhort all, to avoid in any manner encourag- ing that practice, of making slaves of our fellow crea- tures.
"Now, dear Friends, if we continually bear in mind the royal law of ' doing to others as we would be done by,* we should never think of bereaving our fellow- creatures of that valuable blessing, liberty, nor endure to grow rich by their bondage. To live in ease and plenty, by the toil of those, whom violence and cruelty have put in our power, is neither consistent with Chris- tianity nor common justice; and we have good reason to believe, draws down the displeasure of heaven ; it being a melancholy, but true reflection, that w^here
13
SLAVERY AND
slave keeping prevails, pure religion and sobriety de- cline ; as it evidently tends to harden the heart, and render the soul less susceptible of that holy spirit of love, meekness and charity, which is the peculiar cha- racter of a true Christian. How then can we, who have been concerned to publish the gospel of univer- sal love and peace among mankind, be so inconsistent with ourselves, as to purchase such who are prisoners of war, and thereby encourage this anti-Christian practice : and more especially as many of those poor creatures are stolen away, parents from children and children from parents ; and others, who were in good circumstances in their native country, inhumanly torn from what they esteemed a happy situation, and com- pelled to toil in a state of slavery, too often extremely cruel. What dreadful scenes of murder and cruelty those barbarous ravages must occasion, in the country of those unhappy people, are too obvious to mention. Let us make their case our own, and consider what we should think, and how we should feel, were we in their circumstances. Remember our blessed Redeemer's positive command, * to do unto others as we would have them to do unto us ;' and that with what measure we meet, it shall be measured to us again. And we intreat all to examine, whether the purchasing of a negro, either born here, or imported, doth not contri- bute to a further importation, and consequently to the upholding all the evils above mentioned, and promoting man-steahng, — the only theft which by the Mosaic law was punished with death. < He that stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he be found in his hands, he shall surely be put to death.' — Exod. xxi. 16.
" The characteristic and badge of a true Christian,
THE SLAVE TRADE.
19
is love and good works. Our Saviours whole life on earth, was one continued exercise of them. * Love one another,' says he, * as I have loved you.' How can we be said to love our brethren, who bring, or for sel- fish ends, keep them in bondage ? Do we act consistent with this noble principle, who lay such heavy burthens on our fellow creatures ] Do we consider that they are called, and sincerely desire that they may become heirs wath us in glory ; and rejoice in the liberty of the sons of God, whilst we are withholding from them the common liberties of mankind ? Or can the Spirit of God, by which we have always professed to be led, be the author of those oppressive and unrighteous mea- sures ? Do we not thereby manifest, that temporal interest hath more influence on our conduct herein, than the dictates of that merciful, holy, and unerring Guide?
" And we hkewdse earnestly recommend to all who have slaves, to be careful to come up in the perform- ance of their duty towards them ; and to be particu- larly watchful over their own hearts ; it being by sorrow^ful experience remarkable, that custom, and a familiarity w ith evil of any kind, have a tendency to bias the judgment, and deprave the mind ; and it is obvious, that the future welfare of these poor slaves who are now in bondage, is generally too much disre- garded by those who keep them. If their daily task of labour be but fulfilled, little else perhaps is thought of ; nay, even that which in others would be looked upon with horror and detestation, is little reo^arded in them by their masters, such as the frequent separation of husbands from wives, and wives from husbands, whereby they are tempted to break their marriage
20
SLAVERY AND
covenants and live in adultery, in direct opposition to the lavv^s both of God and man. As v^^e believe that Christ died for all men, v\-ithout respect of persons ; how fearful then ought we to be of engaging in what hath so natural a tendency to lessen our humanity, and of suffering ourselves to be inured to the exercise of hard and cruel measures, lest we thereby in any degree, lose our tender and feeling sense of the mise- ries of our fellov^ creatures, and become worse than those who have not believed.
" And dear Friends, you, who by inheritance, have slaves born in your famihes, we beseech you to consi- der them as souls committed to your trust, whom the Lord will require at your hands ; and who, as well as ' you, are made partakers of the Spirit of Grace, and called to be heirs of salvation. Let it be your con- stant care to watch over them for good, instructing them in the fear of God, and the knowledge of the gospel of Christ, that they may answer the end of their creation, and God be glorified and honoured by them, as well as by us ; and so train them up, that if you should come to behold their unhappy situation in the same light that many worthy men who are at rest have done, and many of your brethren now do, and should think it your duty to set them free, the.^^ may be the more capable to make a proper use of their lib- erty. Finall}^ brethren, we intreat you in the bowels of gospel love, seriously to weigh the cause of detain- ing them in bondage. If it be for your own private gain, or any other motive than their good, it is much to be feared, that the love of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit is not the prevailing principle in you, and that your hearts are not sufficiently redeemed from
THE SLAVE TRADE.
21
the world; which that you, with ourselves, may more and more come to witness, through the cleansing virtue of the holy spirit of Jesus Christ, is our earnest desire."
The Yearly Meeting of the next year, (1755,) re- newed its directions to the subordinate meetings, to treat with those who imported, and bought or sold slaves, by the following minute.
"The consideration of the inconsistency of the prac- tice of being concerned in importing or buying slaves, with om' Christian principles ; being weightily revived and impressed, by very suitable advices and cautions given on the occasion, it is the sense and judgment of this meeting, that where any transgress this rule of our discipline, the overseers ought speedily to inform the monthly meeting of such transgressors, in order that the meeting may proceed to treat further with them, as they may be directed in the wisdom of Truth."
In the year 1758, it issued the following minute, which continued to be the rule of discipline on the subject, until 1776.
"xA.fter weighty consideration of the circumstances of Friends within the compass of this meeting, who have any negro or other slaves, the accounts and pro- posals now sent up from several quarters, and the rules of our discipline relative thereto ; much time having been spent, and the sentiments of many Friends ex- pressed, there appears an unanimous concern prevail- ing, to put a stop to the increase of the practice of importing, buying, selling, or keeping slaves for term of life; or purchasing them for such a number of years, as manifests that such purchasers, do only in terms, and not in fact, avoid the imputation of being keepers of slaves. This meeting very earnestly and affection-
22
SLAVER? AND
ately intreats Friends, individually, to consider seri- ously the present circumstances of these and the adja- cent provinces, which, by the permission of Divine Providence, have been visited with the desolating calamities of war and bloodshed, so that many of our fellow-subjects are now suffering in captivity; and fer- vently desires, that, excluding temporal considerations, or views of self-interest, we may manifest an humbling sense of these judgments, and in thankfulness for the peculiar favour extended and continued to our Friends and brethren in profession, none of whom have, as we have yet heard, been slain, nor carried into captivity, would steadily observe the injunction of our Lord and Master, ' To do unto others, as we would they should do unto us which it now appears to this meeting, would induce such Friends who have any slaves, to set them at liberty, — making a Christian provision for them, according to their ages, &c. And in order that Friends may be generally excited to the practice of this advice, some Friends here now signified to the meeting, their being so fully devoted to endeavour to render it effectual, that they are willing to visit and treat with all such Friends who have any slaves ; the meeting therefore, approves of John Woolman, John Scarborough, John Sykes and Daniel Stanton under- taking that service ; and desires some elders or other faithful Friends in each quarter, to accompany and assist them therein ; and that they may proceed in the wisdom of Truth, and thereby be qualified to administer such advice as may be suitable to the circumstances of those they visit, and most effectual towards obtaining that purity, which it is evidently our duty to press after. And if after the sense and judgment of this meet-
THE SLAVE TRADE.
23
ing, now given against every branch of this practice, any professing with us should persist to vindicate it, and be concerned in importing, seUing or purchasing slaves, the respective monthly meetings to which they belong, should manifest their disunion with such per- sons, by refusing to permit them to sit in meetings for discipline, or to be employed in the affairs of Truth, or to receive from them any contribution towards the relief of the poor, or other services of the meeting. But if any cases of executors, guardians, trustees, or any others should happen, which may subject any such Friends to the necessity of being concerned with such slaves, and they are nevertheless willing to proceed according to the advice of the monthly meetings they belong to ; wherever such cases happen, the monthly meetings are left to judge of the same in the wisdom of Truth, and, if necessary^ to take the advice of the quarterly meeting therein."
The records of the Yearly Meeting show, that in almost every year during the interval from 1 758 to 1 776, the subject claimed the earnest and increasing care of the meeting. The subordinate meetings were exhorted to labour in Christian love and meekness with those who offended in this particular. From the year 1767, regular statements of this labour, and of the success which attended it, were forwarded to the Yearly Meet- ing, which repeatedly expressed its satisfaction with the care and concern thus manifested.
An examination of the minutes of the various quar- terly and monthly meetings has shown that the atten- tion of Friends was, from the year 1758, forward, steadily directed to the great point of convincing their fellow members who held slaves, of the cruelty and
24
SLAVERY AND
injustice of so doing. It does not appear that many- were disowned for purchasing and selling negroes. The forbearance, and yet earnestness of the course pursued, had the happier effect of inducing the greater number to abstain from doing either ; and by the year 1774, the Yearly Meeting maybe said to have cleared its members from dealing in slaves.
A considerable number had also been emancipated ; yet still the holding of slaves was not a disownable offence, nor did a F riend bring himself under censure for transferring or accepting a slave, without a pecu- niary consideration; although by the minute of 1758, the sense of the meeting had been so far expressed, as to declare that the slaveholder was not to be em- ployed in the affairs of the Society.
Friends in various quarters were now no longer satisfied with this qualified disunity, and in 1774, re- quests were sent up from Philadelphia and Bucks quar- terly meetings, soliciting a revision and explanation of the minute of 1758. In the Yearly Meeting itself, a concern appeared for the further promotion of our testimony against the iniquitous practice of depriving our fellow men of their natural right to liberty, as ap- pears from the following minutes.
" A committee of thirty-four Friends was appointed to take this weighty subject under their consideration? and make report to a future sitting, of their sense and judgment of what additions or amendments are sea- sonable and necessary, at this time, to be made to the rule of discipline before mentioned ; and any Friends w^ho find a concern on their minds to deliver their sentiments to the said committee, have the consent of this meeting for so doing.
" Tenth month, 1st. The report of the committee
THE SLAVE TRADE.
25
relating to our testimony against importing, buying, selling or keeping slaves, being now deliberately read and attentively considered ; a calming, uniting spirit presiding, it is agreed to; and' the quarterly and monthly meetings are earnestly recommended and enjoined to give due attention to the same, as the present sense and judgment of this meeting, being as follov^s, viz. :
" Agreeable to appointment, we have weightily con- sidered the sorrowful subject committed to us; and many brethren having had an opportunity of freely communicating their sentiments thereon; after a solid conference, we find there is a painful exercise attend- ing the minds of Friends, and a general concern pre- vaihng, that our Christian testimony may be more extensively held forth, against the unrighteous practice of enslaving our fellow creatures, to promote which, it is our sense and judgment, —
" That such professors among us who are, or shall be concerned in importing, selling or purchasing ; or that shall give away or transfer any negro or other slave, with or without any other consideration than to clear their estate of any future incumbrance, or in such manner as that their bondage is continued beyond the time limited by law or custom for white persons; and such member who accepts of such gift or assignment, ought to be speedily treated with, in the spirit of true love and wisdom, and the iniquity of their conduct laid before them. And if after this Christian labour, they cannot be brought to such a sense of tlieir injustice, as to do every thing which the monthly meeting shall judge to be reasonable and necessary for the restoring such slave to liis or her natural and just right to liberty,
3
SLAVEKY AND
and condemn their deviation from the law of ridit- eousness and equity, to the satisfaction of the said meeting, that such member be testified against, as other transgressors are, by the rules of our discipline, for other immoral, unjust, and reproachful conduct.
" And having deliberately weighed and considered that many slaves are possessed and detained in bon- dage by divers members of our religious Society, towards whom labour has been extended ; but being apprehensive that a Christian duty has not been so fully discharged to them as their various circumstan- ces appear to require :
*' We think it expedient that the quarterly meetings should be earnestly advised and enjoined, to unite with their respective monthly meetings, in a speedy and close labour with such members ; and where it shall appear that any, from views of temporal gain, cannot be prevailed with to release from captivity such slaves as shall be found suitable for liberty, but detain them in bondage, without such reasons as shall be sufficient and satisfactory ; the cases of such should be brought forward to the next Yearly Meeting for consideration, and such further directions as may be judged expe- dient. And in the mean time, we think those persons ought not to be employed in the service of Truth.
" And having grounds to conclude that there are some brethren who have these poor captives under their care, and are desirous to be wisely directed in the restoring them to liberty ; Friends who may be ap- pointed by quarterly and monthly meetings on the service now proposed, are earnestly desired to give their weighty and solid attention for the assistance of such who are thus honestly and religiously concerned
THE SLAVE TRADE.
for their own relief, and the essential benefit of the negro. And in such families where there are young ones, or others of suitable age, that they excite the masters, or those who have them, to give them suffi- cient mstruction and learning, in order to qualify them for the enjoyment of the liberty intended, and that they be instructed by tliemselves, or placed out to such masters and mistresses who will be careful of their religious education, to serve for such time, and no longer, as is prescribed by law and custom, for white people.
" And understanding that some members of our religious Society through inattention, and others from different motives, have been induced to be concerned in hiring slaves on wages ; such should be incited to consider, that this practice manifestly contributes to promote the unrighteous traffic we are desirous to suppress ; and therefore they should be advised and admonished against being tlius accessory to promot- ing it.
" Also that all Friends be cautioned and advised against acting as executors or administrators to such estates where slaves are bequeathed, or likely to be detained in bondage.
"And we are of the mind, that where anv member has been heretofore so far excluded from religious fellowship, as the minute of this meeting, in the year 1758, gives authority ; nevertheless, in case of further disorderly conduct, that they be treated with agree- able to our discipline."
In the following 3'ear, (1775,) the increasing con- cern of the meeting displayed itself in the following minute.
2S
SLAVERY AND
" On considering the progress made by the quarterly and monthly meetings, in promoting our testimony against keeping of slaves in bondage; it is satisfactory to observe, that by the labour therein since last year, a considerable number has been restored to liberty, and that Friends manifest a concern for further proceeding in this weighty service. This meeting, impressed with an earnest desire that it may be completed, and the church relieved from the grievous burthen under which we have long laboured, again recommends, that the united care and endeavours of Friends may be con- tinued for perfecting it, agreeable to our solid sense and judgment, given and enjoined on the quarterly and monthly meetings concerning it last year.
" And where any members manifest such a disre- gard to common justice, as to oppose and reject this Christian labour of their brethren, and Friends appre- hend they have fully discharged their duty to them, that the particular circumstance of such cases be brought to this meeting, pursuant to the directions given in our minute of last year ; as likewise such other cases which may be attended with so great dif- ficulty, as to require the further advice and judgment of the body thereon.
" And in order further to manifest our Christian care and regard to such of those poor people who have been restored to freedom, it is desired that a benevolent care may be exercised by Friends in their respective places, to assist and advise them, as their circumstances and stations in life may require, both for their spiritual and temporal good."
When the usual reports from the quarterly meetings were read in the Yearly Meeting of 1776, a committee
THE SLAVE TBADE.
29
was appointed to revise the accounts, and report to the meeting, " the most effectual rehgious means for perfecting a work which has long been the occasion of heavy labour to the faithful members of the church, and excited our desire to be fully clear of a practice so directly opposed to the law of righteousness." The committee made the following report, which was ap- proved and confirmed by the meeting.
" We, the committee appointed to take under our consideration the deeply affecting case of om' oppress- ed fellow men of the African race and others, as also the state of those who hold them in bondage, have several times met, and heard the concm'ring sentiments of divers other Friends, and examined the reports from the quarterly meetings, by which it appears, that much labour and care have been extended since the last year, for the convincement of such of our mem- bers who had, or yet have them in possession ; many of whom have of late, from under hand and seal, pro- perly discharged such as were in their possession, from a state of slavery.
" Yet sorrowful it is, that many there are in mem- bership with us, w ho notwithstanding the labour be- stowed, still continue to hold these people as slaves ; under the consideration whereof, we are deeply affect- ed, and united in judgment, that we are loudly called upon to a faithful obedience to the injunction of our blessed Lord, * To do to all men as we would they should do unto us and to bear a full and clear testi- mony to these truths, that *God is no respecter of per- sons,' and that ' Christ died for all men without dis- tinction.' Which we earnestly and afiectionately intreat may be duly considered in this awful and
3^
30
SLAVERY AND
alarming dispensation, and excite to impartial justice and judgment to black and white, rich and poor.
" Under the calming influences of pure love, we do "with great unanimity, give it as our sense and judg- ment, that quarterly and monthly meetings should speedily unite in a further close labour with all such as are slaveholders, and have any right of member- ship with us. And where any members continue to reject the advice of their brethren, and refuse to exe- cute proper instruments of writing, for releasing from a state of slavery, such as are in their power, or to "whom they have any claim, whether arrived to full age or in their minority, and no hopes of the continuance of Friends' labour being profitable to them, that month- ly meetings after having discharged a Christian duty to such, should testify their disunion with them.
" And it appearing from the reports of the several quarters, that there are many difficult and comphcat- ed cases, which relate to those oppressed and much injured people, requiring great circumspection and close attention, in order that our religious testimony may be promoted, and that the cause of Truth may not suffer by unprofitable delays, we apprehend all such cases might well be submitted to the quarterly meetings where they subsist, whose advice and judg- ment should be observed and regarded ; so that any member who refuses or declines complying therewith, after being laboured with in the spirit of love and wisdom, should be testified against."
At this Yearly Meeting the following query was adopted in place of the one on the same subject, which had been directed in 1775. "Are Friends clear of importing, purchasing, disposing of, or holding man-
THE SLAVE TEADE.
31
kind as slaves'? And do they use those well, who are set free, and necessarily under their care, and not in circumstances, through nonage or incapacity, to min- ister to their own necessities ? And are they careful to educate and encourage them in a religious and virtuous life V'
The subordinate meetings upon the receipt of the foregoing minute, appointed committees to carry out the views of the Yearly Meeting. It is apparent from the tenor of their proceedings, that the principal por- tion of the labour had afready been accomplished, and that the greater part of the slaves owned by our members had been set free.
The following extracts will fully justify this remark. In 1776, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting replies to the query, " that a considerable number of the slaves here- tofore belonging to members of this meeting have been set at liberty." A committee of that monthly meeting had been labouring since 1774, with those who held slaves, and in 1777, report is made that a few continue to hold negroes in slavery. The minutes of that meet- ing, from the year 1756 to the year 1783, exhibit an unremitted attention to this subject, in labouring first with those who bought and sold, and next with those who kept, slaves. In 1778, seven members were dis- owned for the latter oflence, and one in the following year. A much greater nimiber emancipated their slaves, so that in 1781 there was but one case under care ; and in 1783, the meeting reported that there were no slaves owned by its members.
In the Fourth month, 1777, Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting appointed "a committee to procure manumis- sion papers, and assist the members of the monthly
32
SLAVERY AND
meetings to manumit their slaves ; and also to see to the education of coloured children." This com- mittee continued under appointment for two years, and in the Ninth month, 1779, reported that they had fully complied with their appointment in ob- taining manumissions. The names of the few who continued to hold slaves were reported, and directed to be transmitted to the monthly meetings, for them to enforce the discipline. In 1781, the quarterly meet- ing say^s : " It appears there has been a general re- leasement from bondage of the Africans among us, except in a few instances, where the women only are in membership."
Chester Quarterly Meeting, Eighth month, 1777, says, " the committee in the case of slaves reported to this meeting in writing, as follows, viz. : * We the com- mittee appointed to visit those that hold slaves, have attended to that service ; and have visited all that had any claim over such within the verge of this meeting, that came to our knowledge ; a considerable number of which have been manumitted since our appoint- ment; but there are some members in several monthly meetings that still hold them, notwithstanding the many and repeated visits paid them; and we, as a committee, apprehend we have discharged our duty and appoint- ment to such, and desire to be released ; and we fur- ther think that the several cases may be safely recom- mended to the monthly meetings."
Burlington Quarterly Meeting of the same date, (Eighth mo., 1777,) states that "Burhngton Monthly Meeting further mentioned, that most of those who were in a state of slavery among them, have been manumitted since last year; and that in regard to those
THE SLAVE TRADE.
33
remaining, viz. three of age, and five minors, there is reason to hope a Httle longer continuance of labour and patience, will have a good effect." Chesterfield adds to a report of a committee of that meeting on the subject of slaves, containing in substance, that they have had the satisfaction to find the hearts of divers Friends tender towards that poor, oppressed people, so that many have been manumitted ; and yet a con- siderable number are continued .in bondage; and though some members do not appear in a disposition to comply with the desire of Friends, yet ha\ang a tenderness towards them, they have a desire that their cases may be continued under care a fiurther time.
Reports of the progress made in emancipation, ap- pear on minute from time to time, and in the Eighth month, 1781, "Burlington adds to their report from their committee for the manumission of negroes, that they had attended to the service since last year, and had the satisfaction of crettinsj clear of all the cases of this kind then known ; but that three young negroes in a state of bondage had lately been discovered in one family, which had been and remain under their care. From the answers to the queries it appears that all the other monthly meetings are clear of slaves, ex- cept some remaining within the compass of Chester- field and verge of one particular meeting."
At the same date, (Eighth mo. 1777,) the Western Quarter, which had been set oflT in 1758, from the south-western end of Chester, and which stretched far into Maryland, answers the query respecting slavery, in the following manner : " Clear of importing and disposing of mankind as slaves, also of purchasing, in all our meetings, except one, from which a doubt is
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SLAVERY AND
hinted in one case. Some within the compass of the meeting yet continue to hold slaves ; though many- have been manumitted since last year. The case of those who hold them is weightily under care ; and a growing concern appears amongst us, that we may more fully attain to clearness respecting this matter."
The following report appears on the minutes of Bucks Quarterly Meeting of the same date, (Eighth mo. 1777.) "We o/the committee appointed by the quarterly meeting in order to treat with our members who hold their fellow men in bondage, in conjunction with the several monthly meeting committees, now report, that there hath been a considerable time spent in labouring with them, in order to convince them of the evil of the practice, which labours of love have by some been kindly received, and they have complied so far as to give those they had in bondage their liberty, by instruments of writing given under their hands and seals ; but there are others who still persist in holding them as slaves, notwithstanding the repeated care and laboiu' of Friends extended towards them."
Upon turning to the minutes of the monthly meet- ings composing Bucks Quarter, it appears that at this time there were no slaves held in Buckingham or in Wriglitstown monthly meetings ; that in Middletown four members persisted in holding slaves, three of whom w^ere afterwards disowned for that offence; and that in the Falls Monthly Meeting, although many had been set free, others were still detained in bondage. These were subsequently emancipated ; and it does not appear that more than one member was disowned by that meeting, for refusing to comply with the dis- phne in this particular.
THE SLAVE THADE.
At the monthly meetings of Salem, held in the Eighth and Eleventh months, 1777, the committee reported two cases of slaves, whose owners were not wSling to set them free ; and that two girls had been sold for such a number of years, and under such cir- cumstances, as to render their cases little better than slaves. The individual who had made this sale was brought to see its iniquity, and in the First month fol- lowing, a report was made that one of them was re- leased; but it does not appear that Friends were able to procure the discharge of the other from her purchaser.
The success of these labours is noticed in the min- utes of the Yearly Meetings of 1779, 1780 and 1781 ; and as the minute of 1781 is the last on record upon this subject, which speaks of slaves being still ow^ned by our members, it is probable that before the suc- ceeding Yearly Meeting they had all been freed.
As the Society dwelt under the religious exercise which had been brought over it by the participation of its members in this grievous sin, a concern spread for making reparation to the slaves themselves for their labour ;* and for promoting the rehgious welfare of
* As a specimen of the religious care of Friends in this particular, we select the following case.
A Friend became uneasy respecting the situation of a coloured man who had been set free by his father some years before, but had received no compensation for the time he served after he was twenty-one years of age ; and he mentioned the subject to the monthly meeting of Friends of Nevt' Garden, Pennsylvania, of which he was a member. At this meeting, held the 7th of Eleventh month, 1778, five Friends were appointed to advise and assist in the case ; and in the Third month fol- lowing, they made a report, which was satisfactory to the meeting, and for aught that appears, to the parties also. The report is in substance ae follows, viz.
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SLAVERY AND
them and their descendants. In reference to these subjects, the following report of a committee was
" Agreeably to our appointment, we have several times met and con- sidered tlie case committed to us, respecting the uneasiness mentioned by T. W., concerning the negro formerly possessed by his father, and having carefully inquired into the circumstances, do find that W. W., about 16 years ago, set free from a state of slavery the said negro named Caesar, on condition that he would behave himself justly and honestly, and also that he would lay up, or deposit in his, or some other safe hand, the sum of three pounds yearly, that in case he sliould be sick or lame, he might not be chargeable to his said master's estate. In consequence of the said condition the said Caesar had laid up forty-two pounds, which appears to us to be his just property, and all the heirs of W. W. who are arrived at full age, (except one, who resides in Virginia,) cheerfully agree to let him have it. But as the said Ccesar informs us that he has no present use or necessity for the said money, he agreed to have it de- posited in the hands of J. P., and proposed to advise with him, when any occasion occurred for applying it; with which we were well satisfied.
" It also further appears that said Caesar served his said master in the capacity of a slave, something more than ten years after he Wiis twenty- one years of age ; and upon careful inquiry, we find he was tenderly used during said time, and nursed in the small pox, which he had very heavily, and it was long before he recovered ; so that we have reason to believe it took at least one year to defray the expense thereof. These things, the said Caesar fully acknowledges ; and further informs that his said master allowed him sundry privileges during said term, whereby he made for himself at least five pounds a year, beside being well clotlied and accommodated.
" After considering all the circumstances of his case, we are unan- imously of the mind, that the further sum ef five pounds a year, for the nine years he was in usual health, ought to be allowed him out of the said estate, which the heirs now present and of age, also agree to; and it is agreed with the said Ctesar's free consent, to be deposited with the other sum.
"And as the instrument of writing by which the said VV. W. dcclar- . ed the said CoBsar free, is conditional, and we apprehend not sufficient to secure his freedom, the heirs aforesaid have executed a manumission suited to the occasion.
" Third month 6th, 1779."
THE SLAVE TRADE.
37
adopted, and sent down to the subordinate meetings by the Yearly Meeting of 1779.
" A committee being appointed to review the seve- ral accounts now sent, of the labour which hath been extended to fulfil the advice given last year, for pro- motinor the relis^ious instruction of those neo^roes who have been set free, and their offspring, and for assist- ing and advising them in their temporal concerns ; and if any further matter occurred to them to be necessary to animate Friends to a continuance of care in this weighty affair, to propose it, in order that our religious duty to that long oppressed people may be fully dis- charged, made a report in writing, which being seve- ral times read and duly considered, is unitedly approved, and recommended to the care of quarterly, monthly and preparative meetings, in order that Friends may be conscientiously concerned to discharge their Christian duty in the weighty matters recommended ; and to send an account to the meeting next year, how this pious work goes forward. The report being in substance nearly as follows.
" Agreeable to our appointment, we have delibe- rately considered the reports brought up from the sev- eral quarters, and find that an increasing concern for the real good of these people, appears to take place, there being but a small number detained in bondage within the compass of our Yearly Meeting. Under a thankful sense of Divine favour in opening the hearts of many, and making way for the deliverance of these poor captives, we feel a tenderness for those who are continued by any among us in bondage, and are renewedly confirmed in judgment, that w^here fervent, close labour remains to be ineffectual, our testimony
4
38
SLAVERY AND
for the cause of truth and righteousness should be held up by monthly meetings, and they proceed to clear themselves of this iniquitous practice.
" We are united in judgment, that the state of the oppressed people who have been held by any of us, or our predecessors, in captivity and slavery, calls for a deep inquiry and close examination, how far we are clear of withholding from them, what under such an exercise may open to view as their just right, and therefore w^e earnestly and affectionately intreat our brethren in religious profession to bring this matter home, and that all who have let the oppressed go free, may attend to the further openings of duty.
" A tender Christian sympathy appears to be awak- ened in the minds of many who are not in religious profession with us, who have seriously considered the oppressions and disadvantages under which those peo- ple have long laboured ; and whether a pious care extended to their offspring is not justly due from us to them, is a consideration worthy our serious and deep attention ; or if this obligation did not weightily lay upon us, can benevolent minds be directed to any object more worthy of their liberality and encourage- ment, than that of laying a foundation in the rising generation for their becoming good and useful men ? remembering what was formerly enjoined, * If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee, then thou shalt relieve him ; yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner ; that he may live with thee.* Lev. XXV. 35.
" Under a fervent concern that our Christian testi- mony respecting this exercising subject may spread, and fasten on the minds of Friends generally, we ear-
THE SLAVE TRADE.
nestly recommend a close attention to former advices, and particularly that of last year ; and that quarterly and monthly meetings may be encouraged to a con- tinued care for the instruction of these people in schools, and in the principles of the Christian rehgion."
These meetings were not slack in performing the duties to which they were thus called. In all of them, as far as appears, committees were appointed, and funds provided to assist the free people of colour with their advice, and to secure the education and reli- gious instruction of their children. Religious meetings were frequently appointed for them, and are reported to have been held to good satisfaction ; and these la- bours are continued to be noticed on minute for many years subsequent to this period.
In the Eighth month, 1779, a <:ommittee of Chester Quarterly Meeting report " that considerable progress has been made in assisting and advising such negroes as have been restored to freedom ; and are continued to give them their advice on all occasions, particularly to instruct them in the principles of the Christian reli- gion, and the pious education of their children," &c.
In the Second month, 1789, the same meeting says, "the consideration of the temporal and spiritual welfare of the Africans, and the necessary instruction of their offspring being now resumed, and after some time spent thereon, it is closely recommended to our several monthly meetings to pay due attention to the advice of the Yearly Meeting on this subject, and proceed as strength may be afforded, in looking after them in their several habitations by a rehgious visit ; giving them such counsel as their situation may require," &c.
In the Eighth month, 1798, the monthly meeting of
40
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Concord, (a branch of Chester, now Concord Quar- terly Meeting,) reported that a visit had been paid to nearly all the families of the black people, as well as to some single persons of the same colour residing within the limits of their meeting, by a committee, to a good degree of satisfaction.
The minutes of Burlington Quarterly Meeting, exhibit the same care in appointing committees and religious meetings. As a specimen of these minutes; " several of the committee appointed to attend the meeting at Crosswicks for the religious benefit of the black people, report their attendance, and that the meeting was large, satisfactory and encouraging." The same minute provides for the appointing of other meetings of the same character. In the Eighth month, 1785, " one meeting informs that two Friends having each set a slave at liberty, expressed a desire to make a proper allowance for the time they were continued in their service, after they came of age ; after divers times deliberating thereon, Friends to whose care such cases had been referred, advised that the sums should be ascertained by indifferent persons ; and one of the negroes being deceased, the sum adjudged due in that case, should be divided and paid to the next of kin, as in cases of intestates' estates; which advice the Friends have readily accepted, and have taken measures to carry into effect."
" In liaddonfield Quarterly Meeting, a committee was kept steadily under appointment for several years to assist in manumissions, and in the education of the negro children. Religious meetings were frequently held for the people of colour; and Haddonfield Monthly
THE SLAVB TRADE.
41
Meeting raised on one occasion £131, for the educa- tion of negro children.
In Salem Monthly Meeting, frequent meetings of worship for the people of colour were held by direc- tion of the monthly meeting ; funds were raised for the education of their children, and committees ap- pointed in the different meetings to provide books, place the children at school, to visit the schools, and inspect their conduct and improvement.
Meetings for Divine worship were regularly held for people of colour, at least once in three months, under the direction of the monthly meetings of Friends in Philadelphia ; and schools were also established at which their children were gratuitously instructed in useful learning. One of these, originally instituted by Anthony Benezet, is now in operation in the city of Philadelphia, and has been continued under the care of one of the monthly meetings of Friends of that city, and supported by funds derived from the volun- tary contributions of the members, and from legacies and bequests, yielding an income of about $1000 per annum. The average number of pupils is about sixty- eight of both sexes.
While the Society was thus performing its duty to the free people of colour, within its own limits, a con- cern began to spread for the extinction of the slave trade and slavery itself ; and from this time forward memorials and remonstrances on these subjects were repeatedly laid before persons in power and the public at large. The first notice of this extended concern which occurs on the records of the Yearly Meeting, is contained in the following minutes of 1785, 1786, 1787.
" Some lively, instructive remarks were made, on 4*
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what appears further becoming a right concern for promoting justice being done to the African race, as well as their instruction in the principles of Truth ; and faithfully labouring to improve every opportunity for urging to those in power, the moral and Christian necessity of suppressing the cruel traffic in those af- flicted people, so grossly unchristian, and reproachful to humanity."
" The deeply affecting concern on account of the continued traffic in some parts of this continent in the persons of our fellow men, the people of Africa, afresh reviving, and the minds of many Friends being warm- ly animated with a sense of its interesting import ; it is renewedly and with m.uch earnestness recommend- ed to the diligent attention and care of the Meeting for Sufferings, that no proper means may be omitted, nor any opportunity lost, whereby the testimony of Truth in this matter may be advanced, and the cause of mercy and equity promoted and strengthened in the minds of men generally."
" On a renewed consideration of the iniquity of the slave trade, it is afresh recommended to the watchful attention of our Meeting for Sufierings in particular, and to Friends individually, that no opportunity be lost of discouraging the unrighteous business, and mani- festing to the world, the religious ground of our Chris- tian testimony against this public wickedness."
The history of the abolition of slavery within the limits of New England Yearly Meetings is marked with the same features of cautious, yet steady perse- verance, which are traceable in the foregoing narrative. In its earlier stages, it follows, at an interval of a few years, the course pursued with us ; while the holding
THE SLAVE TRADE.
of slaves was there made a disownable offence, five or six years before it was so regarded in Pennsylvania.
The earliest notice on the subject, is a query sent in the Second month, 1716, by the monthly meeting of Dartmouth to Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting, asking "whether it be agreeable to Truth, for Friends to pur- chase slaves, and keep them term of life ?" This was referred for consideration to the different monthly meetings composing that quarterly meeting. Nantuck- et xMonthly Meeting promptly decided by a minute of Ninth month, 17 IG, as the sense and judgment of that meeting, " that it was not agreeable to Truth for Friends to purchase slaves, and keep them term of life ;" Dartmouth, " that the buying and seUing of slaves is inconsistent with Truth;" some others, "that no more slaves be brought from foreign parts," &c. The subject was brought by Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting before the Yearly Meeting of 1717, which notices " that a weighty concern rested on the minds of Friends on account of importing and keeping slaves," but made no decisive minute on the subject. , Although it is evident from the result, that the con- cern on this subject was spreading among Friends, throughout the Yearly Meeting, no fiulher notice of it occurs on the minutes till the year 1760, excepting a short minute of the year 1727, censuring the practice " of importing negroes from their native country and relations." In 1760, the disciphne was revised, and the following passage, taken from the printed epistle of the London Yearly Meeting of 1758, was incorpo- rated into it. " We fervently warn all in profession with us, that they carefully avoid being any way con- cerned in reaping the unrighteous profits of that iniqui-
44
SLAVERY AND
tous practice of dealing in negroes and other slaves ; whereby in the original purchase, one man selleth another as he does the beast that perishes, without any better pretension to a property in him than that of superior force, in direct violation of the gospel rule, which teaches every one to do as they would be done by, and to do good unto all ; being the reverse of that covetous disposition, which furnishes encouragement to these poor ignorant people to perpetuate their savage wars, in order to supply the demands of this most un- natural traffic, whereby great numbers of mankind, free by nature, are subjected to inextricable bondage; and which hath often been observed to fill their pos- sessors with haughtiness and tyranny, luxury and bar- barity ; corrupting the minds and debasing the morals of their children, to the unspeakable prejudice of reli- gion and virtue, and the exclusion of that holy spirit of universal love, meekness and charity, which is the unchangeable nature, and the glory of true Christiani- ty. We, therefore, can do no less than with the greatest earnestness impress it upon Friends every where, that they endeavour to keep their hands clear.- of this unrighteous gain of oppression."
In the same year the following query was adopted. " Are Friends clear of importing negroes, or buying them when imported ; and do they use those well, where they are possessed by inheritance or other- wise ; endeavouring to train them up in the principles of religion?'
Nine years afterwards, (1709,) the Friends of Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting, being uneasy with this query, which allowed of the holding of slaves, called the attention of the Yearly Meeting to the sub-
THE SLAVE TRADE.
45
ject. The application was referred to a committee, who reported, " that having met, and entered into a solemn consideration of the subject, they were of the mind that a useful alteration might be made in the query referred to ; yet apprehending some further Christian endeavours in labouring with such who con- tinue in possession of slaves should be first promoted, by which means the eyes of Friends may be more clearly opened to behold the iniquity of the practice of detaining our fellow creatures in bondage, and a dis- position to set such free who are arrived to mature age ; and when the labour is performed and report made to the meeting, the meeting may be better capa- ble of determining what further step to take in this affair, which hath given so much concern to faithful Friends ; and that in the mean time it should be en- forced upon Friends that have them in possession, to treat them with tenderness ; impress God's fear on their minds ; promote their attending places of reli- gious worship ; and give such as are young, so much learning, that they may be capable of reading." This report was adopted by the meeting, and a large com- mittee appointed to visit such Friends throughout the Yearly Meeting, as are concerned in keeping slaves, and endeavour to persuade them from the practice.
The next year (1770,) the following query was incorporated into the disciphne, "Are Friends clear of importing, buying, or any ways disposing of negroes or slaves; and do they use those well who are under their care, and not in circumstances, through nonage or incapacity, to be set at liberty? And do they give those that are young such an education as becomes Christians; and arc the others encouraged in a religious
46
SLAVERY AND
and virtuous life? And are all set at liberty that are of age, capacity, and ability suitable for freedom?" The subordinate meetings were directed by minute to take due care that this query be complied w^ith.
The next year the committee of 1 769, reported that they had completed their service, " and that their visits mostly seemed to be kindly accepted. Some Friends manifested a disposition to set such at liberty as were suitable ; some others not having so clear a sight of such an unreasonable servitude as could be desired, were unwilling to comply with the advice given them at present, yet seemed willing to take it into consideration ; a few others manifested a dispo- sition to keep them in continued bondage."
It is stated in the epistle to London Yearly Meeting of the year 1772, that a few Friends had freed their slaves from bondage, but that others " have been so reluctant thereto that they have been disowned for not complying with the advice of this meeting."
In 1773, the following minute was made. "It is our sense and judgment, that Truth not only requires the young of capacity and ability, but likewise the aged and impotent, and also ail in a state of infancy and nonage among Friends to be discharged and set free from a state of slavery, that we do no more claim property in the human race, as we do in the brutes that perish."
It appears by the- epistles that the subject was weightily before the Yearly Meeting in 1774, 1775 and 1776; and in 1777 a committee was appointed to aid subordinate meetings in labouring with individuals for effecting the discharge of all who were held in bondage. This committee reported the next year that
THE SLAVE TRADE.
47
most of the slaves were manumitted in the presence of the committee ; and that encouragement was given to hope that all would be set at liberty. In 1782, the Yearly Meeting states, " we know not but all the members of this meeting are clear of that iniquitous practice of holding or deahng with mankind as slaves."
The object for which Friends had so long and pa- tiently laboiu'ed, being thus attained, a concern was introduced into the Yearly Meeting in 1783, for a proper and equitable settlement for thei?^ past services, between olu' members who had owned and manumit- ted slaves, and those so manumitted ; and it was re- commended to the quarterly meetings to appoint committees to labour for the accomplishment of this object ; " and also to encourage those who have been held as slaves in a religious and virtuous life."
In 1784, it was concluded that where any Friends refuse to comply with the advice of the quarterly meetings' committee in this respect, they report the case to the monthly meetings, and if the refusal still continue to be persisted in, after tender care and la- bour on the part of such meeting, that they be dealt with as " disorderly walkers."
Although disownment was thus authorised, the object was gained without resorting to it in any case ; and in the year 1787, the Yearly Meeting states that the effecting of a satisfactory settlement for the past services of those who had been held in slavery was brought to a close.
It appears that previously to the year 1759, the Y^early Meeting of New Y''ork had manifested its disapprobation of the slave trade, and that a query, ** whether Friends were clear of importing or pur-
48
SLAVERY AND
chasing negroes or slaves, was regularly answered by the subordinate meetings.
In the records of Purchase Quarterly Meeting, we find the following minute. Fifth mo. 2nd, 1767. In this meeting the practice of trading in negroes or other slaves, and its inconsistency with our religious prin- ciples was revived ; and the inconsiderable dilference between buying slaves or keeping those in slavery we are already possessed of, was briefly hinted in a short query from one of our monthly meetings, which is recommended to the consideration of our next Yearly Meeting, viz. " If it is not consistent with Christianity to buy and sell our fellow men for slaves, during their lives, and their posterity after them, then whether it is consistent with a Christian spirit to keep those in slavery we have already in possession, by purchase, gift, or any other way?' It does not appear from minutes of the Yearly Meeting what notice was taken of this application.
The minutes of Purchase Quarterly Meeting mani- fest a continued exercise on the subject, by repeated injunctions to the monthly meetings to enforce the discipline in regard to it, and to send up regular ac- counts of their proceedings therein.
The first minute of the Yearly Meeting on this sub- ject, which we have seen, is dated in 1771, being as follows: *'This meetins:, taking into consideration the state of negroes being kept in slavery, do now con- clude that those Friends that have negroes shall not sell them to others for slaves, excepting in cases of executors, administrators or guardians, wdio are in that case to advise with their respective monthly
THE SLAVE TRADE.
4§
meetings therein, if attended with difficulty, giving to the said meeting the state of the case."
At the same meeting, a minute in relation to keep- ing slaves, communicated by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, was read, and copies thereof sent to the several quarterly meetings. The meeting also appoint- ed a committee " to visit them that have slaves, and see if there can a freedom be obtained for them that are suitable for it ; and such as are not set free, suit- ably instructed and provided for."
The committee made report in the following year " that they had attended to that service with satis- faction in their minds, and met with some encourage- ment therein." The same meeting issued an epistle to its members, exciting them * to faithfulness in sup- porting our Christian testimony against selling and buying negroes.' The meeting of 1774, "taking under a weighty and solid consideration the matter in regard to those Friends that buy or sell negroes, or otherwise dispose of them, so that after they come to the age of eighteen or twenty-one, according to their sex, they or their posterity are kept in bondage, shall be treated with as disorderly persons; and unless they are brought to a sense of their error, and set such at liber- ty, the monthly meeting they belong to, shall testify against them."
The next year, quarterly and monthly meetings were directed to appoint committees to investigate the condition of those held in bondage. In 1776, the reports from the inferior meetings state that considera- ble service had attended the endeavours of the com- mittee, and the meeting renewed its injunction to the quarterly and monthly meetings as last year, to visit
5
SLAVERY AND
those Friends who continue these poor people in bondage, and labour with them for their release; and that if any are so far unmindful of the sense and judg- ment of the Yearly Meeting, &c., that they be in- formed that Friends can have no unity with them, whilst in that state, so far as to employ them or accept of their services in the church, or receive their col- lections. It was also recorded as the sense and judg- ment of the meeting, that no Friend should do any thing whereby the right of slavery is acknowledged. From the minutes of the next year it appears that a considerable number of slaves were in consequence set free, although some members were unwilling to comply with the advice of their Friends. At the same Yearly Meeting it was directed, that those who still continued " these poor people in bondage, should be revisited ; and if any are so unmindful of the sense and judgment of the Yearly Meeting, as to refuse to comply with the advice of their Friends, that the respective monthly meetings to which they belong deal with such as disorderly persons ; and unless they comply with the advice of the monthly meetings, by setting their negroes of every age free, such are to be testified against."
The answers to the queries from this time, state the care exercised by meetings in these respects ; and it is evident that very few slaves were now left among Friends. A solitary one is reported in 1784, another in 1785; and in 1787, the quarterly meetings state that no Friends are concerned in negroes, as slaves.
In the Yearly Meeting of 1781, the propriety of compensating the slaves for their services was brought into view, by a minute of Westbury Quarter, and the
THE SLAVE TRADE.
51
meeting advised the appointment in each monthly- meeting, " of a number of soHd, judicious Friends, in order to perform a visit to such Friends as have set any of those people free; and likewise to the negroes who have been set free, and inspect into the particular state and circumstances of such negroes, and afford them such advice and assistance, both in respect to their spiritual and temporal good, as may be in their power, and endeavour to find what may in justice, remain due to them." At the succeeding Yearly Meeting, it was directed "that the sum or sums which may appear due to such negroes, be retained in the hands of Friends setting them free, to be handed out to said negroes, as they may stand in need of it, under the inspection of standing committees appointed by the monthly meetings for that purpose."
So faithfully and earnestly did Friends carry out these views of the Yearly Meeting, that in the year 1784, there appear to have been but three unsettled cases remaining.
The course pursued by Friends of V^irginia Yearly Meeting, living in the heart of a slave country, and surrounded by influences the most unfriendly to the great work of emancipation, was marked by the same features of patient perseverance as were the proceed- ings of the other Yearly Meetings.
The first step taken by the Yearly Meeting of Vir- ginia, was the adoption in 1757 of the following query, designed to forbid the trafficking in slaves. Are Friends clear of importing or buying negroes to trade on ; and do they use those well which they are pos- sessed of by inheritance or otherwise, endeavouring to
62
SLAVERY ASJy
train them up in the principles of the Christian reli- gion?"
The Yearly Meeting of 1764, advises Friends who are possessed of negroes, impartially to consider their situation, and as the reports from the quarterly meet- ings state that there is a general deficiency in most places in instructing them in the principles of the Christian religion ; it is the weighty concern of this meeting earnestly to recommend to the quarterly and monthly meetings,, to have that unhappy people more immediately under their care and notice ; and that they not only advise their masters and mistresses to use some endeavours towards their education, but also make a diligent inspection into their usage, clothing and feeding, earnestly advising that their state and station may more and more become the particular care and concern of each individual."
In 1766, the propriety of forbidding its members to purchase any more negroes, was proposed to the Yearly Meeting, and the subject referred to the quar- terly meetings to consider and report their judgment.
At the next Yearly Meeting (1767,) the matter respecting negroes being again resumed, "it appears that Friends cannot at this time unanimously con- clude upon issuing any injunctions, either with regard to purchasing or setting them free ; it is therefore left under the consideration of Friends till next Yearly Meeting, to be then re-considered ; and in the mean time each individual is earnestly desired to be very careful not to incumber himself or his posterity by any further purchases of them, but to be weightily concerned for the removal of such a burthen and in- consistency from our Society," &c.
THE SLAVE TRADE.
53
The subject was renewed in 1768, and the following rule of discipline agreed upon. ''The subject in regard to negroes being brought before this meeting, and duly and weightily considered, it appears to be the sense of the meeting, and accordingly agreed to, that in order to prevent an increase of them in the Society, none of our members for the time to come, shall be permitted to purchase a negro or other slave, without being guilty of a breach of discipline, and accountable for the same to their monthly meeting."
The Yearly Meeting of 1773, issued the following advices to its subordinate meetings. "It is our clear sense and judgment, that we are loudly called upon in this time of calamity and close trial, to minister justice and judgment to black and white, rich and poor, and free our hands from eveiy species of oppression, least the language made use of by the Almighty through his prophet, should be extended to us ; " The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy ; yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully, therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them ; their own way have I recompensed upon their own heads, saith the Lord God.' We do, therefore, most earnestly recommend to all who continue to withhold from any their just right to freedom, as they prize their own present peace and future'happiness, to clear their hands of this iniquity, by executing manumissions for all those held by them in slavery, who are arrived at full age, and also for those who may yet be in their minor- ity,— to take place when the females attain the age of eighteen, and the males twenty-one years. And we
5*
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SLAVERy AND
believe the time is come when every member of our religious Society who continues to support, or counte- nance this crying evil, either by continuing their fel- low creatures in bondage, or hiring such who may be kept in that state, should be admonished and advised to discontinue such practices."
The same meeting recommends to Friends, " seri- ously to consider the circumstances of these poor people, and the obligation we are under to discharge our religious duties to them, which being disinterest- edly pursued, will lead the professor of Truth, to advise and assist them on all occasions, particularly in promoting their instruction in the principles of the Christian religion, and the pious education of their children ; also to advise them in their worldly con- cerns, as occasions ofler ; and it is advised that Friends of judgment and experience may be nominated for this necessary service, it being the solid sense of this meeting, that we, of the present generation, are under strong obligations to express our love and concern for the offspring of those people, who, by their labours, have greatly contributed towards the cultivation of these colonies, under the afflictive disadvantage of enduring a hard bondage ; and many amongst us are enjoying the benefit of their toil."
In 1781), the Yearly Meeting directed that the mem- bers who continued in the practice of holding their fellow men in bondage, should be particularly visited and laboured with ; and recommended the appoint- ment of committees for this purpose.
From the reports made to the succeeding Yearly Meeting, that of 1781, it appears that the labours of
THE SLAVE TRADE.
55
the committees appointed to visit those who held slaves, had been nearly completed, and had produced a good effect. At the same meeting, quarterly and monthly meetings were advised not to employ in the affairs of the church any members who continue to hold their fellow creatures in bondage, after such labours of love have been extended to them."
A person not professing with Friends, having been appointed executor to a Friend's estate, had sold some negroes, and two members, heirs of the deceased, had purchased them. The case being represented to tJie Yearly Meeting of 17S1, it was recorded as the unan- imous judgment of the meeting, that notwithstanding motives of humanity may have induced such pur- chases, yet they being contrary to our discipline, monthly meetings ought to receive no acknowledg- ment, short of the purchaser's executing manumissions for said negroes ; also to continue it under their care, tliat the remaining heirs do not receive any part of the money arising from the said sales.
The minutes of the succeeding years, 1782 and 1783, manifest the deep concern which prevailed on this subject. In 1 784, the quarterly meetings reported that notwithstanding miOst of those members who held slaves had been visited and laboured with in love and tenderness, yet some of them do not discover a dispo- sition to do that justice to these people, which we are fully persuaded is their natural right. Monthly meet- ings were therefore directed to extend such further care and labour, as they apprehended would be useful; and where these endeavours proved ineifectual, were authorised to disown the mdividuals.
56
SLAVERY AND
In 1785, the following query, was adopted ; " Do any Friends hold slaves ; and do all bear a faithful testimony against the practice ; endeavouring to in- struct the negroes under their care in the principles of the Christian religion, and teach them to read?"
In 1787, " it appearing by the accounts that some in membership with us, still hold slaves ; that some hire, and others are employed in overseeing slaves, in consideration of which inconsistent practices it ap- pears to be the unanimous judgment of the meeting, that it is high time for us, as a people professing Truth, to bear a faithful testimony against these things meetings were therefore exhorted to enforce the discipline in these particulars.
In this manner, by patient and continued exertion, the Yearly Meeting of Virginia gradually cleared itself of this grievous burden to all rightly concerned Friends.
The foregoing narrative is an instructive example of the manner in which the great Head of the Church disposes the hearts of his people to fulfil his gracious purposes. The evil practice of slaveholding had gained, before they were generally awakened to a sense of its iniquity, a footing among a people united in the bands of Christian brotherhood, and called upon, as they believed, to maintain the cause of universal righteousness. Those among them who were from
THE SLAVE TRADE.
the first convinced of its sinfulness, and who were themselves clear thereof, did not cease to proclaim its unlawfulness and its inconsistency with a high religious profession. Yet was this Christian zeal tem- pered with Christian prudence and forbearance. They sought to conciliate and to convince those whom they saw to be in error. Year by year did they exhort and labour with their brethren, and the opposition of men urged to actions which conflicted with their imagined interests, while it did not slacken their zeal, did not excite them to harsh or intemperate expres- sions. Their course was marked by discretion, no less than by perseverance. They sought first to per- suade their brethren to abstain from trafficking in human flesh, and after more than half a century of persevering labour, they effectually gained their cause.
The feelings and sentiments of the Society at large had, in the mean time, been greatly changed, and the enormous sinfulness of slaveholding was so generally admitted, that few were found to defend it. Yet a practice which had prevailed for many generations ; in which men of influence and authority partook ; into which many had fallen by inheritance from their ancestors ; of which the enormity was in most cases veiled by the mildness of the authority; which the complex relations of civil life involved at times in questions difficult to be resolved ; a practice thus deeply rooted, could not at once, by a common con- sent, be abandoned.
More than twenty years again elapsed before the Society was prepared to disown the slaveholder ; and more than a quarter of a century before it could say
58
SLAVERY AND
there was no slave vrithin its borders. At the same time there spread a conviction that justice required it to compensate the slave for his labours ; to provide for the instruction of the young, the care of the in- firm and aged, and the assistance and advice of those in active business.
It was not till all these duties were performed, and this debt of justice had been paid, that the Society felt itself called upon to plead the cause of the slave before the world, and to remonstrate with the rulers and the people against the iniquity of the slave trade, and the wickedness of slaveholding ; the first memorial to the general government having been presented by the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania, about two years after the extinction of slavery within its own limits.
From that period to the present time, the Society has continued to labour with diligence and perseve- rance, in this righteous cause ; endeavouring to en- lighten the public mind respecting the enormities of the slave trade and slavery; to prepare the way for the extinction of these foul blots upon the Christian name, and to ameliorate the condition of the free people of colour. Memorials have frequently been presented to Congress and other legislative bodies, with a view of forwarding these important objects, and numerous treatises, calculated to promote sound Christian views respecting them, have been published and widely dis- seminated; besides various other measures which, from time to time, have been presented as proper and right to engage in. And there is abundant cause thankfully to acknowledge, that as Friends have endeavoured to keep a single eye to their holy Leader, and simply fol-
THE SLAVE TRADE.
59
low his requirings, having no other aim but to ad- vance his glory and the good of their fellow creatures, it has often pleased him to open the hearts of those they have addressed, to receive their admonition or remonstrances, and to bless their humble endeavours.
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