he saw the heavens open, and prayed for his murderers. By it martyrs were supported when they were stoned, and sawed asunder, and till we feel it in ourselves, we shall never fully know how glorious the Lord is." London Review, December 1791. "It fol lows, (says the learned Howe,) that having formed this his more excellent creature, according to his more express likeness, stampt it with the more glorious character of his living image, given it a nature suitable to his own, and thereby made it capable of rational and intelligent converse with him, he hath it even in his power to maintain a continual converse with this creature by agreeable communications, by letting in upon it the vital beams and influence of his own light and love, and receiving back the return of its grateful acknowledgements and praises, wherein it is manifest he should do no greater thing than he hath done.

For who sees not that it is a matter of no great difficulty to converse with, than to make a reasonable creature? Or who would not be ashamed to deny, that he who hath been the only Author of the soul of man, and of the excellent powers and faculties belonging to it; can more easily sustain that which he hath made, and converse with his creature suitably to the way wherein he hath made it capable of his converse." The memorable John' Hales, in his Golden Remains, expresses himself thus, on the subject of spiritual worship. "Nay one thing I know more, that the prayer, which is the most forcible, transcends and far exceeds all the power of words. For St. Paul, speaking unto us of the most effectual kind of prayer, calls it sighs and groans, that cannot be expressed. Nothing cries so loud in the ears of God, as the sighing of a contrite and earnest heart." From ail which, and many other testimonies, which might

be produced, it must be evident that a spiritual devotion is believed in, and has been acknowledged by others as well as the society of Friends. Although this divine and spiritual devotion may be experienced when our hands are employed in the business of this world, and we doubt not many pious souls are poured out before God in secret, by gratefully owning his mercy and his grace, yet we are satisfied that such will be glad often to assemble themselves together, that they may unite in spirit in this duty. And we have often had experience that it is acceptable to our holy Head, that we meet together to wait upon and worship him. He has owned our silent and solemn assemblies, and in them united us in the fellowship of his dear Son. Therefore we believe that is our indispensable duty, and that they who sincerely attend to it will know the promise fulfilled, "Even the youths shall faint, and be weary, and the young

men shall utterly fall, but they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint." Isa. xl. 30, 31. Therefore, we are concerned, to practice the exhortation of the apostle, "I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God; which is your reasonable service." Rom. xii. 1. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is." Heb. x. 25. But concerning those who think of his name, the prophet Malachi has said, "Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it; and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day, when I make up my jewels, and I

will

spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." Mal. iii, 16, 17.

OF PRAYER AND SPIRITUAL SINGING TO THE LORD.

HAVING given an account of our belief concerning the spirituality of worship, I shall now speak of prayer; which, though it is a part of the worship of God, and not to be dispensed with by the christian, appears to me, cannot be acceptable, when performed in the will or wisdom of man.But prayer, performed by direction of the Divine Spirit, is profitable; and should not be neglected. The disciples, sensible of this, applied to the only proper instructor, and we believe that they who at this day apply to him, will be rightly directed in this solemn. act. That others who have their