I have now gone through the particulars, one by one, which the Reviewer has asserted to be "the badges of QUAKERISM," rather than of "CHRISTIANITY." The remainder of the quotation, is rather a prospective lamentation over the consequences of abandonment of that sound, scriptural and immutable principle which is embodied throughout the whole of these queries, than any distinct appeal on behalf of any "sectarian peculiarity." But even upon this it may be remarked, that in contemplation of so awful an event as the Friends, as a body or society, wandering like sheep that have gone astray on "the barren waste of an empty profession," instead of lying down in "the green pastures of life," "beside the still waters." In the contemplation, I say, of an event so awful, surely the forebodings of brotherly love and Christian compassion, might have merited a more sympathetic reception than the scornful and unjust appellation of "a badge of Quakerism" bespeaks. And would that no cause had arisen to'warrant such fear-would that the love of the things of this world had not drawn away the hearts of, alas! too many-would that no "grievous wolves" had entered in, tearing and devouring the flock-would that when the enemy had "come in as a flood," that a greater number had flocked to lift the standard of the Lord" against him. For, alas! are there not those who, with the Prophet of old, can exclaim, "Oh! that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people !"

Well, I have gone through these "sectarian peculiarities," and applied to each of them the test which has been chosen by the Reviewer himself, and to which, I am free to confess, everything that is of truth will be ever ready to submit. And how, let me ask, have they stood the test? Has the aquafortistouch of Scripture truth changed their colour, and laid bare their impurity? or do they not exhibit in the native brilliancy in which they stand forth, a triumphant refutation of the Reviewer's misrepresentations, and discover themselves to be of that precious

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collection, of which, "in that day when the Lord of Hosts shall make up his jewels," he will say, "they shall be mine, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him?" I have shown that each of these "peculiarities," denominated" badges of Quakerism," have, according to the testimony of Scripture, the high authority of Christ and his Apostles to recommend them. The world may own them not the Scripture-searching Scribes, and learned Rabbies of the day, may count them as foolishness; but it, perhaps, may be as well to remind them, that if they would follow Jesus in the path and after the manner that himself pointed out, it must be with the cross upon their shoulders-the cross which made the young rich man turn away sorrowful, and which Paul declared to be, "to the Jews, a stumbling block, and to the Greeks," (the learned and polished Greeks,) "foolishness; but to them that believe, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

We have seen in the course of this brief examination, that Spiritual worship, is Christian worship, and that ceremonial and figurative rites, form no part of it. We have seen that a minister of the Gospel, is " called of God, as was Aaron," and that all pecuniary corruption in the Church, should be borne testimony against, inasmuch as the ministry being "a gift of God," incapable of being purchased with money, should be as "freely GIVEN," as it has been "freely RECEIVED." We have seen that oaths are forbidden, and that yea and nay, is the standard, which we are assured upon divine and apostolic authority, is unsafe to surrender. We have seen that peace and not war belongs to Christianity, and that "simplicity of dress and language," lay just claim to a relationship also. We have seen that an "UNBENDING adherence to the rule of right," is earnestly and fervently enjoined upon all who would obtain "the prize of their high calling," and that without a "child-like obedience to the Shepherd's voice," we shall fail of entering the fold of Christ. Finally, we have been not only taught, that when men seek to bring the simple, pure, and holy principles of Chris

tian truth, down to the level of their own weak judgments, instead of casting the latter, as well as all their other crowns at the feet of Jesus, there to "abide the day of his coming;" we have been not only taught, I say, in such case, how widely we may deviate from the truth, but I trust we have been taught also, experimentally to adopt the language of the disciple, " to whom shall we go, Lord, but to thee, for thou hast the words of eternal life?"

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Before I conclude this chapter, I must crave the attention of my readers to an observation or two, upon the following lines from the "Extracts."—"We do the Friends no injustice, in speaking of their thus placing the IMMEDIATE Suggestions of the Spirit above the RECORDED TESTIMONY of the Spirit. The terms, it is true, in which they express the sentiment, are generally, that THE SPIRIT must be superior to the Word. But this is a mere blind-a blind to themselves as well as others, &c." Now, I assert that a direct and shameful injustice is done to the Friends in the latter part at least of this statement, if by "the Friends," he means that part of the Society, that despite the scorn of the world-the scoffs and sneers of Reviewers-the charges of mysticism and so forth, still adhere to those pure principles, and sound doctrines, believed, preached, written, and practiced by such men as Fox, Penn, Barclay, and Fisher; all of which writers hold, in the language of Scripture, which is the Reviewer's "ultimate appeal for the truth of every doctrine," that "there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost,* and these three are one." It is therefore not only an injustice, but it is a statement utterly devoid of truth, to say "the Friends generally express the sentiment that THE SPIRIT must be SUPERIOR TO THE WORD," they do no such thing ;—on the contrary, THEY SAY, as say the SCRIPTURES, that they are ONE; and I feel satisfied that the writer of this false statement cannot produce a passage from

*Or Holy Spirit, as the more proper interpretation of the Greek word Ilvevpa is.

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the writings of any approved author of the Society, conveying such a sentiment EXPRESSED OF IMPLIED, that the SPIRIT is superior to the Word." Presuming that by "recorded testimony," the Reviewers mean the Scriptures; it is true that the Friends do place in that sense the IMMEDIATF SUGGESTIONS of the Spirit, above the RECORDED TESTIMONY of the Spirit. But if the Reviewer means by "recorded testimony," the Spirit itself, the statement is altogether an absurdity, because the Spirit, as stated by the Scripture, is one with the Father; and, therefore, though its operations may vary, it is in its own esSENCE in all times and all places the same Holy Spirit and so says the Scripture." 1 Cor. chap. 12, ver. 4. "Now there are DIVERSITIES of gifts, but the same Spirit." And the Apostle states also, that some gifts are ABOVE and BETTER than others, and he enumerates them accordingly, and concludes thus, "But covet earnestly the BEST gifts and yet show I unto you a more excellent way."-1 Cor. chap. 12, ver. 31. There would therefore be no inconsistency or want of due reverence, but the very reverse, in Friends placing, as they do," the immediate suggestions of the Spirit, above the RECORDED TESTIMONY of the Spirit, as being "the more excellent way," even did they award it a higher place than they do. And I think the reasonableness and truth of this plain and Scriptural doctrine, may be illustrated in a very simple manner. If, for instance, King William were to direct his private secretary to write to friend Reviewer, and command him to do such and such things, to deliver an oration, or write a book, &c., there is little doubt perhaps, if within his power, but that he would immediately comply, and think himself highly honoured by such a mark of the King's esteem. But if at another time, the King, instead of commanding his secretary to write to friend Reviewer, were to condescend so far, as to call upon him at his own house, and in a friendly manner, and kind aspect take him by the hand, and with his own lips bid him to do so and so; I do not see that he would have any need to despise or un

dervalue the former application, because of the greater condescension, more marked kindness, and immediate suggestion of the latter, for although what is meant by the King," is but the King "in his present influence upon the mind;" the latter influence I apprehend would be more powerful than the former, and be considered as a renewed and stronger obligation to obey. I am thus speaking humanly, but I trust most reverently, on this solemn and most important subject. We have none but ExTERNAL emblems to represent our views upon the highest subjects. I am therefore fully aware how circumspect, judicious, and reverential we should be in those that we select, that we use the "form of sound speech," and Scriptural language as much as possible.-"The secret things of God belong unto himself, but those that are revealed unto us, and to our children." It is revealed that there are 66 gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us,' and according to the humble measure of light bestowed upon me, I am endeavouring to show that the GIFT of the HOLY SCRIPTURES, is not to be esteemed so highly, as the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT.