Various

“ I stand apart from some, because I love all; I oppose establishments, because I am not a sectarian; I think little of uniformity, because I long for union; I care not about subordinate differences with my brother, for Christ has received him, and so will I; thus, cultivating the spirit of universal love, I am hastening, I hope, that day when the world itself shall become the church, and preparing, I trust, for that world in which the church shall be ONE—one in faith, in feeling, and in worship ”

“ Pray for us, that, amidst all the wreck of time and fortune, our minds may be stayed upon God. Believe me, without the consolations of religion I should be totally cast down; but although clouds and darkness are round about us, yet it is the Lord that reigneth. True, indeed, these dispensations of his providence are dark and mysterious. Why so many valuable lives are cut off, and such a dreadful blow is given to our poor countrymen, after fifteen years' hard labour, we know not. Many of the missionaries have been in the greatest danger. ”

“ The power of darkness in this country appears so great, that it would quite dishearten me, were it not for Him who is with and in us, who is more powerful than he that is in the world. When I shall have the pleasure to see that this general darkness of ignorance as to divine things, and of superstition and sinful lusts, shall give way to the light of truth and godliness, is not for me to say; under present circumstances, this period seems to be still afar off. It would seem, however, as if the truth of the gospel was gaining ground: now and then instances appear of this. ”

“ Members of that society cannot need to be informed by us of the absurd and impious vagaries, advocated with an air of solemnity, as shocking as it is ridiculous, by certain members of their body in America, the leader of whom was Elias Hicks, a man of considerable acuteness and energy, but who evinced a degree of mental perversity truly appalling. Members of other societies cannot be expected to feel any great interest in the sentiments,—if sentiments they can be called,—avowed with so much complacency by that fanatic, or even in the rapid progress which they made in America. ”

“ Oh what a mercy to see so many children rise to read the word of life, and to commit it to memory, and read it in the hearing of their poor benighted parents! At the close of the examinations I give a little lecture on the advantages of a Scripture education, on the love of God, on the sufferings of the Saviour, and on the influence of the Holy Spirit, to bless all to their present benefit, and eternal salvation. I find I can say a great deal, and go a great length, without endangering the schools, which I know, and am informed, would not be borne with from others. ”

“ I would add, I mean examine yourself much on this point; for there is much danger of our—those of us whose concern it is constantly to attend to religious matters—I say there is much danger of our doing things, praying, and exhorting, and reading, &c., as matters of course, without entering into them spiritually and seriously. Allow me to say—not because I am your master, but because I love you—study gravity, humility, and benevolence of deportment. Consider we profess to be the messengers of Jesus Christ to the children of God, and to sinful, guilty man: let us always be grave and serious. ”

“ One of the fundamental principles of the system is, "that there is an evangelical and saving light and grace in all," and that "this light enlighteneth the hearts of all in a day, in order to salvation, if not resisted; nor is it less universal than the seed of sin, being the purchase of his death, who tasted death for every man; for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." This is the language of Robert Barclay, the able apologist of Quakerism; and, perhaps, some of the Friends may tell us, how many degrees below the authority of Paul and Jesus they hold the Apologist. ”

“ I always take one of them with me, in my daily visits to the bazar of this place, when we have generally a pretty good congregation of attentive hearers. The season for our more distant excursions is now approaching, and will allow us to extend on all sides our hitherto confined labours. May the Lord assist us faithfully and fully to make known his glorious gospel among those who are perishing for lack of knowledge, and make us the savour of life unto life, unto many precious souls! "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few." ”

“ When persons have come from two to twenty or thirty miles to hear the word of eternal life, to disappoint more than can possibly be helped, is what I cannot, what I dare not, do. For as I value my own immortal soul, as I prize the joys of heaven and dread the miseries of hell, so in proportion I consider it my duty to let all, as far as in me lies, hear the truths of that gospel which is able through Christ to raise poor perishing creatures from the degradation of sin to a life of righteousness and holiness by faith [Pg 117] in him. ”

“ Only a month before, the venerable Carey, the apostle of India, ascended to his glory; and with what rapture must they have embraced each other, in the presence of their common Lord!—But, if no talents, no zeal, no labours, no usefulness, can elude the sentence of death—should not we then "prepare to meet our God?
THE CHRISTIAN ARMOUR. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.
How admirable is the candour and frankness of Christianity! In other systems and pursuits it is usual to conceal difficulties and dangers, and to exhibit nothing, openly, but prospects of advantage. ”

“ As nothing now appears needful to render the Baptist cause at Lynn, under the Divine blessing, a useful and respectable interest, but the united aid of the friends of the Redeemer, it is earnestly hoped that a faithful statement of facts will not only meet the eye of those who have it in their power to assist, but that the evil so much and so greatly to be deprecated—a minister leaving his people to travel for money, may in this case be dispensed with; and that, instead of the cause at Lynn being a matter of deep regret to the Christian church, it may become a praise in the earth. ”

“ Such language must draw a sigh from every Christian breast. But is such language utterly strange in the annals of Quakerism? Is it unusual in that society to speak of the Scriptures in terms of disparagement, compared with the teaching of the Spirit, and immediate revelation? Barclay affirms, that "the Scriptures, 'being outwardly written,' are the law which brings condemnation, and kills; but that the gospel is the inward spiritual law which gives life." He affirms, that "inward, immediate, objective revelation is the only sure, certain, and immovable foundation of all Christian faith;" ”

“ Let the sentiment dwell upon our hearts, that it is the great business of our lives, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Whether or not you and I have the happiness to labour together, as it respects place, we shall, I trust, have the happiness of pursuing the same end, seeking to promote the glory of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the salvation of men. ”

“ It is most striking to consider—to realize the idea—that you, to whom I am writing these lines, who continue yet among mortals, who are on this side of the awful and mysterious veil—that you will be in the midst of these grand realities, beholding the marvellous manifestation, amazed and transported at your new and happy condition of existence, while your friends are feeling the pensiveness of your absolute and final absence, and thinking how, but just now as it were, you were with them. ”

“ It is indeed to me a great affliction to be prevented from labouring for my Master. There is, I think, nothing which I so much dread, as the thought of being an unprofitable Missionary, an incumbrance to the society and to the church. I feel that I need affliction, and I hope in the midst of it ever to desire its improvement, rather than its removal. ”

“ He blinds the mind—hardens the heart—leads captive at his will—resists the prayers of the saints—stifles the cry of the sinner—and (as in the case of Job) puts forth a dreadful power by the destructive elements of nature: and were it not for the restraints of divine Providence, and the operations of grace, the history of man would be a record of continual crime, and consequent misery. ”

“ We learn, further, that Christian love is "something more than good will; it is not simple humanity; it is brotherly love; an affection having its seat, not in the sympathy of the feelings, but in the sincerity of the heart." ”

“ He has taken the thoughts, he says, "out of the mine of revealed truth." At the same time, it is pleasant to observe that he every where discovers a deep reverence for scripture authority. He is penetrated too with a strong conviction of the limits of all created minds. With chastened feelings he delights to soar aloft. He spreads his wings, and pursues a well-sustained upward flight, gazing with a strong and steady eye on the Sun of righteousness, as the proper object of all human and all angelic contemplation. ”

“ I asked her if she did not read the New Testament. She said she did. I asked her where she found any thing there that would lead her to suppose or believe that those unbaptized children were thus exposed. I said: I find no command to sprinkle infants; but the contrary, seeing no persons were admitted to that ordinance but those who were able to make a profession of faith, and this no infant could do; nor do we read of any but adults being received into the church. I showed her, from the New Testament, the practice of the Apostles, and our Lord's commission to his Apostles. ”

“ Though we were to admit, therefore, that you have in reality—we believe no such thing—revelations from the Spirit of truth, it would be absurd to say, that because the author is greater than his work, these private revelations are a firmer foundation of faith, and a more certain rule of conduct, than the revelations contained in the inspired volume: it is not the Spirit which you have, but, at best, a revelation from the Spirit; and this [Pg 188] revelation you place above the Scriptures, which you acknowledge to be divine—which you admit to be a revelation from God to man. ”

“ They affirmed that "there is salvation in none other; neither is there any other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." But, if Elias Hicks were asked by a poor sinner, conscious of his pollution and guilt, but ignorant of the hope set before us in the gospel, "What shall I do to be saved?" he would reply, "It is only by gathering to the light—this saving light that is within us all, that we gain a place in his favour." He never thought of directing sinners to Jesus Christ for salvation ”

“ The thought of my dear and ever faithful friend as now standing at the very verge of life, has repeatedly carried me back in memory to the period of our youth, when, more than forty years since, we were brought into habitual society, and the cordial esteem and attachment which have survived, undiminished, through so long a lapse of time, and so much separation. ”

“ They are more zealously supported from America, than we are from England.—The church of Christ on earth, and also in heaven, is from all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues. It should know nothing of earthly nationalities. The kingdom under the whole heaven belongs to Christ, our blessed Saviour, of which I hope, my dear—we are citizens. I love the land of my descent, 'Canny Scotland;' the land of my birth, 'Old England;' and the land of my sojourn—my adoption, although not recognized by it—China. ”

“ Hancock, represents those in the society, who "are turning the eye of the mind outward instead of inward;" that is to say, who are looking to the Scriptures, instead of to the light within; as "after beginning in the Spirit going back to the letter," and thus "leaving the fountain of life itself, and 'hewing out to themselves broken cisterns, that can hold no water?'" Are these the words which are able to save our souls, to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus? or are these the terms which a Christian feels himself authorized to apply to those words? ”

“ The opinion of Barclay has no weight: yet no man in the Society of Friends can be supposed to have thrown off the authority of Barclay's Apology! We cordially congratulate the Society of Friends on the appearance of the "Beacon;" and sincerely pray, that a spirit of inquiry may be universally excited, and that the divine authority of the Scriptures, as the sole and sufficient rule of faith and practice, may eventually, and even speedily, be established in the mind of every individual amongst them. ”

“ As a Christian, integrity and uprightness, consistency of character, deep humility, fervent devotion, liberality of feeling and conduct towards those who differed from him on some points of doctrine, an ardent love to Jesus Christ, to his word, and to his people, were features by which he was eminently distinguished.
Zeal for his Master's cause, love to the souls of men, active, persevering, and laborious efforts to make known the word of life to his perishing fellow-creatures, characterized the public ministry of our departed friend. ”

“ It is generally admitted by you, that the "Scriptures were given by inspiration of God;" that they are a revelation from God to man; that they are words which "holy men of God spake and penned as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." ”