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FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER.

"TAKE FAST HOLD OF INSTRUCTION; LET HER NOT GO; KEEP HER; FOR SHE IS THY LIFE."

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OBITUARY.
New Books.
Alaska

TERMS: PAYABLE IN ADVANCE The Paper is issued every Seventh day, at Three Dollars per An Appeal.. annum. $2.50 for Clubs; or, four copies for $10.

Agents for Clubs will be expected to pay for the entire Club.
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AGENTS-Joseph S. Cohu, New York.

Henry Haydock, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Benj. Stratton, Richmond, Ind.

William H. Churchman, Indianapolis, Ind.
James Baynes, Baltimore, Md.

THE PENNS AND PENINGTONS.

From this interesting work by Maria Webb, which we have before alluded to as having been sent us by John Penington & Son, Booksellers, and from which we have made some extracts, we now select the "Childhood and Early Life of Mary Proude, ultimately Penington," with a brief sketch of her first husband, Sir William Springett.

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ers in the afternoon. They used common pray-
customs, and tirs, and days of fasting and
ers in the family, and observed superstitious
feasting. At that time, when I was afraid in
the night season of such things as spirits walk-
ing, and of thieves, I would often say over, as
Lord's Prayer, hoping by that means to be de-
I had been taught, that which is called the
livered from the things I feared." She used,
as many a child has done, the words of that
beautiful comprehensive prayer as a charm to
ward off evil, without entering into its spirit, or
she was about eight years of age, and still liv.
at all comprehending its meaning. But when
ing with the loose Protestants she speaks of, she
heard a sermon preached, the text of which
made a more intelligible religious impression on
her mind. It was the declaration of the Lord
Jesus," Blessed are they that hunger and thirst
after righteousness, for they shall be filled."
This, she says, was the first Scriptural text of
which she ever took serious notice, and who
can imagine what a stay and blessing it proved
in keeping alive religious hope in many an hour
of discouragement and depression in after years?
It appears to have served as a divine anchor,
made so secure in that early time that no storm
could afterwards entirely unsettle it.
of

We feel no hesitation in recommending this book as an acquisition to the family library. It can be obtained at 127 S. 7th St. Price $3.00. Mary Proude was born about the year 1624, and was the only child of Sir John Proude, a native of Kent, in which county he had valuable landed property. He entered into the military service of the States of Holland under the Prince of Orange, and was one of the officers killed at the siege of Groll in Guelderland. Her mother's death took place either immedi ately after or shortly before that of her father; so that the little girl was left without either of her parents at the age of three years. She was brought up in a Protestant family, where the ordinances of the Episcopal Church were recognized. Speaking of their habits, she says they When she was about nine years age, the were "a kind of loose Protestants, who minded little orphan girl, who seems to have been the no religion, though they went to their place of ward of Sir Edward Partridge, was removed to worship on First-days, to hear a canonical priest his residence. He had a large mixed family; preach in the morning, and read common pray- for, beside his own immediate household, he

had a sister, Madam Springett, a young widow sermons on First-day, between the sermons.
lady, with her three children and their servants,
who boarded in his house. Madam Springett
joined her brother's family at meals, but had a
private suite of apartments for her own family
to retire to. She was a superior woman in
every respect, and of her attention and kind-
ness little Mary Proude appears to have largely
partaken. She had a daughter Catharine, a
little older than Mary, and two sons, William
and Herbert. With these children Mary was
educated under the roof of Sir Edward Part-
ridge, until the boys were sent to a public
school. Toward their uncle's ward the young
Springetts, who were noble youths, acted with a
chivalrous and most kind consideration, that
made them the very best of friends. William
was about two years and a half older than Mary.
She thus speaks of his early habits:

I diligently heard her read, and liking not to use the Lord's Prayer only, I got a Prayer-book, and read prayers mornings and nights, according to the days and occasions. About this time my mind was serious about religion, and one day, after we came from the place of public worship, this forementioned maid servant read one of Preston's sermons on the text, "Pray continually." Much was said of the excellency of prayer-that it distinguished a saint from the world; for that in many things the world and hypocrites could imitate a saint, but in prayer they could not. This wrought much in my mind all the time she read, and it seemed plain to me that I knew not right prayer; for what I used as prayer an ungodly man might do by reading it out of a book, and that could not be the prayer which distinguished a saint "He was of a most courteous, affable carriage from a wicked one. As soon as she had done towards all. He was most ingeniously inclined reading, and all gone out of the chamber, I shut from a very lad, carving and forming things the door, and in great distress flung myself on with his knife or tools; so industriously active the bed, and oppressedly cried out aloud, Lord, that he rarely ever was idle. For when he what is prayer?' At this time I had never could not be employed abroad in shooting at a heard any, nor of any that prayed otherwise mark with gun, pistol, crossbow or longbow, or than by reading, or by composing and writing a managing his horses, which he brought up and prayer, which they called a form of prayer. trained himself teaching them boldness in This thing so wrought in me, that, as I rememcharging, and all that was needful for service- ber, the next morning, or very soon after, it when he could not, I say, be thus engaged came into my mind to write a prayer of my own abroad, then he would fence within doors; or composing to use in the mornings. So, as soon make crossbows, placing the sight with that ac- as I was out of bed, I wrote a prayer, though I curateness as if it had been his trade; and make then could scarcely join my letters, I had so bow-strings, or cast bullets for his carbines, and little a time learned to write. It was something feather his arrows. At other times he would of this nature; that, as the Lord commanded pull his watch to pieces to string it, or to mend the Israelites to offer up a morning sacrifice, so any defect; or take to pieces and mend the I offered up the sacrifice of prayer, and desired house clock. He was a great artist not only in to be preserved during that day. The use of shooting, but in fishing-making lines, and ar- this for a little time gave me some ease, and I ranging baits and things for the purpose. He soon left off using my books; and as the feelwas also a great lover of coursing, and he man-ings arose in me, I wrote prayers according to aged his dogs himself. These things I mention to show his ingenuity and his industry in his youth. But his mind did not run into any vanity about such things after it was engaged in religion."

my several occasions."

The

The time when the circumstances above related marked the experience of this thoughtful little girl, was when the spirit of Puritanisın began to be manifested in the churches reading of the common prayers of the Church of England Prayer-book, both in public and private worship, was one of the practices to which objection began to be raised by some of the most strictly religious people of that time; and there were other practices also, in both the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches, to which these Puritans-as they were in ridicule called

So long as mere childhood lasted, under such care, and with such companionship and bright surroundings, Mary's life must have passed on smoothly and pleasantly. Of the general religious habits and tone of the Partridge's, she says they seemed to be more religious than the other family she had previously lived with. "They would not admit of sports on the first day of the week, calling it the Sabbath; and objected. Mary Penington thus continues: they heard two sermons on that day of a priest, "The next prayer I wrote was for an assurance who was not loose in his conversation; he used of pardon for my sins. I had heard one preach a form of prayer before his sermon, and read how God had pardoned David his sins of His common prayer. When I was about eleven free grace; and as I came from our place of years of age, a maid servant, who tended on me worship, I felt how desirable a thing to be asand the rest of the children, and was zealous insured of the pardon of one's sins; so I wrote a that way, would read Smith's and Preston's pretty large prayer concerning it. I felt that

of great numbers to the Establishment, and eventually of causing them to separate from the church which promoted it.

It is evident that during the period of early religious exercise alluded to above, Mary Proude did not open her mind to any person. One would think she might have done so to her friend Madam Springett; but on the subject which chiefly engrossed her feelings, it is probable she perceived that lady felt no special difficulties, such as had taken hold of her mind respecting prayer. Madam Springett, at the period in question, nominally belonged to the Church of England, but had largely given her religious confidence to the Puritan section of the Church, as is evinced by her choosing a Puritan tutor for her sons when she sent them to College.

In relation to her son William, the narrative says, "She sent him to Cambridge, as being accounted more sober than Oxford, and placed him in a Puritan college called St. Catharine's Hall, where was a very sober, tender master of the house, and a grave, sober tutor; for she appointed him one Eilis, who was accounted a Puritan; she having brought him up in his youth, and had used her influence to get him the preferment of a Fellow in that College."

(To be concluded.)

STRENGTH OF MORAL AFFINITIES.

it coming of grace, though I was unworthy, yet I might receive pardon, and I used earnest expressions about it. A little after this I received some acknowledgments from several persons of the greatness of my memory, and was praised for it. I felt a fear of being puffed up with that praise; so I wrote a prayer of thanks for the gift of memory, and expressed my desires to use it to the Lord, that it might be sanctified to me, and that I might not be puffed up by it. These three prayers I used with some ease of mind for a time, but not long; for I began again to question whether I prayed right or not. I knew not then that any did pray extempore, but it sprung up in my mind that to use words according to the sense I was in of my wants, was true prayer, which I attempted to do, but could not; sometimes kneeling down a long time, but had not a word to say. This wrought great trouble in me, and I had none to reveal myself to, or advise with, but bore a great burthen about it on my mind; till one day, as I was sitting at work in the parlor, a gentleman that was against the superstitions of the times, came in, and, looking sorrowful, said, "It was a sad day." This was soon after Prynne, Bastwick, and Burton were sentenced to have their ears cut, and to be imprisoned. It sunk deep into my spirit, and strong cries were in me for them, and for the innocent people in the nation. It wrought so strongly in me that I could not sit at my work, but left it, and went into a pri- A faith which is true at heart, unites all who vate room, and, shutting the door, kneeled possess it by ties so strong that whatever their down and poured out my soul to the Lord in a names and parties, or however strong the winds very vehement manner, and was wonderfully and waves may seem that blow them asunder for melted and eased. I then felt peace and ac- a while, it is really astonishing how much and ceptance with the Lord, and was sure that this how nearly they come together again. When a was prayer, [in spirit and in truth], which I fleet of ships have each a true compass on board, never was in like manner acquainted with clouds may arise and isolate them from sight of before, either in myself, or from any one else." each other, or from land; but they go on and cut The persecution and cruel punishment of their way through the fog truly enough, because Prynne, Bastwick, and Burton, which called each sails by compass, and when the fog lifts, it is forth the deep sympathy and the earnest pray- found to have steered correctly and to have ers of this young girl, occurred during the year moved in company with the rest of the fleet. 1637. Neal, in his History of the Puritans, It is so with good men actuated by a common tells us that Prynne was prosecuted for writing moral and religious principle. They are often a book entitled, Histriomastrix, against plays, much nearer to each other than they can see or masques, dancing, etc., and was condemned by feel or know at the time, and all quietly working the Court of Star Chamber to be degraded from towards the same point, and with real unity of his profession of the law; to be pilloried at purpose. They walk by faith, not by sight: Westminster and in Cheapside, at each place to so they steer by compass. They may be penelose an ear; to be fined £5,000; and to suffer trating a mine or a mountain, working underperpetual imprisonment. Burton was a parish ground, far apart, and from opposite directions; priest who published two sermons against the but true to the principles that guide them, they late innovations in the church. Bastwick was are constantly approaching and will meet in the a physician, who wrote a book entitled, Eleucis middle. In our own day the efforts which religionis Papistica. They were all three fined are being made to bind together sects that have £5,000 each, had their ears cut off, and were been estranged for centuries, proves nothing so condemned to perpetual imprisonment. Arch much to the thoughtful mind as the strength bishop Laud was present at the passing of the and the durability of that love which true resentence. Of course such persecution and cru-ligion inspires, latent as at times it may seem. elty had the effect of weakening the attachment-Public Ledger.

From Friends' Review.

THE LIFE OF GOD IN THE SOUL.

"And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall

be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not

raise up a standard in behalf of the righteous ness once delivered to the saints-to sound an

alarm in the camp of the professed followers of pass over it, but it shall be for those, the wayfaring Christ, and to invite a rally around the ancient, men, though fools shall not err therein."-ISAIAH yet ever new and glorious truths of the Gospel, which were, after a long night of apostacy,

Xxxv. 8.

preaching and other ministry of such men as Fox, Barclay, Penington and Penn. We can but think that there are still those whose spirits are pressing though the crowd of difficulties surrounding them into the kingdom and paradise of God, and who would invite others into this new and living way, in which they have found victory over some of their soul's enemies, and who sincerely yet reverently believe that, in the Lord's time and way, complete victory shall crown their efforts a way in which they have found many crosses, but as many crowns, but witbal a way of quietness and blessed assurance forever to them who are faithful to continue therein.

Christianity, or the life of God in the soul of brought home to the hearts of men, by the man, has always appeared to the unregenerate mind paradoxical and contradictory; ever aggressive yet non-resistant; ever "going forth conquering and to conquer," yet ever despised and trampled upon; ever dying, yet ever liv. ing; always burning, yet never consumed; its mysteries and its consolations ever open "to the babe and suckling," yet inaccessible to the "wise and prudent;" its evidences of life never more apparent and vigorous than amid desolation and death; its hopes never more glorious than when all appear to be lost; and finally, its victory never more complete than when nailed to the Cross. Amid these seemingly conflicting truths, the unsanctified mind, in its efforts to reconcile them, hopelessly wanders as in a labyrinth, now traversing this plausible yet devious path, now another still more divergent, till, exhausted by its own futile endeavors, it sinks either in despair or utter disbelief.

The religious history of every mind in search after Truth, though it may present details of trials peculiar to itself, will also furnish so many points of resemblance to that of others, as to leave no doubt, that here as well as elsewhere, like causes have produced like effects; and we invariably find when, after deep though fruitless research carried on in our will, the Living- Way has through divine mercy been shown to us, side issues and bye-paths are forsaken, and the heart revels in the glories of its new-found treasure, admiring most of all that it should have lain so long concealed within its reach.

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There are many voices in the world crying"Lo! here is Christ; lo! He is there;" but the injunction, Go ye not after them, is now, as then, of infinite importance, and equally to be obeyed, for the same reason, for "behold the Kingdom of Heaven is within you;" and while we might reasonably anticipate that discordant voices on so grave a question could hardly find place in our Society, yet here also can the disciplined ear discern the feeble bleating of the Lord's flock, invited to partake of pasture where it cannot be found, and finally left to itself to retrace its steps, or to escape to other folds and other shepherds of mau's ordaining and appointment.

We do ne find it our place to go into extended remarks concerning the causes which have produced this state of things. Much has already been written about "innovations,"

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breaches of discipline," and "departure from ancient principles ;" and yet the "hurt of the daughter of my people is not healed."

The age in which we are living is confessedly a remarkable one, whether we look at it in a social, religious, or scientific point of view. . . . The militant Church of Christ in some re- We fear deep-seated prejudice bas, in some spects resembles Jerusalem, just prior to its final instances, exalted itself into revelation, until demolition,-torn with dissensions within its some who occupy the position of overseers of own enclosure; its members perish with hun- the flock and delegated shepherds have insensiger-its delegated shepherds, through unfaith-bly, yet surely, lost their hold upon the affecfulness and unwatchfulness, fail to extend and tions of their charge, who are left to wander to minister to their flocks that spiritual care upon the barren mountains of an empty and sustenance designed by the great Head of the Church. In this condition it offers but a feeble resistance to the powerful, unwearied adversary without the gates. In many places the walls are broken down and levelled to the ground... Notwithstanding this discouraging aspect of things around us, we freely admit that there are still preserved those who, from sincere convictions, are fearlessly contending for the Truth, and others quietly suffering for it; who, having received mercy themselves, are constrained to

profession, with an idea that beyond the pale of our own Society there is no safety, and I had almost said no salvation, and in it the poor satisfaction to be called the children of Abraham, and that, too, without Abraham's patrimony,-viz., his faith.

To satisfy the cravings of these dear lambs of the flock, some, professedly with good motives, not bold enough to leap the walls of conventional Quakerism, and to persuade others to do so, hope to supply the deficiency through a class

of religious reading, whose manifest tendency is to build up a superficial faith in the great and saving truths of Christianity, thus leading many seeking minds to suppose that a mere historical belief in the coming and death of our Saviour is sufficient to effect the salvation of their souls. The tendency of such views is specious in the extreme. Hence arises from this subtle spirit, as specious as it is active, having its origin in the unsanctified and unredeemed heart of man, deriving its strength and support from its unsubdued and restless nature-the new yet old machinery to rejuvenate and galvanize into active life what they would deem the effete body of Quakerism. From hence also may spring a desire to make our silent meetings, Bible meetings, where the gift of teaching may occupy the place of the ministry, where wordy exhortations deduced from Scripture readings and expoundings may form the rule, and silence the exception.

We by no means intend to discourage the diligent study of the Holy Scriptures, or, on suitable occasions, and in demonstration of the spirit and power in which they were written, their exposition; so far from this, it will be found that when He cometh to rule and reign in our hearts whose right it is, who formerly opened the understanding of His disciples that they might understand the Scriptures, we will prize them far above all other writings, and know our estimation for them to increase just in the ratio of the growth of our love for their Divine author. As we conceive, there exist radical and mischievous errors, as well as inadequate views, respecting the guidance of the Holy Spirit, calculated to mislead and to rob of that true peace and joy in believing to which the humble and dedicated followers of Christ are called, and to throw into disrepute amongst other professing Christians this most distinguishing feature of our doctrines. History is here daily, hourly, repeating itself. The Jews had formed their own opinions as to how Christ should come, but when he came and dwelt among them, reproving them for their sins and healing their diseases, they rejected Him, saying: "Is He not one of us?" They expected a wholly different manifestation of the Son of God from what was afforded them. As it was in His outward appearing, so it is now, we fear, in His inward and spiritual appearances, that many among us, who are professedly waiting for the coming of the Messiah who shall show them all things, are ignorantly rejecting Him and His appearances in their hearts-hence no mighty works are done there, because of their unbelief.

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It is with pain that we thus dwell upon the evidences of spiritual declension. On all sides they are as freely admitted as equally observed. What avails the high standard made by us, unless our actions and life conform thereto ? Our

condemnation is the greater, for he that "knew his Lord's will," and did it not, "shall be beaten with many stripes;" "but he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes."

But why do we longer delay? We find our hearts pressing towards the answer of the plaintive query, going forth we believe in the minds of many, "Who shall show us any good?" We have many to tell us of our disease, but who will show us the true remedy? We have many also who cry, "Peace, peace, when there is no peace." . . . Where shall we find that holy zeal coupled with chaste fear of offending God, that intense and burning love for Him, His cause, and for each other, which characterized the primitive days of this people; which braved the dungeon, the pillory, and the scaffold; which in their love for the souls of men led them into every clime to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ?

Should we ever expect to make like attainments, we must embark on the same divinelyilluminated path. They were no servile copyists of other men of other days, or even of each other, "except in the matter of faithfulness;" but, having brought men to the feet of Christ, the great exemplar, they were content to leave them there. They found it to be a "way way" of living operative faith; a way in which, after having vainly tried others, they found hidden a new and unearthly power to overcome their soul's enemies; a way of joy and true rest; a way in which the rest was at the beginning as well as at the end; for the rest was in the way; for blessed be God, the way was the rest.

When these met together for the purpose of worshipping Almighty God, how retired their spirits: how solemn the introversion of their minds: how frequent and how abundant the outpouring of the heavenly oil and wine for their refreshment, whether administered through the instrumentality of anointed servants, or immediately by the hand of the good Shepherd Himself; how unmistakable the unction and baptizing power attending the outward ministry of the word.

We are aware that an idea prevails extensively that the Society of Friends" has had its day;" that, having fulfilled an important evangelical mission in the world, it must disappear, and give place to organizations more suited to the spirit of the age. The founders of Quakerism had no such thought. It was not to establish a sect they preached and labored, but to

turn men everywhere to Christ within, the hope of glory;" to convince men of the wonderful truth, that which bringeth salvation is nigh, even in the heart, and that which convicts men of sin is the only power which shall save from sin. And they boldly announced: "If ye believe not that this is He, ye shall die in your

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