spirits, and the brightness of their examples, are sometimes benefited, and enabled to glorify God in the day of their visitation.

Come, dear friends; though we are sensible there is too little of this holy flame of light and life among us, yet let us press forward in good earnest, and we shall find that he that made us, will not be wanting to favour us with his life-giving presence, to our unspeakable consolation, uniting us in the bonds of christian fellowship, and celestial endearment. And then, Oh! how shall we be often drawn together, by those cords of love, which are ever strong in proportion to our engagement to serve God in our day and generation.

We observed with sorrow, that too many of the dear youth among you, were too unlike what truth and our christian testimony require, both in their outward appearance, and the disposition of their minds; and sensibly perceived that your hands were, by some means or other, very weak in regard to labouring for a reformation in your own, or one another's families; and perhaps your minds are almost discouraged. It is our real desire that you may be strengthened and encouraged to arise in the little might that may be afforded, and endeavour to repair the waste places, and build the decayed walls; not only every one in, or against his or her own house, but also to assist one another in an earnest labour, to make a stand against the further outgoings of your tender offspring, as well as to seek and labour with them for an amendment, and return to the true fold, and to an orderly conduct and conversation.

Great need, yea, very great there is, for such a united, as well as individual labour. Be encouraged, dear friends, to enter into it. And may you feel an openness and nearness to receive, and unite with the labours of each other, in so good a work. Guard against prejudice with all your power. But yet where you see one another really in a fault, admonish the offender in fear and meekness; and let none among you be above the kind admonition and rebukes of a friend. Let the time past suffice, and endeavour now to press forward; striving to redeem the time; for indeed, much needs redeeming, that has not been spent to the best advantage. Yet, peradventure, you may still be favoured to do much more for the good and preservation of

those tender lambs left in your care in the wilderness of this vain, tempting, alluring world, than you can at present believe. And, in order that they may know our concern for them, and be stirred up, we have written particularly to them; supposing it might not be best for them to see or hear some parts of the above, which more immediately concerns you, their parents, to consider. We desire they may hear that to them, read in a solemn manner, or at least have the perusal of it.

Such Friends among you, as the Monthly Meeting sees meet to appoint as overseers, we hope you will receive in the love of Christ; not considering them, in the faithful discharge of the trust reposed in them, as lords over God's heritage, but as fellow-helpers and labourers in his vineyard. Don't fail, dear friends, to come, to our Monthly Meeting, as often as may be convenient; it may add to your peace in a dying hour. Don't forget the dear youth. Don't neglect them. They greatly need some kind assistance.

I almost steal these few moments, to sketch to thy view, the feeling remembrance which dwells in my heart, of that endeared sweetness and fellowship which we have felt with each other in that which is within the vail. This sweet communion, my beloved friend, is of such a nature, that though we are separated, I trust we are not separated. I doubt not, thou canst reconcile this contradiction, and feelingly understand the paradox; for I know thou hast had an acquaintance with the key that opens. May we both prize this acquaintance, and endeavour to have it increased. May we, indeed, ever keep our eye to

the key-hole, watch the turning of the key; and, whether our outward affairs are adverse or prosperous, let us, above all things, prize the love of God shed abroad in our souls; and, next to this, the endeared love of living brethren. Thus shall we resemble the inhabitants of that place, to which we wish

to go.

But I did not mean exhortation, when I sat down to write; but just to convey to thy mind, a little of that which I have often felt since we parted last; and may just add, that after all my painful conflicts in your land, the satisfaction I felt, the day I bent my course for home, on looking back and over the visit made, was truly beyond my present ability to describe, and I trust, will leave a lasting seal on my mind. It seemed as if the heavenly hosts hovered over me, for many miles on the way, so that tears of joy flowed irresistably, like a river. I was not fit for any conversation for a dozen miles, but rode alone, mostly behind. And Oh! the heart-heaving emotions which I felt towards many whom I had seen in your western world! Oh! the cries which ascended for your preservation! How often did this language run powerfully through my mind: "Ye that keep watch in heaven, watch over them." But I must not lavish away too much of that ecstatic, rapturous enjoyment, I then felt. Indeed, I have mostly since, been as poor, as I was then rich; and almost wholly shut up in silence. Well, every dispensation, if well improved, helps on the work. May they be patiently endured.

Friends are generally well, and some love Zion yet, and some the world. My endeared love is to thy wife. Let her take a share of the above salutation. She is near in my remembrance. May she press forward. I've also much love for the children. Dear lambs, seek and serve the God of your father; and he will adorn you with a heavenly beauty, superior to all earthly enjoyments. My wife joins in loving remembrance, and would be glad to see you. A line would be very acceptable to thy affectionate,

JOB SCOTT.

VOL. II.-5

Dear friend,

To James Mott, Mamaroneck.

Amawalk, 2d of 8th month, 1784.

Something having endeared thee to my mind while lately together, I feel a freedom to inform thee, that notwithstanding the depth of my exercise at Purchase, yesterday, and although I then thought I had some real openings, yet I obtained very little relief; and doubtings have rather distressed my mind, whether any thing I said, was pertinent to any state present, and whether I had not better have been silent. Alas! how am I tried on every hand! Great distress of mind has attended my silent travail, from place to place: but I think the apprehension of moving amiss, gives a more distressing sensation, than silent suffering. When shall I get right? Or, must I be ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth? However, I must try to keep the word of patience: and, indeed, sometimes almost all my consolation arises from the little degree thereof still retained. I am ready to query, Can it be right for such a tossed, unsettled creature to be so far from home, on a religious visit? Surely if it is, and if this is any thing like the path of the true messengers of Christ, their trials and exercises must be greater than any other class of servants in his church. Before I left my dear wife and family, I thought I felt enough to move in, and undertake this visit; but am ready to think, if I was now at home I should not have strength enough to leave it, and yet I cannot look homewards with confidence of being in the way of my duty. May the breathings of the faithful be to the Fountain of all strength and consolation, that I may be enabled to stand so still as to see the way, and witness the salvation of God. In endeared affection, I am thy poor friend,

JOB SCOTT.

My dear friend,

To James Mott.

Nine Partners, 8th month 11th, 1784.

I received thy kind comfortable salutation, last evening, very much to my satisfaction, having waded through deep waters of affliction, since I parted with thee. After writing to thee I attended Amawalk meeting in silent heaviness. After meeting, it kept increasing, till our kind friend Edward Hallock, whom we found there, and John Griffin, having encouraged me to continue with my companion over the North River, I set forward, and when on the way, good old Edward's conversation, and relation of experiences, a little quieted the raging of the waves; though I had thought no man could say any thing to relieve me. So we got that night to David Sands's, and next day to meeting near by, where I was still bound as it were hand and foot; as also next day at New Marlborough. Here I passed through an uncommon sensation, though almost without sensation; my distress entirely forsaking me. For having before got to the bottom of Jordan, as it were, and felt as much, (for aught I know,) as I could bear, and being at length, made to submit patiently to it, in my humiliation, my judgment was taken away; but yet no joy nor consolation succeeded, for my state was perfectly negative. I felt neither joy nor sorrow, pain nor pleasure. I knew neither good, nor evil; had no present evidence that good or evil ever existed, or that there was any thing in religion, save by remembrance; and could willingly have gone directly home, had Daniel consented. But is it not strange, that I could feel entirely empty and destitute of all kind of food, and yet feel no sense of hunger? I suppose it was because all striving, willing, and wishing, was entirely done away, and I was made content in my desolate condition. And now, blessed be the hand that chastiseth, I have since been at Crum-Elbow, Creek, and little Nine Partners, in the overflowings of gospel love and divine consolation in each, though a time of travail in the fore part of them. Yesterday we were here at the select Preparative Meeting to pretty good satisfaction, and I remain cheerful and happy.