ADDRESS TO FRIENDS

IN

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

BY THOMAS SHILLITOE.

LONDON: PRINTED BY HARVEY AND DARTON.

Philadelphia:

RE-PRINTED BY JOSEPH RAKESTRAW,

256, North Third Street,

TO

FRIENDS

IN

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

祭:

DEAR FRIENDS,

In the first place, let me put you in mind of the nature and importance of that religious profession we, as a society, are making among men; which I believe will be found to be above that of every other society of professing Christians-to wit, the absolute necessity of our living, acting, and moving, in all our civil as well as religious engagements, under the influence and government of the spirit of Christ Jesus, our Lord and lawgiver: that whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, God the Father may in all things be glorified. (1 Cor. x. 31.)

This, my friends, is the chief corner-stone of our building, our fundamental principle: therefore, let us consider how far the general tenor of our conduct corresponds therewith: how far we are each endeavouring, earnestly, to be found in all things conformable to the example and precepts of the Great and Holy Pattern of all Christian perfection; of Him who has trode the path of temptation and trial before us, but rejected every snare of the enemy. If this should not be the case with us, is there not a danger of our becoming to others, who from our exalted profession may be looking to us for example and encouragement in the way to the heavenly Canaan, like the evil spies unto the children of Israel formerly? or that our examples may prove as lets and hindrances to such, instead of helps, to press through difficulty and discouragement towards the mark for the prize ? which is, “Ye shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." (Lev. xix. 2.) "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. v. 48.)

Let us remember, however we may be at peace with ourselves, by thus professing, but not doing the very best in our power to attain this perfect stature of the Christian, we are but branding