It would be tedious to quote the various collections which bear testimony to the liberality of our predecessors; one may suffice as an example, being that made for Friends in Ireland, after their great sufferings in 1692:£ s. d. 18 13 0 Lancaster Yealand Ffield... Wyresdale ... The early Friends were much concerned for the proper education of their children, and advices thereon. are numerous. In 1692" For a Lancaster Schoolmaster. R. Lawson had heard of one in Yorkshire; will write shortly." William Gunson gives twenty pounds, the interest to be paid to a Friend to teach Friends' children in or near Lancaster; in default thereof, for defraying the charge of faithful labourers in the work of the ministry whom the Lord shall call forth to go amongst Friends. Such travellers were numerous in those days. One entry runs, "Paid two shillings for a woman that came out of Ireland; she was going, she said, to Rampside." Lancaster Meeting-house, as already stated, was built in 1677, as the lintel bears evidence. In 1693 a collection is ordered for its repair, to which the other preparative meetings contributed about six pounds. Fifteen years later twenty-nine pounds are directed to be raised as this Meeting's share for rebuilding the meeting-house, which William Stout describes as follows: "In the spring of 1708 our Meeting-house not being capable to entertain the General Meeting for the four northern counties, it was resolved to pull it down, and build it nigh double to what it was, which was committed to Robert Lawson's and my care, and in the time of building our meeting was kept in my dwelling-house. We got it built and finished in about six months, with floor, seats, galleries, and ceiling, to the general satisfaction of our friends in the county and others, the whole charge whereof was £180, which was thought moderate." In looking over these extracts it may be said that they read only as the dry bones of the history of that stirring period when a spirit not only of heroic endurance but earnest activity clothed the pioneers who laboured for the spread of the Gospel, uncumbered by the devices of men. Would they not address to us the words of William Penn "I cannot but call aloud to you that have been long professors of the truth, and have had a sober conversation among men, yet content yourselves only to know truth for yourselves, to go to meetings and exercise an ordinary charity in the church, and an honest behaviour in the world, and limit yourselves within these bounds, feeling little or no concern upon your spirits for the glory of the Lord in the prosperity of His truth in the earth, more than to be glad that others succeed in such service. Arise ye in the name and power of the Lord Jesus! Behold how white the fields are unto harvest in this and other nations, and how few able and faithful labourers there are to work therein ! "You have mightily increased in your outward substance, may you equally increase in your inward riches, and do good with both, while you have a day to do good. O, let it be your servant and not your master; your diversion rather than your business! "See if God has nothing more for you to do, and if you find yourselves short in your account with Him, then wait for His preparation, and be ready to receive the word of command, and assuredly you shall reap (if you faint not), the fruit of your heavenly labour in God's everlasting kingdom." THOMAS BARROW. SACRIFICE; OR, THE SCRIPTURAL DOCTRINE LECTURE I. [The following Essay, by our late friend, John Ford, of York, was read by him at about forty meetings of Friends in different parts of the country, between the years 1856 and 1863. Believing that its important teaching is equally needed now, we gladly avail our selves of the opportunity of perpetuating it in our pages.-EDITOR.] IN looking towards meeting my friends this evening, I have been led to a serious consideration of the motives and the object of our thus assembling. It was far, indeed, from my thoughts to provide my young friends with a substitute for the diligent private reading and investigation of Holy Scripture for themselves. I am too well aware that it is by our own labour and research that we best appropriate knowledge, and really make it our own, to offer any inducement to the neglect of this duty. In all our pursuits it is the hand of the diligent that maketh rich. It is equally far from my intention to present matter for discussion or dispute; to raise difficult or doubtful questions; to fill the head or to amuse the imagination, leaving the heart, untouched. rather desire to offer an example of the mode in which inquiry may be made; to awaken the desire for an intelligent investigation of the sacred records, and to invite the young to devote a portion of their time, their talents, and their acquirements, to similar studies. This intelligent reading and research is no antagonism to that humble and devout spirit which is the best preparation for the reception of spiritual benefit. Various are the means which the Holy Spirit of God C northern counties, it was resolved to pull it down, and build it nigh double to what it was, which was committed to Robert Lawson's and my care, and in the time of building our meeting was kept in my dwelling-house. We got it built and finished in about six months, with floor, seats, galleries, and ceiling, to the general satisfaction of our friends in the county and others, the whole charge whereof was £180, which was thought moderate." In looking over these extracts it may be said that they read only as the dry bones of the history of that stirring period when a spirit not only of heroic endurance but earnest activity clothed the pioneers who laboured for the spread of the Gospel, uncumbered by the devices of men. Would they not address to us the words of William Penn "I cannot but call aloud to you that have been long professors of the truth, and have had a sober conversation among men, yet content yourselves only to know truth for yourselves, to go to meetings and exercise an ordinary charity in the church, and an honest behaviour in the world, and limit yourselves within these bounds, feeling little or no concern upon your spirits for the glory of the Lord in the prosperity of His truth in the earth, more than to be glad that others succeed in such service. Arise ye in the name and power of the Lord Jesus! Behold how white the fields are unto harvest in this and other nations, and how few able and faithful labourers there are to work therein! "You have mightily increased in your outward substance, may you equally increase in your inward riches, and do good with both, while you have a day to do good. O, let it be your servant and not your master; your diversion rather than your business! "See if God has nothing more for you to do, and if you find yourselves short in your account with Him, then wait for His preparation, and be ready to receive the word of command, and assuredly you shall reap (if you faint not), the fruit of your heavenly labour in God's everlasting kingdom." THOMAS BARROW. SACRIFICE; OR, THE SCRIPTURAL DOCTRINE LECTURE I. [The following Essay, by our late friend, John Ford, of York, was read by him at about forty meetings of Friends in different parts of the country, between the years 1856 and 1863. Believing that its important teaching is equally needed now, we gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity of perpetuating it in our pages.-EDITOR.] IN looking towards meeting my friends this evening, I have been led to a serious consideration of the motives and the object of our thus assembling. It was far, indeed, from my thoughts to provide my young friends with a substitute for the diligent private reading and investigation of Holy Scripture for themselves. I am too well aware that it is by our own labour and research that we best appropriate knowledge, and really make it our own, to offer any inducement to the neglect of this duty. In all our pursuits it is the hand of the diligent that maketh rich. It is equally far from my intention to present matter for discussion or dispute; to raise difficult or doubtful questions; to fill the head or to amuse the imagination, leaving the heart, untouched. I rather desire to offer an example of the mode in which inquiry may be made; to awaken the desire for an intelligent investigation of the sacred records, and to invite the young to devote a portion of their time, their talents, and their acquirements, to similar studies. This intelligent reading and research is no antagonism to that humble and devout spirit which is the best preparation for the reception of spiritual benefit. Various are the means which the Holy Spirit of God C |