SOLD BY SAMUEL HARRIS AND CO., AND E. MARSH.

WILLIAM SESSIONS, 15, LOW OUSEGATE, YORK.
THOMAS EDMONDSON, 11, DAME STREET, DUBLIN.

1874.

APPENDIX.

Edward Ash, M.D.

An Invitation.

Errata: (in the volume for 1874.)

Page 139, line 22, for Murdock, read Murdoch.

8, read son of Robert and Helen

Walker.

(In this present volume for 1875.)

Page 23, line 13, for twelve, read nineteen.

TO THE READER.

"one

The preparation of another year's memorial of our deceased Friends, with its records of personal experience and of public as well as private usefulness, brings forcibly before the mind the power and excellency of unity in the faith :-our "most holy faith," as the Apostle Jude expresses it ;-the Lord, one faith, one baptism, one hope of our calling," to use the words of Paul. One foundation, -the same foundation as of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone," and "other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." We see even in these simple records this truth exemplified, in the case of persons differing much in other respects from each other.

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Yet when speaking of this only sure foundation, we must not close our hearts against the accompanying exhortation, "let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon:" for the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is; and there are those who suffer loss, even though they themselves may be saved, "yet so as by fire." (See 1 Corinthians, iii, 10 to 15.) In the present day, which is remarkably distinguished by conflict and division in religious opinions and practices, we deem it necessary to be especially watchful, not only how we build, but also how we pull down,-not only what we accept and establish, but also what we reject and destroy. If any of us have accepted our religious views or practices traditionally, let us not hastily conclude that they are therefore only founded on the traditions of men,-any more than, when we see the Divine blessing bestowed upon the pious lives and labours of others, we should immediately conclude that it

iv.

would be to our profit, to adopt the forms or institutions under which they were brought up. Such precipitancy may rob us of our Christian liberty, as well as our Christian unity, bring us into spiritual bondage, and limit or mar our testimony to Christ and His truth.

We

And the unity of the faith leads to "unity of the Spirit," reconciling diversities, harmonizing all. It was the subject of that most solemn prayer of the Lord Jesus before He suffered, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God-" that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that Thou has sent me." would therefore quote the words of a beloved Christian minister, lately in this country: "stand fast in the faith-stand fast in the unity of the Spirit-stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ doth make you free." There is in the Kingdom of Grace, as there is in the kingdom of nature, a wonderful harmony amidst wonderful variety. There are diversities of gifts, and differences of administrations and operations, but the same Lord, the same Spirit, every man receiving his own manifestation of it to profit withal: "the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will." Therefore, says the Apostle, "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love:" and "let your conversation be such as becometh the gospel of Christ: .. that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and in nothing terrified by your adversaries."

ACKWORTH, 12th mo. 1874.

J. NEWBY.

MARGARET AKERIGG,

Kendal. Wife of William Akerigg.

JOHN ALDERSON,

Beech Hill, Pardshaw. An Elder.

THOMAS ALLETSON,

Chester.

EDWARD ASH, M.D.

CHARLOTTE ASHWORTH,

55 23 10 mo. 1873

Cotham, Bristol. A Minister.

Egerton, Bolton. Wife of Edmund Ashworth.

B