Art thou a minister of the gospel, that gospel which is the power of God unto salvation to all them that believe in it, to those who believe to the saving of the soul, by yielding obedience unto the revelation of Jesus Christ inwardly manifested, which is no other than the gospel which saves ? Art thou my friend, a believer in this power, and feeling thyself drawn in gospel love to minister the same to those that will hear thee,-ministering, as the oracle of God, the fresh supply from his communion table, and yet dost thou believe that bread is to be gathered by thee (at the time good for thy own sustenance if not the fruit of the reasoning powers of intellect), and to be secured or kept by thy own hand until the morrow, or any other day, and then handed to the multitude? Dost thou believe that this bread so kept and given forth in thy own time and will, can be different to that which the Israelites were commanded not to keep over the day, for if so it would stink?

Yes my friend, I am distressed in thinking of this new way sprung up amongst us, some of you who would do good, putting on armour and strength which I can view to be no other than your own, which cannot avail profitably to the people, but rather spread an influence and savour that is not acceptable in the Divine sight. For truly if we profess to be of this highly favoured people, brought as it has been out of the mixture and self-performances in its offerings unto the Lord, we must remain there and not go back again into our natural strength of capacity or intellect, grasping and handling Scripture in our own time, will and way, which others do, who have not come beyond it. Otherwise, we may just as well do as some do who make no profession with us, take our comments, and some of the stale bread of yesterday, and feed the people therewith, without the putting forth of the Master, which the gospel teaches every true minister of Christ to wait for, and not to offer the gatherings of yesterday, whether put on paper and read, or brought to a meeting for worship to be vocally offered there.

So dear friend, I desire to leave the matter with thee, having as I believe, felt thus much required of me to lay before thee, feeling as I do, that the way remains unchanged; that what our predecessors in the Truth learned of Christ, the Way, has still to be learned by every one who would come to Christ our Lord, for truly we must know Him for ourselves before we can take as much as one step towards Him: truly I believe there is a people who would "come to Christ," and if they are but kept in the waiting for Christ, and not stepping before Him, these will know Him for themselves. But, oh! that there were more of the fathers that knew Him sufficiently for themselves, that they might thereby come more under his anointing hand, and

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thus be enabled not merely to say, "here is Christ, or lo He is there," come to Christ or go to Him;" but beholding Him and living themselves under the anointing, they would also be enabled to show the Way, the Father, and the Kingdom. But alas! the leaven of this world which hath no part in Him, the Christ, has covered as with a cloud many, yea very many of this people, who sit as yet in darkness, and in their darkness would do something for Him, and in this state these can be no other than blind guides leading them that would see, and so neither they nor the people whom they lead, do walk in the light as Christ is in the light.

With love and earnest desires, I am thy friend,

JOHN G. SARGENT.

1861. 8th Month 25th.-Have felt strengthened and comforted in reading to-day at the Hotel de Gand, Samuel Rundall's "Observations on the commencement and progress of the work of vital religion in the soul." What a precious book this is! how it answers to my belief, and I humbly trust I can say in a measure to my experience! what food for the mind there is in the truths contained therein !

Paris. 9th Month, 3rd.-In a little pause after reading a chapter in my brother's bedroom, he being poorly in bed, the words passed [through] my mind, "mine eyes have seen thy salvation, therefore will I trust in thee," and I was helped to open my mouth thereon, with peace to my own mind.

I sat down in my room here at about ten o'clock and was comforted in so doing. O how worldly does all appear around! the people appear to be walking in darkness instead of the true light which enlightens all who walk in it. May I bow more and more to its discoveries in me, that I may be more and more the child of it,—of Jesus the Light.

Arrived at Lisieux at night. Have been again led to speak in the railway carriage to one or two passengers on subjects. relating to the best life. It seems wonderful to me how way has hitherto been made for converse on religious subjects, or the one great concern of life, in travelling along as well as in commercial offices.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

TO THOMAS DREWRY.

Cockermouth, 19th of 9th Month, 1861.

Our Quarterly Meeting is now near. May we hope to see thee here? Come and help us! If way opens in thy mind to direct thy steps hither, thou wouldst have a welcome. In unity there is strength, and at these times we need all of it that we can muster.

which appear to

I received a few days ago thy "Observations be written by one who fears not, and has nothing to fear. It will no doubt be unpalatable to many, but we have perhaps to remember, that that medicine which is most nauseous is sometimes most needed. So I desire my dear friend, that these "Observations" of thine may stick close to the parts affected, and not be removed till they have wrought a good work, though something further may be needful to effect a cure. There con

tinues to be abundance of need to go on and hold on, and be faithful, each one of us, to that which, as a service (however mean it may appear, or loathsome to our natural touch and taste) is given to us as a dispensation of the blessed gospel of Christ the Saviour.

I remain, thy affectionate friend,

JOHN G. SARGENT.

CHAPTER III.

LETTERS TO W. HODGSON, T. DREWRY, T. CHALK, J. F. MARSH, L. E. GILKES-LETTERS FROM W. HODGSON AND J. F. MARSH-CONFERENCE MEETINGS IN LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM-FIRST NOTICE OF A FRIEND'S MEETING AT FRITCHLEY-LETTER TO ONE OF HIS SONS.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

TO WILLIAM HODGSON.

Cockermouth, 2nd of 1st Month, 1862.

Thy letter with the minute from your General Meeting held in the 9th Month was very acceptable and animating to us, and it has had circulation amongst some of the tribulated remnant in this land, though not yet amongst all. Thou hast the sympathy (you, I may say) of those who have had its perusal, and some feeling remarks have been elicited towards you; yet there does not seem to be, at the present time, the one accord to meet outwardly together in one place, as you have done, though the advances of the enemy are bringing us, I do believe, to feel an increase of hope that the time of our deliverance draws nigh. That there is an advancing on the part of those, or that spirit which ruleth in them, and would rule over the heritage of God, is very evident, and boldness increases therewith, so that now there seems no stopping of the stream even by any who (too late) may see that they have proceeded too far, in their giving way to meet the wishes of the uncircumcised in heart and ears; for having lost the power through letting go, they cannot find their hands again, but "the men of might have lost their hands," and have not the true strength in them.

Some of us feel that we cannot partake in the Discipline in whatever favours or comes under the recent changes, and are only waiting that we may see what the Lord would have us to do.

In Ireland they have very lately had a Conference relative to the Queries and Marriage Regulations, and are quite disposed to go the way our Yearly Meeting has gone. Some few sound

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Friends there feel it much, but I was told when in the North lately (at Belfast) that "it was no use, numbers now ruled;" and so it is, even young men, unripe and unfit as yet for hands to be laid on them, are made tools of, to their own hurt as well as that of the body.

Well, we must believe that the Lord, in wisdom above that of man, is permitting this devastating scourge upon this poor Society (though rich in this world's goods) for good in the end; even I believe that some may come forth as gold; yea, tried in the fire, that now burns upon them, though it may not yet be at the hottest, and when He shall see meet, (and his time is the best time) then such shall come forth with rejoicing, even confirmed by his Almighty Power, and prepared more fully than yet they may have been to trust in Him.

3rd. Thy acceptable letter, my dear friend, has been received after penning the foregoing, and we feel deeply interested in it, but I shall not attempt now to go into matters therein alluded to, further than that the whole seems to bring again into thoughtfulness and to raise fresh desires to be found faithfully occupying that place purposed for us to fill, and to be found ready to stand still or go forward as the Master may in condescension make manifest so plainly or intelligibly to the ear and the eye quickened by Him, as not to be mistaken by either staying behind or going before Him. May our daily endeavour in humble watchfulness be to keep with Him, and this in an especial manner, through all temptations.

I want to read again thy valuable letter, and to dip into the truth of which it sayours deeply to our feelings. But thou knowest, I can fully believe, that times and seasons are not always at our command amidst the varied and needful engagements of a business life, but how congenial and refreshing it is when at liberty so to do, to retire from outward concerns to search for the Treasure, and abide under its refreshing and invigorating influence. What wonders are at times made known, and how much is seen by us there is to learn, instead of all being learned! The all seems yet unknown comparatively, and in this we can praise the Lord and Giver of all.

Farewell, in the bond of that love which none know but the disciples of our Lord, thy sympathising friend and brother, JOHN G. SARGENT.

1862. 2nd Month 25th.-To Devonshire-house Meeting. Was strengthened to speak to the opening given on the prophet's words to Baruch, "Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not," whether possessions, or worldly honour or reputation,