builds it on the sand. But whether we build upon that Rock or not, most certain it is that nothing can prevail against IT-the Rock itself. One may be of Paulanother of Cephas-and another of Apollos. One may own the Romish church-another, the Greek church-and another, the Protestant church (so called). One may follow Luther-another, Wesley-and another, Fox. But what is the use of thus enumerating names and creeds? Throughout the whole of the habitable globe, the opinions of SOME men influence the opinions of OTHERS; and whilst we hear the leaders of one party deprecating the influence exercised by the leaders of others, we see them, at the same time, strengthening their own; and, though incessantly finding fault with the lights that other men "set up," they have the vanity to think that they can erect a "Beacon" themselves, to which it behoves all men to "take heed," forgetting what themselves at other times set forth, that there is a light already "shining as in a dark place," and that John, many centuries ago, bore witness to that light, and declared it to be "the true light, which enlighteneth every man which cometh into the world." I do not, therefore, profess to 'set up" any new light, or "beacon," or to direct to any light but Christ, who-and who alone-is "the light of the world," which was "set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was."-I wish then again to repeat, that no one but myself can be considered chargeable with any opinions expressed in this volume; and perhaps it never would have appeared before the public, had it not been for the following circumstances. Walking along the streets the other day, I saw a board

hanging by the side of the door of a bookseller's shop, announcing that "Extracts from Periodical Works, on the Controversy among the Society of Friends, may be had within," I immediately walked into the shop, and purchased the little pamphlet bearing the foregoing title.

It contains, firstly," An extract from the Scottish Congregational Magazine for March, 1835; articleReview of the Beacon,' &c." Secondly,-" An extract from the Evangelical Magazine for March, 1835; article-Society of Friends." Thirdly," From the Scottish Congregational Magazine for April, 1835; article-The Society of Friends." Fourthly,-“ From the Baptist Magazine for May, 1835; article--Review of the 'Beacon,' and Hancock's Defence." Fifthly"From the Wesleyan Magazine for May, 1835; article-Review of the Beacon." Sixthly," From the (London) Congregational Magazine for May, 1835; article- Review of the Beacon,' Brief Account,' 'Bates' Vindication,' and Hancock's Defence.' Seventhly, and lastly," From the Christian Observer for May, 1835;" which several "articles'

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appear to me, each more or less, to misrepresent the religious principles or tenets of the Society of Friends, as professed and borne testimony to, both in faith and practice, by the founders and early members of the Society, as well as, I trust, by some, though alas! too few, of the present day. And believing also, not only that those principles are strangely misrepresented therein, but that the general scope and tendency of these "articles" are calculated to undermine and remove the faith of the members of that society from

The

"the foundation which standeth sure;" and with fair words and smooth speeches, with false hopes and deceitful promises of peace and rest, have, instead of erecting a "beacon-light, which shows the rocks to be avoided, and the haven to be reached," been inviting us to follow but the ignis fatuus of man's imaginations and fallible opinions; or, at best, the reflected glory of that 66 true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world." The following pages are intended as an answer to those seven articles or reviews; and it is my intention to take them one by one, in the order in which they appear in the little pamphlet before me. Beacon," to which they owe their origin, I have not read-I pretend to know nothing of the work, farther than its friends, the Magazines, have made me acquainted; I have, therefore, to do with IT only in so far as it stands forth in their pages; but this I must say (whatever might be the motives of the author in writing it), that no good which it can otherwise possibly possess, can in the least degree counterbalance the harm which, in my humble opinion, must of necessity ensue, if those principles should be imbibed in the Society, which are embodied in the greater part of the quotations selected by the Magazines as matter to them of great joy and gratification.

It is my intention, briefly as I can, in justice to the high magnitude and importance of the subject, to shew that not only did the early members of the Society consider the Scriptures in the light of an AUXILIARY rather than a PRIMARY rule, but that the Scriptures themselves do not warrant by evidence, either direct or

fairly constructive, or by the nature of their testimony, so startling a conclusion to the sincere believer of "Christ WITHIN, the hope of glory," the startling unscriptural assertion, that "it is clear to demonstration, that there CAN BE NO HIGHER RULE than the SCRIPTURES." This is not what Christ taught—it is not what the Apostles taught-it is not what Fox, and Penn, and Barclay, and Fisher taught;-no-they taught that CHRIST was "" the way, the TRUTH, and the life”that "no man cometh unto the Father but by the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him,"-they taught that Christ was "that light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world," and that " a manifestation of his blessed spirit is given to every man to profit withal;"-they did not teach that John was that light,”—they did not teach that they, or THEIR IMPRESSIONS" were "that light," they did not teach that the prophets, and holy men of old," were that light," or that the Scriptures which they wrote, "as moved by the Holy Ghost," were" that light:"—they taught not that any, or all of these-apostles, prophets, holy men, or their writings, as "moved by the Holy Ghost," were that light;" but that they were only witnesses, and testimonies, and records of "that light." This, as I shall endeavour to shew, was the high and holy testimony upon which were based all the remaining testimonies, that the humble and persecuted followers of our Redeemer were ever called upon to bear.— And that I may not be misunderstood in any observations I may feel called upon to make in the course of these pages, in reference to the just weight and authority of the Scriptures, I wish to state, that it is far

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from my view to depreciate them, but on the contrary, I am willing to accord them every high title, and holy office they accord to themselves; but I dare not give them titles, which they not only do not appropriate to themselves, but which they exclusively apply to "Him who is without beginning or end of days." Believing "that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation," for the self-same reason which the Scriptures testify themselves, "for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," I feel indubitably convinced, that without the presence of that living power which gave them forth, we must be "slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken."

It may be also, that I may have to express a coincidence of sentiment with some of the views of that misguided individual, Elias Hicks; but do not from this, let it be imagined that in so doing I intend to countenance, directly or indirectly, any errors into which he or his followers may have unhappily fallen, by following "whatever suggestions most comport with their particular bent of mind." I deem it essential to be extremely clear and explicit upon this point, so as, if possible, to leave no room for cavil or misconstruction; or in case any of my statements may not be sufficiently clear to all minds, to prevent a construction being put which would be utterly repugnant to my feelings, and at complete variance with what I conceive to be (in the emphatic language of that good man, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, George Fox)-" the Truth." To suppose that the mere IMPRESSIONS or SUGGESTIONS of