That whatever surprise or sorrow might seize the minds of the living for their dead, it was to be contained within, and no marks or tokens of it to be worn without.

This seems agreeable to that practice which the spirit of truth led our forefathers into, when they were called out of the world's ways and vain fashions; of which this of wearing mourning clothes was one which they complied not with, as knowing, that that divine principle the Lord had placed in them, required a conformity to his will in all things, a thorough reformation and disuse of all vain customs, since they were not to fashion themselves according to their former lusts in their ignorance, &c., as said the apostle Peter.

May these things, which were of old prohibited the people of the Lord, be remembered in these days, that none of us do any thing on such occasions, as may be in any sense rendered printing marks upon us, or rather disguising ourselves for the dead.

Now, because that some among us have, and are creeping into a sort of mourning habit, a thing contrary to our ancient practice, I am at this time concerned to testify against it; for whatever was the practice of other people in this respect, when our forefathers in the truth came forth, we find they were kept out of it, and walked in their plain simple way, without mixing with the ways of the world. Not but they might be accounted singular, for avoiding the modes of their neighbours; yet it is recorded, that no such practice, as that called wearing of mourning, was amongst us in the year 1694, as in Rise and Progress, page 56, viz., Neither do the kindred of the deceased ever wear mourning, they looking upon it as a worldly ceremony and piece of pomp; and that what mourning is fit for a Christian to have at the departure of a beloved relation or friend, should be worn in the mind, which is only sensible of the loss.'

I cannot inform the reader when this practice first began, and am also ignorant by whom it was at first introduced into our society; but this I may say, it is not agreeable to that

self-denying principle we profess, neither is there the least shadow of precedent for it in the New Testament. Therefore, according to the words of the apostle Peter in another case, 'Let the time past suffice, wherein ye have wrought the will of the Gentiles.' I say, let us cast off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

Though I speak thus as to this particular, none, I hope, will count me as an enemy, for I deliver it as a brotherly caution; and the rather, because I apprehend it to be a spreading evil amongst many, for my eye hath affected my heart in this matter, as well as in some other things, as pride, and an undue liberty that some take; which, as well as the other, are a reproach to our society.

All these things have repeatedly been testified against, not only by some single persons, but in a more general way.

I am at this present, writing under a Christian concern for the church of our God; that she may be holy in all things relating to life and godliness, that no spot or wrinkle may be upon her; for so it behoveth the people of Christ to be; and they who really are his, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.

If it be asked, how have these attained to this good state? it may truly be answered, through faith in Jesus Christ. For as they came to believe in him, they saw it was absolutely needful for them to obey the discoveries of his light in their hearts; and by being faithful to that, they came to a sense of their sins. This sense begat a godly sorrow, and this sorrow wrought them into repentance never to be repented of.

These were the steps they trod in the way of their conversion; this was a time when they sowed in tears; they wept, they mourned, and made supplication to the Lord, that he would remember mercy in the midst of judgment. Oh! then the everlasting arms were underneath, by which they were borne up, that they sunk not in the floods of their

spiritual afflictions; for, though the Lord had laid his hand upon them, by which they were brought very low, yet he who had thus slain them, that they might know sin slain, was pleased again to revive and make them alive.

And as thus sin and the evil conversation came to be mortified through the spirit, the new life sprang up from that heavenly seed God had placed in them; many of whom, after they had known the terrors of the Lord in themselves, by which they were warned, were constrained in the love of God to warn others to flee from the wrath to come, and no longer to content themselves with the thought, that as they are in the outward profession of Jesus Christ, therefore that would save them; for they must also know and experience, as they had done, the work of Christ within them, to prepare them to bring forth fruits meet for repentance, as the only way of their conversion and salvation.

Some received this advice, and clave unto this doctrine, which had proved so effectual to many; but others have mocked, not unlike the epicurean and stoic philosophers who encountered the apostle Paul, because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection. Like these, many have slighted the gospel of salvation, and evilly entreated those who brought the glad tidings of grace, peace and pardon, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Therefore, since the testimonies of the living have not had place in the hearts of some, may the words of the dying effect what the others have not. And if such experimental relations, as several of the children of the Lord have given, of the assurances they have had of their salvation in their last hours of life, are not arguments and persuasions strong enough to provoke the living to a timely preparation for their latter end, I know of none that will; since they spoke from a certain sense of their states at that important moment, which, how soon any of us may arrive to, is generally hid from our eyes. And since we are assured that God hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in right

eousness, may men's fruits be unto holiness, that their end may be everlasting life; as it is not doubted is the portion of these in the following treatise.

Should the way and call to repentance and conversion be wholly neglected by any in this short space of life, which should be spent to the glory of God alone, in obeying his righteous laws, how dreadful are the states of those! There is no retrieving time in the grave; they fall into the gulf of misery; and in this condition they have no intercourse with us, nor have we any intelligence or warning from them. The ardent request of the rich man, in the parable, of sending one from the dead to warn his brethren, lest they should come into the place of torment with him, was refused him for this reason, that seeing they had Moses and the prophets, if they would not hear them, neither would they if one should rise from the dead. Also by this may be learned, that men are not to expect miracles, when other sufficient means are afforded.

Therefore, seeing that in these latter days, the Lord, who in times past spoke unto the fathers by the prophets, doth speak unto us by his Son, whom he hath raised from the dead, and sent by his grace to us; let all thereby be turned away from their iniquities, and serve the Lord in reverence and fear; which they do, who have received that dispensation or kingdom that cannot be moved, and are resolved so to walk, passing their sojourning here in fear, counting the price great which was offered for their redemption. And as through faith they have laid hold on Jesus Christ the Lord, they are persuaded that nothing shall be able to separate them from the love of God which they have in him. And as men are guided with the counsel of the Lord, in their pilgrimage on earth, to order themselves to his honour; such, when they go hence, will be received into glory.

Now, since it is hither the grace of God hath led many, let none be so unwise for themselves, as either not to receive it, or afterwards to turn from it. For it was through the

operation of this grace that many of old were saved from the evils of this present world; as thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, not a few in our day have attained to the like experience, as they came to repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is he who washes his servants from their sins, and saves them with an eternal salvation. Blessed therefore are they who are sincerely concerned to know the new birth, which is to be born from above, that they may inherit the kingdom of heaven. But, alas! though heaven be desired by many, how few of the sons of men are willing to walk in the way that leads unto it. No, no; they are for an easy path, in which they may live unto themselves; they like not the cross, though they would have the crown. Oh! how are many spending their time in vanity. Some in a voluptuous course of life, feeding themselves without fear; others take excessive pains in attiring their bodies with their changeable suits of apparel, to the dishonour of the Lord; nay, to such a pitch of excess are many come, that as one saith in a discourse on this subject, relating to superfluity of clothing, 'Here is the end,' saith he, of all their fashions and recreations, to gratify the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life; clothes that were given to cover shame, now want a covering for their shameful excess; and that which should remember men of lost innocency, they pride and glory in.' "No Cross, No Crown."

Yet, although it be thus with many of the children of men, that they spend much treasure and time in decking these houses of clay, let them know that for all these things they must be brought into judgment.

Time here would fail me, to treat particularly concerning the extravagances, in manifold respects, into which some are fallen, to their own hurt and the grief of many. But I cannot here forget, that there is forgiveness with the Lord that he may be feared; and he calls to the backsliding children to return unto him, that he may heal them.