TO WILLIAM POOLE, WILMINGTON.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Jericho, 2d mo. 3d, 1823.

Thy letters of 12th mo. 30th, and 1st mo. 5th, were duly received, and read with interest and satisfaction. And as thou requests to know how I got on in my journey, I feel willing to give thee a summary thereof; as it has been, take it in all its parts, the most satisfactory and the most peaceful one I have ever taken, from the first step taken therein to my return home.

In my first opening the concern to my friends in the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, their unity, sympathy, and encouragement were more fully expressed therewith, than I had ever before witnessed on any like occasion, and it seemed as a precursor of what might eventually follow, and tended to establish my faith and dependance in that arm and power that at first opened the prospect and engaged me in the service; and who graciously condescended to be with me and guide me through the journey, and opened a way for me, that neither man, nor all the united powers of darkness, were able to shut. From a grateful sense thereof, my spirit is humbled in deep self-abasement for the unmerited favour; for my peace, through his mercy and power, was preserved unbroken, out of the reach of all opposing spirits. Thanksgiving and praise be rendered to his right worthy name, who is over all, God blessed for ever.

As to what thou observes respecting Jesus not being the Son of God, spiritually, until after the baptism of John and descent of the Holy Spirit upon him, it is a subject that appears to be a very simple one, as all truths are, and does not admit of any speculation, as the whole rests upon matter of fact, as recorded in the Scriptures.* For do they not fully testify, that Jesus was born a real and true Israelitish child, being the offspring

* Deut. xviii. 15, 18. Acts ii. 22; iii. 22. Hebrews, ii. 16, 17, 18; iv. 15. Isaiah, ii. 1.

of Abraham and David, and born into the world as was Isaac and John the Baptist, by the special interference of the Divine power, through the medium of the flesh and blood of a woman, and therefore, as Jesus himself testifies, "that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit."

Hence we reasonably suppose this testimony of Jesus might set the matter at rest, with every man endued with a rational understanding. For the miraculous conception in either case, could not constitute a difference of nature in the being produced; especially when we consider that the immortal soul cannot be generated in the flesh of woman, as there is no analogy between matter and spirit; and when we consider further, that the flesh of every child born of a woman, is only animated by the breath and air of this world take that away, and the animal man dies immediately. That was the case with Jesus on the cross; but his immortal spirit, born of God, returned to God, who gave it, as it stood superior to death, Hell, and the grave.

We likewise find him growing up from a child to the state of manhood, like other children, and no doubt his soul when it entered the body prepared for it, was furnished with such a portion of the Divine spirit, as was most consistent with the will of his Heavenly Father, and by which he was enabled to fulfil all the righteousness of the law and covenant given to Israel by Moses; and therefore, in a certain sense, might be considered a Son of God, as much so as that dispensation would admit of. But if he had been completely so before the baptism of John and the descent of the Holy Ghost, why was that superadded, and why did not his Heavenly Father, previous to that time, declare him his Son in whom he was well pleased?

And when we further consider, that we do not hear any thing of him, after he was grown to man's estate, not even so much as being tempted, until after the Holy Spirit descended upon him, and by which he was then more fully the Son of God, and filled with the Divine nature of his Heavenly Fa

ther, and thereby qualified to meet the temptations that assailed him, and when he had vanquished temptation, we then find him entering upon his mission, and not before.

And that must be the experience of every gospel minister; for I cannot conceive that any can arrive to a state for gospel ministry, until they have first fulfilled the substance of the moral law, as Jesus did; and that opens the way for the reception of a further infusion of the Holy Spirit, as a necessary preparation for gospel ministry. For every one who ministers of the things of God, must first be born of the Spirit of God, for none can be the sons of God but those who are born of his Spirit. And nothing but Spirit can be born of the Spirit of God, so as to become his children, and be taught of him, as God is a pure, holy, immortal, invisible, infinite, and unchangeable Spirit; possessed of every virtue and excellence that can be attributed to him, and all his children must really partake of his Divine nature, without any mixture, to qualify them for heaven, and those celestial joys that constitute that happy state.

We arrived safe in New York on 7th day, the 18th of 1st month; attended their fore and afternoon meetings on 1st day. They were large and favoured, as was generally the case with all the meetings we attended after parting with thee.

On 1st day evening as I retired to bed, I was taken with a turn of gravel, which held me through the night, and prevented my getting much rest, but was so much better next day, that I rode home in the afternoon, and found my family all in usual health; which, together with the many favours dispensed to me in the course of my journey, by a Gracious Providence, was cause of deep humility and thankfulness. On 3d day I rested with my family. On 4th day attended our select Quarterly Meeting, in which I had some service. On 5th day, about five in the morning, I was taken with a very severe turn of my old complaint, which held me in much severe pain for about twenty-six hours, but getting relief about seven or eight o'clock on 6th day morning, I ventured to attend the

public parting meeting of the quarter, which was large, and I think, a favoured meeting, and held, I trust, to our mutual comfort and rejoicing; my friends generally manifesting much gladness in my being restored to them again. I accounted it as one of the special favours received, my being permitted to get home previous to the severe attack of my old, and in some sort habitual, complaint; that the query arises very fresh at times, what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits? for surely his mercy endureth for ever.

I rest thy affectionate and sympathizing friend.

ELIAS HICKS.

AN ADDRESS TO YOUTH.

The following Address to the Youth, was annexed to a letter written by Elias Hicks to two Friends in Philadelphia, in the early part of the year 1823.

Since penning the foregoing, my mind has been drawn into a renewed feeling of near sympathy and gospel affection with the dearly beloved youth, not only those of your Monthly Meeting,* that fell more particularly under my notice in the family visits I made when with you, but all others of your city, whom the Lord in the riches of his mercy, is renewedly visiting with the day-spring from on high, through the immediate manifestation of his love and light in their inner man, as the guardian angel of his presence to guide them and keep them; and as they take heed thereunto, will preserve and keep them from all evil, and will lead them up to the headspring and fountain of living water, of which, when they drink, they will never thirst again after the muddy waters of tradition and education, that stands in the letter that killeth. But their thirst will be continually satiated with the pure water of life, that makes glad all Zion's dedicated and devoted

*Green Street.

children, and which adds no sorrow with it. And as they give good heed to this holy anointing, which is truth and is no lie, it will lead them off from all dependance on man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of; and they will have no need that any man teach them then, but as the same anointing teacheth. It will bring them to see the end of all shadows that stand in outward visible things, let them be ever so great or excellent, and will gather them into itself (the invisible power) to the law of the spirit of life, that sets the soul free from the law of sin and death, and from all condemnation. And may the dear youth dwell near and in this holy principle, in this day of trial and rebuke, for the Lord's hand is stretched out upon the nations, and he "will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is, and I will give it him." The Lord I believe is about to put an end to, and overturn all man's work in religion, and to put an end to all man's forms, creeds, and professions, that stand in man's will and spirit, that He only, may come to rule and reign in the hearts of his children, that so all may savingly come to know but one Lord, one faith, and one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in you all. May the dearly beloved visited youth press forward toward this blessed and happy state, and come to know an establishment therein, is the sincere and sympathetic desire of their ancient, affectionate, and exercised friend and elder brother. ELIAS HICKS.

TO J. WILSON MOORE, PHILADELPHIA.

DEAR FRIEND,

Jericho, 3d mo. 26th, 1823.

Thy letter, accompanying one from thy father of the 14th ult., was very acceptable; a feeling sense of the kindness and regard of my friends, manifested in an epistolary way, is truly grateful to my mind. I anticipate with thee, at least in