follows; to-morrow evening at six o'clock, at Bush, first day at Deer Creek, second day at Little Britain, third day at Eastland, fourth day at West Nottingham, fifth day at East Nottingham; after which, we shall direct our course towards Wilmington, without any present prospect of stopping much on the way. In much love to thee and thine, in which my wife unites, I subscribe thy affectionate friend. ELIAS HICKS. TO WILLIAM POOLE, WILMINGTON. Philadelphia, 12mo. 4th, 1824. MY DEAR FRIEND, Thine of the 28th ult. excited afresh in my mind deep sympathy and fellow feeling with thee, in thy present state of complicated bodily affliction; and although, as thou observes, it is undoubtedly all under right direction, and which is altogether in accordance with my views, nevertheless, no affliction for the present seems joyous; yet they tend to create a hope in the minds of those who continue in the way of well doing and are rightly exercised thereby, in full acquiescence with every dispensation of a gracious providence, that they will all work together for our good, and produce, to those who hold out to the end, a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. And having this hope as an anchor to the soul, amidst every conflicting and trying scene, let us, my dear friend, thank God, and take courage, in a full belief that he will never leave nor forsake the upright in heart. I have so far recovered my usual state of health, that I ventured out and attended three meetings this week, on third, fourth, and fifth days, viz. the North, Twelfth Street, and Green Street, to the peace of my own mind, and, I believe, to the general satisfaction, comfort and encouragement of my friends; but some cavilled, viz. an hireling priest and two or three of those who style themselves orthodox; and there is no doubt in my mind, that should the purest departed saints be permitted to return and preach among these, the pure unsullied doctrines of the Gospel, they would make a much greater uproar among the people. Such, I conceive, is the deplorable state of the professed churches in Christendom. We expect to leave town this afternoon and ride to Germantown, to be at meeting there to-morrow; on second day at Abington, and on fourth day at Byberry. So far meetings are laid out for us. On fifth day will be the monthly meeting of Newtown, on sixth day at Middletown, on seventh day at Falls; should we find it in our way to attend those meetings, and be able to go forward, we shall likely attend the meeting at Trenton to-morrow week; after which, if health is permitted, we shall bend our course homewards. In that love that many waters cannot quench, I subscribe, thy affectionate friend. ELIAS HICKS. TO SAMUEL R. FISHER, PHILADELPHIA. DEAR FRIEND, Jericho, 12th mo. 26th, 1824. Although it has rested on my mind most of the time since I returned home, to address a few lines to thee in this way, not only to acknowledge, with grateful sensations, the many especial favours and abundant kindness received from thee and thy dear children, by myself, my wife and daughter, grand-daughter, and other companions in travel, while I was confined by bodily indisposition under thy hospitable roof, but also to inform thee a little of our fare while progressing on the way to our own habitation,-yet such has been the weak state of my body, and trembling of my hands, that I have not attempted to put pen to paper to write a letter, until the present time; and I very much doubted when I commenced, whether I should succeed. But I do much better than I anticipated. After taking an affectionate farewell of our friends in the city, we proceeded, agreeably to our previous conclusion, taking meetings at Germantown, Abington, and Byberry. These three meetings were to me favoured and encouraging opportunities, though pretty trying to my weak body. And after the close of the meeting at Byberry, the concern to attend the three monthly meetings of Newtown, Middletown, and Falls, the three successive days, was renewed and so fixed on my mind, that I found my peace consisted in submitting thereto, which I cheerfully did when I clearly saw it was my Heavenly Father's good pleasure, and I found abundant peace in so doing. The meetings were very large; and, I trust, through the gracious condescending goodness of our never-failing Helper, many were instructed, comforted, and edified. On first day we attended the morning and afternoon meetings at Trenton, and as thy children Thomas and Sarah, and divers other Friends from Philadelphia, were there, thou no doubt hast heard all that is needful in relation to them. . On second day we proceeded to Stonybrook. On the way my wife was taken ill, insomuch as not to be able to sit up any after our arrival at the widow Clark's. After meeting, we returned back to the widow's and lodged. The next day, my wife being better, we proceeded on our journey, through mud and mire, the roads being very heavy, and arrived, near evening, at our friend Samuel Pound's, about six miles short of Plainfield, who, with his worthy wife, received us with tokens of sincere friendship. The next day we attended a monthly meeting at Plainfield, held for Rahway and Plainfield, and the day after had an appointed meeting at Rahway. Both these meetings were satisfactory and encouraging seasons; and we left them the next day in the fresh feelings of mutual love and affection, and rode to New York, where we arrived, a little before sunset, on sixth day evening. We tarried here until first day, and attended the two meetings in the city, both of which were crowded and overrunning full, like some of the large meetings in Philadelphia. On second day we returned home, and, to our mutual com fort and satisfaction, found our children and friends in usual health, except Phebe, our grand-daughter, who had some return of her fever, and was not so well as when she first got home, but is now in a favourable way of recovery. The second day after getting home, I was favoured to get clear of the gravel, that had occasioned me such a long season of pain. I feel now pretty free from pain, and my strength is daily increasing. In much love to thyself and dear children, I subscribe thy affectionate friend. ELIAS HICKS. TO WILLIAM POOLE, WILMINGTON. · MY BELOVED FRIEND, Jericho, 1st mo. 5th, 1825. Not having heard any thing from thee since I wrote thee from Philadelphia, I feel very anxious to hear how thou art getting along under the pressure of thy bodily afflictions, as by thy last letter, thou informedst me that they had become complex. Hence, in the near sympathy that impresses my mind on thy behalf, I feel very desirous of hearing from thee, as soon as is reasonably convenient. After leaving Philadelphia, we proceeded, taking meetings at Germantown, Abington, Byberry, and the three monthly meetings at Newtown, Middletown, and Falls. These were all large, and, I think, favoured meetings, through the condescending goodness and unmerited mercy of the Shepherd of Israel. The day after the monthly meeting at the Falls, being the first of the week, we attended fore and afternoon meetings at Trenton, in Jersey. In the morning, several hundreds assembled more than the house could contain; and in the afternoon also, many went away for want of room. They were, I trust, both solemn and profitable meetings. The Governor and many of the members of the Legislature being in town, they made us an offer of the state house for our accom modation; but as the two meetings of our Friends came in course on that day, I felt most easy to attend them as they came, and my bodily infirmity was such, that I did not think it prudent to attempt a third meeting in the evening; therefore way did not open to accept the offer. On second day we proceeded on our way homeward, taking meetings at Stonybrook, Plainfield, Rahway, and New York, and got safe home on the following second day, and found our children and friends generally well; which, together with the attendant peace of mind, was cause of thankfulness and gratitude to the blessed Author of all our manifold blessings and favours dispensed from his bountiful hand. I have not fully recovered my usual state of health, but am able to keep about and attend meetings. I subscribe thy affectionate friend. ELIAS HICKS. TO THOMAS M'CLINTOCK, PHILADELPHIA. MY DEAR FRIEND, Jericho, 1st mo. 24th, 1825. Thy very acceptable letter of the 10th instant was duly received, and I have taken my pen in order, as way may open, to answer the queries it contained. Query 1. "What dost thou mean by the terms, 'outward legal sins'?" I mean the breach of those outward legal rites and ceremonies, such as circumcision, &c., contained in the law of Moses, the non-observance whereof was accounted a transgression of that law, and rendered the animal bodies of the Israelites legally unclean and unholy; but which was not any breach of that universal moral law given by God to mankind from the beginning, and which is manifested to every man by the two witnesses which God has placed in every rational creature, as the only sufficient rule and guide, to wit, reason and truth. And as man is a two-fold creature, so his gracious Creator has given him a two-fold revelation, viz. the |