in the Revelation, Rev. vil. 20. Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me;' and that where the substance is attained, it is unnecessary to attend to the shadow, which doth not confer grace, and concerning which, opinions so different, and animosities so violent, have arisen.

a security. They inculcate submission to the laws in all cases wherein con→ science is not violated. But we hold, that, as Christ's kingdom is not of this world, it is not the business of the civil magistrate to interfere in matters of religion, but to maintain the external peace and good order of the commumity. We therefore think persecution, even in the smallest degree, unwarrantable. We are careful in requiring our members not to be concerned in illicit trade, nor in any manner to defraud the revenue.

"It is well known that the society, from its first appearance, has disused those names of the months and days, which, having been given in honour of the heroes or false gods of the heathen, originated in their flattery or superstition; and the custom of speaking to a single person in the plural number, as having arisen also from motives of adulation. Compliments, superfluity of ap

"Now, as we thus believe that the grace of God, which comes by Jesus Christ, is alone sufficient for salvation, we can neither admit that it is conferred on a few only, whilst others are left without it, nor thus asserting its universality, can we limit its operation to a partial cleansing of the soul from sin, even in this life. We entertain worthier notions both of the power and goodness of our heavenly Father, and believe that he doth vouchsafe to assist the obedient to experience a total surrender of the natural will to the guidance of his pure unerring Spirit; through whose renew-parel and furniture, outward shows of ed assistance they are enabled to bring forth fruits unto holiness, and to stand perfect in their present rank, Matt. v. 48. Eph. iv. 13. Col. iv. 12.

rejoicing and mourning, and the observation of days and times, we esteem to be incompatible with the simplicity and sincerity of a Christian life; and public "There are not many of our tenets diversions, gaming, and other vain more generally known than our testi. amusements of the world, we cannot timony against oaths, and against war. but condemn: They are a waste of With respect to the former of these, we that time which is given us for nobler abide literally by Christ's positive in-purposes; and divert the attention of junction, delivered in his sermon on the the mind from the sober duties of life, mount, Swear not at all," Matt. v. 34. and from the reproofs of instruction by From the same sacred collection of the which we are guided to an everlasting most excellent precepts of moral and inheritance. religious duty, from the example of our "To conclude: although we have Lord himself, Matt. v. 39, 44, &c. Matt. exhibited the several tenets which disxxvi. 52, 53. Luke, xxii. 51. John, tinguish our religious society as objects xviii. 11. and from the correspondent of our belief, yet we are sensible that a convictions of his Spirit in our hearts, true and living faith is not produced in we are confirmed in the belief that wars the mind of man by his own effort, but and fightings are in their origin and ef- is the free gift of God in Christ Jesus, fects utterly repugnant to the Gospel, Eph. ii. 8. nourished and increased by which still breathes peace and good- the progressive operation of his Spirit in will to men. We also are clearly of our hearts, and our proportionate obethe judgment, that if the benevolence dience, John, vii. 17. Therefore, alof the Gospel were generally prevalent though for the preservation of the tes in the minds of men, it would effectually timonies given us to bear, and for the prevent them from oppressing, much peace and good order of the society, we more from enslaving, their brethren (of deem it necessary that those who are adwhatever colour or complexion,) for mitted into membership with us should whom, as for themselves, Christ died; be previously convinced of those docand would even influence their conduct trines which we esteem essential, yet in their treatment of the brute creation, we require no formal subscription to which would no longer groan, the vic-any articles, either as a condition of tims of their avarice, or of their false ideas of pleasure.

membership, or a qualification for the service of the church. We prefer the "Some of our ideas have in former judging of men by their fruits, and detimes, as hath been shown, subjected pending on the aid of Him, who, by his our friends to much suffering from go- prophet, hath promised to be 'a spirit of vernment, though to the salutary pur-judgment, to him that sitteth in judgposes of government cur principles are ment,' Isa. xxviín 6, Without this, there

is a danger of receiving numbers into has long been the decided judgment of outward communion, without any addi-the society, that its members should not tion to that spiritual sheep-fold, whereof cur blessed Lord declared himself to be both the door and the shepherd, John, 7. 11; that is, such as know his voice and follow him in the paths of obedi

ence.

"In the practice of discipline, we think it indispensable that the order recommended by Christ himself be invariably observed, Matt. xviii. 15—17.

sue each other at law. It therefore enjoins all to end their differences by speedy and impartial arbitration, agreeaby to rules laid down. If any refuse to adopt this mode, or, having adopted it, to submit to the award, it is the direction of the yearly meeting that such be disowned.

"To monthly meetings also belongs the allowing of marriages; for our society hath always scrupled to acknowledge the exclusive authority of the priests in the solemnization of marriage. Those who intend to marry appear to

"To effect the salutary purposes of discipline, meetings were appointed at an early period of the society, which, from the times of their being held, were called quarterly meetings. It was af-gether, and propose their intention to terwards found expedient to divide the the monthly meeting; and if not atdistricts of those meetings, and to meet tended by their parents and guardians, more frequently: from whence arose produce a written certificate of their monthly meetings, subordinate to those consent, signed in the presence of witheld quarterly. At length, in 1669, a nesses. The meeting then appoints a yearly meeting was established, to su- committee to inquire whether they be perintend, assist, and provide rules for clear of other engagements respecting the whole, previously to which general || marriage; and if at a subsequent meetmeetings had been occasionally held. ing, to which the parties also come and "A monthly meeting is usually com- declare the continuance of their intenposed of several particular congrega- tion, no objections be reported, they tions, situated within a convenient dis- have the meeting's consent to solemntance from each other. Its business is ize their intended marriage. This is to provide for the subsistence of the done in a public meeting for worship, poor, and for the education of their off towards the close whereof the parties spring to judge of the sincerity and fit- stand up, and solemnly take each other ness of persons appearing to be con- for husband and wife. A certificate of vinced of the religious principles of the the proceedings is then publicly read, scciety, and desiring to be admitted into and signed by the parties, and aftermembership; to excite due attention to wards by the relations and others as the discharge of religious and moral witnesses. Of such marriage the monthduty; and to deal with disorderly mem-ly meeting keeps a record; as also of bers. Monthly meetings also grant to the births and burials of its members. such of their members as remove into A certificate of the date of the name of other monthly meetings certificates of the infant, and of its parents, signed by their membership and conduct; with- those present at the birth, is the subout which they cannot gain member- ject of one of these last-mentioned reship in such meetings. Each monthly cords; and an order for the interment, meeting is required to appoint certain countersigned by the grave-maker, of persons, under the name of overseers, the other. The naming of children is who are to take care that the rules of without ceremony. Burials are also conour discipline be put in practice; and ducted in a simple manner. The body, when any case of complaint, or disor- followed by the relations and friends, is derly conduct, comes to their know- sometimes, previously to interment, carledge, to see that private admonition, ried to a meeting; and at the grave a agreeably to the Gospel rule before pause is generally made: on both which mentioned, be given, previously to its occasions it frequently falls out that one being laid before the monthly meeting, or more friends present have somewhat When a case is introduced, it is to express for the edification of those usual for a small committee to be ap- who attend; bot no religious rite is conpointed to visit the offender, to endea-sidered as an essential part of burial. vour to convince him of his error, and "Several monthly meetings compose to induce him to forsake and condemn a quarterly meeting. At the quarterly it. If they succeed, the person is by meetings are produced written answers minute declared to have made satisfac- from the monthly meetings to certain tion for the offence; if not, he is dis-queries respecting the conduct of their owned as a member of the society. members, and the meeting's care over In disputes between individuals, it them. The accounts thus received are

46

elders; in which they have an oppor

digested into one, which is sent, also in the form of answers to queries, by re-tunity of exciting each other to a dispresentatives to the yearly meeting. charge of their several duties, and of Appeals from the judgment of monthly extending advice to those who may apmeetings are brought to the quarterly pear to be weak, without any needless meetings, whose business also it is to exposure. Such meetings are generally assist in any difficult case, or where re- || held in the compass of each monthly, missness appears in the care of the quarterly, and yearly meeting. They monthly meetings over the individuals are conducted by rules prescribed by who compose them.-There are seven the yearly meeting, and have no auyearly meetings, viz 1. London, to which thority to make any alteration or addicome representatives from Ireland;;- tion to them. The members of them 2. New England;-3. New York-unite with their brethren in the meet4. Pennsylvania and New Jersey ;-5.ings for discipline, and are equally acMaryland;-6. Virginia ;-7. the Ca-countable to the latter for their conduct. rolinas and Georgia.

"It is to a meeting of this kind in London, called the second-day's morning meeting, that the revisal of manuscripts concerning our principles, pre

"The yearly meeting has the general superintendence of the society in the country in which it is established; and, therefore, as the accounts which it re-viously to publication, is intrusted by the ceives discover the state of inferior yearly meeting held in London; and meetings, as particular exigencies re- also the granting, in the intervals of the quire, or as the meeting is impressed yearly meeting, of certificates of approwith a sense of duty, it gives forth its bation to such ministers as are concernadvice, making such regulations as ap-ed to travel in the work of the minispear to be requisite, or excités to the observance of those already made; and sometimes appoints committees to visit those quarterly meetings which appear to be in need of immediate advice. Ap-a certificate from the monthly meeting peals from the judgment of quarterly meetings are here finally determined; and a brotherly correspondence, by epistles, is maintained with other yearly meetings.

try in foreign parts, in addition to those granted by their monthly and quarterly meetings. When a visit of this kind doth not extend beyond Great Britain,

of which the minister is a member is sufficient; if to Ireland, the concurrence of the quarterly meeting is also required. Regulations of similar tendency obtain in other yearly meetings.

continued with great use to the society to this day. It is composed of friends, under the name of correspondents, chosen by the several quarterly meetings, and who reside in or near the society. The same meetings also appoint mem

"In this place it is proper to add, that, "The yearly meeting of London, in as we believe women may be rightly the year 1675, appointed a meeting to called to the work of the ministry, we be held in that city, for the purpose of also think that to them belongs a share advising and assisting in case of sufferin the support of our Christian disci-ing for conscience sake, which hath pline; and that some parts of it, wherein their own sex is concerned, devolve on them with peculiar propriety; accordingly they have monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings of their own sex, held at the same time and in the same place with those of the men; but sepa-bers of their own in the country as corrately, and without the power of making rules and it may be remarked, that. during the persecutions which in the last century occasioned the imprisonment of so many of the men, the care of the poor often fell on the women, and was by them satisfactorily administered.

respondents, who are to join their brethren in London on emergency. The names of all these correspondents, previously to their being recorded as such, are submitted to the approbation of the yearly meeting. Those of the men who are approved ministers are also "In order that those who are in the members of this meeting, which is callsituation of Ministers may have the ten-ed the meeting for sufferings; a name der sympathy and counsel of those of either sex, who by their experience in the work of religion, are qualified for The yearly meeting has intrusted the that service, the monthly meetings are meeting for sufferings with the care of advised to select such, under the deno-printing and distributing books,and with mination of elders. These, and minis- the management of its stock; and, conters approve by their monthly meet-sidered as a standing committee of the ings, have meetings peculiar to them-yearly meeting, it hath a general care selves, called meetings of ministers and of whatever may arise, during the in

arising from its original purpose, which is not yet become entirely obsolete.

fore Easter, reckoned in whole numbers, SHROVE SUNDAY.

been a prophetess, &c. They added, that Philip the deacon had four daugh QUINTILIANS, a sect that appear-ters, who were all prophetesses, and

were of their sect. In these assemblies it was usual to see the virgins entering

ed in Phrygia, about 189; thus called from their prophetess Quintilia. In this sect the women were admitted to perin white robes,personating prophetesses. form the sacerdotal and episcopal functions They attributed extraordinary gifts to Eve for having first eaten of the tree of knowledge; told great things of Mary, the sister of Moses, as having

R

The errors of the Quintilians were at first looked upon as folly and madness; but, as they appeared to gain ground, the council of Laodicea, in 320, condemned it.

RANTERS, a denomination which arose in the year 1645. They set up the light of nature under the name of Christ in men. With regard to the church, Scripture, ministry, &c. their sentiments were the same as the Seekers. See SEEKERS.

RASHNESS consists in undertaking an action, or pronouncing an opinion, without a due examination of the grounds, motives, or arguments, that ought first to be weighed. RASH JUDGING. See JUDGING RASH.

READING (public) OF THE SCRIPTURES See SCRIPTURES. REALISTS, a term made use of to denote those Trinitarians who are the most orthodox, in opposition to the Socinian and Sabellian schemes. It was also the name of a sect of school philosophers, formed in opposition to the Nominalists. The former believed that universals are realities, and have an actual existence out of the mind; while the latter contended that they exist only in the mind, and are only ideas.

so in the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation, which are above the reach of our reason in this present state. But we cannot, nor must we, be led to take the words of Scripture in such a sense as expressly and evidently contradicts all sense and reason, as transubstantiation: for the two great lights of God, reason and revelation, never contradict each other, though one be superior to the other.

Therefore reason has a great deal to do in religion, viz. to find out the rule (of faith,) to compare the parts of this rule with one another, to explain the one by the other, to give the grammatical and logical sense of the expres sions, and to exclude self-contradictory interpretations, as well as interpretations contrary to reason. But it is not to set itself up as a judge of those truths expressed therein, which are asserted by a superior and infallible dictator. God himself; but reason requires and commands even the subjection of all its own powers to a truth thus divinely at tested; for it is as possible and as proREASON, a faculty or power of the per that God should propose doctrines mind, whereby it draws just conclu to our understanding which it cannot sions from the true and clear princi comprehend, as duties to our practice ples. Many attempts have been made which we cannot see the reason of; for to prove reason inimical to revelation; he is equally superior to our understandbut nothing can be more evident than ing and will, and he puts the obedience that it is of considerable use in know of both to a trial." See RELIGION and ing, distinguishing, proving, and de- REVELATION, and books there recom. fending the mysteries of revelation; al-mended; also Poricus' Sermons, ser. though it must not be considered as a 3. vol. i; Jenyn's Internal Evidence, p perfect standard by which all the mys- 122; Ryland's Contemplations, vol. i. teries of religion must be measured be- p. 83; Theological Miscellany, vol. ii. fore they are received by faith. "Inp. 533; An Essay on the Use and Abuse things," says Dr. Watts, "which are of Reason in Matters of Religion, by plainly and expressly asserted in Scrip. Witsius, and translated by Carier; Dr. ture, and that in sense which contra- Watts's Strength and Weakness of Hu" dicts not other parts of Scripture, or man Reason. natural light, our reason must submit, RECLUSE, among the Papists, a and believe the thing, though it cannot person shut up in a small cell of an her. find the modus or manner of its being:mitage or monastery, and cut off not