MARTHA BOULTON,

ELIZABETH ATKINSON

SARAH NEILD,

SUSANNA ROBINSON,

MARGARET FLINTOFF,

HANNAH BINYON.

Read and aproved in our Quarterly Meeting for Lancashire, held at Manchester, the Second day of the Fourth Month, 1818, and in and on behalf thereof, signed by

GEORGE CROSFIELD, Jun. Clerk.

Signed on behalf of the Women's Meeting by

ELIZABETH CREWDSON, Clerk.

LETTERS, &c.

Letter E.

TO JOHN CASH, (late of Coventry.)

Dear Friend,

WESTMINSTER, 10th Mo. 22, 1765.

WITH pleasure I received, read, and reviewed thy most welcome and long-expected letter. It is true, I see little in myself, and nothing of myself, sufficient to secure me a place in the memory of my friends; but yet there are some reasons, not known to all the professors of friendship, that suffer me not to conclude myself forgotten by those whose favour I esteem, though I receive not, so frequently as I could wish, the evidences of their affectionate regard.

I very much approve of thy intention of marriage. May our blessed Lord, if He please, who so remarkably honoured the marriage in Cana of Galilee with His presence, vouchsafe His

A

glorious attendance at the solemnization; and unite you to each other and to Him, in that love which survives faith and hope, and is coeval with eternity.

I am well pleased to hear of thy going into business for thyself; I hope it will answer thy end. If I recollect right, thou expressedst to me some diffidence of venturing into trade: truly it behoves us to be cautious in matters of importance; but then, when we act our part to the best of our understanding, it becomes us not (as Christians) to despond.

Let us remember, dear John, they that trust in the Lord need fear no want; for He hath said "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee;" and ought we not to rest satisfied in the most sure promise of Him who is faithful? "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all things [necessary ] shall be added unto you." He that feedeth the ravens, and clothes the lilies; without whose approbation a sparrow shall not fall, will not fail, if our trust is in Him, to extend a paternal, providential care over us, who are more considerable (though we be nothing) than the grass of the field, or the fowls of the air, and of more value than many sparrows.

I am obliged to thee for conveying my mother's love, from whom I am glad by every opportunity to hear. It gives me satisfaction to hear that friends at are generally well, but I am

really sorry there should be any successors of the Laodicean church amongst them; such a disposition of lukewarmness must, and will for ever, be productive of barrenness, of nakedness, of poverty, and want. Oh! what can be done or said, to alarm the indolent religious professors, who seem dead to their best reason, and truest interest; insensible of the blessings and glory of heaven, and deaf to His most glorious voice, who hath so long multiplied His calls in mercy, and waited to be gracious to them. Well! well! if such do not in time, (and the present is only their's) rouse themselves from their beds of ease, be zealous and repent, they may remember that He, whose word shall never go forth in vain, hath already pronounced "Wo to them that are at ease in Zion," and said to the lukewarm, "I will spew thee out of my mouth."

I am entirely of thy opinion with regard to and abundantly convinced that our sentiments are just. Alas! alas! flesh and blood would fain pray, though it cannot wait; and be a saint, though it cannot abide the will of God.

I do not know that I have any thing more to add, and perhaps I have trespassed too much on thy patience already; so for this time conclude, and subscribe myself thy most loving and affectionate friend, JOHN THORP.