none of these outward things should be done as formal matters; that
people should not look upon them as essential to the holding of
meetings for worship, and that they should not in any manner be led
away from their dependence on the fresh extension of Divine life and
light to their souls, as the very foundation of true worship. The
writings of the early members of our Society abound in evidences of
their watchful care in this respect.

Among them, one of the most earnest and effective laborers for the
spread of the Gospel, was Edward Burrough, whose efforts in London
were blessed to a large number. Over the converts in that city he
watched with anxious love; and, when absent in the service of his
Master in other parts, frequently visited them by epistles, in which
he gave much sound and practical advice. From these epistles are taken
the following passages, referring to the manner in which these
meetings for worship were to be held.

"We charge and command you in the presence of the Lord, whose power
is dreadful, that you meet together in silence, and wait, and none
to speak a word but what he is moved to speak, a word from the
Lord."--_E. Burrough's Works, Ed. 1672, p. 70._

"We charge by the Lord that none speak without eternal [Divine]
motion; for if you do, the false prophet speaks, and his words eat
as a canker, and darken and vail them that hearken to it."--_Id.,
p. 71._

The nature of this spiritual worship is clearly portrayed by Robert
Barclay; see the 11th Proposition of his Apology, particularly in
Sections 6 and 7, to which we desire the reader to refer.

* * * * *

We have viewed with much concern the gradual creeping into the
meetings of Friends, in some parts of the country, of latter years, of
reading the Scriptures, and of singing, practices which, until within
a few years, were almost unknown amongst us.

We believe that these changes are an evidence of a departure from that
dependence on the Lord for ability to worship Him aright, which was
so conspicuous a testimony of this Society; and that they are
connected with a shrinking from patient waiting upon the Lord, and
from the humbling exercise of mind which is often felt in endeavoring
to draw near in spirit to Him.

Friends do not assemble in their meetings for Divine worship for the
sake of listening to any outward performances. If this principle is
once departed f