them by replies, in semblance of revelation. For if, before, they made the people err, we may justly conclude that the answer which they had, and affirmed to be of God, was then a delusion of the devil. And the character he gives them, but a few verses further on, (to which the reader may turn for himself) seems to confirm the sentence. 6 Israel was strictly charged from the first to refrain from these studies, so familiar to the Egyptians and other nations among whom they sojourned; and to trust in the Lord, and obey his word by his prophet. When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do [observe it was a study] after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found, among you, any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire [to Moloch, in order to become a diviner with his priests,] or that useth divination, or an observer of times [fortunate days for peoples' undertakings,] or an enchanter, or a witch; or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.' Deut. xviii. 9-12. Follows, the promise of a prophet of the Lord, raised up from among their brethren, like unto themselves; to whom they were to hearken :-a promise abundantly fulfilled in the succeeding ages of their commonwealth, and not restricted (I believe) to the coming of Christ in the flesh. But the prophet who should falsely take on him the authority of the true God, or who should prophesy in the name of a false one, was to suffer death. Nor would Moses allow that a witch should live :- -a person keeping watch by night, for the influences of whatever malicious spirit should be stirring, in order to apply these to the injury of such as she should be set upon, for that end-and the wizard, we may reasonably suppose, was as much detested by the Hebrew Lawgiver as the witch: though it be true, that temporal penalties are unsuitable to offences in the spirit. The prophet Elisha, 2 Kings iv, 29. used a method to revive the Shunammite's child, which seems to partake of the art of divination: he sent on his staff by the servant (who could make more haste) to be laid on the face of the patient, that he might follow it in spirit, and so effect the cure. But the expedient at this time failed; for when he came into the house he found the child dead: and prayer to the Lord, with a real miracle in answer, was now the prophet's last resource. In Acts ch. xix, we find a practice in imitation of this, of carrying things which had been about the person of Paul to the sick and possessed, for their speedier cure. This was done, we may reasonably think, at the desire of the relatives and friends; not by the choice of the Apostle, who had at this time a course of daily disputation on his hands, in defence of the gospel. And when some practitioners of Exorcism among the Jews took the boldness, afterwards, to use his name to the demon, it was found unavailing, not being seconded by the power of God; and divination itself fell into such entire disrepute, that the costly books for teaching it, found among the Christians, were collected and publicly burned. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed,' then :-and so inconsistent with faith and prayer, and the ministry of the word; with prophecy, or the speaking publicly unto men for edification in the truth, is the system of divination, with all its dark proceedings now! If any be found, endowed with a more than ordinary portion of the power of discerning spirits, or of sympathy with others in circumstances of suffering or rejoicing, or of the perception of what may at any time be passing in other places (Col. ii. 5.) let them exercise their giftsI object not to their use ;-always remembering though, that they are to do it as those who are accountable, for every act even in the spirit, to the great Head of the Church. But to make of such things a pursuit, and a study; to take advantage, by such means, of the ignorance and credulity of the multitude: to promote the ends of a sect or party, if not also to gratify their own sordid lust of power and gain, with the talents which were entrusted to them for the good of the members of Christ-what were this but an abomination in the sight of God, a provocation analogous to those for which the inhabitants of Palestine of old were expelled their country, condemned to destruction by the sword? As for the skill of the cunning man' (of whom there used of old to be one in a parish, often the Clergyman) in discovering the person or persons who committed such or such a theft, and where the goods lay, and the like-this is plainly but a sort of gipsey-divinity, derived from a heathen source, or at best Legal: and which we, who desire to dwell in the spirit of the Gospel, ordered by its rules, may very properly leave to those to whom it may be lawful-to Cæsar or the Minister of Justice: content to enjoy and render to God the things that belong to His kingdom, and trusting in all our need, to His power and Providence. But to shew further the inconsistency of divination, as commonly desired and practised, with the Christian faith, let us take a pregnant instance which we find in the Acts of the Apostles; so full of instruction, that it seems to have been placed there for the very purpose of guarding us against the attempts of this spirit-the insidious and dangerous enemy of our peace. Acts xvi. 12-40. Paul and Silas, accompanied by Timotheus, are abiding 'certain days' at Philippi, where they make converts of Lydia the seller of purple, with her household; and are received as inmates in her family. In their public attendance of prayer by the river side, (whither it appears that certain women of the city resorted also) they are subjected to the jealous observation of the Satan, in the person of a certain damsel, possessed with a spirit of Python [or of divination, or corruption] who brought her keepers much gain by soothsaying'a fruit (as it should seem) of the talent that has been just alluded to; a secret knowledge, by divination, of the acts and purposes of others. I am of opinion, we have not in our version the full point of the speech, with which she followed the three Missionaries of the new faith. Had it been an open testimony in favour of the gospel, I see not why it might not have led to a milder procedure on Paul's part, and to the conversion of the damsel; delivered, by an extension of the power of God to her, from the possession of the unclean devil. It was probably, therefore, malicious and sarcastic; and calculated to lower their reputation with the people, as men of God, and preachers of a pure morality. They consorted too much with the women, to be, in her judgment, faultless in this respect, and she took the usual freedom of the grand accuser of the brethren, to exclaim upon them, as oft as they were seen passing to prayer with Lydia and her maids, These are the servants of the Most High God, which shew unto us [weak women] the way of salvation!' The people had probably begun to listen to the secret (as well as public) insinuations of the adversary:-and, now, the devil was cast out of the damsel, in disdain and in earnest. On the humbling trial of their faith and patience which presently followed, I need not enlarge, but it is observable that the youth Timothy (of Greek descent) was not implicated in the charge: the enemy probably intending another sort of proof of his constancy in the faith, at the next sacrifice and feast that should occur. The Epistle to the Philippians shews, that the great Apos tle had abiding fruit of his ministry here also, in after time: but for the present, the resistance to the proffered good was such, under the influence of the dark power, that although the earthquake must have put the sober part of the city into a condition favourable to the reception of the truth by preaching, he did not think fit to avail himself of it contrary to the desire of the magistrates, but departed. Thus was a silly divining wench made availing by the devil, to stop for a time the ministry of the Apostle of the Gentiles at Philippi! Let us remember, in conclusion, that gifts, even the most excellent, avail not to the Eternal good of the possessor without CHARITY: that knowledge, however acquired, tends to puff up the spirit, which is builded up by Charity in the true faith. And let us strive so to use any measure wherewith we may be entrusted of power in the spirit, as we would that others should use the like towards us. Again, with respect to those lower spiritual qualifications of which, as existing in themselves and others, not only the Rulers of this world, but even men of God and prophets have not disdained to avail themselves in God's service, let us be found coveting rather the best gifts: grace from God to behave ourselves aright in all circumstances, and especially under heavy trials; discretion to know the times and seasons of our service; and patience to enable us meekly to instruct such as are unstable (or who oppose themselves to sound doctrine)—to their final acknowledgment of the Truth. Thus much for divination :—a thing which, should it be offered as a gift, I would counsel every man who values his peace of mind and Christian consistency to put from him: much more that he should avoid it as matter of research and acquisition; or of purchase, which is more dangerous still. There are parts of the subject with which I may not here meddle :-those who have been tainted by its seductions, or who have been caught in the snare of delusion and disgrace, may know of themselves (if they have not the conscience already seared) that all is not right with them :-and may God of his mercy grant to such the grace of repentance! For the ministry and those concerned in the rule of the churches, the watchword is to every individual, Have thou no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but, rather, reprove them.' Eph. v. 11. Ed. ELCOCK, PRINTER, PONTEFRACT. ART. I.-A Chronological Summary of events and circumstances connected with the origin and progress of the doctrine and practices of the Quakers. A. D. Continued from p. 267. A request made by letter, from the Women Friends met on 1766. occasion of the Yearly Meeting in London, to be constituted a Meeting for discipline, is declined. YEARLY MEETING. "Fifth Month 30th, 1765. The following letter from an appointment of the Women's Meeting having been sundry times read, and solidly considered, viz. "We whose names are hereunto subscribed, are appointed by the Women's Meeting to inform yours, that it has come renewedly and weightily under the consideration of the Women Friends this morning, in what manner to strengthen the hands one of another, in coming up in discharge of that part of the Discipline committed to their share. Whereupon it was agreed, if the men Friends would favour them with their concurrence therein, to send an Epistle, requesting the Women Friends of the several counties would send to our next Yearly Meeting, an account of the state of their several Quarterly Meetings; on which subject we desire your sentiments, and remain your Friends, Frances Dodshon, Sarah Taylor, Mary Bundock Mary Waring. "P. S. We desire your answer this Evening, our Meeting being adjourned VOL. IV. on that account till to-morrow." 2 N "And this Meeting desires the following Friends, viz.-Joseph Taylor, Henry Gurney, Samuel Neale, Geo. Mason, Jno. Robinson to acquaint our Women Friends who signed the said Letter, that this Meeting is very sensible that the motive of the request made by them proceeds from a desire of affording help, where the same may appear needful. But that there doth not seem sufficient time, to go through the affair this Yearly Meeting, suitably to its importance, and therefore it is recommended weightily to remain on the minds of Friends." "YEARLY MEETING, 5th Month 22nd, 1766. William Fry, from the Committee appointed to consider the Proposition from our Women Friends sent into this Meeting last year-brought in the following Report, which being twice read, was agreed to; and Gilbert Thompson and Isaac Sharpless are desired to deliver a Copy thereof to the Women's Meeting now sitting, viz.-' This Committee having solidly and deliberately considered the Proposition received last year from the Women Friends, submit the result to the judgment of this Meeting. "It appears to this Committee, that the Women's Meeting held annually in London at the time of the Yearly Meeting, does not con sist of Women Friends regularly deputed from any other Meetings. "That the formning such a Meeting hath appeared to our Predecessors, as it does to us, a matter of great difficulty. As therefore the meeting of a number of Women Friends, and of suitable abilities to carry on so weighty and important a work, appears to us very doubtful and uncertain, and cannot but subject the few who are qualified to assist in this work to great inconveniences, "It is therefore our unanimous opinion, that the present is not the proper season for complying with the said Proposal. Jno. Stephenson Wm. Fry James Fell Saml. Fothergill Jno. Fothergill, [M. D.] G. Thompson, [M.D.] Micah Ransom William Simson Jos. Watson James Backhouse Wm. Chapman Robert Howard Devx. Bowley Timothy Bevan John Townsend Wm. Phillips Samuel Emlen, jun. Matthew Cartwright Isaac Sharpless Jos. Phipps James Gough John Gurney Wm. Dillworth Jno. Scales Thomas Wyley Jos. Inman Jeremiah Waring Isaac Fletcher Thos. Corbyn Hinton Brown Geo. Mason Joseph Docwra Samuel Southall Isaac Jermyn.' Note: The Women's Meeting held annually in London at the time of the Yearly Meeting had subsisted from the time of George Fox: exercising a prescriptive rule in matters regarding the poor and charities, peculiar to the sex. Ed. |