effectually cry for deliverance, or rejoice in his salvation, but as his saving power is exercised in them, and their minds become subjected thereunto. This is the power they have learned to wait for, and depend upon; in which dependent state they meet with the Lord as a quickening Spirit, hear him instruct them with convincing clearness, and feel his presence to impart fresh life and strength to their souls; for he still speaks in his spiritual manifestation, as he did in his bodily appearance, with divine authority, and as never man spoke, and is the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him. These can experimentally say, that he is come to teach his people himself, and that he is made unto them wisdom, to direct their steps in the way to the kingdom; righteousness to clothe their spirits; their sanctification and complete redemption; as they are concerned not only to receive him in the beginning as their Lord and Saviour, but also to grow up and persevere in the power of the Spirit, earnestly desiring to be rooted and built up in its divine nature, and established in the true faith. The Lord alone can profitably apply the precious promises to the poor soul, as he leads it through the various progressive states to which the promises belong; by whose guidance his faithful followers are brought to escape the corruptions that are in the world, and measurably to become partakers of the divine nature.

Christ dwells in the hearts of these by faith, as the holy, powerful, appointed minister of the sanctuary and true tabernacle, which God hath pitched, and not man. He not only teacheth in

fallibly and convincingly, but also raiseth a hunger and thirst after a closer union with himself, and a fuller possession and enjoyment of his everlasting righteousness. Those who have attained this experience, cannot but esteem the time well spent in silently waiting for his instruction what to pray for, and that he may open their understandings to discern their present duty, and how to apply the sacred writings to real profit, and also to commemorate what great things he has mercifully done for their needy souls, both without and within them. This frequently melts them into tears of unaffected contrition, and humble gratitude; in which state they can adore his goodness, and put up their petitions without a prayer-book, and often without any vocal sound; for he is then known to be in his temple, and the earthly part is in perfect silence before him. What sober person, who considers how awful a thing it is to worship the great Jehovah in spirit and truth, can lightly censure or disapprove of such a silent dependence on his power, to help the poor creature under its manifold infirmities? "Rest in the Lord," saith David, or as in the margin, “Be silent to the Lord, and wait patiently for him; wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord."*

* Psal. xxxvii. 7. and xxvii. 14.

ROBERT BARCLAY, in his Apology for the true Christian Divinity, as held forth by the people called Quakers, has wrote so clearly on the subject in his eleventh proposition, that a few quotations from this author may serve to illustrate the foregoing reasons, and confirm the testimonies of many experimental witnesses on the subject, and profitableness of solemn silence.

In his proposition on worship, in sect. 6, he has these remarks: "We judge it the duty of all to be diligent in the assembling of themselves together, and when assembled, the great work of one and all ought to be to wait upon God; and returning out of their own thoughts and imaginations, to feel the Lord's presence, and know a gathering into his name indeed, where he is in the midst, according to his promise. And as every one is thus gathered, and so met together inwardly in their spirits, as well as outwardly in their persons, there the secret power and virtue of life is known to refresh the soul, and the pure motions and breathings of God's spirit are felt to arise; from which, as words of declaration, prayers or praises arise, the acceptable worship is known, which edifies the church, and is well-pleasing to God. And no man here limits the spirit of God, nor bringeth forth his own conned and gathered stuff; but every one puts that forth which the Lord puts into their hearts and it is uttered forth not in man's will

and wisdom, but in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit and of power. Yea, though there be not a word spoken, yet is the true spiritual worship performed, and the body of Christ edified; yea, it may, and hath often fallen out among us, that divers meetings have passed without one word; and yet our souls have been greatly edified and refreshed, and our hearts wonderfully overcome with the secret sense of God's power and spirit, which, without words, hath been ministered from one vessel to another. This is indeed strange and incredible to the mere natural and carnally-minded man, who will be apt to judge all time lost where there is not something spoken that is obvious to the outward senses; and therefore I shall insist a little upon this subject, as one that can speak from a certain experience, and not by mere hearsay, of this wonderful and glorious dispensation; which hath so much the more of the wisdom and glory of God in it, as it is contrary to the nature of man's spirit, will, and wisdom."

He also, in sect. 7, on silent waiting on God, expresses himself thus: "For many thus principled, meeting together in the pure fear of the Lord, did not apply themselves presently to speak, pray, or sing, &c., being afraid to be found acting forwardly in their own wills, but each made it their work to retire inwardly to the measure of grace in themselves, not being only silent as to words, but even abstaining from all their own thoughts, imaginations, and desires; so watching in a holy dependence upon the Lord, and meeting together not only out

wardly in one place, but thus inwardly in one Spirit, and in one name of Jesus, which is his power and virtue, they come thereby to enjoy and feel the arisings of this life, which, as it prevails in each particular, becomes as a flood of refreshment, and overspreads the whole meeting: for man, and man's part and wisdom, being denied and chained down in every individual, and God exalted, and his grace in dominion in the heart; thus his name comes to be one in all, and his glory breaks forth, and covers all; and there is such a holy awe and reverence upon every soul, that if the natural part should arise in any, or the wise part, or what is not one with the life, it would presently be chained down and judged out. And when any are, through the breaking forth of this power, constrained to utter a sentence of exhortation or praise, or to breathe to the Lord in prayer, then all are sensible of it; for the life in them answers to it, as in water face answereth to face.* This is that divine and spiritual worship, which the world neither knoweth nor understandeth, which the vulture's eye seeth not into. Yet many and great are the advantages which my soul, with many others, hath tasted of hereby, and which would be found of all such as would seriously apply themselves hereunto: for, when people are gathered thus together, not merely to hear men, nor depend upon them, but all are inwardly taught to stay their minds upon the Lord, and wait for his appearance in their hearts; thereby

* Prov. xxvii. 19.