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and blowing the nose, which, by the separa- meeting, which closed under a good degree of tists, are at times very prevalent in our meet- quiet. On leaving my seat, I was beset by ings, when any thing is offered which they do three or four of the supporters of Elias Hicks, not approve. After I took my seat, two one grasping my hand so tightly that I Friends had very acceptable service in the found it difficult to extricate myself, evident

for the preservation of the Society, as many were caught with the speciousness of his arguments, and the bold and confident manner with which he

advanced them. Having proceeded further in avowing his disbelief in our Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of men, publicly declaring, that the same power that made him a Christian, must make us Christians, and that the same power that saved him, must save us; he was again privately laboured with, in order to convince him of his error; and upon being told that if he persisted in preaching these doctrines, so contrary to the Scriptures, and the testimony of our ancient Friends, it would produce one of the greatest schisms that had ever happened in the Society, he admitted that it would produce a schism, but that it would soon be over, for he believed his doctrines must and would prevail. He was so confirmed in his sentiments, that he said he should persevere therein, 'let the consequences be what they might.'

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the subject ought to claim the weighty attention of his Friends at home.'

"From this period may be dated the regular organization of a party devoted to his interests. Active exertions were used by those who have since stood conspicuous amongst the promoters of the present separation, to enlist every one they could, in favour of him and his opinions. Unjust and unfounded representations were industriously spread throughout the Society, in order to create a prejudice against those who could not conscientiously approbate his conduct and anti-christian views, especially against Friends in Philadelphia, who openly avowed their disunity with him. Much animosity was manifested by his adherents, and the false reports and opprobrious epithets, applied to those who bore a faithful testimony against his principles and ministry, gave ample proof of the origin and disorganizing tendency, of such doctrines.

In the twelfth month, 1822, Elias Hicks came "Under these circumstances our Yearly Meeting to Philadelphia, with certificates from his Monthly convened in 1823. Amongst the subjects which and Quarterly Meetings, to pay a visit to some had claimed the attention of the Meeting for Sufparts of our Yearly Meeting, including the fami- ferings, they believed it proper as representatives lies of two of the Monthly Meetings in this city. of the Yearly Meeting, to disclaim certain conIt was well known to many Friends, that he was troversial essays, printed in a periodical paper at charged with holding and propagating opinions, Wilmington, Delaware, appearing to be written incompatible with the doctrines always held by in the name of the Society, but which contained our religious Society, and some of the elders being sentiments incompatible with those it had always informed by two Friends who were present at a held and professed. A short minute for the purmeeting in the Southern Quarter, that he there pose was adopted and forwarded to the editor; advocated such opinions, two of them called upon a few selections from the writings of Friends were him on his arrival in Philadelphia, and stated the also prepared by a committee to accompany the information they had received, and proposed an in- minute, showing our faith upon those controverted terview between him and those two Friends, which points of doctrine. But the meeting deciding that he refused to accede to. Another attempt was the minute would be sufficient, it was agreed to made to procure such an interview, which he also print the selections in a pamphlet, to be distributed rejected. As the friends of Elias Hicks, as guar- to our members, for the purpose of reminding them dians of the ministry, and of the flock over which of those excellent Christian principles which our they were placed as overseers, the elders believed forefathers held, and suffered for. When the minit to be their duty still to seek a conference with utes of the Meeting for Sufferings were read in him, that if any incorrect statement had been the Yearly Meeting, its authority to prepare those made, it might be speedily rectified, or if true, that selections, was questioned by some of those who he should be possessed of the concern and judg- have since separated from us; many severe reflecment of his friends thereon.' But after a time and tions were passed upon that body and much displace were fixed, they failed in their brotherly at- turbance created by the disaffected upon this octempt to obtain the proposed interview, by his en- casion. While some professed to admit, that the couraging a number of his partizans to intrude sentiments contained in the extracts might be corthemselves into the company. The elders then rect, they unjustly charged the Meeting for Sufaddressed a letter to him, declaring that they ferings, with attempting to impose a creed upon 'could not have religious unity with his conduct, the Society; others condemned the doctrines themnor with the doctrines he was charged with pro- selves, as contrary to Scripture, reason and revemulgating.' In a subsequent communication, hav-lation, although selected from works which had ing the accounts of his unsoundness corroborated been repeatedly approved by the Society. Great by his public discourses in this city, they state that noise and confusion prevailed amongst them, and they were fully and sorrowfully confirmed in the conclusion, that he holds and is disseminating principles very different from those which are held and maintained by our religious Society, and that as he had closed the door against the brotherly care and endeavours of the elders for his benefit, and for the clearing our religious profession, they think VOL. III.-No. 11.

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the meeting adjourned. At the next sitting, one of the leaders of the disaffected party, proposed that those extracts should be expunged from the minutes of the Meeting for Sufferings; but as this would have implied a disavowal of the doctrines they contained, the meeting refused to accede to it. The clamour and violence of the opposers was

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ly wishing to draw me into controversy, wards me, exclaiming in a loud tone of voice, which I found it safest to avoid, and proceeded" By square and by rule works every fool;" to leave the house. I had not advanced much he followed me down the meeting-house to the further, before I was attacked by another of door, his gestures and countenance being such, this party coming from between the forms to- that a Friend who was near came between us,

such, that in order to obtain a state of quietude in the meeting, Friends at length consented to direct the Meeting for Sufferings to suspend the publication of the pamphlet, which had been printed, and placed in the book room. We have thought it right thus to rehearse the facts relating to this subject, because they have been grossly misrepresented in various places, and motives and designs attributed to Friends, which were not only untrue, but absolutely unfounded.

the glorious character of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Saviour and Redeemer of men, our Mediator and Advocate with the Father, and also undervaluing the Holy Scriptures. A periodical paper called the Berean, devoted to the same cause, was also set up, and circulated amongst our members, in which was a series of essays, openly attacking the acknowledged doctrines of Friends, and tending to subvert their faith in the divinity of Christ, and his propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of man"Although the disaffected members denied the kind; by which we believe many have been turned right of the Meeting for Sufferings to prepare and into the paths of scepticism, and thereby lost that publish extracts from the writings of our early true peace and assurance, which are only found in Friends, yet afterwards they themselves assumed the faith of the Gospel. The lamentable effects the right of doing so, and published a pamphlet of of the principles disseminated by such publications, extracts, the object of which was to support the became more and more obvious. Accustomed to doctrinal views of Elias Hicks. In making their hear the sacred truths of Christian redemption selections great injustice was done to the authors called in question, many lost that awe which those from whose works they were taken, material parts solemn subjects had heretofore inspired, and alof sentences being omitted, and in some places lowed themselves the liberty of speaking upon words were introduced, so as to change entirely them in a light and very irreverent manner. the true meaning of the writer, and even to make arising and spreading of the power of Truth in him contradict himself. In the progress of this our assemblies for divine worship, was much obspirit of misrepresentation and division, much la- structed by the spirit of unbelief; and opposition bour was privately bestowed, to convince individu- increased among the disaffected to the administraals of the unsoundness of the doctrines preached tion of the discipline, especially when it was likely by Elias Hicks, and by some other ministers who to displace any of their own party. In some meethad adopted his opinions, and to show the desolat-ings, where they had the control, unjustifiable ing effects that would be produced by them upon the Society. But such was the strength of prejudice against sound Friends, that arguments or entreaties in most instances were unavailing, and these endeavours to convince were often met with unkind reflections and criminations.

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From the decided opposition which they had made to the dissemination of unsound principles, it was apparent to the advocates of the new views,' that the elders, and members of the Meeting for Sufferings, would present a great obstacle to their general adoption. Unwearied efforts were therefore used to bring them into discredit, and to alienate Friends from them; and after great exertion to accomplish this object, a plan was projected for altering the discipline, so as to make these appointments subject to frequent change. Accordingly, in 1825, the project was introduced into one of the Quarterly Meetings, where the disaffected party predominated, and a minute made, contrary to the solid sense and judgment of many Friends,' proposing that all important appointments should be made for a limited time. On its introduction to the Yearly Meeting, much discussion ensued, in which the party urged their favourite measure, but the meeting decided, that such a rule would be unsafe, and it was dismissed.

"As a further means for spreading the views of the seceding party, and giving strength to their cause, they widely circulated a volume of discourses, delivered by Elias Hicks, in one of his visits within this Yearly Meeting, which contain sentiments correspondent with those he had long been charged with holding, directly repugnant to

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measures were adopted to promote party purposes, thereby producing great distress and exercise to Friends. Notwithstanding all their efforts, they did not obtain that complete ascendency which their leaders anxiously desired, Friends being enabled, through the merciful interposition of divine assistance, to maintain their ground, with a good degree of firmness, against the inroads of infidelity, and the flood of reproach and false accusations, which was poured forth against them; and the disaffected therefore determined to use some further means to bring about a revolution."

in Philadelphia, in 1827, the "Declaration" proAfter some account of the Yearly Meeting held

ceeds:

"Having endeavoured to give a faithful narrative of some of the prominent events which have marked the course of the present schism, of which it is alleged that the promulgation of doctrines subversive of the faith of our religious Society, has been the primary cause, it remains to exhibit these doctrines from works acknowledged by the Separatists, and which they have widely circulated for the purpose of disseminating their views; and also to contrast these doctrines, with those which have been always held and professed by the Society of Friends from its rise to the present day. It should be distinctly recollected that in the first official document which they issued, and in which they declare the grounds of their dissatisfaction with Friends, the Separatists assert that DOCTRINES held by one part of Society, and which we believe to be sound and edifying, are pronounced

fearing as he said, that he would have proceeded to personal violence. Some females not professing with Friends, coming towards us, called out shame at his behaviour, saying, my age, if nothing else, should have restrained him

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periodical publication which the Separatists have circulated for several years, as a standard work on the faith of the Society, but which we believe has had a very pernicious effect in leading astray many sincere-hearted people, who were not aware of the poison that is insidiously conveyed through its pages. This work, speaking of the volume of Elias Hicks' discourses, already noticed, says, 'it will make the traditional outside Christian startle, and the dreamers, high priests, the scribes and pharisees of every denomination to gnash their teeth; but the great body of the society on this continent, of which this venerable minister is a member, together with many other unshackled minds will set their seals to the doctrines which it contains.' Vol. I. p. 398.

"In accordance with this declaration, several Monthly Meetings in which his adherents had the rule, and who have since joined the new sect, prepared and issued minutes expressive of their satisfaction with him and his doctrines. But the attendance of Elias Hicks at the General Association of the Separatists, held in this month at Green street, establishes beyond all doubt, his unity with them in breaking their connexion with the Society of Friends; and by placing a record on their minutes of his presence, and their satisfaction with his company, the Separatists, as a body, have formally identified themselves with him and his anti-christian doctrines, a declaration of which he openly made in very palpable terms, in one of their largest meetings on the preceding day.

by the other part to be UNSOUND AND SPURIOUS. FROM THIS has resulted a state of things, that has proved destructive of peace and tranquillity, and in which the fruits of love and condescension have been blasted, and the comforts and enjoyments, even of social intercourse greatly diminished.' The address containing this declaration is signed by direction and on behalf of the meeting held on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of the fourth month, 1827, by John Comly and nine other persons from different parts of our Yearly Meeting, and we regard it as a candid acknowledgment that from those doctrines, which Friends pronounce 'to be unsound and spurious,' but which the Separatists 'believe to be sound and edifying,' have resulted the difficulties in which the Society has been involved. "In their epistle issued in the sixth month following, they further allege that faithful Friends in the ministry were unjustly charged with preaching infidel doctrines, denying the divinity of Christ, and undervaluing the Scriptures.' We know of no faithful Friends against whom these charges have been advanced. But there are those, who not keeping in a state of humility and subjection to the cross of Christ, which would have preserved them in the unity of the faith, and in a willingness to endure suffering for the Gospel's sake, have listened to the voice of the stranger, and being deceived by his transformations, as the appearance of an angel of light, they have by degrees lost their habitation in the blessed Truth, and made shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience. Some of these continuing to exercise the office of ministers, which they once acceptably occupied among us, have been led, step by step, to broach doctrines which are subversive of the Christian faith, and "Elias Hicks says, 'If the Scriptures were abcontrary to the doctrines and principles of our re-solutely necessary, he had power to communicate ligious Society. This defection, however, is not confined to those who were ministers, but there are many others, who hold and are engaged in propagating the same unsound sentiments. Their various plans have been arranged and directed, to procure the adoption of these sentiments, as the faith of the Society; but disappointed at last by their failure, and perceiving that Friends were increasingly alive to the importance of preserving the Society from the dangerous effects of such doctrines, the only alternative, in their view, was a complete severance from its communion.

"We shall not attempt to trace their unsoundness through all its ramifications, but we shall adduce evidence from their own works, which we believe must conclusively prove, that they deny the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he is the Redeemer and Saviour of men, our Propitiation and Mediator with the Father, and also that they undervalue the Holy Scriptures. The selections are chiefly taken from the discourses of Elias Hicks. Most of their ministers inculcate the same opinions, but we have confined ourselves to a few of those discourses which are before the public in print. Extracts are also made from the Berean, a

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We shall proceed with the extracts, commencing with their opinions respecting the Holy Scriptures.

them to all the nations of the earth, for he had his way as a path in the clouds: he knows how to deal out to all his rational children. But they were not necessary, and perhaps not suited to any other people, than they to whom they were written.' Philadelphia Sermons, p. 119.

"One would suppose that to a rational mind, the hearing and reading of the instructive parables of Jesus would have a tendency to reform and turn men about to truth and lead them on in it. But they have no such effect.' Ibid. p. 129.

"They have been so bound up in the letter, that they think they must attend to it, to the exclusion of every thing else. Here is an abominable idol worship, of a thing without any life at all, a dead monument.' Ibid p. 139.

"The great and only thing needful then is, to turn inward, and turn our back upon the letter, for it is all shadow.' Ibid. p. 225.

"Now the book we read in says, 'Search the Scriptures,' but this is incorrect, we must all see it is incorrect; because we have all reason to believe they read the Scriptures, and hence they accused Jesus of being an impostor.' Ibid. p. 314.

"He [Jesus] does not move us in the least de

the separatists waiting for me below stairs, diligent search of me the preceding day. Unand I had been previously told that the derstanding one of these individuals was a Select Yearly Meeting of the separatists had person at whose house I had been twice kindly appointed a committee to visit me, and entertained, until I had an official proof from that some of this committee had been in himself of his business with me, I did not feel

gree to any book, or writing whatever, but leaves every thing outward entirely behind as having passed by, for he abolished all external evidence, as not being capable of bringing about salvation to the soul. See Quaker; Elias Hicks's sermon, vol. II. p. 264.

"No experience will ever be worth any thing to us, which is not our own experience, begotten through the influence of the blessed spirit of God.' N. York Sermons, p. 123.

"Thomas Wetherald, at an irregular meeting held at Green street, says, 'And I want us therefore, in our investigation of spiritual things, to bring spiritual evidence to prove spiritual truths. Let us attend to spiritual reflections, and not be looking to the Scriptures, and to the systems of men, and to the words of preachers; for all these being of an external character, can only form an ignis fatuus, which leads to bewilder and dazzles to blind.'' Quaker, vol. II. p. 217.

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"In accordance with the above sentiments concerning the Holy Scriptures, the Berean says, In vain does any man quote the Scriptures as authority for his opinions; for if they have not been immediately revealed to his own mind by the Holy Spirit, they deserve no better name as it respects him, than speculations.' Vol. II. p. 211.

"Those revelations were for other times and other states, and not for us. They belong to those to whom they were immediately revealed. And that, and only that, which is immediately revealed to us, belongs in like manner to us and to us only.' Ibid. p. 212.

"Now the revelations respecting the nature of God, which were made to the Israelites, are true when viewed as in connexion with, and as having relation to their spiritual condition; but to any other state, they are not true; therefore such revelations abstractedly taken, are NOT TRUE IN THEMSELVES ARE NOT THE TRUTH OF GOD.' Ibid. vol. I. p. 403.

specting the nature of God, ARE NOT TRUE IN THEMSELVES; ARE NOT THE TRUTH of God.

"We are not surprised that persons holding the opinions which they do, relating to the great truths of Christian redemption, should undervalue and endeavour to destroy the authority of the Holy Scriptures. For so long as they are admitted to be a test of doctrine, all their pretended revelations which contradict the testimony of the Sacred Record, are properly condemned as unsound and spurious.' But we could not have supposed that at this enlightened day, when their divine authority has been so abundantly confirmed, by the accomplishment of the ancient prophecies, and in the experience of the true Christian, that any of the professed believers of the 'light within' would dare to assert, that those divine revelations respecting the nature of God, are not true in themselves, are not the truth of God. It is an affecting proof of the dreadful consequences of a spirit of scepticism and unbelief, that they should become so darkened as to speak in this irreverent manner of those weighty truths revealed to the Lord's servants, to whom he condescended to speak as face to face.

"The Society of Friends have always fully believed in the authenticity and divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, and acknowledge them to be the only fit outward test of doctrines, having been dictated by the Holy Spirit of God, which cannot err. They are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works; and are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus; and whatever any teach or do contrary thereto, they reject as a delusion. Under a profession of exalting the light of Christ as the immediate means of salvation, which is a doctrine most fully believed by us, some have undervalued the Holy Scriptures, as being unnecessary to the Christian. It is contrary to the practice of the So

esteem them a great blessing to the church, and desire to cultivate feelings of gratitude to the Great Disposer of events, for preserving them through various revolutions and vicissitudes, being fully persuaded that the more we become obedient to the manifestations of the light of Christ in the heart, the more precious and valuable are those inestimable writings to us.

"We could select many other passages deroga-ciety to speak of them in any such terms. We tory to the Holy Scriptures, but these are sufficient to show the contemptuous manner in which they are spoken of by the Separatists and their ministers. They assert that they are not necessary, and perhaps not suited to any other people, than those to whom they were written; they are a thing without any life at all, a dead monument, all shadow, upon which we should turn our backs; that the direction of our Lord to search them is not correct; that his parables have no such effect as a tendency to reform and turn men about to Truth; that in vain does any man quote the Scriptures as authority for his opinions; that without immediate revelation they are no better than speculations; that they only form an ignis fatuus which leads to bewilder, and dazzles to blind; that no experience will ever be worth any thing to us which is not our own experience, and that that only belongs to us which is immediately revealed to us; and that the revelations which were made to the Israelites re

"In proof that these have been the sentiments of the Society from the beginning, we shall adduce the testimony of Robert Barclay and William Penn. In his Apology for the principles and doctrines of the people called Quakers, which we have always owned as a declaration of our faith, Robert Barclay says, 'In this respect above mentioned then, we have shown what service and use the Holy Scriptures, as managed in and by the Spirit, are of to the church of God; wherefore we do account them a secondary rule. Moreover because they are commonly acknowledged by all to have

comfortable at the idea of refusing to see him; deputed by their Select Yearly Meeting to I therefore provided myself with two suitable say that the unsoundness of my ministry Friends to bear me company, who were at had occasioned great uneasiness to the memhand. On taking our seats, one of the sepa-bers of their meeting, and that they were ratists' committee informed me, they were commissioned to order me not to proceed

been written by the dictates of the Holy Spirit, and that the errors which may be supposed by the injury of times to have slipped in, are not such but that there is a sufficient clear testimony left to all the essentials of the Christian faith; we do look upon them as the only fit outward judge of controversies among Christians; and that whatsoever doctrine is contrary unto their testimony, may therefore justly be rejected as false. And for our parts we are very willing that all our doctrines and practices be tried by them; which we never refused, nor ever shall, in all controversies with our adversaries, as the judge and test. We shall also be very willing to admit it as a positive certain maxim, that whatsoever any do, pretending to the Spirit, which is contrary to the Scriptures, be accounted and reckoned a delusion of the devil.' p. 99.

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declare that the revelations made to the Lord's prophets respecting the divine nature are not true. In reference to all such pretensions, William Penn says, That we renounce all fantastical, and whimsical intoxications, or any pretence to the revelation of new matter in opposition to the ancient Gospel, declared by Christ Jesus and his apostles; and therefore not the revelation of new things, but the renewed revelation of the eternal way of truth. That this revelation is the life, virtue, condition and very soul of the Gospel and second covenant.' Vol. II. p. 48.

"In the same essay: 'If ye are led by the spirit of God, then are ye sons of God; let this suffice to vindicate our sense of a true and unerring rule, which we assert, not in a way of derogation from those Holy Writings, which with reverence we read, believe and desire always to obey the mind and will of God therein contained; and let that doctrine be accursed that would overturn them.' Ibid. p. 62.

"It must be evident to every candid mind, that the sentiments of the Separatists which we have quoted from their own works, are at perfect variance with the doctrines of our early Friends respecting the Holy Scriptures, however they may endeavour to make the impression upon the public mind, that they are one in faith with them.

"In the next place we will show that they deny the miraculous conception of our Lord.

'William Penn, in his 'Testimony to the Truth,' after stating some groundless charges made against Friends, respecting their belief in the Holy Scriptures, says, Whereas we in truth and sincerity believe them to be of divine authority, given by the inspiration of God through holy men, they speaking or writing them, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; that they are a declaration of those things most surely believed by the primitive Christians, and that as they contain the mind and will of God, and are his commands to us, so they in that respect are his declaratory word; and therefore are obligatory on us, and are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, and thoroughly furnished to every good work. Nay after all, so unjust is the charge [preferring our own books, &c.] and so remote from our belief concerning the Holy Scriptures, that we both love, honour, and prefer them, before all books in the world; ever choosing to express our belief of the Christian faith and doctrine, in the terms thereof, and rejecting all principles or doctrines whatsoever, that are repugnant thereunto. Nevertheless we are well persuaded, that notwithstanding there is such an excellency in the Holy Scriptures, as we have above declared, yet the unstable, and unlearned in Christ's school, too often wrest them to their own destruction. And upon our reflection on their carnal constructions of them, we are made undervaluers of Scripture itself. But certain it is, that as the Lord hath been pleased to give us, the "Now in his creed [the bishop of Rome] to experience of the fulfilling of them in measure, so which he made all the nations of Europe bow by it is altogether contrary to our faith and practice, the dint of the sword, was this of the miraculous to put any manner of slight or contempt upon birth, therefore all children for several hundred them, much more of being guilty of what mali-years, were brought up, and educated in this belief, ciously is suggested against us; since no society of professed Christians in the world, can have a more reverent and honourable esteem for them than we have. John iv. 24. xvi. 8. Rom. i. 19. Luke i. 1, 2. Tim. iii. 16, 17. 2 Pet. iii. 16.' Vol. II. p. 878.

"The Separatists would appear to be great advocates for divine revelation, at the same time they

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"Elias Hicks says, 'Who was his father? He was begotten of God. We cannot suppose that it was the outward body of flesh and blood that was begotten of God, but a birth of the spiritual life in the soul. We must apply it internally and spiritually. For nothing can be a Son of God but that which is spirit, and nothing but the soul of man is a recipient for the light and spirit of God. Therefore nothing can be a Son of God but that which is immortal and invisible. thing visible can be a Son of God. Every visible thing must come to an end, and we must know the mortality of it. Flesh and blood cannot enter into heaven. By the analogy of reason, spirit cannot beget a material body, because the thing begotten, must be of the same nature with its father. Spirit cannot beget any thing but spirit; it cannot beget flesh and blood. No my friends IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.' Philadelphia Sermons, p. 10.

without any examination in regard to its correctness. Finding this to be the case, I examined the accounts given on this subject by the four evangelists, and according to my best judgment on the occasion, I was led to think there was considerable more Scripture evidence for his being the son of Joseph, than otherwise,' &c. Elias Hicks to 'T. Willis.

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