The Newport Gazette

TESTIMONY from The MEETING of SUFFERING, held at Philadelphia, and addressed to the People called QUAKERS.

To our Friends and Brethren in religious Profession, in these and the adjacent Provinces.

Dearly beloved Friends and Brethren,

Our minds, being renewedly impressed with a fervent religious concern for your spiritual welfare, and preservation in the love and fellowship of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of peace, by the constrainings of his love, we are engaged to salute you in this time of deep exercise, affliction and difficulty: earnestly desiring that we may, by steady circumspection and care, in every part of our conduct and consideration, evidence, that under the close trials, which are and may be permitted to attend us, our trust, and reliance, is fixed on him alone for protection and deliverance, remembering his gracious promise to his faithful followers. "Lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt. xxviii. 20.

And, "as it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Heb. ii. 10. Let us not be dismayed if we are now led in the same path.

As we keep in the Lord's power and peaceable truth, which is over all, and therein seek the good of all, neither outward sufferings, persecutions, nor any outward thing that is below, will hinder or break our heavenly fellowship in the light and spirit of Christ: G. Fox's Epistle, 1655.

Thus we may with Christian firmness and fortitude withstand and refuse to submit to the arbitrary injunctions and ordinances of men, who assume to themselves the power of compelling others, either in person or by their assistance, to join in carrying on war and of prescribing modes of testifying concerning our religious principle, by imposing tests not warranted by the precepts of Christ, or the laws of the happy constitution under which we and others long enjoyed tranquillity and peace

We therefore, in the abounding of that love which wisheth the spiritual and temporal prosperity of all men, exhort, admonish and caution all who make religious profession with us, and especially our beloved youth, to stand fast in their liberties, wherewith, through the manifold sufferings of our predecessors, we have been favored, and steadily to bear our testimony against every attempt to deprive us of it.

And dear friends, you who have known the truth; and the powerful operation thereof in your good example and stability, is bound to strengthen the weak, confirm the wavering and warn and caution the unwary. against being beguiled by the snares of the adversaries of truth and righteousness—Let not the fear of sufferings either in person and property, prevail on any to join with or promote any work or preparation for war.
Our profession and principles are founded on that point, which is contrary to, and will in time put an end to all wars, and bring in every thing righteousness; and by our constantly abiding under the direction and instruction of that spirit, we may be educated to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy, James iii. 17. That this may be our happy experience, is our sincere desire and prayer.

Signed in and on behalf of the Meeting for Sufferings held at Philadelphia, for Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the 20th day of the twelfth month, 1776.

JOHN PEMBERTON, Clerk.

P. S. Friends are desired solidly to read the foregoing Epistle in their several meetings, as soon as may be. It is also recommended to Friends to read in their families, with careful attention, the excellent Epistle of our worthy Friend William Penn, No. 21. in the year 1678. directed to the children of light, &c. in the Appendix of his life.