First day, the 21st. While sitting in our meeting my mind was led into a consideration of the testimony of the apostle John, where he assures us, agreeably to truth and right reason, that God is love, and that they who dwell in love, dwell in God, and God in them. My mind was opened to set forth to the people the excellency of this state and the certainty of its attainment, by all such as sincerely desire salvation; and in order therefor, are willing, through and by the leading and teaching of divine grace, which the apostle Paul assures us, agreeably to our own sensible experience, has appeared to all men, to forego all our selfish and creaturely inclinations, and to deny self; and by bearing our cross daily, come to a full crucifixion of the old man, with all his corrupt and ungodly deeds. We thereby come to know a putting on the new man, even Christ, or a salvation state, agreeably to another declaration of the same apostle, where he asserts: “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new, and all things are of God.” I was likewise led to show the good fruits that would be the natural result of such a state, as certain as good fruit is produced by a good tree; for we should no longer love as man loves in his fallen state, from a selfish motive, self being slain; but we should love as God loves, with a disinterested love, and then we should love, not our friends and neighbours only, but our greatest enemies also; and we should become qualified sincerely to pray to God for them. We should then be brought to discover, that all such among Christians as pray for the downfall, or overcoming of their enemies by force of war, or by any other means than pure disinterested love, pray not in a Christian spirit, nor by the leading and influence of the spirit of God; but in their own spirit, and by the leading and influence of the spirit of antichrist. Therefore, such prayers are not heard, but are an abomination in the sight of a pure and holy God, who cannot behold iniquity with approbation. My mind was largely and impressively opened on the subject; and with solemn weight I left it upon the auditory, which was larger than usual: may it have its desired effect, is the sincere desire of my spirit. Second day. I attended the funerals of two elderly men of Bethpage meeting. They were neighbours; and were both interred in the meeting’s burial-ground at the same time. One of them was a member; and the other was educated among Friends, but had lost his right. A meeting was held on the occasion, and there was a large collection of people. It proved a solemn, and, I trust, an instructive time to some present: may it fasten as a nail in a sure place.