Fifth day. Attended our monthly meeting, at which the queries were read and answers prepared to go to the quarterly meeting. To judge from these, it would appear that we were generally an upright people; but I fear our answers are becoming too much like many of us, more in show and outside appearance, than in spirit and substance. For by this formal way of answering them, unless great care is taken, our queries may do us much more harm than good; and this fear often attends my mind, and induces me to call the attention of my friends from the letter of discipline, to the spirit and substance; without which all letter and outward order, however beautiful in the outward appearance, is but as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal, and will in the end only deceive and disappoint us, and unveil our nakedness. Sixth day. Was our preparative meeting of Ministers and Elders, in which our answers made a similar appearance; insomuch, that there was but little to find fault with. I hope it may stand the test in the day of trial; this we ought carefully to consider, otherwise, in the end, we may fall short when it may be too late to retrieve the loss. The rest of the week I attended to my temporal business as far as my bodily infirmity would permit, although at times my exercise produced very acute pains. I find it needful however, to keep up a continual watch, that I do nothing to promote or encourage idleness, that bane to every Christian virtue; and especially at such a time as this, when most of our capable well-looking young men are running into cities and populous towns to engage in merchandise, or some other calling by which they may live by their wits, being unwilling to labour with their hands: although it is the most sure way marked out by divine wisdom for our truest comfort and peace here, and a right preparation for eternal joy hereafter. And, although many fatal consequences have befallen many of those who have thus run out in trade and mercantile business, apparently to the ruin of both body and soul, and the great injury and distress of their families: yet, because some few have made themselves rich in temporal things by those pursuits, it has so blinded the minds of many that they will not take warning, but go on in their wilful way to their own utter ruin.