Should we continue to reject those merciful Admonitions, and use his Gifts at Home, contrary to the gracious Design of the Giver, or send them Abroad in a Way of Trade, which the Spirit of Truth doth not lead into; and should he whose Eyes are upon all our Ways, extend his Chastisements so far as to reduce us to much greater Distress than hath yet been felt by these Provinces; with what sorrow of Heart might we meditate on that Subject, _Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the Way? Thine own Wickedness shall correct thee, and thy Backslidings shall reprove thee; know therefore, and see that it is an evil Thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my Fear is not in thee, saith the Lord of Hosts_, Jer. ii. 17, 19. My Mind hath often been affected with Sorrow, in beholding a wrong Application of the Gifts of our Heavenly Father; and those Expressions concerning the Defilement of the Earth have been opened to my Understanding; _The Earth was corrupt before God, and the Earth was filled with Violence_, Gen. vi. 11. Again, Isaiah xxiv. 5. _The Earth also is defiled under the Inhabitants thereof._ The Earth being the Work of a Divine Power, may not as such be accounted unclean; but when Violence is committed thereon, and the Channel of Righteousness so obstructed, that _in our Skirts are found the Blood of the Souls of poor Innocents; not by a secret Search, but upon all these_,[2] Jer. ii. 34. [Footnote 2: See a _Caution and Warning to Great Britain and her Colonies_ Page 31.] When Blood shed unrighteously remains unatoned for, and the Inhabitants are not effectually purged from it, when they do not wash their Hands in Innocency, as was figured in the Law, in the Case of one being found slain; but seek for Gain arising from Scenes of Violence and Oppression, here the Land is polluted with Blood, _Deut_. xxi. 6. Moreover, when the Earth is planted and tilled, and the Fruits brought forth are applied to support unrighteous Purposes; here the gracious Design of infinite Goodness, in these his Gifts being perverted, the Earth is defiled; and the Complaint formerly uttered becomes applicable; _Thou hast made me to serve with thy Sins; thou hast wearied me with thine Iniquities_, Isaiah xliii. 24. AN EPISTLE TO THE QUARTERLY AND MONTHLY MEETINGS OF FRIENDS. By JOHN WOOLMAN. _LONDON_: Re-printed by MARY HINDE. AN EPISTLE, &c. Beloved Friends,--Feeling at this Time a renewed Concern that the pure Principle of Light and Life, and the righteous Fruits thereof may spread and prevail amongst Mankind, there is an Engagement on my Heart to labour with my Brethren in religious Profession, that none of us may be a Stumbling-block in the Way of others; but may so walk that our Conduct may reach the pure Witness in the Hearts of such who are not in Profession with us.