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Journal of Joshua Evans 1795-1796 (E)

SW_JE1796E_Page_38

21st. The Yearly Meeting of Ministers and Elders began, at wchwere our Friends John Wigham and Martha Rowuth from Europe, withothers out of other Parts; a second sitting thereof was in the afternoon,low times to me: I thought many of us were got into a state of easyindulgence in many things, and are not soon to be removed from Beds of Ease: I tried at it a little, yet not to much purpose. I hinted that the benefit &; well ordering of this large Yearly Meeting, wou'dmuch depend on the wise Conduct of those in high Stations: guardingwell their own Example &; Conversation, and then watching over youngerPeople carefully; checking their going on formal visits from houseto house; that if favoured to receive a little good, they might lose it's Sa-vour, or learn bad fashions or unprofitable Customs, by getting into Com-panies, and indulging Vanities, so as to be in danger of returningfrom such a Solemnity worse than when they came to it: That of sitt-ing up late in the Evenings, &; laying in bed late in the mornings I had also tomention my belief, it was unprofitable for Body and Soul. I thoughtthis kind of Doctrine seemed rather hard or close for me to deliveramong Brethren &; Sisters of high rank in a large City, and thoughlately visited with alarming mortality, I fear too many are not enoughhumbled. 23d. The meeting of Business began, which in most of it's Sittingsseem'd times of exercise, the Stream being low, as I thought; Members beingtoo generally tinctured more or less with a Worldly Spirit, know not theproper value of the precious Truth, &; thus become captivated,barren &; dwarfish. At