AND SPECIAL

ADVICES.

REGULATIONS bring them to the aknowledgment and obedience of the truth in that respect; and if, after such gentle and tender dealing with them, any such shall continue in their unfaithfulness, that then the monthly meeting unto which such persons shall belong, having exercised Christian patience and forbearance towards such, and finding itself clear in the sight of God, do declare that such, for their unfaithfulness and opposition to this our Christian testimony, are unworthy to be admitted to the meetings for business amongst friends, or to be received to join in the collections made by friends for the service of the church; and if after that, such persons shall persist in such their unfaithfulness and opposition, that then the monthly meeting proceed further, to give judgment for the clearing of truth and friends, as in the holy counsel and wisdom of God they shall be directed and guided therein. 1706.

22

out warrant.

Whereas it appears, that the method of taking the priests' demands Seizures with without warrant or due form of law, prevails more in some places than heretofore, friends are therefore intreated to be as much upon their guard as possible, against the introduction of any practices that may tend to encourage unfaithfulness or collusion: a disposition altogether unbecoming the nobility of truth, and inconsistent with the uprightness it requires. 1750. W. E.

23 Mixed rates.

24

Returns.

As it appears by some accounts, that in some places the officers, in making their rates, viz. the poors'-rate which is by act of parliament, and the church-rate or sess, so called, which is mostly by ecclesiastical law, mix them together, and sometimes [demands] for the priest; it is therefore recommended, that friends be careful to examine into the said rates, or the parish-books, that they may not be imposed on, it being contrary to law; and such rates may be refused, and if warrants are granted upon such rates, they being altogether illegal may be set aside. 1756.

From the accounts brought to this meeting, it appears that in divers places it has been the practice to receive the overplus in money, of the

AND SPECIAL

ADVICES.

distraints made from friends on account of tithes, church-rates, so called, REGULATIONS and other ecclesiastical demands: it is the advice of this meeting, that friends should decline, as much as may be, to receive such overplus when offered, in a different species from that which was distrained. 1757.

25

Care to be ex

ercised by

meetings.

We earnestly exhort and beseech quarterly meetings, carefully to inspect and consider the state of their monthly meetings; and when weakness and remissness are manifestly apparent therein, that they quarterly appoint committees, as occasions may require, to assist them in extending such admonition and help as may be found necessary; in order that this important branch of our testimony, against the receiving and paying of tithes, as well as every other branch thereof, may be more generally, becomingly, and consistently supported; and that friends may be clear, in the discharge of their duty to God and to each other, in the great day of account. 1772. W. E.

This meeting having weightily considered the deficiencies, which from year to year have been complained of, in the support of our Christian testimony against tithes, is apprehensive that they may be occasioned in degree by some misconstruction of the yearly meeting minute of 1706, as though it did not enjoin monthly meetings to proceed to the disownment of such of their members as persist in rejecting the admonition of their brethren: wherefore this meeting thinks it expedient to declare, that no such exemption from the invariable issue of our dealings with irreclaimable delinquents, is considered by this meeting to be allowed by the said minute. 1796.

26

Disownment.

Agreed, that tithes taken away by force be recorded as a suffering for truth. 1676.

And because some have not kept an account of the tithes in kind that have been taken from them, as if that were no suffering, because

27

SUFFERINGS.

28

Tithes in kind.

M M

SUFFERINGS. the priests' and impropriators' pretended due; we find ourselves engaged in spirit, to desire you to reckon that of tithe, amongst the other sufferings that you send up, and to take the same care of recording all taken away upon that account, in your book of sufferings. 1678.

30

Account to

respecting friends in prison.

It is desired that when sufferings are sent up in order for redress of any particular case, the same be written down, as to the loss sustained, goods distrained, severe and illegal treatment or usage by justices or other persons, plainly, pertinently, and distinctly, as to matter of fact only, without any reflection upon the magistrates and persons by whom friends have suffered, or against whom any complaint is made; and that sufferings sent up to be recorded here, be first read in the quarterly meeting, and therein signed. 1681.

That an account be yearly sent up of all such friends as are in be rendered prison, or prisoners, that it may be known who are detained in prison, and who are discharged since the preceding yearly meeting, and when discharged; also to signify the time of their commitment, by whom prosecuted, and for what cause; and that distinct accounts be brought up of all such friends as have died in prison, as prisoners for their testimony to the truth, since the foregoing yearly meeting, with their names, ages, dwelling-places, education, time of convincement, and the places of their travel and service, time of sufferings, and death. 1681.

31

Difficult cases to be sent to meeting for sufferings.

32

Prosecutors

to be reasoned with.

Upon consideration of sufferings in general, it is advised, that in cases of difficulty, and where friends who are sufferers stand in need of advice in any particular case, they send up their respective cases to the meeting for sufferings in London. 1682. P. E.

Where any friend or friends shall be prosecuted for any branch of their testimony for the truth, it is recommended that such labour, in a sense of the weight of their testimony, with the prosecutor, before or at

the beginning of the prosecution; that so, if possible, the witness of SUFFERINGS. God in him may be reached, and he may be convinced that the refusal to comply proceeds not from obstinacy or self-interest, but from a godly care to preserve a conscience void of offence. 1703. P. E.

33

sufferings.

This meeting desires, that an account of all proceedings in such suffering cases as come under the care of the meeting for sufferings, Mode of reand the issue thereof, may be duly brought or sent to that meeting in to meeting for writing, specifying the places or the counties where such sufferers dwell, with the several proceedings in the said cases, in order to be duly recorded.

1746.

34

Indorsement on annual ac

Quarterly and monthly meetings are desired, in indorsing the accounts of sufferings, to arrange the amount under the following, with any incidental heads: Tithes in kind-Tithes, priests' demands, and counts of sufferings. those called church-rates, by warrant-Military demands by warrant. 1806-1816.

35

quarterly meetings.

This meeting, on considering the clause in the minute of 1681, No. 29, under this head, which enjoins that "sufferings sent up to be recorded Directions to here, be first read in the quarterly meeting, and therein signed," concludes that quarterly meetings be left at liberty either to have the said accounts read in the quarterly meetings, or to refer them to a committee to be read and examined thereby the committee so appointed is to make a report to the quarterly meeting, and the indorsement prepared agreeably to the last preceding minute, which is in all cases to be read in the quarterly meeting, recorded there, and signed by the clerk on its behalf. 1828.

TRADE.

LET friends and brethren in their respective meetings watch over one another in the love of God and care of the Gospel; particularly admonish that none trade beyond their ability nor stretch beyond their compass; and that they use few words in their dealings, and keep their word in all things, lest they bring through their forwardness dishonour to the precious truth of God. 1675.

As it hath pleased God to bring forth a day of liberty and freedom to serve Him, let every one have a care so to use this liberty, as that the name of God may be honoured by it; and not an occasion taken by any because of the present freedom, to launch forth into trading and worldly business beyond what they can manage honourably and with reputation; and so that they may keep their words with all men, and that their yea may prove yea indeed, and their nay may be nay indeed. 1688. P. E.

It is advised, and earnestly desired, that the payment of just debts be not delayed by any professing truth beyond the time promised and agreed upon; nor occasion given of complaint to those they deal with, by their backwardness of payment where no time is limited; nor any to overcharge themselves with too much trading and commerce, beyond their capacities to discharge with a good conscience towards all men; and that all friends concerned be very careful not to contract extravagant debts, endangering the wronging of others and their families; which some have done, to the grieving the hearts of the upright; nor to break their promises, contracts, or agreements, in their buying or selling, or in any other lawful affairs, to the injuring themselves and