power, and when they feel themselves helped and delivered, their fouls will blefs God for you, and you will reap the comfort of your labour. 1688.

We advise and exhort, that all mafters of families, parents, guardians, and tutors of children, would frequently put in practice the calling together of their children and household, to wait upon the Lord in their families ; that receiving wisdom and counfel from him, they may be enabled feasonably to exhort and encourage them to walk in the way of the Lord; to exercise themselves in reading the Holy Scriptures, and in obferving the duties and precepts of holy living therein recommended; admonishing them to keep to that plainness and simplicity in apparel, fpeech and behaviour, which the fpirit of truth led our forefathers into, and which becomes the humble, felf-denying followers of holy Jefus.

1748.

It is our Chriftian and earneft advice and counfel to all friends concerned, (fo far as they are able, or may be capable) to provide schoolmafters and miftreffes, who are faithful friends, to teach and instruct their children; and not to fend them to fuch schools, where they are taught the corrupt ways, manners, fashions and language of the world, and of the heathen in their authors, and names of the heathenish gods and goddeffes, tending greatly to corrupt and alienate the minds of children into an averfeness or opposition to the truth, and the fimplicity of it:

But to take care that you train up your children in the good nurture, admonition and fear of the Lord, in that plainness and language which become truth. And parents and masters, &c. to be good examples to them, in a fober and godly conversation, and plainness of speech; and not to use the word you, or ye, to a child or servant, &c. nor fuffer your substance to be bestowed on your children, to furnish them with fuch things as tend to pride, and to lift them up in vanity, or affect them with the vain fashions of the world. 1690.

It being under confideration how friends' children might be difpofed of, that are trained up in the way of truth, and fit to be put forth apprentices; it is the advice and counsel of friends, that fpecial care be taken to put them apprentices to honeft friends, that they may be preserved in the way of truth. 1697.

And that friends of all degrees take due care to bring up their children in fome useful and neceffary employments, that they may not spend their precious time in idleness, which is of evil example, and tends much to their hurt. 1703.

And it is agreed that none be placed out to

any not of our fociety, unlefs fome special circumstance may induce the monthly-meeting to think it beft; and when any parent or guardian thinks any such special circumftance do attend, they may lay the fame before the monthly-meeting where they belong, who are to appoint a committee to examine, confider and report the

fame, and the meeting to advise accordingly as may appear best; and it is agreed that no friend's child be placed out to any not of our fociety, without first having the approbation or confent of the monthly-meeting where they belong; and when any parents or guardians do act contrary thereto, they be dealt with as those who refuse the advice and disregard the unity of the body.

And it is recommended to all friends whe take apprentices, to feek for and give preference to our own members, and to be moderate in their terms, that the children of the poorer fort in an especial manner may be brought up to fuch trades and business as may, with the Lord's blesfing on their prudence and industry, procure for them fuch a living as will be to their comfort, and the reputation of fociety.

PLAINNESS.

IT is alfo our concern to exhort all friends, both men and women, to watch against the growing fin of pride, and beware of adorning themselves in a manner difagreeable to the plainnefs and fimplicity of the truth we make profeffion of. Oh! that they would duly confider that severe reproof which the Lord, by the mouth of his prophet, pronounced against the haughty daughters of Zion, Ifaiah iii. where it defcribes even the particularities of their dreffings and ornaments, fo displeasing to the Lord, and drawing down his judgments upon them. If those things in that time were fo offenfive in the eyes of the Lord, how much more fo are they now, in a people profeffing the plainness and fimplicity which the gospel of Chrift recommends?

"I will," faith the apostle Paul," that women adorn themselves in modeft apparel, with fhamefacednefs and fobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or coftly array; but, which becometh women profeffing godliness, with good works." 1 Tim. ii. 9, 10; where he plainly fheweth that fuch adornings are contrary to the profeffion of godlinefs. The apostle Peter alfo is very full in his exhortations on this subject;

"Whose adorning," fays he, "let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, and of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the fight of God of great price; for after this manner, in the old time, the holy women also, who trufted in God, adorned themselves." Pet. iii. 3, 4, 5; plainly intimating, that those who of old were holy, and did trust in God, placed not their delight in fuch ornaments. Oh, that ye would weigh and confider these things!" Let your moderation be known unto all men, and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God; but be ye followers of him, as dear children, walking circumfpectly, not as fools, but as wife, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." 1739.

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Let not any fuch as degenerate, in these refpects, excufe their own weakness, under a pretence of the misconduct of fome, who have peared outwardly plain; an objection of very little weight For did they rightly confider, they would clearly fee, that the very reason why deceivers fometimes put on plain apparel, is, becaufe true men have been accustomed to wear it.

We also tenderly advise, that friends take heed, especially those who should be exemplary to others under their care, that they exercise plainness of speech, without respect of perfons, in all their converfe among men ; and not baulk their teftimony by a cowardly compliance, varying their language according to their company;