PARENTS AND GUARDIANS.

We do entreat and desire all parents and governors of families, that ye diligently lay to heart your work and calling in your generation, for the Lord, and the charge committed to you; not only in being good examples to the younger sort, but also to use your power in your own families in educating your children and servants in modesty, sobriety, and in the fear of God; curbing the extravagant humor in the young ones, when it doth appear; and not indulging or allowing it for you are set in your families as judges for God, and it is you that must give an account of the power committed to you. And when you see a libertine and wanton spirit appear in your children and servants, that lusteth after the vain customs and fashions of the world, either in habit or outward adorning, and craves your assistance and allowance, without which it cannot get forward while they are under your government; O then look to yourselves, and discharge your trust for God, and for the good of their souls, exhorting in meekness, and commanding in wisdom; that so you may minister and reach to the witness, and help them over their temptations, in the authority of God's power; and when

they feel themselves helped and delivered, their souls will bless God for you, and you will reap the comfort of your labor. 1688.

We advise and exhort, that all masters 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 counsel from him, they may be enabled seasonably to exhort and encourage them to walk in the way of the Lord; to exercise themselves in reading the Holy Scriptures, and in observing the duties and precepts of holy living therein recommended; admonishing them to keep to that plainness and simplicity in apparel, speech and behavior, which the spirit of truth led our forefathers into, and which becomes the humble, self-denying followers of the holy Jesus.

1748.

It is our Christian and earnest advice and counsel to all friends concerned, (so far as they are able, or may be capable,) to provide schoolmasters and schoolmistresses, who are faithful friends, to teach and instruct their children; and not to send them to 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 goddesses; tending greatly to corrupt and alienate the minds of children into an averseness or opposition to the truth and the simplicity of it. But take care that But 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 sober and godly conversation, and plainness of speech: and not to use the word you, or ye, to a child or a servant, &c., nor suffer your substance to be bestowed on your children, to furnish them with such 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 consideration how friends' children might be disposed 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 special care be taken to put them apprentices to honest 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 some useful and necessary 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 society, unless some special circumstance may induce the monthly meeting to think it best; and when any parent or guardian thinks any such special circumstance does attend, he may lay the same before the monthly meeting where he belongs, which is to appoint a committee to examine, consider and report on the case, and the meeting to advise accordingly, as may appear best. And it is agreed that no friend's children be placed out to any not of our society, without first having the approbation or consent 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 who take apprentices, to seek for and give preference to our own members, and to be moderate in their terms, that the children of the poorer sort in an especial manner may be brought up to such trades and business as may, with the Lord's blessing on their prudence and industry, procure for them such a living as will be to their comfort and the reputation of society.

L

PLAINNESS.

Ir is also our concern to exhort all friends, both men and women, to watch against the growing sin of pride, and beware of adorning themselves in a manner disagreeable to the plainness and simplicity of the truth we make profession of. O that they would duly consider that severe reproof which the Lord, by the mouth of his prophet, pronounced against the haughty daughters of Zion, Isaiah iii. where he describes even the particularities of their dressings and ornaments, so displeasing to the Lord, and drawing down his judgments upon them! If those things in that time were so offensive in the eyes of the Lord, how much more so are they now, in a people professing the plainness and simplicity which the gospel of Christ recommends ?

"I will," saith the apostle Paul, "that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but, which becometh women professing godliness, with good works"-1 Tim. ii. 9, 10; where he plainly sheweth that such adornings are contrary to the profession of godliness. The apostle Peter also is very