CONDUCT AND CONVERSATION.

IT is desired that Friends may be guarded in their conduct at all times and on all occasions, that no stumbling block be laid in the way of honest inquirers after truth, nor offence given to tender minds under convincement. "Let your light (said Christ) so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven." Our moderation and prudence, as well as truth and justice, should appear in trading and commerce, in speech and communication, in eating and drinking, in habit and furniture, and in all things; that, as we profess to be a spiritually minded people, we

may manifest by a meek and quiet spirit that we are bounded by the cross of Christ, and concerned to shew forth the excellency of that divine principle, by a conversation every way agreeable there

unto.

Let your words be few and savoury, observing the precept of the apostle," Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth." So may your good exam ple, and the gravity and circumspection of your conduct and behaviour, minister just rebuke to those who know not a bridle to their tongue, and who seem not sufficiently aware, "that in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin."

It is worthy of general remembrance, that no affectation of singularity was the cause of a demeanour both civil and religious in our forefathers, (or in the faithful of this day) different in many respects

God who is the creator of man, and he to whom he oweth the dedication both of soul and body, is over all to be worshipped and adored, and that not only by the spirit, but also with the prostration of the body. Now kneeling, bowing and uncovering the head, is the alone outward signification of our adoration towards God, and therefore, it is not lawful to give it unto man. He that kneeleth or prostrates himself to man, what doth he more to God? He that boweth and uncovereth his head to the creature, what hath he reserved to the Creator? Since therefore all the duties of the different relations under which we may be stated, may be performed one to another without those kind of bowings, they are therefore no essential part of our duty to man, but to God.

The world in its degeneracy from God, is as much out of the way as to true ho

nour and respect, as in other things; much of which are, as the apostle speaks of science... They are honours and respects falsely so called; having nothing of the nature of true honour and respect in them but as degenerate men, loving to be honoured, first devised them, so pride only loves and seeks them.

Some of the reasons which have engaged us to decline the practice of the present customs of pulling off the hat, bowing the body or knee, and giving people gaudy titles and epithets in our salutations and addresses, are, that savour, sight and sense that God by his light and spirit has given us of the world's apostacy from him, and the cause and effects of that great and lamentable defection; in the discovery of which, the sense of our own state came first before us, and we were made to see him whom we had