CONVERSATION IV.

FA. We designed examining this evening, part of the third and fourth queries annually addressed to Friends. Are you provided with any scripture selections on the points they refer to ?

ED. Yes, father, we are prepared with some texts, but not à great many.

FA. This is a part of the third query. "Are Friends careful to bring up those under their direction, in plainness of speech, behaviour, and apparel ?" Plainness of speech, or the practice of using the plain language, has been already examined. Simplicity of behaviour means an unaffected humble deportment, that leads us to treat all persons with due respect, and is opposed to the flatteries of the world, and its complimentary modes of salutation, which have their origin in pride. And my dear children, let me

caution you against an error, which is too prevalent, viz. that simplicity is inconsistent with politeness and gentleness of manners; for I am convinced that nothing does, or can impart such peculiar sweetness to the character, as the hallowed influence of the holy spirit of Christ in the heart. This beautifies and ennobles those who submit to its sanctifying power.

Mo. Next comes the subject of apparel; and I hope each of our children can produce something on that head.

ED. I find it is a serious subject, although it appears like a little thing. Mother selected a passage for me, in the third chapter of Isaiah, and said she wished to read it herself.

Mo. The desire of ornamenting the person originates in vanity, and is evidently calculated to encourage that passion, so prevalent among the thoughtless and the gay; but if we were to bear in mind the importance of our standing, as intellectual and spiritual beings, accountable to our great Creator for the time and talents which he has graciously

lent to us, we could not indulge in pursuits and gratifications, which have a tendency to lessen the dignity of the Christian character.

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The passage in Isaiah begins at the 16th verse: Moreover, the Lord saith, because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, the chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, the bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the head-bands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings, the rings, and nose-jewels, the changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping-pins, the glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell, there shall be stink, and instead of a girdle, a rent; and instead of well set hair, baldness, and instead of a

stomacher, a girding of sackcloth, and burning instead of beauty. Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war, and her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground."

FA. What fearful denunciations, and yet how many of the ornaments there mentioned are worn in the present day? It often covers my mind with sadness to see the changeable suits of apparel, the continually varying fashions, which even some amongst us who think themselves simple, indulge in; it betokens a love of the world which is painful, a conformity to it which is humiliating. Doubtless the judgments so solemnly threatened, were faithfully fulfilled by the great Jehovah, yet man goeth on still in his wickedness. The prophet says, "Israel doth not know, my people do not consider ;" and every day's observation attests the truth of this declaration.

Mo. I have no doubt these vain ornaments were borrowed from the heathen; they are still to be found in many, if not all the places where Christians have visited the heathen,

and deeply have some of them deplored the injury which the cause of Christ sustains, from those who bear his name indulging in vain and extravagant apparel. Here is an

extract from that excellent letter of A. Judson, to the female members of the Christian churches in the United States of America, which Lucy may read.

Lu. "Let me appeal to conscience, and inquire what is the real motive for wearing ornamental and costly apparel? Is it not the desire of setting off one's person to the best advantage, and of exciting the love and admiration of others? Is not such dress calculated to gratify self-love, to cherish the sentiments of vanity and pride? And is it not the nature of those sentiments, to acquire strength from indulgence? Do such motives and sentiments comport with the meek, humble, self-denying religion of Jesus Christ? I would here respectfully suggest, that these questions will not be answered so faithfully in the midst of company, as when quite alone, kneeling before God."

AN. I think my text is exactly suitable: