their own doctrines, run into the opposite extreme, and bring up their children in too much ignorance of the general plan of Christianity, as it is laid down in the letter of the Scriptures.

With respect to education, as far as it is literary or philosophical, it is frequently sufficient for those, upon whom it is bestowed. But it does not appear to me to be carried to its proper extent in the case of the children of the rich, when I consider how friendly it might be made towards the promotion of virtue. Some, we know, growing wealthy, have had children when they were poorer, and when in this poorer state, they have given them an education which was suitable to it, not calculating upon their future rise in life. But their children, having had such a limited education, have not had that, which has been proper for their subsequent station. Others, again, who have been born in better circumstances, have, on account of an undue depreciation of human knowledge, educated their children as improperly for their station as the former. The children, then, in both these cases, have not had an education sufficient, with the prospect of riches before them, to keep them out of the way of harm. They have not had, in addition to any religious instruction, that taste given them for sublime pursuits, which should make them despise those which were frivolous. Thus many of the corruptive opinions, fashions, and amusements of the world have charmed them. Giving way to these, they have been overcome; when overcome, they have run into excesses; and for these excesses they have been dis

owned. But, with a better education, they would probably have thought all such corruptive opinions, fashions, and amusements as below their notice, and unworthy of their countenance and support.

CHAPTER IV.

Supposed remedies for the diminution of some of these causes-Regulations in the case of mixed marriages-Measures to be adopted in the pursuit of trade-Education, as it is moral or religious, to be more strictly enforced in some families—as it is literary or philosophical, to be carried to a greater extent among the children of the richObject of this latter education-nature of it, as consisting both of knowledge and prohibitions— how it would operate against the fascinating allurements of the world, or to the end proposed.

I PURPOSE now to suggest, as briefly as I can, such remarks as, if adopted, might possibly operate as remedies to some of the evils, which have been described. In doing this, I am aware of the difficulties that await me. I am sensible that I ought not to be too sanguine as to the result of all my observations upon this subject, and yet I cannot but think that I may be successful in some of them. Arduous, however, as the task, and dubious as my

success may be, I am encouraged, on the prospect of being at least partially useful, to undertake it.

On the first of the original and immediate causes, which have been mentioned, I mean mixed marriages, I shall have but little to say. I do not see how it is possible, while the Society means to keep up a due subordination among its members, not to disown such as may marry out of it. In mixed families, such as these marriages produce, it is in vain to expect that the discipline can be carried on, as has been shown in the second volume. And without this discipline the Society could hardly keep up, in the extensive manner it does, the character of a moral people, I think, however, that some good might be done by regulations to be universally observed. Thus they, who are deputed to inform the disowned of their exclusion from membership, should be of the most amiable temper and conciliatory manners. Every unqualified person should be excluded from these missions. Permission should be solicited for both the married persons to be present on such occasions. It is difficult to estimate the good effect, which the deputed, if of sweet and tender dispositions, or the bad effects, which the deputed, if of cold and austere manners, might have upon those they visited, or what bias it might give the one in particular, who had never been in membership, for or against the Society. Permission also might be solicited, even when the mission was over, for future friendly opportunities or visits, which would show in the Society iteslf a tender regard and solicitude for the

welfare of its former members. It is not at all improbable, from the impression, which such apparent regard and solicitude might occasion, that the children of the visited, though not members, might be brought up in the rules of membership. And, finally, it appears to me to be desirable that the disowned, if they should give proof, by their own lives and the education of their children, of their attachment to the principles of the Society, and should solicit restoration to membership, should be admit ted into it again, without exacting from them painful or improper acknowledgements, or wholly as new and convinced members.

With respect to the second of the immediate and original causes, which is to be found in tithes, I may observe, that it is, as far as I can collect, but a small and an inferior one; few being disowned on this account, and still fewer now than formerly. It would be desirable, however, few as these instances may be, to prevent them. But I fear that no remedy can be pointed out, in which the Quakers would acquiesce, except it could be shown that a distinction might be made between the payment of ecclesiastical and lay tithes, which would not interfere with the Great Tenets of the Society on this subject.

A third cause of disownment, but this belongs to the original and remote, was shown to be the pursuit of trade, connected as it is with the peculiar habits of the Society, and a residence in the towns. I may propose as remedies for this: First, that parents should be careful to exhibit a good example

to their children. Secondly, as I have before observed, that they should prescribe to themselves moderation in the acquisition of wealth, either by relinquishing trade at a given time, or by dealing out the profits of it more liberally than common in the way of benevolence, so that their children, in each case, may never have the misfortune of the prospect of a large moneyed independence before their eyes. Or, lastly, that they should give them a better education than they do at present; on which subject, according to the prescribed order of things, I am now to speak.

A fourth cause, then, but this belongs also to the original and remote, was shown to exist in education. And education, as it was promotive of the diminution of the Society, was of two kinds.

With respect to that part of it which is alien, the remedy is easy. There has been great difficulty in procuring proper school-masters, I mean such as have been members. Two reasons may be given for this. The first is, that, the Society having been backward in affording due encouragement to learning, few of any great literary acquisitions have been brought up in it. The second is, that persons have found that they could make much less of their time in such a line of employment than in the way of trade. But surely the Quakers, as a body in comfortable and independent circumstances, might easily remedy the evil. Does not a man, who devotes his time to the instruction of youth, deserve to be made. as comfortable as the man, who sells silver utensils, or bracelets, or ear-rings or other articles of