N the year 1722 it was renewed upon me to go

IN

into Ireland; the thoughts of it had been long upon my mind, but now the time feemed to be fully come, to pay that long thought of vifit; and Joseph Bunting, of Cumberland, being my companion, we went from Kendal Yearly-meeting, which was a large and good meeting, and paffed along to Whitehaven, and took shipping for Dublin, and staid their Halfyear's Meeting, which was large, and in which the living power and prefence of the Lord was felt amongst us; exalted over all be the mighty name of the Lord, for those and all his mercies.

I had there many good meetings, and alfo met with fome hard ones (as is the lot of fuch who are called to this vocation) and the best way I have found, when I met with fuch, is firft to regard our call, then to mind our daily steps we take in that vocation into which we are called, and take special care to have along with us the company and counfel of him that hath fo called us; this is the way fully and truly to discharge ourselves of that truft the Lord hath reposed in us, to the mutual comfort and edification of the churches of Chrift, and also to the peace and confolation of our own fouls.

It is now with me to write the following remarks of Ireland, which will not be remote to the state of friends in many other places, where there is a right, found living miniftry preferved, and good difcipline exercised, which moftly go together: there truth and friends are kept generally in good esteem, and also thriving; but where thefe fail, especially the discipline, oh! how undue liberty, and the fashions of the world, with many corrupting things, creep in amongst the profeffors of truth, even unto the reproach thereof, and fcandal of those who are fo prevailed upon; and hearty forrow of fuch as know and feel the hurt of these things. Oh! what a hinderance this is to the progrefs of the ever bleffed truth in the earth; and indeed it hath been in my mind, that the main work in this our day is to fearch into the churches, and en

deavour

deavour to bring them into fuch a condition, that it may once more be faid, Follow Christ as you have us for examples; not only here and there one, but the believers in general; fo it will be, when we as a people all speak the fame thing, or that which is agreeable, as well in our practice (fo often recommended) as in faith and doctrine; for I have ever understood examples to be more prevalent than precept. But if any amongst friends be grown so hardy, and so infenfible, as to prefer some foolish fashions, which to me appear to be shameful and indecent, it is an evident demonstration they are departed too much from the principles and practices of our worthy elders in the truth; which I fear is the cafe of too many, both in that nation and in England.

Let not any fay that I fmite in the dark, and do not tell what I mean; for fome few particulars I intend to mention for the ease of my mind: I have seen feveral changes of fashions in forty years time; our first friends and promoters of truth came out in the Lord's work and heavenly power, plain, and generally continued fo for their time; but alas! how foon there appeared an alteration, in fome men efpecially, when the weight of fufferings was over; it then began to appear, and hath from time to time continued to increase ever fince, among fome profeffing truth with us, not only in extravagant wigs, with much powder in them, but also in cross-pockets, needless capes, and divers

cuts

cuts and shapes in their clothing, in conformity to the prevailing fashions of the times, as well as in fetting up their hats; all which appear to me more likely to lead those, who follow them, into Egypt, or the world again, than into the heavenly country, or Canaan, which we profefs to be preffing after, and hope to obtain in the end.

Now, not to let the females pafs without my obfervation on them: I well remember in my younger years, especially in great towns and cities, I have met with thofe that profeffed truth with us, who have had but very little coverings on their heads, and others that have had more fet up at a confiderable distance above their foreheads, and both these forts perhaps bare necked. -When I have met with fuch, I have faid, What a fair or beautiful daughter of Sion wouldst thou be, if thou wouldst put on truth and Christ's righteousness, and put away all these foolish fashions? And in families, when I have afked fome particulars, What they could fay for thefe dreffes, and being fo naked, both neck and fhoulders, I received this anfwer, or some thing like it, That it was good for their health, to keep their temples cool, and to learn to be hardy, by exposing themselves thus to the air in their youth: but if that was the true reafon, I added this caution to them; To confider duly, if religion did not, yet the modefty of their fex fhould, reclaim them from it. Sometimes, with the diflike I fhewed to these things, I advised

them,

them, That they would cover their naked fkin, and no more expose themselves to the luft and vain fpeculation of the worst, and great trouble of their best friends; and worst of all, to the great hurt of themselves, and in a manner deftroying all reasonable claim to Chrift: For how can our love to, and faith in him be true and found, when our practice is fo remote unto the practice and example of Chrift and his apostles, which they gave and endeavoured to inculcate? Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God, Rom. xii. 2. Whofe adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the bidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet fpirit, which is in the fight of God of great price: for after this manner in the old time, the holy women alfo who trufted in God adorned themselves, being in fubjection unto their own husbands, 1 Pet. iii. 3, 4, 5. Alas! Woe is me, for the hurt of the daughter of Sion, when I confider with regret from whence fuch are fallen, if ever restored out of the fall.

If we as a people should follow fuch examples as I have touched upon, certainly we shall become an hiffing and a bye-word to all nations round about, who may have heard of us, and what great things the

Lord