AN EPISTLE OF CAUTION To all Friends Professing the Blessed Truth; To Prevent Injustice and Injury, And the Reproach thereof in divers Matters herein Mentioned.  Rom. 13. 8. 
Owe no Man any thing, but to love one another: For be that loveth another, hath fulfilled the Law.  
LONDON, Printed by Tace soul, 1698.   

AN EPISTLE OF Caution, &c.  
Dear Friends,  
IN the Love of the precious and Holy Truth, in a Conscientious Concern for the Honour of God, and in a Christian Care, that the Ancient Repute, that our Holy Religion hath obtained by the Just Dealing, Upright Walking, circumspectly and Inoffensive Conversation of those that have not only professed the Truth, but loved and obeied it, and were Careful in their Words, Habit, Living, Furniture, Commerce and whole Conversation to preserve the same, by answering in all those things that Righteous and Holy Principle of Truth, and Witness, that God hath placed in the Consciences of all Mankind, notwithstanding the Scorn and great Sufferings they met withal.  
But, to our great Grief, we have found, that some( especially of late times) which make Profession of the Worthy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ amongst us, have not had that due Regard thereunto, and the Honour thereof, as they ought, nor have been so Careful, as becomes them, in the Management of themselves, and their Affairs and Trade in the World; but have Inconsiderately and Unadvisedly over-charged themselves with Debts, till they could not duly and justly discharge them, and by Neglecting their Affairs and Trade, and being too Extravagant in their Habits, Furniture of their Houses, and Living too high, and above what their Income would answer, and than becometh their Profession; and thereby have hurt themselves: And for want of a Due and Timely Inspection into the State of their Affairs, or stoping, when they have been Sensible of their own Inability, have gone on, till they have been under such Straights and Difficulties to satisfy their Creditors just Demand in due time, and that when they have come for Money, to put them off, have given them Expectations; and sometimes( when pressed hard upon) made Promises to Pay within sometime Limited, and yet have not performed. And these things have been, and are attended with Evil Consequences, not only to the Persons themselves, but greatly Injurious to many others, and have been Occasion of Stumbling and Offence, and have also brought Dishonour to Truth, and a Reproach upon Us, and a Scandal upon our Holy Profession and Religion.  
Wherefore it is our Tender Counsel and Christian Advice, in the Love of God, that all would truly Weigh and duly Consider these things, and Examine themselves with the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ, that each one may see, how things are with them; For they that do well, love the Light, and bring their Deeds to it, that they may see, they are wrought in God; but those that do Evil, hate the Light: And it's those, that with Grief we do declare unto you, that by walking contrary to what they profess, in not keeping under the Guidance of the good Spirit of the Lord, and not learning of, or being seasoned with the Grace of God, they run into these things.  
1. Therefore we Exhort and Counsel all to be Careful, not to launch out into Trade, beyond what they can honourably and punctually Answer, and without Injury to others.  
2. That no one keep another out of their Just Debt to their Prejudice, beyond the usual Time of Payment, be the Time what it will they agree to pay at, they ought to be exact to it.  
3. That every Faithful and Honest Friend, that knows any Reputed Friend, or Professor of the Truth among us faulty in any of these things afore-named, or any other thing unbecoming Truth, or our Christian Profession, that such Friend, that knows thereof, in Brotherly Love and Tenderness do privately speak to him or her thereof, and Counsel, Admonish and Reprove the Person offending, as the Case requires; and if he or she doth not hear and amend, then to take One or Two more, and speak to him or her again; and if he or she refuses to hear them, that then such Friend or Friends acquaint the Monthly-Meeting, where the party belongs, or such Friends thereof, that are appointed by the Monthly-Meeting to hear such things in the Intervals of Monthly-Meetings, that they may speedily call a Meeting; and the said Meeting to do and advice, as in the Wisdom of God they shall see the Case requires.  
4. And we do advice and Counsel all Friends, as they tender their own Good, the Honour of Truth, and Preservation of our Holy Profession without Blame, to Inspect their outward Affairs, at least once ( or oftener) in a Year, that they may know, how the Case stands with them, and to order and manage themselves accordingly. For by Experience we have found, that a frequent Examination of ourselves, and Inspection of things relating to our outward and inward States and Conditions, with the Light of Christ, hath proved greatly beneficial, as we have diligently waited upon God, and humbly made our Supplication to him in the Spirit of his Son. And we have observed, that it's those, that have declined in their Love and Obedience to Christ, and the due Observation of his Equal and Royal Law( which saith, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyself, James 2. 8. And, Whatsoever ye would that Men should do to you, even so do ye to them, Mat. 7. 12.) that have not proved Faithful in the unrighteous Mammon. And as Christ said, Luke 16. 12. If ye have not been faithful in that which is anotber Man's, who shall give you that which is your own?  
5. If therefore any upon Examination find themselves in such a declining Condition, that they can but barely pay their just Debts, or fully satisfy for the same; that such immediately advice with Two or Three faithful Friends of the Monthly-Meeting, to which he or she belongs, and make his or her Case known to them, and take their Advice therein.  
6. And if any Person shall be so Unjust, to persist and go on, after he knows himself to be in a declining Condition, and afterwards Break, and cannot pay Twenty Shillings in the Pound, or fully satisfy his Creditors, he or they so wilfully and knowingly persisting, till their Circumstances are such as aforesaid, such Persons for their persisting without the Consent or Liberty of their Creditors, and Contrary to the righteous and equal Principle of Truth in themselves, and to our Christian Advice; we cannot esteem them Friends of Truth, or afford them any Assistance, as such; but must be necessitated( if they do not repent thereof, and sensibly aclowledge their Fault) to Testify against them, as Enemies to Truth.  
7. And for the Prevention of these things, and the ill Effects that follow( and that all that walk not according to Truth in their Conversations, may be visited and admonished) we hereby signify, that we have recommended to the several Monthly-Meetings, in the Love of Christ to watch over all their Members, in and belonging to their respective Monthly-Meetings; and to take Care, to appoint some faithful Friends in each Meeting to Visit them, and to endeavour, that this our Brotherly Advice and Christian Care for the Honour of God, his holy Name and precious Truth may be duly observed, and made effectual to the Good Ends proposed; and that all may be Orderly in their whole Conversation, that so none among us may toothache themselves with Debts, nor Trade beyond their Abilities, but keep Clear from Injuring others, or Adventuring or hazarding others Estates to Sea, or otherwise, when they have not Estates of their own to answer. And also that Friends be Careful to perform all their Promises, Obligations and Contracts, and make payment of Just Debts, and not tediously delay or keep back the Hire of Labourers and Manufactures, beyond the time appointed for Payment, and thereby give them Just Cause of Complaint of great Injury and Oppression, Oh Consider, what the Apostle James saith, The Hire of the Labourers, which 
James 5. 4. See also, Levit. 19. 13. Deut. 24. 14.  is kept back by Fraud, crieth, and the cries of them are entred into the Ears of the LORD of Sabath.  
And therefore, let all be Careful to Avoid such things, and living above what their Estates will bear( by keeping Horses and Country-Houses, whereby great Wast is made by Loss of Time and Neglect of Business.) For Pride( as the Wise-man said) goes before Destruction, and a haughty Spirit before the Fall: And we have seen it fulfilled upon some, that have gone thereinto, and have for a time appeared as great, nay higher in their beginning, than many others have done, when they have left off, who( by their Honest Endeavours) have gotten Estates: But such have often ended with a Stink and Reproach.  
And this hath happened, because they have not walked in that Humility and Fear towards God; which all that would attain True Riches, Honour and Life, and be made partakers of his Blessing, must dwell in. And it is not only the Duty, but Interest of every one of us, that would do well here, and be happy hereafter, to Abide in the holy Fear of God, and walk according to his Righteous Law in all things; that those Reproaches and Scandals, that have of late been brought in a great Degree upon the Truth, Us, and our holy Profession, thereby may for the future be prevented.  
And it's Advised, That Friends be Careful to observe the Time Agreed upon to Meet together for the Worship of God, as the Quarterly-Meeting hath recommended to us( held the 3d the of 11th Month, 1697.) which is as followeth.  
That Friends take Care to Attend the First-days and Week-days-Meetings at the Usual times appointed, viz. About the 9th hour in the Morning, as near as they can, and in the Winter-Season about the 2d hour in the Afternoon; and in the Summertime, when the Days are long, about the 3d hour in the Afternoon, on those Days, which are not First-days.  
And as they are truly Diligent to answer that Christian Advice, not to forsake the Assembling of themselves together; and when met, Reverently and in Fear and Humility Wait upon the Lord in the Gift of his holy Spirit, all will be made sensible of their Inward States and Conditions; and as they are Exercised in a Christian travail of Spirit, and supplicate God in the Spirit of his Son, to help them and supply their Wants, they may be enabled to walk in Obedience to Truth, and be endowed with the Wisdom thereof to order their Affairs with Discretion; the Want whereof hath been one great Cause, that some have gone into those things, which we herein caution against. For those, that have neglected their Christian Duty of Meeting together to Wait upon God, and Worship and Serve him, have often not well spent their Time, but misspent it.  
So in the Love and Service of Truth( greatly desiring, all things herein advised may be duly observed and practised) we Remain  
signed on behalf of the Friends and Brethren of the Six-weeks-Meeting held in London the 29th of the 1st Month, 1698. Your Friends and Brethren 

Francis Camfield,  
William Chandler,  
John Harwood,  
William Ingram,  
William Beech,  
John Constantine,     

Postscript.  
AND Dear Friends and Brethren, that are Heads and Masters of Families, we tenderly Exhort you, in true Brotherly Love, that ye may be Examples in all things in your Families, and faithfully and in good Conscience discharge your Duty in the Place and Station you are in, as such that know, you are Accountable unto God, and are desirous to give up your Account with Joy, and not with Grief. Oh Therefore wait upon God, and pray to him for Wisdom, that ye may be endowed therewith, and in the Fear of God, and Authority of his Powerful Truth discountenance and endeavour to keep down in your Children and Servants that Spirit, which is not of God, and that would elevate their Minds above his Fear, and would draw them into the Love of the World, and the things thereof, which are not of God. For in the World is the Lust of the Eye, the Lust of the Flesh, and Pride of Life, which Youth are too Inclinable to follow. And Friends, do not spend any of that Substance God hath blessed you with, and made you Stewards of, to gratify that in your Children or Servants which ye have known the Judgments of God for in yourselves; But you, that God hath given Children to, be Careful to Train them up in the Admonition of the Lord, and in the way, in which they should go; that they may not depart from it, when they are old: Neither Countenance them in any thing, which is unbecoming the Plainness and Simplicity of that Precious and Holy Truth, God Almighty hath blessed us with the Knowledge of; and in which, as we live and abide, we enjoy Peace, and partake of Blessings from him.  
And Dear Friends, Let us stir up, encourage and give opportunity to our Children and Servants, to frequent our public Meetings for the Worship of God in due time, to wait upon the Lord, that they may know a growing in the Truth. And all ye, that are Servants, and make Profession of Truth with us, we Exhort and entreat you in the Love of God, that ye demean yourselves in your respective Places in all things, as becomes our Holy Profession, and in that Plainness and Humility, which Truth leads into, both in your Words and Apparel; and exceed not the Bounds of Truth, nor let your Minds out after those things, that do not profit to Godward: Neither let your Adorning be the outward Adorning, but that of a meek and quiet Spirit. And be Careful to discharge a good Conscience towards God and Men in all things, and not be Eye-Servants, nor Busy-bodies, nor Tale-bearers, nor Tattlers, nor Back biters, and keep out of Strife and Contention, and let your Words be few and savoury; and with Singleness of Heart, as unto the Lord, discharge yourselves in your Service and Places. And as ye are Careful and Faithful in that which is anothers, ye will procure Love in others to you. For when the righteous Principle of Light and Truth in all is answered, the Doctrine of Christ our Saviour in all things adorned, then the Peace and Blessing of God is enjoyed. And then there will be Encouragement for you, when ye become Masters or Heads of Families, and Parents of Children, to persevere in Faithfulness unto the Lord, and to be Careful to wait upon God, and pray to him, that ye may be preserved in the Love and Obedience to Truth, and endowed with Power and Wisdom to discharge your respective Duties, and answer this our Christian Advice, avoiding the things cautioned against, and following those Exhorted unto; that so we may, as Children of one Father and Household of Faith, grow up more and more unto a Habitation for God in and through his holy Spirit.  
And all Friends, both High and Low, Rich and Poor, Young and Old, Live in Love, live in Meekness, live in Humility, live in Chastity, live in Self-Denial, live in the across of our Lord Jesus Christ; and in that ye will have Peace, in that ye will receive Strength to walk blameless in the Sight of God and Man.   
THE END.