INTRODUCTION. SINCE the printing of the Book of Difcipline, about twenty-four years have elapfed, during which period the new regulations which have taken place have rendered it an imperfect collection of the rules of the Society, and the Book being out of print, the Yearly-Meeting committed the revifal of our Discipline to the Meeting for Sufferings, in 1807, who having with care and diligence completed, and laid the fame before the Yearly-Meeting, in the fixth month, 1809; they adopted the following as the Discipline of the Society, and directed the fame to be printed, in order, ift. That every quarterly and monthly-meeting may be furnished with a fair and correct collection of the minutes and advices which have been agreed to, for regulating the affairs of the fociety. 2dly. "That these minutes and advices being more generally received, may be more uniformly obferved and put in practice, that order, unity, peace and harmony, may be preserved throughout the churches." 3dly. "That in an especial manner the youth of the present and fucceeding generations may not only be early and more fully inftructed in our religious principles, but in the nature and defign of our Chriftian difcipline; and through divine affiftance be enabled to adorn our holy profeffion, by a confiftent conduct and circumspect conversation in all godliness and honesty, thereby avoiding the reproach which fome, through a defection in principle, or a degeneracy in practice, have brought upon themselves, and the body of which they profess to be members." 4thly. "That the unfaithful, the immoral, and the libertine profeffors, may be seasonably reminded of their danger and of their duty, as well as of the great labour, which, in much gofpel love, hath been from time to time beftowed for their help and recovery; and that fuch as continue to defpife and reject the convictions of truth, and the counsel of their brethren, and refuse to be reclaimed, may be made fenfible that they themselves are the cause of their separation from our religious fellowship and communion. And in order that these purposes may be more fully answered, the following rules and regulations are, on due confideration, recommended to the obfervance of friends, overfeers and meetings. And in the exercife of which, care, perfuafion and gentle dealing, ought to be our practice, labouring in love and meekness, to bring fuch as tranfgrefs to a fenfe of their error. But if any, cannot be reclaimed, by our Christian endeavours, the extent of our judgment and procedure is, the difowning fuch to be of our communion. And as this authority and practice is Chriftian, fo is it laudable and reafonable in fociety and as it is attended to, in up. rightness and fingleness of heart, will tend to promote the good and welfare of the Church, and to unite in a care and concern for the overfight one of another, that all may endeavour to walk decently, humbly, and honeftly, and be of one mind, as becomes the fervants and followers of our Holy Lord and Law-Giver, and to practice that commendable order, ever neceffary in the Chriftian Church, agreeable to that injunction of our bleffed Lord, Matt. xviii. 15, 16, 17, "Moreover, if thy brother fhall trefpafs against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone ; if he fhall hear thee, thou haft gained thy brother; but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witneffes, every word may be established; and if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a publican.” Alfo the expreffions of that eminent apoftle Paul, in his epiftle to the Philippians, iv. 8. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honeft, whatsoever things are juft, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Now, whatfoever appears in any contrary to these, may in |