Quaker Women

Mary Forster: Some Seasonable Considerations to the Young Men & Women Who in this Day of Tryal. . . (1686)

"The matter chiefly upon my Heart is this, That as there is now a more publick Testimony born to Gods blessed Truth, than when we had liberty to assembel our selves together in our Meeting-houses; so now let our care be more to answer our Presession; for we are as a Candle in a Candlestick, nut under a Bed or Bushel; yea; as a Cit set upon a Hill, publickly taken not of,. . .Let this, my dear Friends, engage our Souls to all Curcumspection in our Lives and Conversatios, that we give no occasion to the Enemy to blaspheme or speak Evil of that holy Profession we are called to hold forth. . . 'tis possible you may speak the plain Language without interruption, if you will but use it in foolish Talking and idle Jesting; and although you do not appear in the Superfluities of this wanton Age in your Apparel, but in plain Cloathing, yet if you do suffer your Hearts to be in the Nicities, Costliness and Curiosities, and let them be as like the World as may be, Lace only excepted. . .then the Soul's Enemy will indluge you therein. . .

. . . But her'es a Snare, here's a Rock that many are split on, taking liberty in little matters, in Decency, till Pride sits in the Chair, in excessive Merriment, which some call Cheerfulness, till it come to such vain and immoderate Laughter as the wise men call Madness, appears in their Conversation; . . .but for want of taking up the daily Cross, and not being upon the Watch, they become one with the idle Talker and foolish Jester; and so in many other cases. . ."

Mary Fisher: to Thomas Killam, Thomas Aldam and John Killam (1658)

"Never desire to have more in your disposing then you have present need of. . .for if we were provided for many days the thing would come to an end. . .and plenty would cause the thing to be loathed."

Mary Waite: A Warning to all friends,. . . (1679)

"Now unto all you young people, sons, daughters, apprentices, men or maid servants, all that are convinced of God's truth,. . .let not your minds wander, neither look at the vanities in this world, for Christ's kindom is not of it, nor to be found in pride, wantonness, and lust of the flesh, the fashions, customs, and friendships of this world, for the devil is the king of pride,. . .so all you young and tender ones,. . .keep you low in his fear. . .For every one that will be a disciple of Christ Jesus must come into the self-denying ife. You cannot have two kingdoms;. . ."