Gleanings from the Works of George Fox — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Gleanings from the Works of George Fox
John Stuart Mill · en
PART III.
SOCIAL LIFE.
I.
Social Life.
Bringing up Children.
Some among you breed up your children not as when you were in a
profession only, in such a rude, heady way that when they grow up they
do not matter you nor care for you.... In many things they are worse
than many of the world's, more loose, stubborn and disobedient ... so
that when they come to be set to prentice many times they run quite out
into the world.... Therefore while they are young restrain them ... in
all things keep your authority which is given to you of God.
(_Works_, VIII., p. 23.)
Youth.
Youth if they be let loose are like wild asses and wild heifers, and
such many times bring a great dishonour to God by running into
looseness; which are more fit to be under rule and order than to rule;
and through a foolish pity of some they let up a great deal of airiness
and wildness.
* * * * *
Youth should be kept under a bridle and restraint and be nurtured and
trained up in the fear and wisdom of God, that the power of God and
God's truth may have its passage through all and over all, and all
lightness frothiness wildness and looseness may be kept down.
(_Works_, VIII., pp. 24, 25.)
Behaviour of School-children.
If any mar their books and blot their books through carelessness, let
them sit without the table as disorderly children. And if any one turns
from these things and mendeth and doeth so no more and then if any do
accuse them of their former action after they be amended, the same
penalty shall be laid upon them as upon them that is mended from his
former doings. And if any be known to steal let him write without the
table and say his lesson and show his copy without the bar. And all must
be meek, sober and gentle and quiet and loving and not give one another
bad word no time in the school nor out of it least.
That they be made to say their lesson or show their copy-book to the
master at the bar and all is to mind their lessons and be diligent in
their writings. And to lay up their books when they go from the school
and their pens and ink-horns and to keep them so, else they must be
looked upon as careless and slovens, and so you must keep all things
clean, sweet and neat and handsome.
(_Swarthmore MSS._, II., 2,123, Fox autograph.)
Apprentices.
All the legacies that are given to the men's or women's meetings let
them be kept as a public stock for the setting forth of apprentices and
setting them up.
(_Works_, VII., p. 343.)
The Children of the Poor.