But, we believe ourselves warranted in following the example of Scripture in these particulars; and likewise in calling men by their proper names; as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; who, with the holy prophets and apostles, were called by their given names : and we do not find, that they either gave or received empty tokens of honour and whose practice we follow, not only as being authorized by their example; but, as it is the most simple and plain, so it is the most consistent and rational. Yet we do read of a certain class who loved greetings in the anarkets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi, which signifies master, (the contraction of which is Mr.) but our Saviour expressly prohibits this, saying, "be not ye called, Rabbi, for, one is your master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren."

These

are the words of the true Christian's lawgiver, whom we are commanded to hear in all things. And, surely, if it was improper for the disciples to be called master, it must be for them to call others so. And what, indeed, would this author think of Mr. Peter; or the Rev. Paul; instead of

d Mat. xxiii. 8.

Simon Peter; or Paul an apostle of Jesus. Christ.

I would now query, where could this author have learned such of his language as you to a single person? Is it from him who said, "learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart:" or, has he not rather derived it from the corrupt custom of the world? For, by authentic accounts, we find, that the use of the word you, in address to a single person, originated in the servility of the Roman subjects, who almost deifying their emperors, thought it a greater token of honour to address one of them in the plural language, by way of flattery, as if he were more than one.* I now submit to the decision of the reader, whether it be most consistent for Christians to adopt the uniform language of the Scriptures of truth; or, that which took its rise in the pride of the heathen, seeing the Almighty expressly commanded his people, "learn not the way of the heathen; for, the customs of the ple are vain.".

peo

* See the accounts of sundry authors, as Luther, Erasmus, James Howel, Epistles of Symmachus, and John Maresius, as noted in Barclay's Apol. page 526.

e Jer. x. 2, 3.

As to the usual manner of saying, good morrow; good by, &c. I no where find it in Scripture; but, instead thereof, the word farewell, used as a parting salutation. From whence, then, has the mode of salutation which he uses been derived; as well as that of Mr. Mrs. Sunday, Monday; January, February, &c? It will be found, on examination, that they were derived from the pride and flattery of men, and from heathen idolatry.*

f Luke, ix. 61, &c.

That the reader may have full opportunity to judge of our reasons for declining the use of those names for the months and days of the week, I have here inserted the following extract from an epistle of information and advice on this subject, published by our Friends in England, in the year 1751.

A brief account of the origin of the names of some months of the year, and of all the days of the week, now customarily and commonly used.

I. January was so called from Janus, an ancient king of Italy, whom heathenish superstition had deified, to whom a temple was built, and this month dedicated.

II. February was so called from Februa, a word denoting purgation by sacrifices; it being usual in this month, for the priests of the heathen god Pan, to offer sacrifices and perform certain rites, conducing, as was supposed, to the cleansing or purgation of the people.

III. March was so denominated from Mars, feigned

We, therefore, consider it our duty to decline the use of them, and adhere to the uniform example of the Old and New Testaments; and believe that in this, as well

to be the god of war, whom Romulus, founder of the Roman empire, pretended to be his father.

IV. April is generally supposed to derive its name from the Greek appellation of Venus, an imaginary goddess, worshipped by the Romans.

V. May is said to have been so called from Maia, the mother of Mercury, another of their pretended ethnick deities, to whom, in this month, they paid their devotions.

VI. June is said to take its name from Juno, one of the supposed goddesses of the heathens.

VII. July, so called from Julius Cæsar, one of the Roman emperors, who gave his own name to this month, which before was called Quintilis, or the fifth.

VIII. August, so named in honour of Augustus Cæsar, another of the Roman emperors. This month was before called Sextilis, or the sixth.

The other four months, namely, September, October, November, and December, still retain their numerical Latin names, which, according to the late regulation of the Calendar, will, for the future, be improperly applied. However, from the continual use of them hitherto, as well as from the practice of the Jews before the Babylonish captivity, it seemeth highly probable, that the method of distinguishing the months by their numerical order only, was the most ancient, as it is the most plain, simple, and rational.

As the idolatrous Romans thus gave names to several of the months in honour of their pretended dei.

*

See the Scriptures to the time of Ezra.

as many other particulars, we have evinced a more sincere esteem for the sacred writings, than this author appears to have done.

ties ; so, the like idolatry prevailing among our Saxon ancestors, induced them to call the days of the week, by the name of the idol, which, on that day, they particularly worshipped. Hence,

The First day of the week, was by them, called Sunday, from their customary adoration of the Sub on that day.

The Second day of the week they called Monday, from their usual custom of worshipping the Moon on that day.

The Third day of the week they named Tuesday, in honour of one of their idols called Tuisco.

The Fourth day of the week, was called Wednesday, from the appellation of Woden, another of their idols.

The Fifth day of the week was called Thursday, from the name of an idol called Thor, to whom they paid their devotions on that day.

The Sixth day of the week was termed Friday, from the name of Friga, an imaginary goddess, by them worshipped.

The Seventh day they styled Saturday, as is suppos. ed, from Saturn, or Seater, by them then worshipped.

The Children of Israel, the people whom God chose out of all the families of the earth to place his name among, and to make himself known unto, were strictJy commanded, not only to abstain from the idolatrous practices of the nations, in the midst of whom they dwelt, but were enjoined to be circumspect in all things that the Lord commanded, and even to make no mention of the names of other Gods, neither to let it be heard out of their mouth, Exod. xxiii. 13. This injunction was not relative to any legal or typical