We springs, which act upon the moral constitution for the formation of character. find some of these great and powerful, and others inferior. This consideration should teach us not to despise even those which are the least, if they have but a tendency to promote our purity. For, if the effect of any of them be only small, a number of effects of little causes or springs, when added together, may be as considerable as a large one. Of these, again, we observe, that some are to be found where many would hardly have expected them. This consideration should make us careful to look into all our customs and principles, that we may not overlook any one, which we may retain for our moral good. And as we learn the lesson of becoming vigilant to discover every good spring, and not to neglect the least of these, however subtle its operations; so we learn the necessity of vigilance to detect every spring or cause, and this even the least, whether in our customs or our principles, if it should in its tendency be promotive of vice. And in the same manner we may argue with respect to what may be other productions of these customs and principles of the Quakers. 2 F 2 Quakers. For, as we have seen the latter lead to character, so we have seen them lead to happiness. The manner of their operation to this end has been also equally discernible. As we value them because they produce the one, so we shonld value them because they produce the other. We have seen also which of them to value. And we should be studious to cherish the very least of these, as we should be careful to discard the least of those, which are productive of real and merited unhappiness of the mind. And now, having expended my observations on the tendencies of the customs and principles of the members of this Society, I shall conclude by expressing a wish that the work, which I have written, may be useful, I have a wish that it may be useful to those who may be called the world, by giving them an insight into many excellent institutions, of which they were before ignorant, but which may be worthy of their support and patronage. I have a wish also that it may be useful to the Quakers themselves first, by letting them see how their own character may be yet improved; and, secondly, by preserving them, in some mea sure, sure, both from unbecoming remarks, and from harsh usage, on the part of their fellowcitizens of a different denomination from themselves. For surely when it is known, as I hope it is by this time, that they have moral and religious grounds for their particularities, we shall no longer hear their scruples branded with the name of follies and obstinacies, or see magistrates treating them with a needless severity *, but giving them, on the other hand, all the indulgences they can, consistently with the execution of the laws. In proportion as this utility is produced, my design will be answered in the production of the work, and I shall receive pleasure in having written it. And this pleasure will be subject only to one drawback, which will unavoidably arise in the present case; for I cannot but regret that I have not had more time to bestow upon it, or that some other person has not appeared, who, possessing an equal know * Some magistrates, much to their honour, treat them with tenderness; and no people are more forward than the Quakers in acknowledging any attention that may be shown them, but particularly where their religious scruples are concerned. 3 ledge ledge of the Society with myself, but better qualified in other respects, might have employed his talents more to the advantage of the subjects, upon which I have treated in these volumes, INDEX* то THE THREE VOLUMES. A ADDRESS, complimentary, forbidden, Vol. i. 351. ARBITRATION, all differences to be settled by-advan- B BAPTISM, rejected by the Quakers-difficulties on this BIRTH, (new), explained, Vol. ii. 190; more particular C CEREMONIES, complimentary, forbidden. See AD- DRESS. CHARACTER, difficulties in the proper estimation of it, The figures in the Index do not always refer to the page, but to the |