But,
however it may be subject to this lower estimation, it will always be
able to produce for those who have it, a certain degree of moral
reputation in the opinion of the world.

These distinctions having been made as to the sources of virtuous
character, there will be no difficulty in shewing, that the world has
not been deceived in the point in question. For if it be admitted that
the Divine Spirit, by means of its agency on the heart of man, is really
a cause of virtuous character, it will then be but reasonable to
suppose, that the Quakers, who lay themselves open for its reception
more than others, both by frequent private retirements, and by their
peculiar mode of public worship, should bear at least as fair a
reputation as others, on account of the purity of their lives. But the
discipline, which is unquestionably a guardian of morals, is peculiar to
themselves. Virtue therefore is kept up among the Quakers by an
extraordinary cause, or by a cause which does not act among many other
bodies of men. It ought therefore to be expected, while this
extraordinary cause exists, that an extraordinary result should follow,
or that more will be kept apparently virtuous among the Quakers, in
proportion to their numbers, than among those where no such discipline
can be found, or, in other words, that, whenever the Quakers are
compared with those of the world at large, they will obtain the
reputation of a moral people.

CHAP. III.

SECT. I.

_Particular traits in the Quaker character--The first of these is
benevolence--This includes good will to man in his temporal
capacity--Reasons why the world has bestowed this trait upon the
Quakers--Probability of its existence--from their ignorance of many
degrading diversions of the world--from their great tenet on war--from
their discipline which inculcates equality--and watchfulness over
morals--and from their doctrine that man is the temple of the Holy
Spirit._

[33]Of the good traits in the Quaker character, which may be called
particular, I shall first notice that of benevolence. This benevolence
will include, first, good will to man in his temporal capacity, or a
tender feeling for him as a fellow creature in the varied situations of
his life.

[Footnote 33: The reader must be aware, that all Quakers do not partake
of this good part of the character. That the generality do, I believe.
That all ought to do, I know, because their principles, as will be
clearly