f they believe it to be productive of evil.

This noble practice of bearing testimony, by which a few individuals
attempt to stem the torrent of immorality by opposing themselves to its
stream, and which may be considered as a living martyrdom, does, in a
moral point of view, a great deal of good to those, who conscientiously
adopt it. It recalls first principles to their minds. It keeps in their
remembrance the religious rights of man. It teaches them to reason upon
principle, and to make their estimates by a moral standard. It is
productive both of patience and of courage. It occasions them to be kind
and attentive, and merciful to those who are persecuted and oppressed.
It throws them into the presence of the Divinity when they are
persecuted themselves. In short, it warms their moral feelings, and
elevates their religious thoughts. Like oil, it keeps them from rusting.
Like a whetstone, it gives them a new edge. Take away this practice from
the constitution of the Quakers, and you pull down a considerable
support of their moral character. It is a great pity that, as professing
Christians, we should not, more of us, incorporate this noble principle
individually into our religion. We concur unquestionably in customs,
through the fear of being reputed singular, of which our hearts do not
always approve, though nothing is more true, than that a Christian is
expected to be singular with respect to the corruptions of the world.
What an immensity of good would be done, if cases of persons, choosing
rather to suffer than to temporize, were so numerous as to attract the
general notice of men! Would not every case of suffering operate as one
of the most forcible lessons that could be given to those who should see
it? And how long would that infamous system have to live, which makes a
distinction between political expediency and moral right?

CHAP. VI.

_A fourth trait is, that, in political affairs, they reason upon
principle, and not from consequences--This mode of reasoning insures the
adoption of the maxim of not doing evil that good may come--Had Quakers
been legislators, many public evils had been avoided, which are now
known in the world--Existence of this trait probable from the influence
of the former trait--and from the influence of the peculiar customs of
the Quakers--and from the influence of their system of discipline upon
their minds._

The next trait, which I shall lay open to the world as belonging t