TT30 
 
A SiHORT 
 
 ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE PEOPLE CALLED 
 
 U A K E R S- t 
 
 Their RISE, RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES and 
 SETTLEMENT in AMERICA. 
 
 Moftly collefted from different AUTHORS, for 
 the information of all ferious INQUIRERS^ 
 particularly FOREIGNERS. 
 
 THE THIRD EDITION. 
 
 BY ANTHONT BENEZET. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 Printed by ENOCH STORY, at his Printing-Office, 
 iu Strawberry- Alley, oppofite Trotter's Alley* 
 
 MDCCLXXXIII, 
 
A Short ACCOUN7? of the People cal 
 led Qu A K R s , their Rife, Religious 
 Principles and Settlement In' AM RICA, 
 moftly collected from divers Authors, 
 for die Information of all ferious En 
 quirers, particularly Foreigners. 
 
 THESE people were firft diftinguifhed 
 by the name of Quakers in England, a- 
 bout the middle of the laft century. George 
 Fox was the principal inftrument of gather 
 ing them into a religious fociety. His out 
 ward employment while young, was chiefly 
 in the care of ilieep, and from his infancy 
 being of a grave, folid, obferving turn of 
 mind, was early reitrained from the follies 
 incident to youth ; folicitous, above all 
 things, to obtain the favour of GOD, and 
 to avoid every thing which either the fcrip- 
 tures or the inward principle of Divine 
 Grace taught him to believe was oflfenfivc 
 to him ; though in fo doing many corrupt 
 praxrHces, which cuftom had familiarized to 
 the Profeffors of Chriftianity, prefented 
 themfelves as obftacles in his way, which 
 for a time occaiioned him much anxiety, 
 left his own particular profpect ihould mif- 
 lead him; but as he retained an inflexible 
 integrity, he gained experience by the things 
 
 that 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 that he.-fuffercd f an.d;as his underilanding 
 wasgradually'illuihin^ted, he received fatis- 
 fa^tioh/'h>;tb:<j; inany, dpubts he had long 
 painfully lab'oured under. In the year 1 647 
 and 23d of his age, he travelled through 
 feveral counties of England, feeking out 
 fuch as, in religious tenderncfs, were in 
 quiring after the way of life and falvation : 
 Thefe he taught both by precept and ex 
 ample the benefit of retiring into iilence, 
 and inilructed them to ceafe from all felf- 
 performances, to turn to the light of Chrift 
 in their own hearts, and wait to feel the 
 inflrudions of his fpirit there, that their 
 knowledge, worihip and religious fervices, 
 might not Hand in the will of man, but 
 in " the power of an endlefs life." 
 
 In this fervice of love he continued fome 
 years, and his labours were fo bleffed, that 
 great numbers were convinced by his mini- 
 ilry and that of others who were gathered 
 into the fame inward divine principle, who 
 ^t firft were called Children of the, Light, 
 But the power and reverential awe attend 
 ing them fo aflfefted their minds, and thofe 
 of the pioufly difpcfed people to whom they 
 miniftered, as often to caufe them to trem 
 ble before the Divine Majefty, under an 
 
 abafing 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 abafing fenfe of their own unworthinefs, 
 whence they were in derilion called Qua 
 kers ; which name they have iince been moft 
 generally known by in the world; tho' from 
 their mutual love and patient fuffering of 
 injuries, which they held ought ever to 
 mark the followers of Chrift, they ftiled 
 themfelves Friends, or the Friends of Truth. 
 Thus it was, that a man without any world 
 ly advantages of ftation or literature, mere 
 ly by a continued attention to the guidance 
 of that Divine Light, which he bore tefti- 
 mony to in the energy and power of his 
 miniftry the convincing plainneis and clear- 
 nefs of his doctrine, and the correfpondent 
 fandity of his life, became an inftrument 
 in the Lord's hand, to colle<l from all pro- 
 feffions and moft ranks, great numbers of 
 pioufly difpofed people, who were at length 
 embodied into a religious fociety, govern 
 ed by one of the beft fyftems of Chriftian 
 Difcipline that hiflory affords any account 
 of. 
 
 Thefe converts to the Light of Chrift in 
 the Soul of Man, were diftinguifhable for a 
 grave, fedate deportment; iingular upright- 
 nefs in their dealings; punctuality in the 
 performance of their promifes; a fparing- 
 
 ncis 
 
nefs in difcourfe ; great temperance and fru 
 gality at their tables ; and plainnefs and fim- 
 plicity in their drefs and behaviour. They 
 declined fervile and fantaftical geftures, 
 compliments and other cuftomary forms of 
 falutation, fuch as putting off the hat, fcrap- 
 ing the foot, bending the knee, drinking 
 healths, 8cc. efteeming them to be violati 
 ons of that fmcerity and ferioufnefs which 
 becomes Chriitians; yet conlldered it their 
 duty to treat all men with gentlenefs and 
 refpeft. Making ufe of the iingular num 
 ber (Thou) as moft proper and conliftent 
 with Scripture and the moft approved an 
 cient writers, avoiding the cuftomary ufe of 
 the plural (You) when fpeaking to a fmgle 
 perfon, with fuch other flattering titles of 
 addrefs as ferve to feed the pride of the hu 
 man heart, accounting them both contrary 
 to the limplicity of the gofpel, and incon- 
 fiftent with truth. They difufed fuch names 
 of the months or days of the week as were 
 derived from the gods of the heathen, be 
 lieving that under the gofpel difpenfation 
 thofe prophecies -were to be fulfilled, by 
 which the Lord declared, " he would fo 
 " effeftually take away the name of Baalim 
 * ' from his people, that they fhould no 
 
 " more 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 " more be remembered by their names. 5 ' 
 Zech. xiii. 2. Hofeaii. 17. 
 
 They maintained that as the end of true 
 Religion is to redeem the minds of mankind 
 from the fpirit of the world, and bring them 
 to an inward communion with God, that 
 therefore the purfuit of worldly failiions, 
 all diverfions, fuch as gaming, dancing, itage 
 playing and other amufements of the fame 
 baneful tendency, are to be refrained from 
 as evidently tending to raife the human mind 
 which is prone to vanity, above the prefer- 
 ving fear of God, and to weaken its delirea 
 after thofe effufions of his love and good- 
 nefs, wherewith it ought to feek daily to be 
 leavened. For according to fcripture tefti- 
 mony and the correfpondent evidences of 
 'Gofpel Light in their own hearts, they found 
 that while men's affections are engroffed by 
 the pleafures and delights of this world, 
 they are dead to a fence of the Divine Life 
 in them ; the abfolute neceflity of regene 
 ration and the power by which this great 
 work is effected, are both included in that 
 doctrine of the apoftle, " If ye live after 
 " theflefhye fhall die; but if ye through 
 " the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the 
 " body, ye fhall live; For as many as are 
 
 " led 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 " led by the Spirit of God they are the 
 " Sons of God." Rom. via. 13. 
 
 It was about thirty years after the firfl ap 
 pearance of the Quakers in England, that 
 many of them fettled in America. In the 
 year 1681, the province of Pennfylvania 
 being granted to William Penn, he removed 
 thither with a confiderable number of his 
 friends, moitly of the people called Qua 
 kers. It is worthy of fpecial notice, that 
 rnoft of the fettlements in America were 
 made with little regard to any prior title in 
 the natives ; but William Penn did not think 
 his permifiion to colonize the traft of land 
 granted to him by king Charles II. a fuffici- 
 ent title to the country; but affembled the 
 Sachems or Princefs, and obtain their con- 
 fent to fettle upon the extent of land that he 
 wanted. When it became neceffary to ex 
 tend the fettlement, new lands were pur- 
 chafed from the original poffeffors, which 
 eftabliflied fo much love and confidence in 
 them towards William Penn and the firft 
 fettlers of Pennsylvania, that his and their 
 names were, and ftill continue to be, re 
 vered amongft them. 
 
 Such a tolleration and liberty of confci- 
 ence was eftabliihed in Pennfylvania, as 
 
 pro* 
 
. - 
 
 promoted and maintained a true fenfe of 
 religion, which penal laws have ever failed 
 of effecting; hypocrify and profanenefs were 
 difcouraged, and thofe Eccleliailical Efta- 
 blilhments which tend to deprive men of 
 their religious and civil rights avoided* Wil 
 liam Penn granted a general toleration to all 
 who profeffed to beleive in one Supreme 
 Almighty Being; and allowed the different 
 fec&s of Chriftians to hold offices, and to 
 enjoy the higheft pofts in the ftate ; as by the 
 Charter of Priviledges, dated 28th October 
 1701, is expreffly provided, viz. " Becaufe 
 " no people can be truly happy though un- 
 " der the greateft enjoyment of Civil Li- 
 " berties, if abridged of the freedom 
 " of their Confciences, as to their religi- 
 " ous profeffion and worfhip; and Al- 
 " mighty God being the only Lord of con- 
 " fcience, Father of lights and fpirits, and 
 " the author as well as objeft of all divine 
 " knowledge, faith and worfhip, who on- 
 " ly doth enlighten the minds and perfuade 
 " and convince the underftandings of peo- 
 " pie: I do hereby grant and declare that 
 " no perfon or perfons inhabiting in this 
 " Province or Territories, who fhall con- 
 " fefs and acknowledge one almighty God, 
 " the creator, upholder and ruler of the 
 " world, and profefs him or themfelves 
 B " obliged 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 " obliged to live quietly under the civil go- 
 " vernrnent, ihall be in any cafe molefted 
 " or prejudiced in his or their perfon or 
 " eftate, becaufe of his or their confcien- 
 " tious perfiiafion or practice ; nor be com- 
 " pelled to frequent or maintain any reli- 
 " gious worfhip, place or miniilry contra- 
 " ry to his or their mincj. ; or to do,, or fuf- 
 " fer any other art or thing contrary to 
 " their religious perfualion. And that all 
 " perfons who alib profefs to beleive in Je- 
 " fus Chrift, the Saviour of the world, ihall 
 " be capable (notwithftanding their other 
 " periuafions and practices in point of con- 
 ** fcience and religion) to ferve this govern- 
 " ment in any capacity, both legiflatively 
 " and executively." 
 
 And in order to guard, as much as was in 
 his power againft the inftability of future 
 human councils, William Penn provided, 
 in the moft folemn manner, in the laft para 
 graph of his charter, that this moft effential 
 Liberty and Privilege fliould be preferved 
 inviolate, in the following memorable con- 
 clulion of it, viz. " But becaufe the happi- 
 *' nefs of mankind depends fo much upon 
 " the enjoying of liberty of their confcien- 
 " ces as atoreiaid, I do hereby iblemnly de- 
 " clare, promife and grant for me, my heirs 
 tf and affigns, tliat the tiiit article of this 
 
 " charter 
 
.( II ) 
 
 " charter, relating to Liberty of Conlciencc 
 " and every part and claufe therein, accor- 
 " ding to the true intent and meaning there- 
 " of, ihall be kept and remain, without any 
 * alteration, inviolably forever. . And lail- 
 " ly, I the faid William Penn, proprietary 
 " and governor of the province of Pennfyl- 
 " vania and Territories thereunto belong- 
 
 o 
 
 " ing, for myfelf, my heirs and afiigns have 
 " folemnly declared, granted and confirm- 
 " ed, and do hereby folernnly declare, 
 < c grant and confirm, that neither I, my 
 " heirs or affigns {hall, procure or do, any 
 " thing or things, whereby the liberties in 
 " this charter contained and expreffed, nor 
 " any part thereof, {hall be infringed or 
 " broken; and if any thing {hall be pro- 
 " cured or done by any perfon or perfons 
 (f contrary to thefe prefents it {hall be held 
 " of no force or effeft." 
 
 This general Liberty of Confcience was 
 the natural effed of the divine principle of 
 light and truth profeffed by the Quakers, 
 who hold none excluded from the favour 
 of God on account of their different religi 
 ous perfuafion, provided it be founded on 
 the fear of God and love to mankind. A 
 government eftablifhed upon fo liberal and 
 extentive a plan, was an encouragement to 
 great numbers of different perfuafions to 
 
 emigrate 
 
emigrate from various countries, where ma 
 ny had fuffered for their non conformity to 
 eccleliaftical requifitions, to fettle under a 
 conftitution, the baiis of which was reli 
 gious and civil liberty, to which wife pro- 
 viiion the rapid fettlement and improve 
 ment of the Province has, by the bleffmg 
 of Providence, been principally owing, 
 is a fituation of fociety beautiful in profpe A 
 and happy in the enjoyment, when men 
 mutually give and receive liberty to live 
 with equality and affection; if not as be 
 longing to the fame vifible church, yet to 
 the^fame fraternity of mankind; agreeable 
 to our bleffed Saviours doarine, " One is 
 " your mailer and all ye are brethren. 
 " Mat. xxiii. 8." The changes which for 
 a number of years paft have gradually pre 
 vailed in this once peaceful land, princi 
 pally owing to the great acceffion of people 
 of different difpoiitions from the firil fet- 
 tlers, the views of many of whom having 
 been to amafs wealth and agrandize them- 
 felves, has very much reverted the fyftem 
 of happinefs fo long and fuccefsfully pur- 
 fued: Hence the friendly difpoiitionof the 
 Indians confpicuous for a long courfe of 
 years in favour of the inhabitants, has been 
 fo changed that Pennfylvania, after enjoy 
 ing an uninterrupted peace of more than 
 
 fixty 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 fixty years, has, in common with the other 
 colonies, fuffered feverely from the incur- 
 fions of the natives. 
 
 Their DOCTRINES. 
 
 The Univerfality of the Grace of GOD, 
 and its faving EffeAs. 
 
 THE Dotti-ine they principally hold is, 
 that there is one God, almighty, ho 
 ly, pure and eternal; who of Ins infinite 
 love has offered falvation, through Jefus 
 Chrift his fon, Who fhould taile death 
 for every man." Heb, ii. 9. Who 
 will have all men to be faved and to come 
 " unto the knowledge of the truth:" i Tim 
 4. That a gift of faving Light and Grace 
 hath appeared to all men; teaching us 
 that denying ungodlinefs, and worldly 
 ufts, we fhould live foberly, righteouf- 
 iy and godly, in this prefent world " 
 
 11. 
 
 u l '' 
 
 the true light which lighteth every man 
 
 that cometh into the world." John i 
 The divine Principle of redeeming pow 
 er which under the difpenfation of the law 
 was pointed to in types and ceremonies is 
 by the gofpel revealed to be Chrift in you 
 ' faith the Apoftle) the hope of glory ' 
 > i. 27. that is agreeable to the prornife 
 
 made 
 
( i4 ) 
 
 made to the fathers, that all (hall know 
 him (i. e. the Lord) from the Icatt of them 
 tothegreateft." Jer. xxxi. 33- 
 put my law in their inward parts, and 
 write it in their hearts, and will be their 
 God and they (hall be my people." 
 
 The Quakers hold that this law ot truth, 
 this tcft of virtue and vice is not hid from 
 any part of mankind; but that every man 
 born into the world, is enlightned by it: 
 The ferious and well difpoiedHeathens, in 
 different ages and nations, have, under v: 
 rious appellations, expreffed their lenhbuit) 
 of the exigence and efficacy of this Divine 
 Principle, this law of God written in the 
 heart/to deliver from that corruption.undcr 
 which they laboured. Socrates, Plato, Se- 
 neca, Epiftetus and feveral others ot the 
 philofophers called their difciples to an at 
 tention to its diaates. Thefe doubtlefs were 
 fome of thofe virtuous Heathens commen 
 ded in the fcriptures, Rom. ii. 14- : ^ h 
 * tho' they had not," inftrumentally,beeu 
 taught the law, yet from a conformity to 
 this inward principle of divine inteUigence, 
 -" do by nature the things contained in the 
 law, were a law unto themielv-es which 
 ' ffavs the Apoftle) ihew the work of ti. 
 law written in their hearts,"* this the* 
 maintain to be a light of God's own nature ; 
 
 * Rom. u, 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 " the Life of him being the light of men. 
 John i. 4. And therefore fuperior to and 
 diftiruft from the mere light of our natural 
 faculties, becaufe it doth not properly ap 
 pertain to men as fallen creatures ; but is the 
 gift of God, fuperadded to them, thro' Je- 
 fus Chriit, for their information and affift> 
 ance, in purfuing after thofe things which 
 relate to the favour of God and their eter 
 nal Salvation. Hence the Quakers hold it 
 as a fundamental doftrine, that whofoevcr 
 will carefully and ferioufly turn into him- 
 felf, with a iincere deiire to know and prac 
 tice his duty, will not fail to find there a 
 Sufficient director, a ray from the fountain 
 of light, illuminating his underftanding and 
 afliiling him to diftinguifli good from evil. 
 As faith the Prophet, < He hath fhewed the 
 w O man what is good, and what doth the 
 ' Lord require of thee; but to do juftly 
 4 and to love mercy, and to walk humbly 
 ' with thy God.' Mich. vi. 8. They are 
 pcrfuaded that as many as reiift not this 
 light, in whatever part of the world they 
 live, or of what mode of religious pro- 
 feilion they may be, it produce th holinefs, 
 nghicouiriefs, purity and other fruits ac-r 
 cep table to God, agreeable to the declara 
 tion made by the Apoftle Peter, after he 
 had been at the houfe of Cornelius, ( of a 
 
 4 truth 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 4 truth I perceive that God is no refpe&er 
 4 of perlbns; but in every nation, he that 
 4 feareth him, and worketh righteoufnefs > 
 
 * is accepted with him.' A&s x. 34, 35. 
 
 * Yet fhall not thy teachers be removed in- 
 4 to a corner any more, but thine eyes fhall 
 4 fee thy teachers ; and thine ears fhall hear 
 
 * a word behind the faying, This is the way 
 4 walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right 
 4 hand, and when ye turn to the left/ 
 Ifai?vh xxx. 20. 21. 
 
 They efteem the Scriptures of the old and 
 new Teftament above all other writings, be 
 lieving them to be given by Divine Infpira- 
 tion, as a rule of faith and practice, in fub- 
 ordination to the light and fpirit of God, 
 which is the primary rule that much de 
 pends on the fcriptures being judged of un 
 der the influence of the fame Divine Spirit 
 which gave them forth ; that otherwife, in 
 the hands of men actuated by their corrupt 
 propenlities, they may and have been ufed 
 as a pretext for doing many things abhor 
 rent to the nature and fpirit of the gofpeL 
 Witnefs thofe terrible perfecutions which a 
 falfe zeal, joined to a wrong conilruftion of 
 the fcripture, have occafioned. They de 
 cline to call them the word of God, as be 
 ing a denomination properly attributed to 
 Chrilt alone ; and they are the more fcrupu- 
 
 lous 
 
( '7 \ 
 
 laus in this refpeft, becaufe people are apt 
 to be hereby led to think that if they have 
 the fcriptures, they have ail that is neceffary 
 to falvation, and Ipok for no further Word 
 or Light. 
 
 ON W A R. 
 
 THE Quakers abfolutely declare againft 
 being concerned in the deftru'ftion of 
 their fellow men, who equally with them- 
 felves are the objects of favlng grace ; hence 
 they can take no part in war, being per- 
 fuaded that all wars Hand in oppolition to 
 the intent and nature of the gofpel : War 
 being the fad effeft of the fall of man ; a 
 fall from meeknefs, purity and love, into 
 fenfuality, pride revenge and wrath. The 
 apollle James, Chap. 4th, hath ftated the 
 queftion with refpect to the caufe of war, fo 
 as to preclude all difficulty and doubt about 
 it: '' From whence come wars and fight- 
 " ings among you, come they not hence, 
 " even of your lufts." James iv. i. The e- 
 vident fruits of a fpiiit contrary to the fpi- 
 rit of Chrill, oppolite both in its nature and 
 effects to the pure religion he hath called 
 men to the practice of; wherefore they are 
 convinced that the followers of the meek 
 and peaceable Jefus, ought to take no part 
 C in 
 
in war; but rather to labour in the ability 
 received from the bleffed Mediator, to re 
 concile men unto God and one unto another. 
 " Bleffed (faith our merciful Saviour) are 
 " the meek for they fhall inherit the ear:h: 
 " Bleffed are the peace makers for they 
 " fhall be called the children of God," Mat. 
 v. 5. g. They will enjoy that peace of God 
 which paffeth all human understanding- And 
 the Apoftle fpeaking of the believers adds, 
 *' Tho' we walk in the fiefh, we do not 
 '* war after the flefh, for the weapons of 
 '* our warfare are not carnal." 2 Cor. x. 
 3. 4. They look upon the golpel of Jefus 
 Chrift to be an eminent difplay of divine be 
 nignity and love to mankind; that the foil 
 of God took upon him flelh and fiiffered,' 
 and died to deftroy that enmity which thro' 
 fin had prevailed over the whole human 
 race, and to reltore unto fallen man the firft 
 life of purity and love; ".leaving us (faith 
 " the apoftle) an example that ye fhould 
 <c follow his fteps. i Peter ii. 21. They 
 believe the wars mentioned in the old Tel- 
 tament afford no argument for its continu 
 ance under the golpel, which is declared to 
 be '' the bringing in of a better hope, by 
 " the which we draw nigh unto God, Heb. 
 vii. 19. a difpenfation of peculiar love and 
 
 mere) 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 mercy to mankind, which our Saviour him- 
 felf diftinguifhes from the former difpenfa- 
 tion, i when he fays : " Ye have heared that 
 " it hath been faid, An eye for an eye and 
 " a tooth for a tooth; but I fay unto you, 
 " That ye refift not evil; again Ye have 
 " heared that it hath been faid, Thou fhalt 
 " love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy: 
 " But I fay unto you, Love your enemies, 
 *' blefs them that curfe you, do good to 
 " them that hate you and pray for them 
 " which deipitefully ufe you and perfecute 
 " you, that ye may be the children of your 
 " father which is in heaven." Mat. v. 38, 
 39, 43, 44, 55. 
 
 Agreeable to this is the teftimony of moft 
 if not all the antient fathers, Jus. Martyr, 
 Tertu. Ambrofe, Chrys. Hierom. Athan. 
 Cyrill. Alex, &c. and faithful chriPdans of 
 the firft three hundred years aft er Chriit, as 
 their writings clearly Ihew, wherein they 
 declare that the prophecies of Ifaiah and 
 Micah: Ifai. ii. 4. Mich. iv. 3. " They 
 " fhall beat their iwords into plow-Hiares 
 " and their fpears into pruning-hooks : Na- 
 f< tion fhall not lift up fword againftnation- 
 " neither fhall they learn war any more;" 
 relating to the eftabliftiment of the peace 
 able reign of the Meffiah, as well as the de 
 claration 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 claration made by the Angels at the birth of 
 Chriu, of " Peace on earth, good will to- 
 " wards men/* Luke ii. 14. were verified 
 in the experience of the faithful in their days. 
 
 The infpired Apoftle defcribes the fruits 
 of the Holy Spirit to be ^ love, joy, peace, 
 <r long fuffering, gentlenefs, goodnefs, faith, 
 * c meeknefs, temperance, Gal. v. 22, 23. 
 fo that thefe important truths experienced 
 by holy men of early and latter ages, ma- 
 nifeilthat thisdoftrine and firm perfuaiion 
 of the Quakers is not new ; and it muft be 
 allowed, that effential fcrvice may arife from 
 their holding up the efficacy of this divine 
 principle, which leads to " overcome evil 
 with good/' Rom. xii. 21. to a world di- 
 ftrafted with wrath, covetoufnefs and pride ; 
 nor ihould it appear ftrange that the doc 
 trine of the crois of Chrift is myfterious to 
 the carnal wifdom of man, it was " to the 
 " Jew's a Humbling block and to the Greeks 
 " foolifhnefs ; but unto them which are cal- 
 " led, faith the Apoftle, it is the power of 
 " God and the wifdom of God/' i Cor. 
 i. 23, 24- 
 
 And however threatning the maintenance 
 of this peaceable teftimony may appear, of 
 bringing deep differing upon thofe who are 
 faithful therein; yet they believe that Chrift 
 
 the 
 
the bleffed Shepherd of his flock, will ever 
 uphold thofe who faithfully follow him, in 
 the meek, forgiving, fuffering fpirit. They 
 cannot confider victories obtained by the 
 definition of men, as occafions of rejoic 
 ing; much lefs as fubje&s of thankfgiving to 
 the creator of mankind; a God of love of 
 peace and goodnefs, " God is love ; and he 
 " that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God and 
 ic God in him." i John iv. 16. but regard 
 them as occafions of lamentation, and 
 mourning, both on account of thofe 
 who, inflamed with rage, and defiled with 
 blood, are precipitated into an awful eter 
 nity, and of thofe who are left to {hare and 
 deplore the deflations of war; alfo in the 
 coniideration, that the undcrftanding of 
 any, who bear the chriftian name, fhould 
 be fo exceedingly blind to the nature of 
 the gofpel, as to imagine its Divine Author^ 
 who declares u He came not to deftroy 
 mens lives; but < to iave them/' Luke ix... 
 56. can look with favour on fiich addrdTes^ 
 as arife from a conduct totally repugnant 
 to the great end of his coming. 
 
 OF W O R S H 1 P. 
 
 THEY look upon Divine wonfliip to 
 be the moil fblerrm act the mind of 
 
 man 
 
man is capable of being engaged in, and in 
 coniideration of the high and inconceivable 
 Majeily of almighty God, think it their du 
 ty to approach him with the greateit reve 
 rence. They affert that the true worihip of 
 God is in Spirit and in Truth, not limited 
 to any place or time, agreeable to our 
 Lord's declaration to the woman of Sama 
 ria; (ft The hour cometh and now is, when 
 <r the true worfhippers {hall worihip the 
 " Father in Spirit and in Truth: For the 
 * f Father feeketh fuch to worfhip him." 
 John iv 23. which is to be performed through 
 the operation of the Spirit of Jefus Chrift 
 our Lord, who regards the. prayer of the 
 humble and contrite, that in iincerity feek 
 him, and has declared, " where two or 
 <<r three are gathered together in my name, 
 <<r there am I in the midftof them;" Matt. 
 xviii. 20. to revive the fpirit 6f the hum 
 ble and to revive the heart of the contrite 
 ones. Ifaiah Ivii. 15. 
 
 They acknowledge no prieftly office to 
 fubliil under the gofpel difpenfation, in any 
 other fenfe than as every fincere chriftian 
 may be called a prieft as he offers up to God 
 the facrificeof praifea#dthankfgiving, from 
 a pure and contrite heart, in which rcfpeft 
 the apoftle calls all true chriflians a royal 
 
 priefthood 
 
priefthood to offer up fpiritual facrifices-a 
 holy nation, apeculiar people, i Pet. ii. 5. g. 
 
 T hey apprehend it their duty to be dili 
 gent in affembling themfelves together for 
 the public worfhip of almighty God, when 
 fuch as are duly prepared by being gathered 
 into a compofed awful frame of mind,, are 
 enabled under the influence of divine grace 
 to worfhip, in folemn iilence, during the 
 whole time of the meeting, or if moved 
 thereto, to pray or preach ( i. e. prophecy) 
 as the fpirit giveth them utterance ; agree 
 able to the practice of the primitive church, 
 without diftin&ion of quality or fex ; every 
 one who is of a fober life and approved 
 converfation, if divinely called or moved 
 thereto, is permitted to fpeak in their ai~ 
 femblies, and as liich perfevere therein to 
 thefatisfaftion of the congregation, they are 
 recommended as gofpel minifters. They 
 fay, that as well at meals as on all other oc- 
 cafions, a fenfe of gratitude fhould be lived 
 in for the bleffing, prefervation and fupport 
 we daily receive, particularly looking up to 
 God and waiting to feel the motion"of his 
 Spirit to animate to mental prayer, without 
 which all vocal exprefiion is inefficient. 
 
 They think men ought to be very careful 
 in their preteniions to the miniflerial gifts, 
 
 it 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 xc being very prefumptuous and dangerous 
 in any to take upon them that high office 
 without being divinely called thereto, and 
 that no man has a fufficient ground to think 
 he is called to the miniftry by the Holy- 
 Ghoft, without a clear putting forth of the 
 Spirit in his heart, from a fenfe of duty to 
 God, and a feeling, preffing, dilinterefted 
 love to the brethren, to the fatisfa&ion of 
 the congregation or meeting he belongs to. 
 This to them appears to comprehend the 
 fubftance of the primitive ordination in the 
 apoftolic age. To fettle falaries and pen- 
 fions for the maintenance of the ordained 
 preachers, who afterwards exat them as a 
 debt, they look upon as a difhonour to the 
 miniftry of the gofpel, degrading it to a 
 worldly traffic : That agreeable to our Sa 
 viour's poiitive command, " Having free- 
 " ly received they ought freely to give." 
 Matt. x. 8. The Apoflle Paul declared, 
 ' c Thathis own hands had miniftered unto 
 " his neceffities." A&sxx* 34. 
 
 As the Quakers hold it a fundamental 
 doftrine, f<f That it is the Spirit thatgiveth 
 " life," 2 Cor. iii. 6. " That God hath 
 " made foolifh the wifdom of this world," 
 i Cor. i. 20. They cannot efteem human 
 learning to be a neceffary qualification to 
 
 the 
 
the miniftry, the Apdftle declares to the be 
 lievers, " that not many wife men after the 
 << flefh, not many mighty, iiot many no- 
 " ble are called, but God hath chofen the 
 '* foblifti things arid the weak things of the 
 " world to confound the things which are 
 " mighty; yea and things which are not, 
 " to bring to nought things that are, that 
 " no fleffa fliould glciry in his prefence. 
 " And my fpeech and my preaching was 
 *' not with enticing words of man's wi- 
 " dam, but in derftchflration of fpirit and 
 " power; that your faith Ihould pot Hand 
 " in the wifdoin of men; but in the pow- 
 " erof God." i Cor. i. 26. ii. 4. 5. 
 
 Foi- the lame reafon they utterly difclaim 
 that divinity falfely fo called, taught in the 
 fchools, and thbfe degrees conferred^ in 
 Academies ; the nature of which, tKe^ look 
 upon tends to puff iip the vain mind in e- 
 ftimation of its own importance, to affume 
 IbrdfHip and to feek honour one from ano 
 ther, in oppblitibft to the advice of our Sa 
 viour to his: difciplcs, " Not to be called 
 " Rabbi ; JT but directs to a brotherly equa 
 lity among his difciples, " One is your Ma 
 iler, even Chrift; and all ye are brethren. 
 Matt, xxiii. 8. They alfo refufc to pay 
 tythes or to tontribuie to the fuppbit of 
 D a 
 
, . 
 
 a hireling miniftiy, looking upon the for 
 cible demand of the clergy of all denomi 
 nations who claim a maintenance by laws> 
 to be an ufurpation not in the Icail warrant 
 ed by, but contrary to Icripture, under the 
 gofpel, which they are in conference obliged 
 to \vithftand 
 
 They affert that afflongft the many mif- 
 takcn practices which have been introduced 
 and correfpond not with the voice of Chrift 
 the only Shepherd of the Soul, none ap 
 pears more oppoied to the meek and hum 
 ble, felf- denying ftate of the gofpel,- than 
 the practice of thole '* Who teach for hire 
 4i and divine for money," Micah iii. 1 1. 
 v/ho are generally ready fe to prepare war 
 ( ' againft thofe who put not into their 
 Mouths/' Cap* iii. 5. and arrogate to them- 
 fclves, that they, by virtue of their feveral 
 ordinations arc the only guides and Ihep- 
 herds of all Chriftians, v/ho are to receive 
 the gofpel from their lips, in contradiction 
 to the promife made to the believers, "That 
 " alllhould know the Lord from the leaft 
 " to the greateft. Heb. Viii. n. 
 
 Notwithftandiiig the teftimony of the 
 Quakers is againit thofe preachers, among 
 the different denominations, that labour in 
 their own will, who preaeh for hire and di 
 vine 
 
vine for money, yet they refped fuch a~ 
 mong them who are men fearing God and 
 hating covetoufnefs, and have engaged in 
 that weighty fervice from an apprehenfion 
 of duty, nor do they deny that the fpirit of 
 Grace fometimes condefcends to co-operate 
 with the religious labours of fuch: Never- 
 thejefs they cannot clireft the fearchers after 
 truth to the miniflry of any man, but tq 
 the immediate teaching of the word nigh 
 " in the heart/' even the Spirit of God, 
 which is the only infallible teacher, the pri 
 mary adequate rule of faith and practice, 
 which will lead thofe who attend to its dic-^ 
 tates intq the knowledge of tnith and 
 righteoufhefs. 
 
 And as there is a general difpenfation of 
 Divine Grace, alike to male and female, 
 who in fcripture are declared to be all one 
 in Chrift, they admit that women have a like 
 call to the miniftry as the roe.n, and are 
 m^ide equally partakers of the fame enlarge 
 ment of Spirit, peculiar to the gofpei times; 
 as was clearly prophelied by the prophet 
 Joel and confirmed by the ap.oftlePe\ r, at 
 the time of pentecoit, viz. " That God 
 " would pour out of his Spirit upon all flcfh 4 
 " and their fons and their daughters fhould 
 
 " ( pi'ophefy and on my iervants and on 
 
 i; my 
 
f ' my handr-maids will I pour out, in thole 
 ?' days, of my Spirit, and they fnall pro- 
 " phefy," Aas ii. 17, 18. the apoftle Paul, 
 alfo, gives directions to both fexes, how they 
 ^re to behave themfelves in their publick 
 praying, or prophefying, both which iignify 
 fpeaking unto men to exhortationand.com- 
 'fort. Whence it may be fafely concluded, 
 that the prohibition that apoftle lays on a, 
 woman's fpeaking, of which fuch a handle 
 is made to deprive the church of fo great a 
 benefit, was only intended as a check to the 
 unwarrantable aftivity of fome women, at 
 ]that peculiar time, and by no means in con- 
 tradiftion to what himfelf had faid in con 
 firmation of the fore-mentioned prophefy. 
 
 On BAPTISM and the SUPPER. 
 
 ft* x * '' 
 
 THE Quakers being convinced that no 
 outward practice can give apofTeffion 
 in the kingdom of God, but it is folely the 
 renovation of heart called in fcripture the 
 New Creature, that can juffly entitle us to 
 the appellation of Children of God, agree 
 able to the apofllc's doctrine, '* That the 
 tf kingdom of God is not meat and drink; 
 " butrigiiteoufnefs, and peace and joy in. 
 cc the Holy Ghoit," Rom. xiv. 17, they 
 
 fee 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 fee no neceffity for continuing the ufe of 
 water baptiim, and the outward (upper in 
 the church, efteeming thefe to have been 
 ufed only as figures pointing to the fub- 
 (lance, and abftraftedly coniidered of no 
 greater avail than Walhing the feet, circum- 
 ciiiori or any Jewifli rite to the renovation of 
 mind \ye ftapd in need of; yet believe there 
 are thofe who ufe thefe figns in uprightnefs, 
 and that the Lord, who refpeds the diipofi- 
 tion of the mind more than any outward 
 circumftance, condefcends to favour fuch 
 with the bleffing of peace : They agree that 
 fome of the apoflles ufed water-bap tifm, in 
 the infant (late of the church, while the 
 jewifh part of the believers remained under 
 fpmc attachment to the preceeding (liadowy 
 difpenfation of the law; but we may obferve 
 that Paul the apoftle of the Gentiles,, who 
 " was not under thofe prejudices fays, " that 
 ',' Chrift fent him not to baptize, but to 
 *' preach the Gofpel/' i Cor. i. 17. and de 
 clares the baptizing power of the Holy 
 Ghoft to be an effeutial means of admifiion 
 into the church of Chrift, " For, (fays he) 
 <<r by one fpirit are we all baptized into one 
 ** body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, 
 " whether we be bond or free; and have 
 " been all made to drink into one fpirit." 
 
 i Cor, 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 I Cor. xii. 13. The fame apoftle cxpreffly 
 declares, f( That there is one Lord, one 
 <c Faith, one Baptifm." Eph. iv. 5, And 
 the apoftle Peter, <<r That the baptifm which 
 " faveth, is not the putting away of the 
 " filth of the flefh, but the anfwer of a 
 " good confcience towards God, by the 
 " refureftion of Jefus Chrift." i Pet. iii. 2 1 , 
 Now in this advanced age of the church 
 when Chrift is confeffed by all denomina 
 tions of chriftians to be the great Antitype, 
 in whom all the figures and fhadows of the 
 law are fulfilled, for any to infift on the 
 perpetuation of thefe forms, and place their 
 dependance thereon for the accomplifh- 
 ment of that work qf falvation which can 
 only be wrought by his faying fpirit and 
 power, they apprehend is to derogate from 
 his honour and tends to flop the feeking 
 mind in a dangerous dependance on fome- 
 thing fhort of the true objeft. Thus the wa 
 ter baptifm of John was carefully diftin- 
 guifhed by himfelf, from that of Chrift, by 
 which the purification of the foul is effected, 
 M I indeed (fays he) baptize you with water 
 '* unto repentance; but he that corneth af- 
 v. ter me is mightier than I, whofe fhoes I 
 V am not wordiy to bear, he fhall baptize 
 " you with the Holy Ghoft and with Fire- 
 
 Matt. 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 Matt* iii. 1 1 ; Accordingly when in obedi 
 ence to ChriiVs directions, the dilciples were 
 aflembled at Jemfalem on the day of Pen- 
 tecoil, and then experienced the defcent of 
 this baptizing power upon them, it opened 
 their mouths in teilimony to its quickmng 
 influence ; and when afterwards, under the 
 fame divine qualification, Peter began to 
 preach to fome at the houfe of Cornelius, 
 he fays, * The Holy Ghoft fell on them, as 
 * r on us at the beginning : Then remember- 
 ** ed I the word of the Lord, how that he 
 *' {aid, John indeed baptized with water; 
 tf but ye fhall be baptized \vith the Holy 
 Ghoft." A<fts xi. 15. 1 6- 
 
 The like fpiritual acceptation the Qua 
 kers give to the Lord's fupper, the outward 
 practice of which they apprehend was orily 
 to continue until he came by his fpiritual 
 appearance, who is the antitype, fulfilled 
 the law and put an end to all the Jewifh 
 rites ; and that they who experience his 
 coming a fecondtime, without fin unto fal- 
 ration, feel the force and propriety of the 
 apoftle's rebuke, and dare not return to the 
 " beggarly elements/' Gal. iv. 8 9- "When 
 " ye knew not God ye did fervice unto them 
 " which by nature are no Gods ; but now 
 " after that ye have known- God, or rathci 
 
 '* arc 
 
" are known of God, how turn ye a- 
 " gain to the weak arid beggarly elements, 
 " whereunto ye defife again, to be in 
 " bondage/' but defire to teed by faith, 
 on him, who teftified thus of himfelf, 
 " Whofo cateth my fleih and drinketh my 
 " blood hath eternal life, and I will rails 
 " him up at the laft day; for my fleih is meat 
 " indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He 
 " that eateth my flefh and driaketh my 
 " blood, dwelleth in me and I in him/' John 
 vi. 54, 55, 56. which declaration clearly 
 points to the communication of his divine 
 nature, alluded to where he is defcribed as 
 {landing at a door, waiting for an entrance 
 to blefs the hungry foul with the enjoyment 
 of it; " Behold! I ftand at the door and 
 " knock, if any man hear my voice and o- 
 " pen the door, I will come in to him and 
 " will fup with him and he with me." Rev. 
 iii. 20. This is the holy (upper and bleffed 
 communion of faints, which the living 
 members of the church experience and is 
 ftill continued to the followers of Cliriit: 
 So that though they rejeft the ufe of thofe 
 outward ceremonies, yet they are advocates 
 for the true fpiritual baptifm and the Lord's 
 fupper, which are thole inward and fpiri 
 tual graces to which the figures point. 
 
 ON 
 
( 33 ) 
 ON SWEARING, 
 
 THEY teach a ftria: regard to Truth 
 without fwearing, according to the 
 injunction of our bleffed Savioitr, " Swear 
 " notatall; but let your communication bei 
 " Yea, Yea ; Nay, Nay for whatfoever is 
 " more than thefe cometh of evil," Matt. v. 
 34, 37. and the exhortation of the apoflle 
 James; '' But above all things my brethren 
 " fwearnot, neither by heaven, neither by 
 " the earth, neither by any other oath ; but 
 " let your yea, be yea, and your nay, nay; 
 " left ye fall into condemnation/' James v. 
 1 2. apprehending that were the mind isun- 
 der the tye and bond of truth, there can 
 be no neceflity for oaths and afleverations, 
 which are evidently the leaft regarded by 
 thofe who make the freeft ufe of them : Yet 
 willing to fubmit to any punifhment for 
 falfe affirming, which others are liable to 
 for perjury. And in this there is reafon to 
 believe they follow the example of the fa 
 thers of the five firft centuries, who accor 
 ding to Dr. Whitby (in his diiTert. de fcript. 
 interp. p. 154) and other authors agree, 
 that oaths of all kinds were unlawful to 
 chrifliansin the firft centuries of the church* 
 E On 
 
( 34 ) 
 On SLAVERY. 
 
 TH E Slavery, which during a long 
 courfe of years has fubfifted in Ame 
 rica, promoted by a cruel and criminal 
 trade, carried on both from Europe and A- 
 merica, for the fixed purpofe of purchafmg 
 the African Negroes, in order to fubjeft 
 them to a ftate of bondage, being one of the 
 great evils now prevailing amongft the pro- 
 feflbrs of chriftianity, when confidered in 
 its nature and effects, as well to the Negroes, 
 as to their lordly oppreffors and their un 
 happy offspring, hath particularly engaged 
 the attention of this religious fociety, who 
 have required all their members to avoid 
 being, in any refpet> concerned in the fup- 
 port of this infamous traffick; and have alfo 
 enjoined all their members who have any 
 of thefe oppreffed people in pofleffion, that 
 they fhould, without delay, fet them at li 
 berty; and directed that foch who refufed 
 to comply with this injunction, fhall be con 
 iidered as no longer in fellowship with them 
 and to have renounced their right of mem- 
 berfhip. And having alfo obferved the ma 
 ny difadvantages thefe afflifted people la 
 bour under in point of education and other- 
 wife 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 wife, a tender care has taken place to pro 
 mote their, inftruftion in fchool learning, 
 and alfo their religious and temporal wel 
 fare, in order to qualify them for becoming 
 reputable members of fociety. 
 
 Their DISCIPLINE and OECONOMY. 
 
 RELIGIOUS fociety in its fimpleft form, 
 being an agreement of its members 
 to watch over each other for good, as in this 
 lapfed ftate of exiftence, we are iubjcft to 
 many weakneffes and (land in need of the 
 care and counfel one of another; hence dif- 
 cipline, for the well government of fuch a 
 fociety becomes neceffary. Thus where a 
 number of this people are fettled in a neigh 
 bourhood and belong to one eftabliihed 
 meeting for worfhip, if any individual falls 
 into indigent circumftanccs, when iuch cafe 
 becomes known, relief isadminiftered; or 
 if any member walk diforderly, or a report 
 is fpread to his difadvantage, that perfon of 
 the fociety who firft obferves or hears there 
 of, is enjoined privately to admonifh him, 
 carefully avoiding a difclofure of the matter 
 to a third perfon, until repeated trials to re 
 claim him prove ineffectual. He is then to 
 take a judicious perfon with him, and if 
 
 their 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 their united endeavours prove alfo fraitlefs, 
 his cafe is made known to the overfeers, of 
 which there are generally one or more in 
 each particular meeting; whole bufmefs it 
 is to fee that the order and rules of the fo- 
 ciety are obferved, and who after vifiting 
 the offender and finding him irreclaimable, 
 firft apprize him of their intention and then 
 lay his cafe before the elders, overfeers and 
 other members of the meeting he belongs 
 to, where if none are inclined to vifit him 
 ag^in, it is carried forward to the monthly 
 meeting, which is a meeting generally made 
 up of the members of feveral fuch particu 
 lar meetings as lie contiguous to it; here a 
 committee is commonly deputed to ufe fur 
 ther endeavours to convince and regain the 
 offender; but if after repeatedly vifiting and 
 waiting upon him a proper time, no (ignof 
 Amendment is reported, that meeting pro 
 ceeds to teftify its difapprobation of his con- 
 duft, and that he has thereby excluded him- 
 felf from a right of memberihip in the fo- 
 ciety ? This teftification it is ufual to deliver 
 him a copy of, and inform him of his right 
 of appeal from their judgment, to the quar 
 terly meeting, which confifts of the mem 
 bers who conftitute the monthly meetings 
 within each county ; and from the quarterly 
 
 meetings 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 meeting appeals alfo lie to the yearly meet 
 ing, which is a collection of all the quarterly- 
 meetings; here appeals are finally deter 
 mined; rules for the government of the fo- 
 ciety are agreed on; with fuch advices as 
 from time to time appear neceffary. 
 
 The Quakers refufal to unite in any thing 
 of a warlike nature,, which proceeds from a 
 conviction that every meafure which tends 
 to the deftraftion of mankind is inconfiftcnt 
 with the nature of theGofpel; their refufing 
 to join in publick rejoicing for luccefles ob^ 
 tained in war; their denying to fwear in a~ 
 ny cafe; to pay tythes, or to contribute to 
 to the fupport of the national miniilry; as 
 well as their nonconformity to the common 
 modes of addrefs, &c. have fiibjefted them 
 to much obloquy and many grievous faffer- 
 ings which neverthelefs have been much 
 mitigated by the indulgence different go 
 vernments have extended to them,, convin 
 ced by their patient fufferings, that their 
 profeffion of confcientious fcruples were fin-* 
 cere, and that nothing dangerous to civil 
 fociety could be apprehended from a people 
 who utterly difclaimed the ufe of arms, or 
 of being in any wife concerned in foment 
 ing diviiions or civil commotions, and who 
 think it their duty to contribute their endea 
 vours 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 vours fcfr the peace and welfare of every 
 country where their lots are call, and arc 
 willing chearfully to comply with every juft 
 requiiition, for the fupport of the civil order 
 of government, not inconfiftent with what 
 they apprehend is their duty to God. They 
 are careful to minifter to the neceffities of 
 thofe among them whofe circumftances call 
 for relief, not fuffering any of their mem 
 bers to become a publick charge; they 
 moreover chearfully pay their equal affcff- 
 ment with others, for the fupport of the 
 general poor. Nor have any other people 
 manifefled a greater clefire and willingnefs 
 to promote the welfare of civil fociety, by 
 their liberality in contributing to the relief 
 of the poor, and in attention to the care of 
 them ; and in the management of thofe in- 
 ftitutions which have been eftablifhed for 
 the benefit of the community at large : For 
 a. coniidcrablc number of years many of 
 them were concerned with others in the le- 
 giflative and executive part of civil govern 
 ment, wherein they manifeftecl a firm at 
 tachment to the conftitutional rights of the 
 people ; but as acting in thefo itations was 
 attended with fnares and temptations, itwas 
 the concern of their yearly-meeting to ex 
 cite iuch to a watchful care againil deviating 
 from their chriftian, peaceable principles ; 
 
 and 
 
C 39 ) 
 
 and at length as the inhabitants became nu 
 merous, by emigrations from Europe and 
 otherwife, and the holding public offices 
 was attended with greater difficulty, fervices 
 i being required which interfered more im 
 mediately with their religious principles, the 
 yearly meeting advifed their members to 
 withdraw therefrom, perceiving that the 
 feeking or accepting of offices in legiflation 
 or magiftracy was dangerous and frequently 
 injurious to the individuals in a religious 
 fenfe ; more especially when fought for and 
 accepted for the fake of the profits, emolu 
 ments and worldly honours annexed to 
 them, tending to debafe the mind to the 
 odious bondage of ambition and avarice. 
 
 If upon obferving the conduct of many 
 who profefs themfelves members of this re 
 ligious fociety, any fliould be offended at 
 the great deviation which appears in the 
 practice of fuch from their principles as fet 
 forth in the foregoing account, they are de- 
 fired to conlider the frailty and corruption 
 of the human heart in its fallen ftatc ; its 
 natural biafs and attachment to the world, 
 to its delights, its friendfhip and honours, 
 and remember how repugnant thefe pro- 
 penlities are to the precepts and felf-deny- 
 ing example left us by our Lord ; that the 
 
 neceffary 
 
(40 ) 
 
 neccffary change of heart which the gofpcl 
 propofes, is not gained by birth, but muft 
 be purchafed by iubmiffion to, and an hum 
 ble abiding under the crofsof Chrift, "Then 
 " laid Jefus unto his difciples > If any man 
 " will come after me, let him deny himfelf 
 " and take up his crofs and follow me." 
 Matt. xvi. 24. When this is duly weighed, 
 it will not appear ftrange if the inftances of 
 defection are many; it was early the cafe a- 
 mongft the believers in the primitive ages of 
 chriltianity, v/hen they grew numerous and 
 hath been the cafe in all religious focieties 
 iince that time. Neverthelefs it is great caufe 
 of encouragement to the upright enquirer, 
 that a large number of thofe people are mer 
 cifully preserved, in an eminent degree 
 faithful to their firft principles and docTtrinc 
 and upright in their life and converfation, 
 who are living monuments of the effiacy and 
 all fufficient grace of God as witneffesforhim 
 and for his truth and righteoufnefs on earth. 
 They who are deiirous of more full in 
 formation refpefting the doftrine and prin 
 ciples of this people, are referred to the 
 writings of Robert Barclay, William Penn, 
 George Whitehead and others by whom they 
 are fully fet forth as alfo of late times by Jo- 
 fephPhipps. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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