ering to doing that which their
consciences disapprove. There are other cases, connected, as I observed
before, with the opinion of the world, where they exhibit a similar
example. If they believe any custom or fashion of the world to be evil
in itself, or to be attended with evil, neither popular applause nor
popular fury can make them follow it, but they think it right to bear
their testimony against it by its disuse, and to run the hazard of all
the ridicule, censure, or persecution, which may await them for so
doing.

In these cases, as in the former, it must be observed, that the
sufferings of the Quakers have been much diminished, though they still
refuse a compliance in as many instances as formerly, with the fashions
of the world.

It was stated in the first volume, that they substituted the word Thou
for You, in order that they might avoid by their words, as well as by
their actions, any appearance of flattery to men. It was stated also,
that they suffered on this account; that many magistrates, before whom
they were carried in the early times of their institution, occasioned
their punishment to be more severe, and that they were often abused and
beaten by others, and put in danger of their lives. This persecution,
however, for this singularity in their language, has long ceased; and
the substitution of Thou for You is now only considered as an innocent
distinction between Quakers and other people.

It was stated again in the same volume, that the Quakers abstained from
the usual address of the world, such as from pulling off their hats, and
from bowing the body, and from their ceremonious usages. It was
explained also, that they did this upon two principles. First, because,
as such ceremonies were no real marks of obeisance, friendship or
respect, they ought to be discouraged by a people, whose religion
required that no image should be held out, which was not a faithful
picture of its original, and that no action should be resorted to, which
was not correspondent with the feelings of the heart. Secondly, because
all such ceremonies were of a complimentary or flattering nature, and
were expressly forbidden by Jesus Christ. It was stated also, that, on
account of their rejection of such outward usages, their hats were
forcibly taken from their heads and thrown away; that they were beaten
and imprisoned on this sole account; and that the world refused to deal
with them as tradesmen, in consequence of which man