we suppose the hour of our
dissolution to be approaching.

Now, without making any inviduous comparisons, I think it will follow
from hence, when we consider the Quakers to be persons of acknowledged
moral character, when we know that they deny themselves for the sake of
becoming purer beings, the ordinary pleasures and gratifications of the
world, and when almost daily experience testifies to us, that they
prefer bearing their testimony, or suffering as a Christian body, to a
compliance with customs, which they conceive the Christian religion to
disapprove, that they will have as fair pretensions to courage in the
hour of death, as any other people, as a body, from the same causes.

There are other circumstances, however, which may be taken into
consideration in this account, and, in looking over these, I find none
of more importance than those which relate to the religious creeds which
may be professed by individuals or communities of men.

Much, in the first place, will depend upon the circumstance, how far men
are doubtful and wavering in their creeds, or how far they depend upon
others for their faith, or how far, in consequence of reasoning or
feeling, they depend upon themselves. If their creeds are not in their
own power, they will be liable to be troubled with every wind of
doctrine that blows, and to be unhappy, when the thought of their
dissolution is brought before them. But the Quakers, having broken the
power or dominion of the priesthood, what terrors can fanaticism hold
out to them, which shall appal their courage in their later hours?

It is also of great importance to men what may be the nature of their
creeds. Some creeds are unquestionably more comfortable to the mind than
others. To those, who believe in the doctrine of election and
reprobation, and imagine themselves to be of the elect, no creed can
give greater courage in the hour of death; and to those who either doubt
or despair of their election, none can inspire more fear. But the
Quakers, on the other hand, encourage the doctrine of perfection, or
that all may do the will of God, if they attend to the monitions of his
grace. They believe that God is good, and just, and merciful; that he
visits all with a view to this perfection without exception of persons;
that he enables all, through the sacrifice of Christ, to be saved; and
that he will make an allowance for all according to his attributes; for
that he is not willing that any should per