amongst the
Quakers. But then I both saw my loss, and lamented it; and applied
myself with the utmost diligence, at all leisure times to recover it. So
false I found that charge to be, which in those times was east as a
reproach upon the Quakers, that they despised and decried all human
learning, because they denied it to be essentially necessary to a Gospel
ministry, which was one of the controversies of those times."

"But though I toiled hard, and spared no pains to regain what I had once
been master of, yet I found it a matter of so great difficulty, that I
was ready to say, as the noble eunuch to Philip, in another case, how
can I, unless I had some man to guide me?"

"This I had formerly complained of to my especial friend Isaac
Pennington, but now more earnestly; which put him upon considering and
contriving a means for my assistance."

"He had an intimate acquaintance with Dr. Paget, a physician of note in
London, and he with John Milton, a gentleman of great note for learning,
throughout the learned world, for the accurate pieces he had Written on
various subjects and occasions."

"This person, having filled a public station in the former times, lived
now a private and retired life in London; and, having wholly lost his
sight, kept always a man to read to him, which usually was the son of
some gentleman of his acquaintance, whom in kindness he took to improve
in his learning."

"Thus by the mediation of my friend Isaac Pennington with Dr. Paget, and
of Dr. Paget with John Milton, was I admitted to come to him; not as a
servant to him (which at that time he needed not) nor to be in the house
with him; but only to have the liberty of coming to his house at certain
hours, when I would, and to read to him what books he should appoint me,
which was all the favour I desired."

By means of this extract, made from the life of Thomas Ellwood, we come
to three conclusions. First, that the early Quakers were generally men
of eminent learning. Secondly, that they did not decry or depreciate
human knowledge. And thirdly, that the calumny of such a depreciation by
them arose from the controversy which they thought it right to maintain,
in which they denied it to be necessary as a qualification for a Gospel
minister.

This latter conclusion brings me round again to the point. And here I
must observe, that, though this famous controversy occasioned the first
Quakers to be unduly blamed on account of such a depreciation