ilton, whose genius had angelic wings,
And fed on manna. And such thine, in whom
Our British Themis gloried with just cause,
Immortal Hale! for deep discernment prais'd
And sound integrity not more, than fam'd
For sanctity of manners undefil'd." Cowper.

It appears then, if I have reasoned properly, that the arguments usually
adduced against the acquisition of human knowledge are but of little
weight. If I have reasoned falsely upon this subject, so have the early
Quakers. As they were friends to virtue, so they were friends to
science. If they have at any time put a low estimate upon the latter, it
has been only as a qualification for a minister of the Gospel. Here they
have made a stand. Here they have made a discrimination. But I believe
it will no where be found, that they have denied, either that learning
might contribute to the innocent pleasures of life, or that it might be
made a subordinate and auxiliary instrument towards the promotion of
virtue.

CHAP. VII.

_Conclusion of the work--Conclusionary remarks divided into two
kinds--First, as they relate to those who may have had thoughts of
leaving the society--Advantages, which these may have proposed to
themselves by such a change--These advantages either religious or
temporal--The value of them considered._

Having now gone through all the subjects, which I had prescribed to
myself at the beginning of this work, I purpose to close it. But as it
should be the wish of every author to render his production useful, I
shall add a few observations for this purpose. My remarks then, which
will be thus conclusory, relate to two different sorts of persons. They
will relate, first, to those who may have had thoughts of leaving the
society, or, which is the same thing, who persist in a course of
irregularities, knowing beforehand, and not regretting it, that they
shall be eventually disowned. It will relate, secondly, to all other
persons, or to those who may be called the world. To the former I shall
confine my attention in this chapter.

I have often heard persons of great respectability, and these even in
the higher circles of life, express a wish, that they had been brought
up as Quakers. The steady and quiet deportment of the members of this
society, the ease with which they appear to get through life, the
simplicity and morality of their character, were the causes which
produced the expression of such a wish. "But why then, I have obs