o the point in question, or to the examination of those
arguments, which may at times have come into the heads of those who have
had thoughts of ceasing to be members of this society.

In endeavouring to discover these, we can only suppose them to be
actuated by one motive, for no other will be reasonable, namely, that
they shall derive advantages from the change. Now all advantages are
resolvable into two kinds, into such as are religious, and into such as
are temporal. The first question then is, what advantages do they gain
in the former case, or do they actually come into the possession of a
better religion?

I am aware that to enter into this subject, though but briefly, is an
odious task. But I shall abstain from all comparisons, by which I might
offend any. If I were to be asked which, among the many systems of the
Christian religion, I should prefer, I should say, that I see in all of
them much to admire, but that no one of them, perhaps, does wholly, or
in every part of it, please me; that is, there is no one, in which I do
not see some little difficulty, which I cannot solve, though this is no
impediment to my faith. But, if I were pressed more particularly upon
this point, I should give the following answer. I should say, that I
should prefer that, which, first of all, would solve the greatest number
of difficulties, as far as scriptural texts were concerned, in
conformity with the Divine attributes, which, secondly, would afford the
most encouraging and consolatory creed, if it were equally well founded
with any other; and which, thirdly, either by its own operation, or by
the administration of it, would produce the post perfect Christian
character. Let us then judge of the religion of the Quakers by this
standard.

That there are difficulties with respect to texts of scripture, must be
admitted; for if all men were to understand them alike, there would be
but one profession of the Christian religion. One man endeavours to make
his system comport wholly with human reason, and the consequence is,
that texts constantly stare him in the face, which militate against it.
Another discards reason, with a determination to abide literally by
that, which is revealed, and the consequence is, that, in his literal
interpretation of some passages, he leaves others wholly irreconcileable
with his scheme. Now the religion, of the Quakers has been explained,
and this extensively. In its doctrinal parts it is simple. It is