dered to go to the window and address him in the language
of abuse and scurrility. The words she made use of, it would be
indecent to mention. For this she was applauded, and that in the
author's hearing, when he belonged to the society."

This man gives a very curious account how the elders treated "
their babes," in their spiritual nursery; but I shall notice only one or
two examples, which illustrate what I have advanced concerning
the natural hostility of the spirit of the New Testament towards
science. "I know of several, who, soon after they joined the
Church, have been counselled by the Elders to dispose of their
books; and have accordingly done it. Elder Ebenezer being at my
house one day, on seeing a number of books, he said--'Ah!
Thomas must put away his books if he intends to become a good
believer.'

As an instance of its effects upon the human understanding, take
the following:--"A short time after, being at a believer's house,
at eleven o'clock at night, they all having retired to rest, and I
laying awake in a dry well finished room, in which was a stove and
fire, there fell a large drop of water on my temples; on
examination, I could not discover where the water came from. I
told the believers of it in the morning."

"One said, ' Ah! it is a warning to you respecting your unbelief.'

"I then assigned some inconclusive reason, how the drop might
have become formed in the room, and its falling."

"One replied, 'Ah! that is the way you render a natural reason for
the cause of every thing, and so reason away your faith and
yourself out of the gospel.'"

As another proof, that genuine Christianity discourages marriage,
and considers celibacy as the only state of perfection, the Shakers
allow of no marriages at all.

Thus you see that, among these people, to become a "good
believer," you must insult your parents, revile your brother, depise
learning, and never render a "natural reason" for any thing, lest
you should "reason away your faith, and yourself out of the
gospel."

CHAPTER XVIII.

ON THE PECULIAR MORALITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT,
AS IT AFFECTS NATIONS AND POLITICAL SOCIETIES.

After having seen the uselessness, and even the danger, to
individuals, of the perfections, the virtues, and the duties, which
Christianity peculiarly commands; let us now see whether it has a
more happy influence upon politics; or whether it produces real
happiness among the nations with whom this religion is
es