Quakers, says Mr. Clarkson, object to amusements as tending to disturb that stillness of mind which they deem essential to excellence of character. But arguments against being drunk with wine, are not arguments against a glass of wine. All pleasure is allowable which is not followed by pain or guilt; and many pleasures, consisting in interest moderately excited, may be participated without disturbing the permanent tranquillity of a well-regulated mind. There are certain virtuės which belong to habits of excitement, and amiableness of character is incomplete without them. Not mine be the friend, who could meet without joy, part without a tear, or sympathize without ardour; who could tread over a parent's grave with placid and unmoved composure, or relieve the unfortunate from a cold sense of duty, and not out of the strong workings of an affectionate heart yearning towards an afflicted brother.

The Quakers object to oaths, and chiefly to swearing before a magistrate. To this we reply, that in the celebrated sermon on the Mount, which contains the words, "Swear not at all," we also find the expression, "Thou shalt not kill." But it cannot be pretended, that the arm of civil authority is hereby prohibited from executing justice upon evil doers; for in Rom. xiii. 4, we read, "If thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for the ruler beareth not the sword in vain." The ma

gistrate therefore, who, for the

advantage of

society, punishes with death, may, to promote the same end, adininister an oath. And what it is lawful to administer, it must be lawful to take.

In the Old Testament many passages, instead of prohibiting oaths, establish laws for the right use and observance of them: "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and shalt swear by his name." Deut. vi. 13. "Lord, who shall dwell in thy holy hill even he that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not." Psalm xv. 4.

But lest it should be objected that these texts were penned before the bringing in of a better hope, let us advance our views to the Gospel.

There we find St. Paul breaking out into the apostrophes, "Would to God all were as I am!" "Behold, before God, I lie not: God is my witness that I make mention of you in my prayers." Acts, xxvi. 29; Galat. i. 20; Rom. i. 9. What shall be said of the example of our Saviour himself, who, when the High Priest charged him by the living God (the Jewish method of administering an oath), to declare whether he were the Christ, the Son of God; instead of reproving him for the solemn invocation, took the oath in effect, by

Nay, God the Fa

replying, "Thou hast said." ther, as the Apostle relates, hath pledged himself by an oath to mankind: "Though it were impossible for him to lie, yet, that we might have

strong consolation and full assurance, he confirmed the immutability of his counsel by an oath; and when he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself." Heb. vi. 17. "Do you, then," said Tertullian," charge the Most High with perjury, or vain swearing?" Advers. Marcion. lib. 2, § 26.

Besides these leading opinions, there are one or two other peculiarities, by which the adherents of. Quakerism are distinguished. They pronounce it unlawful for a Christian to resist evil. But if this maxim be established on a rigid observance of the letter of Scripture, why do the Friends stop short in their interpretation? They refuse to pay tithes, but permit the officer to take them; and this they call persecution: but, on a principle of strict adherence to the letter of Scripture, they ought further to make a voluntary payment of double tithes: for, "if a man takes away thy cloak, give him thy coat also." Matt. v. 40.

On similar principles the Quakers think it inconsistent with the duty of a Christian to fight. Yet, when the soldiers demanded of the forerunner of Christ, "What shall we do?" he said unto them, not, "Lay aside your weapons," but, " Do violence to no man; neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages." Luke, iii. 14. And Cornelius, the first fruits of the gentile world, " was a centurion of the Italian band;" nor do we find that prior to his baptism he was commanded to relinquish the military life. How

strange an inconsistency is a Quaker! He will not strike; but he will wound with the tongue. "I will not beat thee," said one of them to a vicious dog, "but I will raise a bad report against thee."

Joseph Lancaster will not flog a pupil, but he will hoist him up in a basket, and flog his mind. The Quakers dislike music.

"The man who hath not music in himself,
Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus."

Does a Quaker stop his ears when he hears a nightingale? Does he remember, that, on the return of the prodigal, which has been chosen to describe the reception of a penitent offender, "there was music and dancing within; and that LIKEWISE there is joy among the angels, over one sinner that repenteth * ?"

*That there are some obscene and bacchanalian songs, is rather an argument for stopping the sense of hearing, than against learning music. A Quaker teaches his child to read, although he may meet with improper books +.

"Either let the Quakers renounce all the enjoyments of this life, or take all that are innocent. The pursuit of wealth surely holds out a greater temptation to immorality, than the study of music. Let them disown those who accumulate more than is necessary for their subsistence, or permit those who have leisure, to employ it in something better than moneygetting."

"The ancient ascetics," says the author of the article alluded to, "acted consistently. They gave up every thing in this world, for the contemplation of a better. A modern

As to the calling Sunday the first day, and January the first month, and so forth, this is idle foppery. I might as well take it into my head to call Oxford Road the first street in my neighbourhood, or Hume's History the first book in my library. Words are the signs of ideas: and, provided there is no profaneness, does it signify a rush what these signs are? St. John called the first day, not the first day, but the Lord's Day. But affectation is to be shunned as a petty sin; and a Quaker, so extremely precise and captious in every thing, is as consummate a coxcomb as a Bond Street lounger *.

I have thus brought to a close my long discussion of the principles peculiar to a sect, of whom it is but justice to add, that almost all their prin

Quaker earns a large fortune, and employs it for self-gratification, in every way but the social and agreeable. He keeps an excellent table and garden; he is driven about in an easy chariot, but his plate must be without carving, and his chariot must be of a dusky colour. His guests may talk of oxen and broad-cloth; but wit and gaiety are entirely proscribed. His boys and girls are bred to bargaining and housekeeping; but when their bounding spirits are struggling in every limb, they must not violate their sedateness by a skip: and they would be disowned if they were to raise their innocent voices in a hymn to their great Benefactor +, &c."

*But, to speak of Saturday and January excites veneration for heathen gods. It is impossible to hear this stuff without laughing. Does any man think of Saturn or Janus when he makes an appointment ?

+ Review of Clarkson's Portraiture.