To this it may be added, that the printed summary of the religion of the society constantly stares them in the face, in which it is recorded, what ought to be the influence of Christianity on this subject.  “We are also clearly of the judgment, that, if the benevolence of the Gospel were generally prevalent in the minds of men, it would even influence their conduct in the treatment of the brute creation, which would no longer groan, the victims of their avarice, or of their false ideas of pleasure.”

CHAP.  IV.

Second trait is that of complacency of mind or quietness of character—­This trait confirmed by circumstances in their education, discipline, and public worship, which are productive of quiet personal habits—­and by their disuse of the diversions of the world—­by the mode of the settlement of their differences—­by their efforts in the subjugation of the will—­by their endeavour to avoid all activity of mind during their devotional exercises—­all of which are productive of a quiet habitude of mind.

A second trait in the character of the Quakers is that of complacency, or evenness, or quietness of mind and manner.

This trait is, I believe, almost as generally admitted by the world, as that of benevolence.  It is a matter of frequent observation, that you seldom see an irascible Quaker.  And it is by no means uncommon to hear persons, when Quakers are the subject of conversation, talking of the mysteries of their education, or wondering how it happens, that they should be able to produce in their members such a calmness and quietness of character.

There will be no difficulty in substantiating this second trait.

There are circumstances, in the first place, in the constitution of the Quaker system, which, as it must have already appeared, must be generative of quiet personal habits.  Among these may be reckoned their education.  They are taught, in early youth, to rise in the morning in quietness, to go about their ordinary occupations in quietness, and to retire in quietness to their beds.  We may reckon also their discipline.  They are accustomed by means of this, when young, to attend the monthly and quarterly meetings, which are often of long continuance.  Here they are obliged to sit patiently.  Here they hear the grown up members of the society speak in order, and without any interruption of one another.  We may reckon again their public worship.  Here they are accustomed occasionally to silent meetings, or to sit quietly for a length of time, when not a word is spoken.