the superstitions of those of their own rank in life. Another trait conspicuous in the character of the poor of the Society is the morality of their lives. This circumstance may easily be accounted for. For, in the first place, they are hindered in common with other Members, by means of their discipline, from doing many things that are morally injurious to themselves. The poor of the world are addicted to profane swearing. But no person can bring the name of the Creator of the universe into frequent and ordinary use, without losing a sense of the veneration that is due to him. The poor of the world, again, frequently spend their time in public houses. They fight and quarrel with one another. They run after horseracings, bull-baitings, cock-fightings, and the still more unnatural battles between man and man. But, by encouraging such habits, they cannot but obstruct in time the natural risings of benevolence, both towards their fellow-creatures, and to the animalcreation. Nor can they do otherwise than lose a sense of the dignity of their own minds, and weaken the moral principle, But the Quaker-poor, who are principled against such customs, can of course suffer no moral injury on these accounts. To which it may be added, that their superior knowledge both leads and attaches them to a superior conduct. It is a false, as well as a barbarous maxim, and a maxim very injųrious both to the interests of the rich and of the poor, as well as of the state to which they belong, that knowledge is unpropitious to virtue, |