He continues in the same excited state for the remainder of
the day. The extravagant passions of distracted lovers, the wanton
addresses of actors, are still fresh upon his mind. Now it is contended
by the Quakers, that a person in such an excited state, but particularly
if the excitement pleases, must be in a very unfavourable state for the
reception of the pure principle, or for the promotion of the practical
duties of religion. It is supposed that if any religious book, or if any
part of the sacred writings, were handed to him in these moments, he
would be incapable of enjoying them; and of course, that religious
retirement, which implies an abstraction from the tilings of the world,
would be impracticable at such a season.
The Quakers believe also, that the exhibitions of the drama must, from
their own nature, without any other consideration, disqualify for the
pleasures of religion. It was a frequent saying of George Fox, taken
from the apostle Peter, that those who indulged in such pleasures were
dead, while they were alive; that is, they were active in their bodies;
they ran about briskly after their business or their pleasures; they
shewed the life of their bodily powers; but they were extinct as to
spiritual feeling.
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