But this is not
to the point. Would he or would he not say, that the arguments of the
Quakers applied in the present case? It certainly does not appear, from
any thing that has yet transpired on this subject, that he could, with
any shadow of reason, accuse the persons, meeting on this occasion, of
vanity or pride, or that he could see from any of the occurrences, that
have been mentioned, how these evils could be produced. Neither has any
thing yet come out, from which he could even imagine the sources of any
improper passions. He might think perhaps, that they might be vexed for
having brought fatigue and lassitude upon themselves, but he could see
no opening for serious anger to others, or for any of the feelings of
malevolence. Neither could he tell what occurrence to fix upon for the
production of a frivolous levity. He would almost question, judging only
from what has appeared in the last case, whether there might not be upon
the whole more pain than pleasure from these meetings, and whether
those, who on the day subsequent to these meetings felt themselves
indisposed, and their whole nervous system unbraced, were not so near
the door of repentance, that serious thoughts would be more natural to
them than those of a lighter kind.
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