But by the constitution of Quakerism, as will appear soon, no
person of the society can be found erring even for the first time,
without being liable to be privately admonished. These admonitions may
be repeated for weeks, or for months, or even for years, before the
subjects of them are pronounced so incorrigible as to be disowned. There
is great reason therefore to presume, in the case before us, though the
offenders in question would have undoubtedly been disowned by the
Quakers, after they were known to be such, yet that they had been
disowned long before their offences had been made public.
Upon the whole it may be allowed, that young Quakers arrive at the
knowledge of just sentiments, or at the true wisdom of life earlier than
those, who are inured to the fashions of the world; and it may be
allowed also that the Quakers, as a body, are a moral people. Now these
effects will generally be considered as the result of education; and
though the prohibitions of the Quakers may not be considered as the only
instruments of producing these effects, yet they must be allowed to be
component parts of the system, which produces them.
DISCIPLINE OF THE QUAKERS.
CHAP. I.... SECT. I.
_Discipline of two kinds--as it relates to the regulation of the
internal affairs of the society--or to the cognizance of immoral
conduct--difficulty of procuring obedience to moral precepts--this
attempted to be obviated by George Fox--outlines of his system for this
purpose--additions made to his system since his time--objections to the
system considered--this system, or the discipline of the Quakers, as far
as this branch of it is concerned, the great foundation-stone on which
their moral education is supported.
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