I never heard any delivered, but when a
minister was present. The ordinary grace therefore of private families
consists in a solemn, silent, pause, between the time of sitting down to
the table and the note of carving the victuals, during which an
opportunity is given for the excitement of religious feelings. A person
may dine fifty times at the tables of the Quakers, and see no other
substitution for grace than this temporary silent pause.
Indeed no other grace than this can be consistent with
Quaker-principles. It was coeval with the institution of the society,
and must continue while it lasts. For thanksgiving is an act of
devotion. Now no act, in the opinion of the Quakers, can be devotional
or spiritual, except it originate from above. Men, in religious matters
can do nothing of themselves, or without the divine aid. And they must
therefore wait in silence for this spiritual help, as well in the case
of grace, as in the case of any other kind of devotion, if they mean
their praise or thanksgiving on such occasions to be an act of religion.
There is in the Quaker-grace, and its accompaniments, whenever it is
uttered, an apparent beauty and an apparent solemnity, which are seldom
conspicuous in those of others. How few are there, who repeat the common
artificial graces feelingly, and with minds intent upon the subject!
Grace is usually said as a mere ceremony or custom.
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