BELONGING TO IT CHIEFLY TO BE CONSIDERED.

* * * * *

George Fox never gave, while living, nor left after his death, any
definition of Quakerism. He left, however, his journal behind him, and
he left what is of equal importance, his example. Combining these with
the sentiments and practice of the early Quakers, I may state, in a few
words, what Quakerism is, or at least what we may suppose George Fox
intended it to be.

Quakerism may be defined to be an attempt, under the divine influence,
at practical christianity as far as it can be carried. Those, who
profess it, consider themselves bound to regulate their opinions, words,
actions, and even outward demeanour, by christianity, and by
christianity alone. They consider themselves bound to give up such of
the customs, or fashions of men, however general, or generally approved,
as militate, in any manner, against the letter or the spirit of the
gospel. Hence they mix but little with the world, that they may be less
liable to imbibe its spirit. Hence George Fox made a distinction between
the members of his own society and others, by the different appellations
of _Friends_, and _People of the world_. They consider themselves also
under an obligation to follow virtue, not ordinarily, _but even to the
death_. For they profess never to make a sacrifice of conscience, and
therefore, if any ordinances of man are enjoined them, which they think
to be contrary to the divine will, they believe right not to submit to
them, but rather, after the example of the apostles and primitive
christians, to suffer any loss, penalty, or inconvenience, which may
result to them for so doing.