intellect of man, and of his moral and christian character--sentiments
of Addison on this subject_.


The reasons, which the Quakers give for the prohibition of cards, and of
amusements of a similar nature, to the members of their own society, are
generally such as are given by other Christians, though they make use of
one, which is peculiar to themselves.

It has been often observed, that the word amusement is proper to
characterize the employments of children, but that the word utility is
the only one proper to characterize the employment of men.

The first argument of the Quakers, on this subject, is of a complexion,
similar to that of the observation just mentioned. For when they
consider man, as a reasonable being, they are of opinion, that his
occupations should be rational. And when they consider him as making a
profession of the Christian religion, they expect that his conduct
should be manly, serious, and dignified. But all such amusements, as
those in question, if resorted to for the filling up of his vacant
hours, they conceive to be unworthy of his intellect, and to be below
the dignity of his Christian character.

They believe also, when they consider man as a moral being, that it is
his duty, as it is unquestionably his interest, to aim at the
improvement of his moral character. Now one of the foundations, on which
this improvement must be raised, is knowledge. But knowledge is only
slowly acquired. And human life, or the time for the acquisition of it,
is but short. It does not appear, therefore, in the judgment of the
Quakers, that a person can have much time for amusements of this sort,