INTRODUCTION.

RELIGIOUS Societies, however distinguished from each other by a diversity in their opinions, modes of worship, internal government, and appropriate customs, appear, in the progress of time, to have passed through a very similar process. The formation of a new sect necessarily pre-supposes great zeal in the minds of its founders. Sometimes persecution, and generally dif. ficulties and opposition are then to be encountered; and, by the operation of a wise law in the constitution of human nature, the exertion which is made in surmounting these obstacles, is adapted, in each successive instance, to increase the zeal which will enable its possessors to triumph in future conflicts. Soon, however, must the first generation pass away, and not unfrequently with them or their immediate descendants, the peculiar circumstances under which the society was first formed cease to operate. When this becomes the case, and in an especial manner if persecution no

longer exists, inferior principles, common to human nature, resume their powerful operation, and the members of the fociety become like other men, though ftill diftinguished by peculiar modes and cuftoms. That active zeal for its interefts, which eminently diftinguished the first founders of the fociety, inspired them with a readiness to facrifice all worldly confiderations in order to promote its welfare; but, in the minds of their defcendants, wealth, pleasure, and honour, regain that afcendency, which in all ages they feem to poffefs over the bulk of mankind. In most instances, however, it has happened that a virtuous few ftill remain: thefe preferve their attachment to the cause for which they are affociated; and the painful reflections, induced by the lukewarmness of their brethren, operate in producing even a further increase of zeal in themselves. For fome time this faithful band perfevere in their efforts for reanimating the fociety with the active fpirit of its foun ders, and, without reforting to any new means, de vote themselves with generous and unwearied ardor, to give effect to the rules and inftitutions eftablished by their ancestors. Thefe exertions feldom fucceed in fully producing the desired effect. Hence the prevalence of worldly motives, and the weakness of human nature become the fubject of lamentation; they excite many a painful reflection in the minds of those who are thus benevolently exercised, and who are sometimes tempted to give up the cause of truth and virtue, under the influence of defpondency.Happily, however, fuch impreffions are not permanent, and the perfevering virtue of ardent minds urges them afrefh to active exertions. Those perfons especially, who are pre-eminent in zeal, are in time

led

led to inquire whether the deficiencies which they lament are to be afcribed to fome imperfection in the existing Rules and Inftitutions of the Society-to a failure in the right application of them-or to the want of new and varied Rules and Inftitutions, more adapted to prefent exigencies. *

By these inquiries, particularly if they derive encouragement from the concurrent practice of the Society, or from any peculiar or extraordinary circumftances of the times, the mind becomes in fome degree liberated from a fubjection to ancient prescription. From an attention to mere Rules and Inftitutions, it is led to a ferious examination of the doctrines and opinions maintained by the Society, fome of which have been perhaps too implicitly adopted by its members from education or tradition. The effect of fuch inquiries is, that new views on thefe fubjects are prefented; and if thefe become confirmed by fubfequent and mature reflection, they naturally produce new matter for interefting difcuffion, to the Society. Hence arifes diverfity of opinion; and under fuch circumstances, it is fometimes found, that well-intentioned and even pious men are not always the most accommodating. From the ardor with which fome conceive and others for conce oppose new plans of Reform, or new views refpecting Rules, Inftitutions, Doctrines, or Opinions; and from the degrees of importance which each affociates with the effect of their refpective and oppofing exertions, a collifion of interefts and wishes takes place ;-the zeal and warmth of temper with which the controverted points are difcuffed, ferve to create a mutual pertinacity; --and not unfrequently the bands of brotherly kindness

and

and charity are thereby weakened. They who cannot induce the Society to adopt their measures, are fometimes led to separate from it rather than abandon them. And even when the rejection of these measures is not deemed a fufficient motive for leaving the Society, their feparation from it may notwithstanding be rendered unavoidable, either by the temper and conduct of its Rulers, or by the very conftitutions of Societies themselves, which in many inftances have declared, as an effential law, that diffimilarity in condu& or opinions on certain points, cannot confiftently be tolerated amongst their members, and have therefore required that they who are refractory in such respects, fhall be excluded from communion.

At conjunctures like thefe, how precious is "THE

WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE, WHICH IS FIRST PURE, THEN PEACEABLE, GENTLE AND EASY TO BE INTREATED, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS, WITHOUT PARTIALITY, 66 WITHOUT HYPOCRISY!"

AND

But unhappily, the emotions of zeal, or the turbulence of other paffions ftifle the "ftill fmall voice "within," and not only prevent the exercise of this divine wisdom in the minds of both the parties, but incapacitate them from perceiving its excellence.

Were it not for these obftacles, they who have been fincerely and ftrongly impreffed with a conviction that the inftitutions of their Sect, and the articles of its Creed, have been productive of much good; and that they themselves have experimentally derived great benefit from them; and most of all, if they be per

fuaded

fuaded that thefe Inftitutions or Articles are founded on divine authority, would nevertheless be fo far from defiring to oppose, that they would cordially promote a fair and full inquiry into the origin, nature, and value of them, from a full conviction of the truth of that important axiom, "that every Society, which does "not frequently recur to its firft principles, is in danger of decay."

And if, in confequence of this fpirit of inquiry, fome members of the Society, who are known to act from upright and confcientious motives, fhould propose measures, which by other members might be regarded as the introduction of hafty and dangerous innovations or novel opinions, it would still be admitted that these measures were entitled to a deliberate and impartial confideration; and this fentiment would be fanctioned and encouraged, even by those who, under the influence of honeft zeal, might deem it right to withhold their fupport from the measures propofed.

On the other hand, they who, with equal fincerity, believe that fome of the inftitutions of their fect are really injurious, and fome of its tenets demonftrably erroneous, however ftrenuous they may hereby become to effect a change, yet if they also were actuated by" the wisdom from above," they would never forget that zeal fhould always be tempered with knowledge;-that although reform may to them appear indifpenfably neceffary, yet unlefs that neceffity be made clearly apparent to others, their fupport ought not to be even defired ;-and that their oppo

fition,