It would seem, also as if, by this forsaking of the country, they had deprived themselves of many opportunities of the highest enjoyment of which they are capable as Quakers. The objects in the country are peculiarly favourable to the improvement of morality in the exercise of the spiritual feelings. The bud and the blossom, the rising and the falling leaf, the blade of corn and the ear, the seed time and the harvest, the sun that warms and ripens, the cloud that cools and emits the fruitful shower; these, and an hundred objects, afford daily food for the religious growth of the mind. Even the natural man is pleased with these. They excite in him natural ideas, and produce in him a natural kind of pleasure. But the spiritual man experiences a sublimer joy. He sees none of these without feeling both spiritual improvement and delight. It is here that he converses with the Deity in his works: It is here that he finds himself grateful for his goodness--that he acknowledges his wisdom--that he expresses his admiration of his power. The poet Cowper, in his contemplation of a country life, speaks forcibly on this subject. "O friendly to the best pursuits of man, Friendly to _thought_, to _virtue_, and to _peace_, Domestic life, in rural leisure pass'd! Few know thy value, and few taste thy sweets; Though many boast thy favours, and affect To understand and choose these for their own But foolish man _forgoes his proper bliss_, Ev'n as his first progenitor, and quits, Though plac'd in Paradise, (for earth has still Some traces of her youthful beauty left,) _Substantial happiness_ for _transient joy_. Scenes form'd for _contemplation_, and to _nurse_ The _growing seeds of wisdom_, that suggest By every pleasing image they present, Reflections, _such as meliorate the heart, Compose the passions, and exalt the mind."_ William Penn, in the beautiful letter which he left his wife and children before his first voyage to America, speaks also in strong terms upon the point in question. "But agriculture, says he, is especially in my eye. Let my children be husbandmen and housewives. This occupation is industrious, healthy, honest, and of good example. Like Abraham and the holy ancients, who pleased God, and obtained a good report, this leads to consider the _works of God_, and _nature of things that are good_, and diverts the mind from _being taken up_ with the _vain arts and inventions of a luxurious world_." And a little farther on he says, "_Of cities and towns, of concourse beware_. The _world is apt to stick close_ to those, who have _lived and got wealth there_. A _country life and estate_, I like best for my children. I prefer a decent mansion of a hundred pounds a year, to ten thousand pounds in London, or such like place, _in the way of trade_."