And here they would observe, that the knowledge, which is recommended to be obtained, by going through perilous customs is not necessary for them as a society.

For living much at home, and mixing almost solely with one another, they consider their education as sufficient for their wants.
If the Quakers could view the two different systems abstractedly, that of filling the heart with virtue, and that of shutting it out from a knowledge of vice, so that they could be acted upon separately, and so that the first of the two were practicable, and practicable without having to go through scenes that were dangerous to virtue, they would have no hesitation in giving the preference to the former; because if men could be taught to love virtue for virtue's sake, all the trouble of prohibitions would be unnecessary.
But the Quakers would conceive that the system of filling the mind with virtue, if acted upon abstractedly, or by itself, would be impracticable with respect to youth.

To make it practicable children must be born with the full grown intellect and experience of men.

They must have an innate knowledge of all the tendencies, the bearings, the relations, and the effects of virtue and vice.

They must be also strong enough to look temptation in the face; whereas youth have no such knowledge, or experience, or strength, or power.
They would consider also the system of filling the mind with virtue, as impossible, if attempted abstractedly or alone, because it is not in human wisdom to devise a method of inspiring it with this essence, without first teaching it to abstain from vice.