A Seasonable Address to the more serious part of the Inhabitants of Great Britain, respecting the Unhappy Contest between us and our American Brethren: With an occasional Word interspersed to those of a different Complexion. A Serious Address to the People of England, with regard to the State of the Nation.
XLVI
XLVII
XLVIII
XLIX
LIII
SERIOUS THOUGHTS
THE LATE EARTHQUAKE AT LISBON
It was observed chiefly on the southwest side of the mountain, about a mile from the course where. Halley (never yet suspected of enthusiasm) fixes the return of the great comet in the year 1758; and he.
FREE THOUGHTS
THE PRESENT STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The parallel does not hold, Fourthly, with regard to the opposers of the King and his ministry. Are not the present members, generally speaking, men of the greatest property in the land.
THOUGHTS UPON LIBERTY
They apprehend there might be some consequences which, upon the whole, would not redound to the prosperity of the nation. These were followed by pamphlets of the same kind, and aiming at the same point, — to make the King appear odious as well as contemptible in the eyes of his subjects.
THOUGHTS
CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF POWER
I ask, then, When and where did the people of England (even suppose by that word, the people, you mean only an hundred thousand of them) choose their own Governors. As to those who regularly succeeded their fathers, it is plain the people are out of the question.
THE PRESENT SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS
This again tends to raise the price of land; and so the wheel runs round. And this would be done by sinking the price of provisions; for then people would have money to buy other things too. It is not improbable, it would speedily sink the price of corn, at least one part in three.
And this would soon be increased sevenfold, if the price of horses was reduced; which it surely would be, half in half, by the method above-mentioned.
THOUGHTS UPON SLAVERY
It is remarkable that they have no beggars among them; such is the care of the chief men, in every city and village, to provide some easy labor even for the old and weak. He adds: “Some of the natives are always ready” (when well paid) “to surprise and carry off their own countrymen. In the mean time, a burning iron, with the arms or name of the company, lies in the fire, with which they are marked on the breast.
Surely it is enough; accumulate no more guilt; spill no more the blood of the innocent.
CALM ADDRESS
OUR AMERICAN COLONIES
TO THE READER
He replies, “But they may have votes if they will; they may purchase freeholds.” What. One quotation more: “Judge Blackstone says, ‘In a free state, every man who is supposed to be a free agent ought to be in some measure his own governor.’ Therefore, one branch, at least, of the legislative power should reside in the whole body of the people.” But who are the whole body of the people. He has reduced himself from a voter to one of the innumerable multitude that have no votes.
Ten times over, in different words, you “profess yourselves to be contending for liberty.” But it is a vain, empty profession; unless you mean by that threadbare word, a liberty from obeying your rightful Sovereign, and from keeping the fundamental laws of your country.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON LIBERTY
OCCASIONED BY A LATE TRACT
As to those who regularly succeeded their fathers, the people are out of the question. It is not the principle even of the Government of Holland, nor of any Government in Europe. I see “the empire dismembered.” (Page 73.) If it be, that is not the consequence of the war, but rather the cause of it.
“But can we declare, in the face of the sun, that we are not aggressors in this war?”.
SEASONABLE ADDRESS
TO THE MORE SERIOUS PART OF THE INHABITANTS OF GREAT BRITAIN,
BY A LOVER OF PEACE
But brother goeth to war against brother; and that in the very sight of the Heathen. I speak as to the matter of the dispute only; the manner of it is another point. It will speak to heaven and to the inhabitants of the earth to the latest posterity.
This is indeed a sore evil; one of the grossest affronts that can be offered to the great Governor of the world.
THE INHABITANTS OF ENGLAND
This was the natural effect of the unparalleled lenity of the Government they were under, and the perfect liberty they enjoyed, civil as well as religious. And it is notorious, that one of the greatest dealers in this kind was the celebrated Mr. This was the first plain overt act of rebellion, not of a few, but of the town of Boston.
Some of the transports, and abundance of other ships, fell into the hands of the Americans.
SERIOUS ADDRESS
THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND, WITH REGARD TO THE STATE OF THE NATION
But to come to the point: You are desirous to inquire concerning the state of the nation. If there are, we allow the decrease of these is a sure sign of the decrease of trade. Now you hear both sides, and thence may easily see what is the real state of the nation.
I am afraid ignorance, yea, contempt, of God, is the present characteristic of the English nation.
COMPASSIONATE ADDRESS
THE INHABITANTS OF IRELAND
They have not “shed the blood of the just in the midst of Jerusalem.” Neither in London, Dublin, nor any other of our cities, has there been any instance of the kind. Now, I know no instance in all history, from the earliest ages to this day, of the Governor of the world delivering up a kingdom to destruction, while religion was increasing in it. And when we have “a conscience void of offense towards God and towards man,” we may say with boldness, “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge: Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the hills be carried into the depth of the sea.
The flood thereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.”.
HOW FAR IS IT THE DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN MINISTER TO PREACH
POLITICS?
But still the King is wounded through their sides; the blame glances from them to him. It is always difficult and frequently impossible for private men to judge of the measures taken by men in public offices. We do not see many of the grounds which determine them to act in this or the contrary manner.
Generally, therefore, it behooves us to be silent, as we may suppose they know their own business best; but when they are censured without any color of reason, and when an odium is cast on the King by that means, we ought to preach politics in this sense also; we ought publicly to confute those unjust censures: Only remembering still, that this is rarely to be done, and only when fit occasion offers; it being our main business to preach “repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.’”.
AN ESTIMATE
THE MANNERS OF THE PRESENT TIMES
But if sloth and luxury are not, what is the present characteristic of the English nation. Whether this is right or no, it is almost the universal sentiment of the English nation. Again: A vast majority of the English live in the constant neglect of the worship of God.
Such, if we acknowledge the truth, is the general, constant ungodliness of the English nation.
A WORD TO A SABBATH-BREAKER
And spend as much as you can of the rest of the day, either in repeating what you have heard, or in reading the Scripture, or in private prayer, or. Do not ask anymore, “Where is the harm, if, after Church, I spend the remainder of the day in the fields, or in a public-house, or in taking a little diversion?” You know where is the harm. You have heard of God’s judgments, even upon earth, against the profaners of this day.
Now provide “the things which make for your peace,” that you may stand before the face of God for ever.
A WORD TO A SWEARER
Art thou in haste to dwell with everlasting burnings; to be day and night tormented in that flame, without a drop of water to cool thy tongue. What, if he give thee thy wish, and let thee drop into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. He hath the beginning of heaven even upon earth; for his soul is filled with the love of God; and the love of God is heaven.
He that truly believes on Jesus Christ hath a peace which earth cannot give; his mind is always calm; he hath learned in every state therewith to be content; he is always easy, quiet, well-pleased;.
A WORD TO A DRUNKARD
You are an enemy to your King, whom you rob hereby of an useful subject. You are an enemy to your country, which you defraud of the service you might do, either as a man or as a Christian. You are an enemy to every man that sees you in your sin; for your example may move him to do the same.
Above all, you are an enemy to God, the great God of heaven and earth;.
A WORD TO AN UNHAPPY WOMAN
Are you not plunging into misery in this world, as well as in the world to come. But you have no friend; none at least that is able to help you.” Indeed you have: One that is a present help in time of trouble. You have a friend that has all power in heaven and earth, even Jesus Christ the righteous.
And cry mightily to Him who bore your sins, till you have bread to eat that the world knoweth not of; till you have angels’ food, even the love of God shed abroad in your heart; till you can say, “Now I know that my Redeemer liveth, that he hath loved me, and given himself for me; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God!”.
A WORD TO A SMUGGLER
