all denominations of men. And on this ground, as men labouring to eſtabliſh an Independent Conſtitution of our own, do we exceed all others in our hope, end and aim. Our plan is peace for ever. We are tired of contention with Britain, and can ſee no real end to it but in a final ſeparation. We act conſiſtently, becauſe for the ſake of introducing an endleſs and uninterrupted peace, do we bear the evils and burthens of the preſent day. We are endeavouring, and will ſtill continue to endeavour, to ſeparate and diſſolve a connexion which hath already filled our land with blood; and which, while the name of it remains, will be the fatal cauſe of future miſchiefs to both countries.
We fight neither for revenge nor conqueſt, neither from pride nor paſſion; we are not inſulting the world with our fleets and armies, nor ravaging the globe for plunder. Beneath the ſhade of our own vines are we attacked; in our own houſes, and on our own lands, is the violence committed againſt us. We view our enemies in the character of Highwaymen and Houſebreakers, and having no defence for ourſelves in the civil law, are obliged to puniſh them by the military one, and apply the ſword in the very caſe where you have before now applied the halter.Perhaps we feel for the ruined and inſulted ſufferers in all and every part of the Continent, with a degree of tenderneſs which hath not yet made its way into ſome of your boſoms. But be ye ſure that ye miſtake not the cauſe and ground of your teſtimony. Call not coldneſs of ſoul religion; nor put the Bigot in the place of the Chriſtian.
O ye partial miniſters of your own acknowledged principles, if the bearing arms be ſinful, the firſt going to war muſt be more ſo, by all the difference between wilful attack and unavoidable defence. Wherefore, if ye really preach from conſcience, and mean not to make a political hobby-horſe of your religion, convince the world thereof, by proclaiming your doctrine to our enemies, for they likewiſe bear arms. Give us proof of your ſincerity by publiſhing it at St. James's, to the Commanders in Chief at Boſton, to the Admirals and Captains who are piratically ravaging our coaſts, and to all the murdering miſcreants who are acting in authority under Him whom ye profeſs to ſerve. Had ye the honeſt ſoul of Barclay,[1] ye would preach repentance to your King; ye would tell the Royal Wretch his ſins, and warn him of eternal ruin: Ye would not ſpend
- ↑ "Thou haſt taſted of proſperity and adverſity; thou knoweſt what it is to be baniſhed thy native country, to be over-ruled as well as to rule, and ſit upon the throne; and being oppreſſed, thou haſt reaſon to know how hateful the oppreſſor is both to God and man: If after all theſe warnings and advertiſements, thou doſt not turn unto the Lord with all thy heart, but forget him who remembered thee in thy diſtreſs, and give up thyſelf to folly, luſt and vanity, ſurely great will be thy condemnation.—Againſt which ſnare, as well as the temptations of thoſe who may or do feed thee, and prompt thee to evil, the moſt excellent and prevalent remedy will be to apply thyſelf to that light of Chriſt which ſhineth in thy conſcience, and which neither can nor will flatter thee, nor ſuffer thee to be at eaſe in thy ſins."
Barclay's Addreſs to Charles II.
