ENPages
(seq. 6)
(5) But this is a plain Case, Mankind are well agreed in it, and when {the} Case calls to it {they} rise as one, and play {the} Men in {their} Countries Cause. - I ergo pass to say 2. That it is {the} Duty of a People to defend {them}selves {against} {the} Invasions of Tyranny, and Oppression, & when it can't be done with out, to resist even to Blood. - This at once calls up to view the melancholly State of {God's} People in this Land: we now see {the} Day, {the} melancholly Day, wherein we are called to look Tyranny with all its Terrors in the face. - This will put our Virtue upon Tryal, & bring our Valour & Firmness to the test. - Should Tyranny prevail, & make its inroads upon us; & should it be permitted to erect its execrable Banner in this Land of Liberty & Freedom; soon must we all, who have long stood in {the} Liberty wherewith X has made us free, yield up all to its insatiable Demands. - We must all bow to the Image, and bring an Offering of our Lands, Liberties, Properties, Privileges, Families, our {Religion}, our Lives, our all as to this [O], & cast {them} down at {the} feet of Despotism, as a Tribute of Submission; and Vassalage. - Who would not play {the} Man, who would not shew himself Valiant, & be couragious to defend his People, his Family, his Liberty, and dear Privileges {against} such Tyranny as
(seq. 7)
(6) this? Who would not resist event to Blood in such a Case? Methinks not a Man that has a rational Soul; or a spark of Humanity, or Benevolence remaining in his Breast. - That Soul must be degraded & sunk beneath all Love to Mankind that can espouse {the} Cause of Tyranny, and engage on {the} Side of Despotism; {that} can take part with those {that} would enslave {their} Country, & join in Confederacy with Relish Sons. O my Soul come not thou into {their} Secret, for {they} are to be abhorred in {the} Sight of all Men, mine Honor be not thou united to {them}, for in {their} self will {they} would enslave {their} Country, & in {their} wrath deprive {the} People of {their} just Rights & Liberties: Wherefore cursed be {their} Anger for it is fierce; & {their} Wrath, for it is cruel. - May {the} Wheel be brought over all such, and {they} be divided in {their} Counsels, and scattered in all {their} Evil Projections, be confounded, & broken to Pieces. We have a most Valuable Interest in this Land to defend; our Privileges are truly great, {they} are well worth fighting for, if {they} cant be retained without. And as our Privileges are now Attacked, and invaded by a despotick Administration of {the} British Parliament, so {the} People are justly alarmed, and it becomes us all to play {the} Men, to unite in {the} Common Cause, to be couragious, & valiant for {the} Defence of the People, & for {the} Cities, [children?], of our God.
(seq. 8)
(7)
It certainly stands us all in hand at this Day to unite in {the} Common Causes of our Lord; {that} we now ward off the forces of Tyranny, and yield not to its merciless Threats; ergo be of Good Courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly; for {there} is no Doubt our Case is just. Ergo II. Consider {the} Principles & Motives {that} should engage us in such an alarming Duty. Now {that} we may take up this Matter properly, let a few Things be observed briefly. As I. One Principle {that} we should act upon is a Love for {the} publick Good to our Country in general. It has evermore been received among {the} first Virtues of {the} human Mind, {that} a Man have a Love for his Country. He {that} will betray, he {that} will sell his Country, has a very [bose?] , ignoble Soul; such an one has a very mean, dastardly Spirit; & deserves to be thrust out of all human Society; and to be turned out into {the} open field to herd with {the} Cattle: And, as was {the} Case with Nebuchadnezzor, be driven from Men & made to eat Grass as Oxen; till {the} Bodies are wet with {the} Dew of Heaven, & {their} Hairs grow like Eagles Feathers, & {their} nails like Birds Claws: {there} {they} will appear in {their} true Charactor, & form. A regard for ones country is a Noble Virtue, {there} is Humanity in it, it contains in it
(seq. 9)
(8) Love to Mankind, a Regard to Posterity; A Nobleness of Soul to hand down a valuable Legacy to after Generations. This Principle is clearly held forth in our text; let us, says Joab, with a Noble Soul, play {the} Men, for Our People: for our People: Such was his Regard for Israel, for his Country, {that} his Soul was animated with Courage & Valour in {their} Defence. And such a Principle should reign in every Mind, and range {them} when {the} Case calls for it; with invincible [Engaged?] to defend {their} Country's Cause. - Wherefore 2. People should consider what {they} have to defend, and in Proportion to {the} Worth & Value {thereof}, so {they} should exert {themselves}. Israel had a great Interest to defend {against} {the} Invasions of {the} Ammonites. All {their} Privileges both civil & religious were now to defend: and these were very precious, & dear to {them}. - This is {the} Case with us, if we were but truly sensible of it, it would be well. Our Privileges are very great, {they} are truly Valuable: and it is highly necessary {that} we defend {them}, now {they} are Attacked. We have no Right, yea, I will venture to say, {God} forbid, we should give {them} up to {the} Demands of Tyranny. We are in Duty bound to {God}, & our country to defend {them} to the last Extremity; & we
(seq. 10)
(9) should offend {God}, and dishonour ourselves, & wound {Religion}, if we should [totaly?] submit to {the} unreasonable Demands of Power, and {the} high Claims of Despotism {that} are now made upon us. No, we must not submit, but prudently, wisely, firmly & unitedly stand fast in {that} glorious Liberty wherewith {Christ} both made us free; defend our rights as Men, & our precious Privileges as {Christians}: {that} we may honor {God} {that} made us, & defend these rights {that} he has given to us, & maintain {that} {Religion} {that} he has graciously established among us. - We must have but very little regard for out families, our Posterity, our happy constitution, our {Religion}, & precious Gospel Privileges, if we can [totally?] give up all to {the} high Claims of Arbitrary Power, upon {the} infernal Principle of Non {Resistn?] & [Positive?] obedience. - Our all, or to this O, now his at stake; our virtue, and Firmness is now brought to {the} Test: this Controversy will try {the} Regard we have to our Privileges, and {the} value we set upon {them}; and our faithfulness one to another: it will effectually try {the} love we have to our people; and {the} Regard we have for {the} Cities of our {God}, {the} {children} of our {Lord} {Jesus} {Christ} {which} he has purchased with his own Blood. 3. Another Principle {that} should actuate us in this affair, is a due Regard to {God's} Honor & Glory.