Some pious fiftent in their con duct, &c. and an abhorrence of a connection with others, in their improper conduct, entirely decline being concerned in such stations, and thereby refuse that benefit, which they might otherwise, most probably, administer to themselves and their country. But ought the mifufe of a right and neceffary en incon- thing to be a fufficient reafon for rejecting that thing altogether?-fhall the abuse and perverfion of government, and the ill administration of the magiftracy, by wicked men, give juft occafion for any fober, thinking and rational perfon, qualified and fuitable to be ferviceable to his country, in that very important department, to condemn the right use of them? and entirely to refufe his affiftance in a thing fo neceffary as the magiftracy?-whether it be from political confiderations, or a perfuafion, that the execution of it is, in fome refpects, contrary to the nature of Chriftianity?-like the Anabaptifts, in Germany formerly, in the time of Charles the fifth; and as indicated by the conduct of fome in later years?-Certainly, if fuch reafoning, or conduct, as this, ought to prevail, and be imitated, in the extreme, then, to be confiftent with themselves, it is most manifeft, fuch persons as reafon and act thus, ought to poffefs no private property;-religion itself, under pretence of which this notion, or conduct, feems to have been founded, fhould no longer be profeffed by them;-nay, they abfolutely ought to defift from propagating their own fpecies!-Because these things are moft of all abufed, or perverted; from which have flowed the greateft evils in the world; and in confequence of the laft arife all the wickednefs and unhappiness of mankind, &c. for the reftraint and correction or remedy, of which, it has pleased divine Providence mercifully to ordain government and magistracy, &c. and to communicate knowledge and ability to the industry of men, for that happy purpose:-But who is not able to fee the inconfiftency inconfiftency of fuch reasoning?-How strangely liable are mankind to err!-how variously do they go aftray, even, under well intended views!-Men may go north till they come fouth. different Pennsylva But Pennsylvania was fettled upon very principles; for it was impoffible for the govern- nia an exment of it to be founded on fuch notions; William ther counPenn was far from being actuated by the extrava- tries, &c. gance of this kind of enthusiasm, in giving fuch an excellent example to mankind, and fhewing them how happy it is poffible for men to live in the world, if they please: for, while he distinguished between the too general abuse of power, and the exertion of a just authority, he laid a foundation for happy confequences; as manifefted in the late glorious example and profperity of the province, to fuch a degree of both private and public felicity, as hath exceeded that of most other countries, that we know of, in the world, confidering its age, fituation, extent, and other circumstances:This, though defectively exhibited, will, at least, in part, appear in the following history, and in the sketch of the general state of the country between the years 1760 and 1770, at the conclufion. During all which golden age of the province, the effects of William Penn's government and conduct appear to have excelled thofe of the wife Solon, fo far as the effects of peace, and prevention of military evils and deftruction are preferable to thofe of war: For by reason of the natural injustice, and the violent operation of the latter, the happy confequences of the former are generally impaired, or destroyed, and never can be long preferved by it; fo that the emphatical expreffions of the great legiflator of Athens, as recorded by Plutarch in his life of Solon, appear more applicable to the lawgiver of Pennsylvania, viz. What Various "What pow'r was fit I did on all bestow; But ambition is rooted in human nature, and ways of am- demands reftraint; it affumes all manner of appearbition, &c. ances whatsoever, and is now working wonders, in the world, under the name of equality and the rights of man;-Hence to mistake innovation for renovation, and a love of change for melioration, connected with fuch an idea of felf-independency, as is inconfiftent with the enlargement of civilization, or of the focial happiness of mankind, in any great or extenfive degree, have ever produced thofe pernicious confequences, which have flowed from the revolutionary governments of nations and countries; whofe felicity confifts in the unity, harmony, or a juft dependency of their parts; and the more extensive thofe parts are, in fuch a state, the greater and more durable is moft likely to be the happiness of those very constituent and particular parts, as well as of the whole; and vice verfá. Comparifon of the For as an affemblage of fimilar rays of light effects of adds to the luftre of each individual ray, of which unity, &c. it is compofed; and the larger the affemblage, fo much greater is that luftre, in proportion to the number of rays; fo the happy, or unhappy ftate of mankind individually may be confidered, as augmented, or diminished, beyond the poflibility of a folitary enjoyment only, according to the general prevalency and extenfivenefs of thefe two different ftates, in a national or collective capacity:The juft and proper confideration of which might have no fmall tendency to incite men more effecto unity & tually to cultivate and extend fuch a flate of harharmony, mony and unity in the world, as neceffarily muft, above all other means, ever conftitute, preferve Incitement &c. and and increase, or advance, their felicity, fo far as human nature is capable of it, both in a particular and general relation; rather than the contrary, or difcord, rebellion and revolt, so often advocated, purfued, and in the end, unhappily experienced, under the plaufible name and falfe appearance, of melioration. fame. of But how muchfoever the recommendation and Original extenfion of unity, concord and amity, with a due happiness fubmiffion, in civil fociety, may be contrary to the and misery ambition, and selfish views, of an independent and ftill the rebellious fpirit, in any age, or country, yet it is most certain that as the former conftituted the state of original, and moft complete, felicity, fo the latter occafioned the contrary; and cannot, in the nature of things, do otherwife;-and that human happiness may be much further increased, or augmented, both in an individual and collective capacity, than either idlenefs or wickedness will permit many to believe, or think poffible, the province of Example of Pennfylvania has afforded a very signal example, Pennsylvaand inconteftible proof, to the admiration of ftrangers; and doubtlefs far beyond the credibility of many, who are not fufficiently acquainted with the early, as well as the later state of the country. nia. be reverfed To conclude, as the world is faid to have been How good formed out of a chaos, and that order fprung from things may diforder, by the effect of Omnipotence; fo, in the and restor rife of this province, appears a remarkable inftance ed. of happy confequences, from apparent unhappy caufes;-rational liberty, with an equal participation of natural and civil rights, and religious privileges, with the glorious effects, have rifen out of opprefiion, perfecution and bigotry:-But, as the abuse of the former has always introduced the latter, fooner or later; and as human nature ever remains to be the fame, fo the reverfing of thofe enjoyments continues to be no lefs incident to the human race, than it was in former ages of the world; and |