yet I am far from thinking that this will be our most effectual method of serving religion, in general. We shall be vastly more useful in this cause, by being much among the people committed to our care, and knowing how to accommodate our private as well as public instructions to their various dispositions and necessities.

That the author of every good gift may enable you to be more and more useful in this and every thing else that can adorn the character of a preacher of righteousness, is my sincere wish, as I cannot think myself indifferent to any thing that affects the credit of your ministry.

I am, &c.

Philadelphia, 21st August, 1755.

AN EARNEST ADDRESS

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THE COLONIES,

PARTICULARLY THOSE OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT; ON THE OPENING, OF THE CAMPAIGN, 1758: WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED, AT THE DESIRE OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL FORBES, WHEN LEVYING FORCES FOR THE EXPEDITION AGAINST JORT DU QUESNE, WHICH WAS AFTERWARDS TAKEN BY NIM.

BRETHREN AND COUNTRYMEN,

I AM now to address you, in the most solemn manner, on the present posture of affairs, and the duty we owe to his sacred majesty, to our holy religion, and to our latest posterity, on this important occasion. As I would be understood by all, I shall not affect a vain parade of words, or pomp of stile. Brevity and perspicuity shall be my principal aim.

The almighty author of our nature has thought fit to create man a needy and dependent being, incapable of subsisting in a solitary state with any degree of happiness. In order to his well-being, a mutual interchange of good offices with his fellow creatures is absolutely necessary.

Hence the origin and foundation of civil societies, which are nothing else but certain bodies of men linked together by common compact or agreement,

for the better securing themselves against want, and defending themselves against danger. In consequence of this compact, every individual is under the most solemn obligations to contribute what he can, for the general welfare, and preservation of the community, whereof he is a part; and when this is done with zeal, fidelity, and an elevated sense of duty, it is denominated public virtue and love of our country; than which, human nature boasts of no qualities that are more amiable or more divine. Both reason and religion inculcate this in the strongest terms. A narrow selfish spirit is odious to God and man; and no community ever subsisted long where such a spirit disgraced its members. It is scarce to be conceived how great a difference public virtue makes in the state of nations. Animated by it, the smallest remain powerful and safe; while, without it, the most populous are despicable and weak.

The little state of Sparta was an illustrious proof of this. To acknowledge no lord or master; to live independent and free; to be governed by their own laws and customs; to preserve themselves from corruption, selfishness and effeminacy; and to be the avengers of justice and the scourges of tyrannywere the highest wishes which Spartans knew; and, whenever they were called to exert themselves on this score, they declined neither toils nor dangers nor sufferings. The blaze of public spirit then shone illustrious from bosom to bosom, till it had effectually subdued and consumed the enemies of their country. Their very women shared the holy flame; and whenever the trumpet sounded the alarm of war,

one fitted out a husband, and another a son; charging them, by all the ties of love and honour and duty, not to disgrace the dignity of the Spartan name, and either to chastize the insolence of their enemies, or perish in the glorious attempt.

Seeing then, my countrymen, such was the virtue of a Spartan, and even of a Spartan woman, what may not be expected from Britons; who, added to all the advantages which the former enjoyed, have that of the Christian religion and its everlasting prospects to animate and inflame their conduct? We are, or might be, the happiest and most enlightened people in the world; and, by consequence, we ought to

be the bravest.

Were we to cast our eyes over this globe, and to take a view of the condition of our fellow crea tures in other countries; how should we bless our lot, and how dear would the name of Britons become to us!

Not to mention many parts, even of Europe itself, where the common people are in a manner the pro perty of their lords, and on little better footing than their cattle themselves; I might carry you through Asia and Africa, to shew you the deplorable state of human nature in those countries, groaning under a race of monsters that disgrace their very shape; and in a condition so completely miserable, that you have neither seen nor can imagine any thing of the kind. The wild savage, that roams the American wilder ness, is infinitely happier than they.

But I shall not take up your time with these eastern scenes of servitude and woe. Thanks be to

God! we are as far removed from the danger of them, as we are from the place of their existence. Our apprehensions are from another quarter. Our ambitious French neighbours on this American continent, are the only people on earth, from whom we have any thing to fear. It may therefore, be proper to give you a sketch of the situation we should be in, under their government and power.

And, on this head, I would observe, first that among them, you would in vain look for that happy equality and security which you now enjoy. All the property of the subject lies, among them, at the absolute disposal of the sovereign; and the poor labourer has no encouragement to be industrious or get before hand in the world, since he can neither be certain to comfort himself thereby, nor those with whom he is most nearly connected.

You have frequent opportunities of being informed of the manner in which the French are forced to live near ourselves in Canada. You know on what poor fare all who can bear arms among them, are obliged to follow their arbitrary leaders through these inhospitable American woods; seldom enjoying a comfortable meal, unless by chance they can seize it from us, which makes them the more eager to dispossess us of these happy settlements, and to reap the fruit of our labours.

But, added to all their other miseries, the greatest is, that they are not only deprived of freedom of body, but even of mind. Instead of being permitted to pour forth the genuine worship of the heart, according to the dictates of their own conscience, before