638 ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE 



prefent (late, uncontaminatcd with the world, thoitgfi 

 v to fink under the weight of many evils, 

 or to .ccd above thefe diftrefles, at t!i 



of your morals. In the day of battle-, you flan.' 

 and in vulnerable again ft all dangers, lv, ume- 



; nents. Will your fortitude be equally 

 pron I an army of vices, in all their tempting 



flHpcs ? Be not too confident of your own flr^ 



:io;i and mufkets are trifling in the companion to 

 you mud encounter, from the moment aft 

 firft drink out of the fame cup with Lowlandmen, 

 Fngliflimen and Irishmen. I know your anfwer 

 before-hand \ the wetnefs of the prefent harvefl, by 

 which your crops will be partly loft, and the dreadful 

 profpecl: of a new famine, leave no room to hefitate; 

 Give us employment, by which \vc may purchafc 

 from others what our own miferablc climate does not 

 afford, is your ardent fupplication; in which policy, 

 humanity, and moral juftice are your advocates. As 

 your requeft muft fooner or later be granted, it will 

 be efTentially neceflary to afTift you at the fame time, 

 in the ftruggle between your confciences on the 

 One fide, and the world on the other ; for this pur- 

 pofe, an additional number of intelligent clergymen 

 may be fettled among you, who would not only at- 

 tend to matters of fpiritual concern, but alfo aflifl. 

 you with their counfel, in lucli temporal affa : 

 might require their aid, in the propofed new li: 

 adion. 



But as, from the great extent of country, tl 

 will ftill be a deficiency of clergymen for ages to 

 come, you may in fome degree fupply this defect, 

 by means of a fmall aflbrtment of well-chofen books -, 

 and in order that neither your time nor money may 

 be mifapplied, I would advife you to reject all 

 books upon religious conrroverfy, and religious in- 

 tolerance; or which affirm that the people of fuch 

 a church or fuch a feel, and they only, can be 

 faved. This is prefumption with a witnek ! and 

 4 if 



