.

first-see that it be the last time, they are stained with British blood, and lifted up against the breast that gave you suck. And as the world sees the political and military leaders of the Colonies at the foot of the Throne, and of a British senate; the world shall see, that the king and parliament can not only

Parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos,

but that they know how to conquer the generous friends of liberty, by generous acts of condescending love. Rise, ye mistaken sons of liberty,-rise to demonstrate, that, as we can fight like Britons, so we can forgive as Christians, and indulge as brethren. Take your seats among British senators, and particularly represent the American Provinces. But beware of considering this privilege as a bribe bestowed by a timorous Administration,-much less as a reward for your rash revolt. Though we make allowance for your mistakes, and put a favourable construction upon your intentions, we abhor and bear our solemn testimony against your proceedings. But the mantle of royal mercy, and of your repentance, having covered all, we shall not upbraid you with antichristian principles, and bloody scenes, which we wish to be buried in eternal oblivion. If we grant you some seats in the house of commons, it is only to remove your jealousies by a condescension, which becomes a mothercountry and a mild government; and to regain the filial confidence of our American Colonies, by permitting the men, who have been most prejudiced against us, to be | eye-witnesses of our firm attachment to the Constitution, of our impartial zeal for the dignity of the crown, of our guardian care for the constitutional liberty of the people, and of our prudent endeavours to secure the due obedience of the British subjects.

"The wound which the demon of discord has given to our union, cannot be perfectly healed but by an amputation, or a consolidation. The former expedient is inconsistent with our mutual affection, and our common interest; but the latter is perfectly agreeable to both; and our consanguinity loudly demands that it should be

preferred. Help us, then, to consolidate the lacerated parts of the British empire. Let your filial gratitude meet our paternal condescension half-way; so shall reconciling love cast the bridge of union across the Atlantic, and firmly join our happy Island with your fortunate Continent. And may genuine, sober, scriptural patriotism, like an adamantine key, for ever bind the solid arch! May one blood-one language-one constitution-one religion-one king-one supreme legislature-one temporal and eternal interest, combine to make us one flourishing empire, till the kingdom of God swallow up all other kingdoms! Nor let it be said any more,

Audiet cives acuisse ferrum,

Quo graves Turcæ melius perirent;
Audiet pugnas, vitio parentum
Rara juventus."{

Whilst the Speaker concludes this patriotic speech, my imagination returns from her pleasing excursion. The awful parliamentary scene vanishes "like the baseless fabric of a vision." But" a wreck is left behind." Hints of a scriptural method of reconciliation are humbly suggested; and you have some expressions of my cordial concern for the glory of our sovereign, and the satisfaction of our American fellow-subjects, to whom, as well as to Dr. Frice and yourself, I sincerely wish all the sweets of Christian and British liberty, without any of the bitters of religious and civil licentiousness. 'Of making many books, (says Solomon,) there is no end. Let us then hear the conclusion of the whole matter-Fear GOD, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of Man.'—Or, if you prefer St. Peter's words, Fear God, and honour the king,' for this is the sum of the two tables of Christ's law. That, instead of breaking one of these

Our posterity, thinned by our civil wars, will hear of our culpable contentions, and will lament our having turned against each other those swords, which should never have been drawn but against our common enemies.

tables under pretence of keeping the other, we may always agree to pay a cheerful obedience to both, is the final and highest wish of,

Reverend Sir,

Your obedient Servant in a Gospel,

which neither makes void the law through faith, nor supersedes loyalty through liberty,

J. FLETCHER.

We subjoin here, by way of Postscript to the above Letters, an Extract § from a small Pamphtet published soon after them, and entitled,

"THE BIBLE AND THE SWORD," &c.

We term the following an Extract, because we have judged it proper to omit the introductory part, it being merely a quotation from the Fourth of the preceding Letters, beginning with-" Dr. Price has advanced an argument," &c. p. 164; and concluding with the end of the Letter, p. 178.

ΤΗΣ

BIBLE AND THE SWORD:

OR, THE

APPOINTMENT OF THE GENERAL FAST

VINDICATED;

IN AN ADDRESS TO

THE COMMON PEOPLE.

THE Royal Proclamation, which has been lately issued out, shews that the hopes expressed in a late publication § were well-grounded. The heart of every good, unprejudiced man, must rejoice at reading this truly Christian decree: We, &c., command that a Public Fast and Humiliation be observed throughout England, upon Friday, December 13, so that both we and our people may humble ourselves before Almighty God, in order to obtain pardon of our sins; and may in the most devout and solemn manner send up our prayers and supplications to the Divine Majesty, for averting those heavy judgments, which our manifold sins and provocations have justly deserved; and for imploring his intervention and blessing speedily to deliver our loyal subjects," &c. The sovereign acts herein the part of a Christian prince, and of a wise politician. As a Chris

American Patriotism confronted, &c. p. 167.

tian Prince he enforces the capital duty of National Repentance; and as a wise politician he averts the most formidable stroke which Dr. Price has aimed at his government. May we second his laudable designs by acting the part of penitent sinners and loyal subjects; though mistaken patriots should pour floods of contempt upon us on the occasion.

It would be strange, if an appointment, which has a direct tendency to promote piety, to increase loyalty, and to baffle the endeavours of a disappointed party, met with no opposition. If we solemnly keep the fast, we must expect to be ridiculed by the men, who imagine that liberty consists in the neglect of God's law, and the contempt of the king's authority. The warm men who have publicly asserted, that his last speech from the throne is full of insincerity, daily insinuate that his proclamation is full of hypocrisy, and that it will be as wrong in you to ask a blessing upon his arms, as to desire the Almighty to bless the arms of robbers and murderers. Nor are there few good men among us, who think that it is absolutely inconsistent with Christianity to draw the sword and proclaim a fast.

Lest the insinuations of such patriots and professors should cast a damp upon your devotion, and make you leave the field of national prayer to our revolted Colonies, I beg leave to remind you of a similar case, in which God testified his approbation of a fast connected with a fight; yea, with a bloody civil war.

We read in the book of Judges, that 'certain sons of Belial,' belonging to the city of Gibeah,' in the land of Benjamin, ‘beset a house ;' obliged a Levite who lodged there, 'to bring forth a concubine to them; and they knew her, and abused her all night' in such a manner, that, she died' in the morning. The Levite complained of this cruel usage to the eleven tribes.

6

All the men

of Israel were gathered,' on this occasion, against the inhospitable city of Gibeah, and sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? Now, therefore, deliver us, the sons of Belial, who are in Gibeah, that we may put