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Show ., magymn y: dream-ms :2 PRINCIPLES, at. of we QUAKERS. this happy flate, appear to demand from us the greatefl‘ circumipecition, care, and conflant endeavours, to guard againfl: every attempt to alter or {ubvert that dependence and con neé'tion, The {Cranes lately prefented to our view, and the prov fpeét before us, we are iciihble, are Very difl‘refling and dilicouraging; and though we lament that inch amicable meaiures as have been propoied, both here and in England, for the adjuiltment of the unhappy contefis fulfill-ing, have not been eii'eé'tual; neverthelcfs, we {hould re- ioice to obferve the continuance of mutual peaceable en~deavours for eil‘efiing a reconciliation; having grounds to hope that the divineifiavour and blefling will attend them. " lt hath ever been onrjudgzment and principles {met We were called to proteis the [light of Chrifl' jetixs, manifei'ted in our conicience, unto this day, that the letting up, and putting down, Kings and governments, is God's peculiar prerogative, for caufes beit known to himfelF; and that it is not Our buiinefs to have any hand or com trivance therein, nor to be bufy bodies above our Ration, much lefs to plot and contrive the ruin, or overturn any of them, but to pray for the King, and fafety of our nation, and good of all men ; that we may live a peace- able and quiet life, in all godlinefs and honef'ty, under the government which God is pleated to let over us." flnt‘ir‘rzt Ttflimony, 1696, in Salve/1'5 Hyi'ary. May we therefore firmly unite in the abhorrence of all fuch writings and meai‘ures as evidence a deiiic ahd defign to break oi? the happy connection we have here_ totiore enjoyed with the kingdom of Great-Britain, and [I3] ‘Z'Zie PROPRIETY 0f INDEPENDANCY. PI" 0 acknowledge that the Creator formed Man for . fociery, and that fociety cannot fuhii‘it without reg: gulations, laws, and government; and at the fame time to aiTert, that in {pight of all human care to preve nt it, every government will degenerate into a tyranny, is iiuch a daring b/a/piwmy of the divine attributes, that had I not heard it afterted, and aequiefced in as a truth, Icoul d not have believed fuch a pofirion cauld have 6inth in a civilized country i This motiflrous hypothcfis concludes, that notwithf'tanding the Deity had power enough to form iuch admirable creatures as men and Women, and fit them for enjoving of each other a thoufand ways, and though by means of the mofi exquifite of thofe enjoy- ments :1 race fhould arife from them over which every power of rightful government mutt of neceflity be exer~ cifed, yet juit and rightful government is in reality uto- pian, imaginary, and impracticable! Did not God death the grais, direct the wild goat, and provide for the {par-row, I might more eafily be perfuaded to {ufpeét his care or man, , . I readily grant, that the delegates of governmental power are too apt to confider themfelves the pofl'eflbrs of it in t/m'r own rig/)1, and that they therefore take every means in their power to become the ma/ier: in place of V/Z'rvimt: to their rorz/iz'tumts; and that the people in all civilized countries have been too inattentive to the ufurpations of their rulers ‘. but Iconceive of no caufe in the nature of things which f0 abfolutely counteracts the our juf't and necefihry {ubordination to the King, and power of a wile, learned, and free community, as to thofe who are lawfully placed in authority under him ; that thus the repeated (olemn declarations, made on this render it impoflible for them to preferve their liberty. The arguments brought from the condition of other ftates, are by no means conclulive with refpeét to the North American colonies. I am bold to affert, that fuch a favourable combination of circumitances as they are blefled with at this important conjunélure, never did take place among any people with whom hiilory has-made us acquainted. The moi'c jui't and folid foundation of fubjcé}, in the ziddrelies lent to the King, on the behalf of the people of America in general, may be confirmed, and remain to be our firm and fincere intentions to obibrve and fulfil, Signed In mm' on behalf of a meeting cf the ReprE/mlatie/c: of our Ref/gum Marty, in PenniylVania and New- Jeri'ey, bald at Philadelphia, 1/): act/.7 do} of t/mfiif/i mam/J, 2776. JOHN PEMiBERTON, CLERK. {ocial happinefs was laid (in the firi'c fettlement of the 4 conc |