tell how, slipping along, without fixing once: only one man seized the flap of my waistcoat, and took it away with him; the other flap, in the pocket of which was a twenty pound bank note, was torn but half off. 3. That a lusty man, just behind, struck at me many times with a large oaken stick; with which if he had struck me, on the back of the head, I should probably have preached no more: but every time the blow was turned aside, I know not how, for I could not move to the right hand or left. 4. That another man came rushing through the press, raised his arm to strike, let it sink again, and stroking my head, said, "What soft hair he has! I cannot find in my heart to hurt him." 5. That I went as straight to the Mayor's door, when I was a little loosed for a few moments, as if I had known it, (which they probably thought I did,) and found him standing in the shop, which gave the first check to the fury of the people. 6. That no creature (at least within my hearing) laid any thing to my charge, either true or false; having, in the hurry, it seems, forgot to provide themselves with an accusation of any kind. And, lastly, That they were equally at a loss to know what to do with me, none proposing any determinate thing. The cry of most was, "Away with him, away with him :" of others, "Kill him at once." But none so much as once mentioned how; only one or two (1 almost tremble to relate it) screamed out, (with what meaning I cannot tell,) "Crucify the dog, crucify him.'

By how gentle degrees does God prepare us, either for doing or suffering his will! Two years since, one threw at me a piece of brick, which grazed on my shoulder, but hurt me not. It was a year after, that another threw a stone, which struck me between the eyes; but the hurt was soon healed, and still no man had power to lay a hand upon me. At St. Ives, last month, I received one blow, the first I ever had, on the side of the head; and this night two, one before we came into the town, and one after I was gone out into the meadows. But though one man struck me on the breast with all his might, and the other on the mouth, so that the blood gushed out, I felt no more pain from either

of the blows, than if they had touched me with a straw. October 22, 1743.

"Lo I come, if this soul and body may be useful to any thing, to do thy will, O God. And if it please thee to use the power thou hast over dust and ashes, over weak flesh and blood, over a brittle vessel of clay, over the work of thine own hands; lo, here they are, to suffer also thy good pleasure. If thou please to visit me either with pain or dishonour, I will humble myself under it, and through thy grace, be obedient unto death, even the death upon the cross. Whatsoever may befal me, either from neighbours or strangers, since it is thou employest them, though they know it not, (unless thou help me to some lawful means of redressing the wrong,) I will not open my mouth before the Lord, who smiteth me, except only to bless the Lord. Hereafter no man can take away any thing from me, no life, no honour, no estate; since I am ready to lay them down, as soon as I perceive thou requirest them at my hands. Nevertheless, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; but if not, thy will be done. Whatever sufferings hereafter may trouble my flesh, or whatever agonies may trouble my spirit, O Father, into thy hands will I commend my life, and all that concerneth it. And if thou be pleased, either that I live yet a while, or not, I will, with my Saviour, bow down my head; I will humble myself under thy hand; I will give up all thou art pleased to ask, until at last I give up the ghost."

SOME

Obfervations on Liberty

OCCASIONED BY DR. PRICE'S LATE TRACT ON THE NATURE OF LIBERTY.

1. IT was with great expectation that I read Dr. Price's "Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War with America ;" and my expectation was not disappointed. As the author is a person of uncommon abilities, so he has exerted them to the uttermost in the Tract before us, which is certainly a master-piece in its kind. He has said all that can be said upon the subject, and has digested it in the most accurate manner; and candour requires us to believe, that he has written with an upright intention, with a real design to subserve the interest of mankind in general, as well as the subjects of the British Empire. But as the Doctor is a friend to liberty, so he can "think, and let think." does not desire that we should implicitly submit to the judgment, either of him or any other fallible man; and will not, therefore, be displeased, at a few further observations on the same subjects. That subject is,

He

2. The liberty which is now claimed by the Confederate Colonies in America. In order to understand this much controverted question, I would set aside every thing not essential to it. I do not, therefore, now inquire, Whether this or that measure be consistent with good policy? Or, Whether it is likely to be attended with good or ill success?

*This Tract was overlooked, otherwise it should have been inserted in the preceding Volume.

I want only to know, Is their claim right or wrong? Is it just, or unjust?

3. What is it they claim? You answer, "Liberty." Nay, Is it not independency? You reply, "That is all one: they do claim it, and they have a right to it."

To independency! That is the very question: to liberty they have an undoubted right; and they enjoy that right. (I mean they did, till the late unhappy commotions.) They enjoyed their liberty in as full a manner as I do; or any rea

sonable man can desire.

"What kind of liberty do they enjoy ?" Here you puzzle the cause, by talking of physical and moral liberty. What you speak of both, is exactly true, and beautifully expressed but both physical and moral liberty are beside the present question; and the introducing them can answer no other end, than to bewilder and confuse the reader. Therefore to beg the reader, "to keep these in his view," is only begging him to look off the point in hand. You desire him, in order to understand this, to attend to something else! Nay, I beg him to look straight forward, to mind this one thing; to fix his eye on that liberty, and that only, which is concerned in the present question: and all the liberty to which this question relates, is either Religious or Civil Liberty.

4. Religious Liberty, is a liberty to choose our own religion, to worship God according to our own conscience : every man living, as a man, has a right to this, as he is a rational creature. The Creator gave him this right, when he endowed him with understanding; and every man must judge for himself, because every man must give an account of himself to God. Consequently, this is an unalienable right it is inseparable from humanity; and God did never give authority to any man, or number of men, to deprive any child of man thereof, under any colour or pretence whatever.* Now, who can deny that the Colonies enjoy this Liberty, to the fulness of their wishes ?

5. Civil Liberty, is a liberty to dispose of our lives, per

* See a Tract, entitled, “Thoughts upon Liberty,”

sons, and fortunes, according to our own choice, and the laws of our country.

I add, "according to the laws of our country." For although, if we violate these, we are liable to fines, imprisonment, or death; yet if, in other cases, we enjoy our life, liberty, and goods, undisturbed, we are free, to all reasonable intents and purposes.

Now, all this Liberty the Confederate Colonies did enjoy, till part of them enslaved the rest of their countrymen; and all the loyal Colonies do enjoy it at the present hour. None takes away their lives, or freedom, or goods: they enjoy them all quiet and undisturbed.

"But the king and parliament can take them all away." But they do not; and, till it is done, they are freemen. The supreme power of my country can take away either my Religious or Civil Liberty; but, till they do, I am free in both respects: I am free now, whatever I may be by and by. Will any man face me down, I have no money now, because it may be taken from me to-morrow?

6. But the truth is, what they claim is not Liberty: it is independency. They claim to be independent of England; no longer to own the English supremacy.

A while ago they vehemently denied this; for matters were not then ripe and I was severely censured, for supposing they intended any such thing. But now the mask is thrown off: they frankly avow it; and Englishmen applaud them for so doing!

Nay, you will prove, that not only the Colonies, but all mankind, have a right to it: yea, that independency is of the very essence of liberty; and that all who are not independent, are slaves.

Nay, if all who are not independent are slaves, then there is no free nation in Europe: then all in every nation are slaves, except the supreme powers. All in France, for instance, except the king: all in Holland, except the senate; yea, and these too: king and senate both are slaves, if (as you say) they are dependent upon the people. So, if the