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Common Sense-Part9_Thomas Paine(1737-1809)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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exceed all others in our hope, end, and aim. OUR PLAN IS PEACE FOR EVER.

We are tired of contention with Britain, and can see no real end to it



but in a final separation. We act consistently, because for the sake

of introducing an endless and uninterrupted peace, do we bear the evils



and burthens of the present day. We are endeavoring, and will steadily

continue to endeavour, to separate and dissolve a connexion which hath



already filled our land with blood; and which, while the name of it

remains, will he the fatal cause of future mischiefs to both countries.



We fight neither for revenge nor conquest; neither from pride nor

passion; we are not insulting the world with our fleets and armies, nor



ravaging the globe for plunder. Beneath the shade of our own vines are

we attacked; in our own houses, and on our own lands, is the violence



committed against us. We view our enemies in the character of Highwaymen

and Housebreakers, and having no defence for ourselves in the civil law,



are obliged to punish them by the military one, and apply the sword,

in the very case, where you have before now, applied the halter--



Perhaps we feel for the ruined and insulted sufferers in all and every

part of the continent, with a degree of tenderness which hath not yet



made its way into some of your bosoms. But be ye sure that ye mistake not

the cause and ground of your Testimony. Call not coldness of soul, religion;



nor put the BIGOT in the place of the CHRISTIAN.

O ye partial ministers of your own acknowledged principles. If the



bearing arms be sinful, the first going to war must be more so,

by all the difference between wilful attack, and unavoidable defence.



Wherefore, if ye really preach from conscience, and mean not to make

a political hobbyhorse of your religion convince the world thereof,



by proclaiming your doctrine to our enemies, FOR THEY LIKEWISE BEAR _ARMS_.

Give us proof of your sincerity by publishing it at St. James's,



to the commanders in chief at Boston, to the Admirals and Captains

who are piratically ravaging our coasts, and to all the murdering



miscreants who are acting in authority under HIM whom ye profess to serve.

Had ye the honest soul of BARCLAY ye would preachrepentance to YOUR king;



Ye would tell the Royal Wretch his sins, and warn him of eternal ruin.

["Thou hast tasted of prosperity and adversity; thou knowest what it is



to be banished thy native country, to be over-ruled as well as to rule,

and set upon the throne; and being oppressed thou hast reason to know



how hateful the oppressor is both to God and man: If after all these warnings

and advertisements, thou dost not turn unto the Lord with all thy heart,



but forget him who remembered thee in thy distress, and give up thyself

to fallow lust and vanity, surely great will be thy condemnation.--



Against which snare, as well as the temptation of those who may

or do feed thee, and prompt thee to evil, the most excellent and prevalent



remedy will be, to apply thyself to that light of Christ which shineth

in thy conscience, and which neither can, nor will flatter thee,



nor suffer thee to be at ease in thy sins."--Barclay's address to Charles II.]

Ye would not spend your partial invectives against the injured



and the insulted only, but, like faithful ministers, would cry aloud

and SPARE NONE. Say not that ye are persecuted, neither endeavour to make



us the authors of that reproach, which, ye are bringing upon yourselves;

for we testify unto all men, that we do not complain against you because



ye are Quakers, but because ye pretend to be and are NOT Quakers.

Alas! it seems by the particular tendency of some part of your testimony,



and other parts of your conduct, as if, all sin was reduced to,

and comprehended in, THE ACT OF BEARING ARMS, and that by the people only.






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