The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1772-11-19
The

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THROUGH am by no means indlfte-
rent to my coed fame and regulations
coplidered as private individual, the con-
Gem is augmented TO kind of intnity when
/ conceive my country wounded through
my iides. This Sir, | am credibly inform
ed YOU have been 70 weak as to do in very
public manner declaring in the lait meet
Ing of the rcips Gable town Of Roxbury, that
YOU would have nothing to do with mealures
wherein you mutt follow the lead OF iuch
men as Mr.. MoIineux and DR.. Young, who
were men of TO principles; and added thar
fuch concerns lhould be committed TO men
Of virtue and religion.
For my own part thought had given
fuch latisfaefion, on that head TO every per-
ION who could read the public papers, that
hculd have heard no more of il: but iinee
you, Sir, ieem Gill diGalis6cd, ihall
once more beg leave to offer my confsiiion
of faith to the public; and if you, or any o.
Their perfon find any thing repreherilble in
it, (hail take it as favour to have their
objections fairly aated in the papers, that
they may be confidcred and anfwered with
that condour and foemnity that matters OF
the lai importance require. My creed is
this,
believe in one eternal God, whole be-
ing,wildom, power, holinefs, juftice and be
ne6cence are altogether iDconceivable to iuch
atoms of animated matter as are yourielf
and |. s He
adv. believe that this God pohe6ing
infinite fpace with all its amazing furniture
of hahitaSle manfions, created fuch beings
as we are, that they might enjoy the boun-
ties of bis grace which mutt otherwife have
run to waite or at leaR have exiAed to no
purpofe.
9dly. I believe that the happiness Of his
creatures, being the concern of the fupreme
God himielf, ought in confequence to be
the concern of every intelligent under his
government.
4sb5. believe, that in the order of ma
ture and providence, the man who mof az
iiduouay endeayours to promote the will of
God in the good of bis fellow creatures, re.
ceives the mott ample reward Of his virtue.
that peace of mind and filent applauGe of
good confidence, which adminiRers more TO-
lid fatisfaefion than all the other enjoymsnts
of life put together.
Stby. On the other hand believe, that
the man, who endezyours to build up either
his fortune or fame on the ruin Of the efate
or character of bis neighbour, acts contrary
to the rule of right, and in coniequsnce muf
fall lhort of that appreciation, from God and
his own confidence, which the performance
Of bis known duty would have enlured him
Of.
6fby. I, mof explicitly believe that all
men fhalI be rewarded for The deeds done in
the body, whether they be good or evil, &C
cording to The eternal rule OF right, by which
the fovereigr judge of the uniyeIie iquares all
his DEGREES.
Now Sir, as thsfc are all the principles
of religion, tina, conceive have any relation
TO civil fociety, and thefe principles are in
this free and open manner again declared by
me to be the governing rules Of my conduct
in life; prciume it behoves YOU to thew me
either thar they are erroneous, Inefficient,
or unattended to in my life and converfatioD.
In either cafe, Sir, ihall bear your re-
proof with thar n,eeknels and rehgnation
that becomes man confcious that for all
his deliberate aaiOns he NUT give an ac-
count.
You are fenfi5le Sir, that your cenfure
rcfpeecd'my moral character, and had d.
req tendency to fet that in a.mof odous
light. In the preGent Circumstance of our
public afflirs this mutt be highly detrimen-
tai generally believed. II is true enough
that the fenfc Of people is very naturally
deducsable fom The choice they make both
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