The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-05-21

their individual fagacity and induitry."
From this lhorr detail it appears that
man is SOCIAL creature, and formed for
aSOClAL fare and tina, jseiety, being a.
dapted to the higher principles and dsftina-
tons of his nature, mutt, of necefiity, be
his NATURAL fate.
Political duties.
THE duties fuited to that fate, and re.
fulting from thofe principles and deitinati-
ons, or in other words, from our focial paf-
fions and focal connections, or relation to
a public fyfem, are lsvt of orr country, re-
Egs0t;on and sbsdisaes to tie LasOS, Public lpi-
ri, hvs sfGbsrty, Jdfrjfts Of life and all 10
the public, and the like.
Love Of snfis country.
LOVE efSar country is one of the nobleit
paiiions that can warm and animate the
human breah. 1t includes all the limited
and particular affections to our parents,
children, friends, neighbours, fellow citi-
zens and countrymen.
II ought to direct and limit their more
confined and partial actions within their
proper and natural bounds. and never let
them encroach on thofe facred and frff
regards we owe to the great public to which
we belong. Were we folitzry creatures,
detached from the ref of mankind, and
without any capacity of comprehending a
public intsysG, or without affections, lead
ing us to dsiire and puIfue it, il would not
be our duty to mind it, nor criminal to me-
glea il. But as we are PARTS OF the
Pablo ty5qem, and are capable of not only
taking in large views of its interefs, but
with the Rrongeh affections connected with
il, and prompted to take mare of its con-
Germs, we are under the mott facred ties to
psolecute iss fecurity and welfare with the
u.moft ardour, Especially in times of pub
lie trial. This Love Of err country does
not import an attachment to any particular
foil, climate, or fpot Of earth, where per-
haps we firf drew our breath, though thoie
nofayol are often anociated with the moral
ones and like external figns or fymbols,
help TO afcertain and bind them but it i'm
ports an affection to that m0yaI JJfsm, or
community which is governed by the fame
laws and magiRratss, and whole feverai
part, are variouly connected one with the
other, and all united upon the bottom Of
common interef. Perhaps indeed every
member of the community cannot compre-
bend 70 large an Object, Especially lift ex-
tends through large provinces, and over vaR
tracts of land and fill lefs can he form
ruch an idea, if there is no public, ]. ..
if all are fubjea to the caprice and unlimit-
ed will of one man but the preference
the generality thew to their native country
the concern and longing after it which they
exprsfs, when they have been long ablent
from il the labours they undertake
and the fuHerings they endure to fave
or ferve it; and the peculiar attachment
they have to their countrymen, evidently
demonffrate that the PATTON is natural, and
never fails to exert itfelf, when il is fairly
difenpaeed from foreign clog, and is di-
reeted to its proper Object. Wherever il
prevails in its genuine vigour and extent,
il fwaIlows up all forbid and 6elhlh regard,
il conausrs the love of sgjS, pstOw, plselnys
and sUsaltb; nay when the am;able partial
tics of fSissd6ip, grStifEds, private 5fft7isn,
Dr. rsgords 70 family come in competition
with il, il will teach Us bravely to facrikce all,
in order to maintain the rights and Prmsfe
or dtfsad the honour and happiness of our
country.
RsEgazfisn and sbsdienrs to 'bs lHsOs, sc.
RESIGNATION and s5sdisses 10 tie
lasvi, and srdtrJ of the fociety to which we
belong, are political duties neceaary TO its
very being and fecurity, without which it
muir foon Degenerate into fate Of Iicence
and anarchy. The welfare. nav. the nasurr