The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1772-05-21
Vol. III
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.

Mr.. THOMAS,
IF you think the inclofed worthy place
in YOUR valuable paper, pleafe to iniert i. |
am your confant reader, &c. N. N.
Fran tbs PRECEPTOR. Vol. II.
Social DUTIES of the Political Kind.
Political conne6iens.
THE JSeiel Principle in man is of fuch
L an expanfve nature, that il cannot
be confined within the circuit of family,
of friends, or . neighbourhood ; 1t fpreads
into wider fyffems, and draws men into
larger confederacies, communities and COM
mon-weaIths. II is in thefe only, that the
higher powers of our nature, attain the
hiShcff improvement of which they are Ca
pable. Thefe principles hardly find OBJ
ieeas in the folitary fate of nature. Tbfr'
the principle of action rifles no higher at far
theft than natural 16st7isn towards ones Off
fpring. There perional or family wants en-
firely engrofs the creatures attention and Ia
bour and allow no leifure, or, If they did,
no exsrciGe 70. views of more enlarged
kidd. In JsEtals all are employed in
the fame way, in providing for the animal
life. And evan after their utmof labour
and care, Jingle and unaided by the induf-
try of Others, they 6nd but forty fupply
of their wants, and feeble precarious le-
curity againf wild BEATS from Indictment
'..es and feaEons from the INTAKES or
petulent pafions of their fellow creatures
from the preference of themlelves to their
NEIGHBOURS and from all'ths iirtie exorbi-
tahces OF lelf love. But n/sfisty, the mu-
fual aids which men give and receive, Abort
ems the Iabours of each, and the combined
frenrth and FeaGon Of individuals. give ie-
ruritv and protection to the whole body.
There is both variety and fubordination
OF genius among mankind. Some are for
med 20 lead and diseA, others to contrive
plans of happinefs for individuals, and OF
government for communities, to take in
public intereit, invent laws and arts, and
iupcrinterd their execution, and in fhort
to refine and civilize Human life. Others
who have not fuch good heads, may have
a. honeif hearts, truly public fpirit, love
ofliberty, hatred Of corruption and tyranny,
a generous fnbmiaion to laws, order and
public inifitutions, and an exteniive Phi
ianthropy. And others who have none of
thefe capacities either Of heart, or head,
NAV be we'll formed for manual exercifes
ana bodily Iabour. The former Of theie
principles have no lcope in folltude, where
q mans thoughts and concerns do all either
centre in himfelf, or extend no farther than
= family: into which little circle NIL the
duty and virtue Of the folitary mortal is
crouded! But fociety finds proper objects
and exerciles for every genius, and the no.
bleft objects and exerciles for the noblef
scniufes,. and for the highsR principals in
the human contribution particularly for
that warmea and moR divine PATTON which
God hath kindfed in our bofoms, the incli-
nation of doing good and reverencing our
nature; which may find here both en-
pIoyment, and the mon exquiiite fatisfaai-
on. In Iociety man has not only more
leifure, but better opportunities, of apply
ing his talents with much greater perfec-
ton and fuccels, Especially as he is furniih-
ed with the joint advice and aiiRance of
his fellow creatures, who are now clofely
united one with the other, and fufain q
common relation to the fame moral fyfem.
or community. This then is an objea
proportioned to bis mof enlarged focal af-
feaions, and in fervingit he finds Cope
for the exerciie and refinement of his high
eft inteIeauzl and moral powers. 7 HERE
FORE fsrieiy OF q fatssf cIuI gsUrnmsaf,
refs on thele two principal pillars, s. that
in i, we find [eeurity againit thofe evils
which are unavoidable in foiitude-and OBJ