The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-02-18

Mr. THOMAS, 80
ph1fs 10 irifrt fbs JeiIsgisg frOm fbs Providence
G.zene, bsisg a..sxfr6a fsm aisrmsH. ssbieb
wa, hfsly. dtE0srslis a sfigbb0Grisg fszOs. ;
To ali the People who fear GOD and regard the
welfare Of MAxxIND.
+" Ayit ttss that gs,pgS.asA cali gpss tby God
THIS period, r77z, Is big with
the fate Of Ansrica-snd the
whcIe Briiiff empire nov trembles on the brink
of ,uin.-ThoEs that h,ll live in failure time
will ma k this ara with admiration, while they
read the hiRory of our day, filed with i'm
vor,ant changes, asi mighty revOluions. =
Many names will go down to pofte'ify,
from this period, black with guilt, and covered
With infamy Not few will act up to the cha.
r.eter of men, he recorded IN the LIFT OF fame,
and fflne with immortal glory. s ;.
tT5aflssvsr man 6unb that f5dH bF
RAJ Whatsoever we ioH Ia time, W; ihall reap
in eternity. This life IL bur the preface 20 ourex
iaence, and 10 this 10 written, 70 will the eternal
volume bel-My fellow immorrals how i'm
po,tant to our eternal felicity is the wife i'm
pruvement of human days Let US leize the
nying moments as they roll from the Almighty
hand, and write upon them bonsHr and i1mo'fa
ftv LET the divine honour, ard The universal
h.ppin.fs Of mankind. ever be 10 our view, and
pu (ued with the dour of angels, when ex-
ecutiov the commands of Heaven Re,
membsf, that God looks on, time makes halle,
death draws near. and eternity will loon ieAi our
dom :
A. my audience, at thi. general eonwnii-
on, conias of clergvmen, lee'hators, and the
principal Inhabitants of Ansrica, nall acSreis
, the different orders,
&" Nj. 7te,hren in the miniRry, our wok is
always great snd infinitely important; and IN
this~vi dpy, the voice Of wi(dom cries lcu5ly
20 mis alters. 20 watch md iabour With double
diligence al sroour. for Ihc fouls OF men I'VE
are bound By the command Of God TO ~ftch
gfor the temporal, as well as fpiri.uai fslvation OF
the people. As our duty with regard to the let
Ger is often urged from the dek, hsll ehiehy
u uERe the former. Its truth rot TO be con-
cealed, my brethren, that we ave veiily and no
toriouly guilty of great emificn OF duty I'VE
have not, in thcie wicked times, borre ccnfta nj
and faithful tsRimOny agsina the growing Inns
H in the land ; sgainR tyranny and untaishfnnsi'
in rulers I'VE have beeniafraid of offending them,
"fbs far Of nan b4s brought US into the lrare oil
,in.--CwsXbs BE- that Gstbfbs sD0k Of fbs Lara
ItrfitfsMy "-~Doth'nat this curfe belong to loms
of us We fee tyranny advancing (which Is the
parent of all manner OF ahoLlinaton) and have
we cried aloud to warn the people, TO guard a
psinff tia, dreadful evil No; ve are msny ol
US guilty, guilty, guilty, and believe the argel
of God is ki.dled agsrR rs for cur great
neglect of duty in this matter ! Hive ~
of en- and folemnly wssned the people q
eainf the prorhanasion Of the Lords name ana
day, and other growing hns ia the land Il
our condolences condemn us, let ps now ergsg'
esrhefily, and double car dig -nce in the esui'
Of freedom and godines Let US teach en-
people, not only in Pnflic but f,s~ Lsss 10 b'.(
rrsrn,sg fVsry msn, and 5AsfebiEg sVfry mar, Il
forf,ke every evil way, to pra6ttie hoiihefs, anc
4 to rapport freedom and juGice sgsisff growing
oppreiii N and tyranny And as there a.e hu
few men of etiess 10 country towns. who ar
ACQUAINTED wi.h The hiRo Of mspkird, and I'll,
dest;uaion thar tyranny has made il the world
we are bound by the love q Ged and man, u
fet parta day to deliver lecture to the peoPl.
ofour charge upon government ard the rights o
the Eeeple-This is 81 important duty
I which every enc who is sn smbaRador from
him Who came into the world 10 make "a fro
iSIss6, ought Immediately TO put In prs6tice :
My dear brethren, this is m9t weghsy con
Germ, for, as far as means are eonneaed With til
end, the eternal ialvation Of millions may de
pend on the prefervation offrseicm As yrsn
~ always produce, vi, kedDef, We know no
where It's dreadful sff, &, may cad BY il mil
l:Ons msy bemate wicked. sud fcr thar wicked
hefs be mifrrable EoT ever But words fan {
express she importance Of cur duty 10 tais inf
\ Rite caacern. or the mcclure OF cu' I'm It We re
eltSt W-IkaOw it 10 clten laSseied, that mi