COMMENTARIES, 13 DECEMBER 1787

ment: now, if this is really the case, it is to be sure, much worse than
my neighbour and me first thought it to be; for all good christians must
agree, that this trade is an abomination to the Lord, and must, if con-
tinued, bring down a heavy judgment upon our land. It does not seem
to be justice, that one man should take another from his own country,
and make a slave of him; and yet we are told by this new constitution,
that one of its great ends, is to establish justice; alas! my worthy friend,
it is a serious thing to trifle with the great God; his punishments are
slow, but always sure; and the cunning of men, however deep, cannot
escape them. I well remember, that our congress (and I believe, as I
mentioned before, that they were honest, good men who meant as they
said) when they declared independence, solemnly said, that "all men
were created equal; and that they were endowed by their creator with
certain unalienable rights; and that among them, are these, life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness." They also talked much about the sa-
credness of a trial by jury;4 and complained loudly, that the old gov-
ernment tried to hinder the peopleing of this country, by discourageing
people to come here from the old countries;5 and for these, and other
causes, they went to war, after making a solemn appeal to God, for the
rectitude of their intentions; and even the infidel must confess, that
God was remarkably with us, watched over us in the hour of danger,
fought our battles, and subdued our enemies, and finally gave us suc-
cess. Alas! my good friend, it is a terrible thing to mock the almighty,
for how can we expect to merit his favor, or escape his vengeance; if it
should appear, that we were not serious in our professions, and that
they were mere devices to gratify our pride and ambition, we ought to
remember, he sees into the secret recesses of our hearts, and knows
what is passing there. It becomes us then to bear testimony against
every thing which may be displeasing in his sight, and be careful that
we incur not the charge mentioned by the prophet Hosea, "ye have
plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of
lies, because thou didst trust in thy ways, in the multitude of thy mighty
men."6 Here I shall finish this present letter; and when I find a little
more leisure, I will continue to write to you again.
I remain, Honoured Sir, Your real friend, And humble servant. A
COUNTRYMAN.
1. On 6 December the New York Journal announced that "A Countryman" II and
"Cato" VI were received and that they would be printed "as soon as possible." Along
with "Brutus" V, both of these essays were printed on Thursday, 13 December. (The
Thursday issue of the journal was more widely circulated than any other issue of that
newspaper.)

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