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 accounted the greateſt Madneſs and Treachery in them to have all of a ſudden turned from ſeemingly contented Subjection to open Rebellion, and from profeſſed Friendſhip to a drawing the devouring Sword againſt their Brethren, to effectuate what they knew not but calm Meaſures might have done; whereby, beſides all that is to be feared, what of this Cure is already felt is more grievous than the Diſeaſe. And for the latter, albeit the Pretender hath ſhown his Inclination to diſſolve the Union, yet what Aſſurance have we that the Engliſh, or even the Scots, will conſent thereto? Or, tho' they ſhould, whether, conſidering the real Advantages that other parts of the Nation reap thereby, the Diſſolution thereof were not in our preſent Circumſtances a real Injury even to Scotland? And, if ſo, are they worthy being Members of any Society, who would, for their own particular intereſt, ſacrifice the general Good of the Nation? Or do ſuch Men imagine, that, when others about them are in a ſinking Condition, they will flouriſh long?

Theſe are the Motives which convince us, and will we doubt not alſo induce you to look upon the ſaid Attempt as the Lord's terrible Judgment, and upon the Executers thereof as the Rod in his Hand, which hath ſmitten us in his Indignation. Let us therefore comply with the Exhortation of our Seers of old, in taking notice of the Hand that ſmiteth us: For Affliction cometh not forth of the Duſt, neither doth Trouble ſpring out of the Ground; there is Evil in the City, nor Country, which the Lord hath not done. He it is that formeth the Light, and createth Darkneſs: who maketh Peace, and createth Evil. He it is that hath given a Charge to the Sword that it cannot be ſtill, and who hath his other Arrows, the Peſtilence and Famine, ready upon the String to ſhoot at us.

And as we conceive it incumbent upon us to look upon this Diſpenſation as our Puniſhment, ſo alſo to