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ARCAN A:

OR THE

PRINCIPLES

OF THE LATE

PETITIONERS TO PARLIAMENT, FOR RELIEF IN THE MATTER OF SUBSCRIPTION.

IN EIGHT LETTERS TO A FRIEND.

What shall de honest man do in my closet?
Dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet.
SHAKESPEARE.

[FIRST PRINTED, 1774.]

PREFACE.

THE

HE present state of religion in Britain pretty much resembles its state-policy when the Romans invaded and enslaved it. This island was then divided into several petty-states, and all the strength of those states was employed in securing each against its neighbour; so that when the Romans, the common enemy came, they were too feeble to resist long, and bowed to the imperial yoke. To this divided state of the country, Tacitus, an almost cotemporary historian, ascribes the Roman success. Nec aliud adversus validissimas gentes pro nobis utilius, quam quod in commune non consulunt. Rarus duabus tribusve civitatibus ad pulsandum commune periculum conventus: ita

pro

DUM SINGULI PUGNANT, UNIVERSI VINCUNTUR.

(In Vit. Agric. cap. xii.)* Christianity is indeed

* Nothing contributes more to the success of our arms against the most warlike nations, than their want of unanimity. They do do not consult together. Very rarely do two or three cities confer together on resisting the common enemy. So that while each fights, all are conquered.

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