xvi.
On the whole, it appears, that the Israelites were a People
jealous of their newly-acquired Liberty, which Jealousy was in itself
no Fault; but, when they suffer'd it to be work'd upon by artful Men,
pretending Public Good, with nothing really in view but private
Interest, they were led to oppose the Establishment of the _New
Constitution_, whereby they brought upon themselves much
Inconvenience and Misfortune. It appears further, from the same
inestimable History, that, when after many Ages that Constitution was
become old and much abus'd, and an Amendment of it was propos'd, the
populace, as they had accus'd Moses of the Ambition of making himself
a _Prince_, and cried out, "Stone him, stone him;" so, excited by
their High Priests and SCRIBES, they exclaim'd against the Messiah,
that he aim'd at becoming King of the Jews, and cry'd out, _"Crucify
him, Crucify him."_ From all which we may gather, that popular
Opposition to a public Measure is no Proof of its Impropriety, even
tho' the Opposition be excited and headed by Men of Distinction.
To conclude, I beg I may not be understood to infer, that our
General Convention was divinely inspired, when it form'd the new
federal Constitution, merely because that Constitution has been
unreasonably and vehemently opposed; yet I must own I have so much
Faith in the general Government of the world by _Providence_, that I
can hardly conceive a Transaction of such momentous Importance to the
Welfare of Millions now existing, and to exist in the Posterity of a
great Nation, should be suffered to pass without being in some degree
influenc'd, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent, and
beneficent Ruler, in whom all inferior Spirits live, and move, and
have their Being.
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