part11-第8部分

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opinion　in　politics　as　well　as　religion　which　makes　us　take　great

interest　in　them；　and　bestow　our　money　liberally　on　those　who　furnish

aliment　to　our　appetite。　　The　mild　and　simple　principles　of　the

Christian　philosophy　would　produce　too　much　calm；　too　much　regularity

of　good；　to　extract　from　it's　disciples　a　support　for　a　numerous

priesthood；　were　they　not　to　sophisticate　it；　ramify　it；　split　it

into　hairs；　and　twist　it's　texts　till　they　cover　the　divine　morality

of　it's　author　with　mysteries；　and　require　a　priesthood　to　explain

them。　　The　Quakers　seem　to　have　discovered　this。　　They　have　no

priests；　therefore　no　schisms。　　They　judge　of　the　text　by　the

dictates　of　common　sense　&　common　morality。　　So　the　printers　can

never　leave　us　in　a　state　of　perfect　rest　and　union　of　opinion。　　They

would　be　no　longer　useful；　and　would　have　to　go　to　the　plough。　　In

the　first　moments　of　quietude　which　have　succeeded　the　election；　they

seem　to　have　aroused　their　lying　faculties　beyond　their　ordinary

state；　to　re…agitate　the　public　mind。　　What　appointments　to　office

have　they　detailed　which　had　never　been　thought　of；　merely　to　found　a

text　for　their　calumniating　commentaries。　　However；　the　steady

character　of　our　countrymen　is　a　rock　to　which　we　may　safely　moor；

and　notwithstanding　the　efforts　of　the　papers　to　disseminate　early

discontents；　I　expect　that　a　just；　dispassionate　and　steady　conduct；

will　at　length　rally　to　a　proper　system　the　great　body　of　our

country。　　Unequivocal　in　principle；　reasonable　in　manner；　we　shall　be

able　I　hope　to　do　a　great　deal　of　good　to　the　cause　of　freedom　&

harmony。　　I　shall　be　happy　to　hear　from　you　often；　to　know　your　own

sentiments　&　those　of　others　on　the　course　of　things；　and　to　concur

with　you　in　efforts　for　the　common　good。　　Your　letters　through　the

post　will　now　come　safely。　　Present　my　best　respects　to　Mrs。　Gerry；　&

accept　yourself　assurances　of　my　constant　esteem　and　high

consideration。