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A Looking-Glass for Presbyterians (Inscribed: J. Arbo) - 15

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no Means imitate. Thus I might run a Parallel thro' all his Instances from Prophane History, to shew that every Example he has adduc'd is in Favor of the People and their Representatives. He has taken a Deal of Pains to shew the Similarity between Jews and Presbyterians (but this was a needless Undertaking, as every Body knew it before). He has also endeavor'd to make it appear that all other Professions intermix'd among them, are the Heathens with whom they have to contend. That if therefore Force will not do, Fraud may be made use of to destroy their Opposers, by Craft, Treachery, or Dissimulation.—He wou'd feign make us believe too that as God formerly gave the Land of Canaan by a Charter from Heaven to the Jews; so he has given Pennsylvania to the Presbyterians by Virtue of the same Commission, Judith, cries our Author, tells a Lye to Holofernus, makes him drunk, and then severs his Head from his Body with a Scymitar,—so ought all the Sons and Daughters of Presbyterianism, serve those of a different Persuasion who do not coincide with them in Religion and Politics, smite them under the fifth Rib as Joab did Abner, and betray them with a Kiss into the Hands of their Enemies, as Judas did our blessed Savior. Might I not as well quote this Passage of the Apocrypha, and apply it with equal Propriety to the late Expedition to German-town? Holofernus (i. e. Col—A.-m-s-g) was the chief Captain of the Army of the Paxton Volunteers, who had formerly march'd West and secur'd himself behind a Tree; till his Forces vanquish'd the Catananites; after which, in the Name of the Hosts of Israel, he fired at a Bundle of Deer-Skins which fell before him; for which gallant and brave Exploit he was crown'd with Laurels: He then ruin'd his Sword against Judah to the Eastward, and said I will go forth in my Wrath and devour mine Enemies, and straitly block up the Capitol.—Now had there been a Woman in Philadelphia, as bold as Judith, and us'd the same Means to destroy this Holofernus in Germantown, wou'd she not be equally entitled to the Blessings pronounc'd by Ozias, that Judith was, according to the curious Application our judicious Author has made to this Text?

What a shocking Opinion must Mankind have of Presbyterians who first kill People, and then erect Courts of Judicature to try them? Our Author has been at great Pains to take ex Parte Depositions, and publish them to the World as sufficient Proof of the Indians Guilt. Therefore whether they were innocent or guilty is little to the Purpose now, as their Doom is irreversable. Will the Verdict of the Public restore them to Life, suppose it is given in their Favor. These Allegations were sufficient, if true, to confine them by Virtue of the civil Authority in order to bring them to a legal Tryal, that they might either be acquitted or condemn'd by their Country.—But who, under the Heavens, gave Presbyterians Authority to be their own Carvers, or appointed them Judges, Jurors, Hangmen, and Executioners, to butcher the Indians, Man, Woman and Child in cold Blood, without first examining either their Merit, or Demerit, or giving them any Chance to plead for themselves?

Contents of this annotation:

  1. A Looking-Glass for Presbyterians (Inscribed: J. Arbo) - 15