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OF THE

Private and Public Life

OF

WILLIAM PENN.

BY THOMAS CLARKSON, M. A.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

London:

PRINTED BY RICHARD TAYLOR AND CO., SHOE-LANE,

FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN,

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PREFACE TO THE READER.

THERE RE are two principles, by which men usually regulate their conduct, whether in private or in public life. The one is built upon political expediency; the other upon morality and religion.

That, which is built upon the basis of policy, looks almost wholly at the consequences of things, regarding but little whether they be in themselves honest or not. It springs out of the worst part of the nature of man. It has no pretension to any other name than that of Cunning. It is of all others the most pernicious in its effects. It leads to oppression at home, to wars abroad, and to every moral evil, of which mankind has had to complain ; and it is in general, besides, as far as the actor himself is concerned, productive of disgrace and ruin.

That, which is founded on the basis of religion, is on the other hand never concerned with consequences but in a secon

dary

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No

dary point of view, regarding solely whether that which is in contemplation be just. Its motto is "Fiat Justitia, ruat Cœlum." It has its origin in the mind of man, but only where it has been first illuminated from above. Its name is Wisdom. other species of action has a title to that sublime appellation. It is the only one, whose effects are blessed. It removes all evils. It promotes all good. It is solid and permanent. It lasts for ever.

I have now to observe, that it is under the influence of this latter principle that we are to see the conduct of William Penn, but more particularly as a public man, in the sheets which follow; or, in other words, we are to have a view of him as a Statesman, who acted upon Christian principle in direct opposition to the usual policy of the world. Such a view of him must be highly gratifying. It must be also highly useful. Suffice it then to say, that the desire I had to contemplate itmyself, and to exhibit it to others, furnished the principal motive for the present work.

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