Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution
If it should seem ' grievous for the present, we have this for our con- ' solation, that as good men as you and I, have been ' afflicted : The devil was permitted to afiiict Job ' worse than wicked Ministers, or Counsellors of ' state can you and me ; and let us take patern by ' his stability, when his friends came and clamoured ' against him, as bad as our Farmer doth in this day, ' against the best men we have among us ; and when ' his wife advised him to curse God and die, what was ' ihe effect? why nothing at all, for it was full conso- ' lation for him to say, I know that my redeemer liv- ' eth; and in another place, all the days of my ap- ' pointed time will I wait, till my change come.
" This is an amiable example of stability, which, ' may Americans imitate. May they join corre- ' sponding actions to fervent prayers, that they may be ' enabled to maintain their rights and liberties ! That ' the British arms may never be employed but in a ' just cause, -- to protect the weak and innocent from ' wrong, and to be the terror of oppressors and evil ' doers. That the illustrious house of Hanover may ' continue to be the defenders of true religion and ' virtue, the faithful guardians of our freedom and ' property ! That our sovereign, George the third, ' may discover every wicked design, that any of his ' Ministers, or others, have conceived against him, or ' any of his people ! That he may be endowed with ' wisdom and virtue to Decome a blessing to his peo- ' pie, and a terror only to his enemies !