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2 lines
1.3 KiB
HTML
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<p>See here, 1. Who are the men that are dangerous to the public—<i>scornful men</i>. When such are employed in the business of the state they do things with precipitation, because they scorn to deliberate, and will not take time for consideration and consultation; they do things illegal and unjustifiable, because they scorn to be hampered by laws and constitutions; they break their faith, because they scorn to be bound by their word, and provoke the people, because they scorn to please them. Thus they <i>bring a city into a snare</i> by their ill conduct, or (as the margin reads it) they <i>set a city on fire</i>; they sow discord among the citizens and run them into confusion. Those are <i>scornful men</i> that mock at religion, the obligations of conscience, the fears of another world, and every thing that is sacred and serious. Such men are the plagues of their generation; they bring God’s judgments upon a land, set men together by the ears, and so bring all to confusion. 2. Who are the men that are the blessings of a land—the <i>wise men</i> who by promoting religion, which is true wisdom, <i>turn away the wrath</i> of God, and who, by prudent counsels, reconcile contending parties and prevent the mischievous consequences of divisions. Proud and foolish men kindle the fires which wise and good men must extinguish.</p>
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