The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

SERMONS.I&7fare are we counted to you as beafts, and reputed vilein youf fight ? How long will it be ere you make anend of rigour towards us ? Did not he that formedus in the womb form you ? Are not our natural want&the fame with yours ? Is our llrength the ftrength offtones, or is our fiefh of brafs ? You compel us tomake brick without ftraw ;you lay burdens upon u&which crufh us to the grouad. We defire to live anddie in the land where we were born j we are contentto labour, and to labour hard, to do juflice to you,and make you live at eafe j but while we ftrive to anfweryour fevere dem.ands, we wear out our ftrengthwith toil *, our children are naked and flarving, andwe have neither clothes nor bread to give them. Wewifhed to work for you, and to look upon you as ournurfmg-fathers ; but you have no pity on us. Eventhe fea-monflers draw out the breaft, and give fuckto their little ones ; but you are becom.e cruel, liketlie oftriches in the wildernefs ; we muft leave thisland,we muft feek out another abode, and bid yoafarewell."'That I may ftill fpeak to you in the language offcripture, " Hear this word, ye kine of Bafhan, whichare in the mountain of Samaria, which opprefs thepoor, which crufti the needy, which fay, 13ring andlet us drink ; who drive away the afs of the fatherlefs,and take the widow's ox for a pledge, and turnthe needy out of the way, fo that the poor of theearth hide themfelves." By your exa6lions, you havealready be^gun to fcatter the people and to drive themav/ay. If you be not as blind as you are avaricious,do you not fee that you are ruining yourfelves ? Whatdo you think will be your condition, if one or tv/ohundred thoufand people ftiall leave you, and take uptheir dwelling in foreign lands ? In that cafe, muftnot your rent fink very low ? You perhaps imaginethere is not room for them abroad j but you miftakethe matter , there is a good land, and a large, open