[Note: This article was first published
in the Pennsylvania Magazine,  Philadelphia, July, 1775. Some sources
question whether it can be proved to be Paine's. We include it becauseit has been widely
accepted as Paine's over the years]

      Could the peaceable principle of the Quakers be universally
established, arms and the art of war would be wholly extirpated: But we live
not in a world of angels. The reign of Satan is not ended; neither are we to
expect to be defended by miracles. The pillar of the cloud existed only in
the wilderness. In the nonage of the Israelites. It protected them in the
retreat from Pharaoh, while they were destitute of the natural means of
defence, for they brought no arms from Egypt; but it neither fought their
battles nor shielded them from dangers afterwards. I am thus far a Quaker,
that I would gladly agree with all the world to lay aside the use of arms,
and settle matters by negotiation: but unless the whole will, the matter
ends, and I take up my musket and thank heaven he has put it in my power.
      Whoever considers the unprincipled enemy we have to to cope with, will
not hesitate to declare that nothing but arms or miracles can reduce them to
reason and moderation. They have lost sight of the limits of humanity. the
portrait of a parent red with the blood of her children is a picture fit
only for the galleries of the infernals. From the House of Commons the
troops of Britain have been exhorted to right, not for the defence of the
natural rights, not to repel the invasion of the insult of enemies; but on
the vilest of all pretences, gold. 'Ye fight for solid revenue' was
vociferated in the House. Thus America must suffer because she has something
to lose. Her crime is property. That which allures the Highwayman has
allured the ministry under a gentler name. but the position laid down by
Lord Sandwich, is a clear demonstration of the justice of defense arms. The
American, quoth this Quixote of modern days, will not fight; therefore we
will. His Lordship's plan when analized amounts to this. these people are
either too superstitiously religious, or too cowardly for arms; they either
cannot or dare not defend; their property is open to any one who has the
courage to attack them. Send but your troops and the prize is ours. Kill a
few and take the whole. thus the peaceable part of mankind will be
continually over-run by the vile and abandoned. while they neglect the means
of self defence. They supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian;
while on the other hand, arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and
the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property.
The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be
preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but
since some will not others dare not lay them aside. And while a single
nation refuses to lay them down, it is proper that all should keep them up.
Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of
them; for while avarice and ambition have a place in the heart of man, the
weak will become a prey to the strong. The history of every age and nation
establishes these truths, and facts need but little arguments when they
prove themselves.
      But there is a point to view this matter in of superior consequence to
the defence of property; and that point is Liberty in all its meanings. In
the barbarous ages of the world, men in general had no liberty. The strong
governed the weak at will; 'till the coming of Christ there was no such
thing as political freedom in any known part of the earth. The Jewish kings
were in point of government as absolute as the Pharaohs. Men were frequently
put to death without trial at the will of the Sovereign. The Romans held the
world in slavery, and were themselves the slaves of their emperors. the
madman of Macedon governed by caprice and passion, and strided as arrogantly
over the world as if he had made and people it; and it is needles to imagine
that other nations at that time were more refined. Wherefore political as
well as spiritual freedom is the gift of God through Christ. The second in
the catalogue of blessings; and so intimately related, so sympathetically
united with the first, that the one cannot be wounded without communicating
an injury to the other. Political liberty is the visible pass which guards
the religions. It is the outwork by which the church militant is defended,
and the attacks of the enemy are frequently made through his fortress. The
same power which as established a restraining Port Bill in the Colonies, has
established a restraining Protestant Church Bill in Canada.
      I had the pleasure and advantage of hearing this matter wisely
investigated, by a gentleman, in a sermon t one of the battalions of this
city; and am fully convinced, that spiritual freedom is the root of
political liberty. First. because till spiritual freedom was made manifest,
political liberty did not exist.
Secondly. Because in proportion that spiritual freedom has been manifested,
political liberty has encreased. Thirdly. whenever the visible church has
been oppressed, political freedom has suffered with it. Read the history of
Mary and the Stuarts. The popish world at this day by not knowing the full
manifestation of spiritual freedom, enjoy but a shadow of political liberty.
ãThough I am unwilling t accuse the present government of popish principles,
they cannot, I think, be clearly acquitted of popish practices: the facility
with which they perceive the dark and ignorant are governed, in popish
nations, will always be a temptation to the lovers of arbitrary power to
adopt the same methods.
      As the union between spiritual freedom and political liberty seems
nearly inseparable, it is our duty to defend both. And defence in the first
instance is best. The lives of hundreds of both countries had been preserved
had America been in arms a year ago. Our enemies have mistaken our peace for
cowardice, and supposing us unarmed have begun the attack.
A LOVER OF PEACE