Common Sense-第1章
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INTRODUCTION
生？
perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages； are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour； a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong； gives it a superficial appearance of being right； and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom。 but the tumult soon subsides。
time makes more converts than reason。
as a long and violent abuse of power； is generally the means of calling the right of it in question （and in matters too which might never have been thought of； had not the sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry） and as the king of england hath undertaken in his own right； to support the parliament in what he calls theirs； and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the bination； they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both； and equally to reject the usurpation of either。
in the following sheets； the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves。 pliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof。 the wise； and the worthy； need not the triumph of a pamphlet； and those whose sentiments are injudicious； or unfriendly； will cease of themselves unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion。
the cause of america is in a great measure the cause of all mankind。
many circumstances hath； and will arise； which are not local； but universal； and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind are affected； and in the event of which； their affections are interested。
the laying a country desolate with fire and sword； declaring war against the natural rights of all mankind； and extirpating the defenders thereof from the face of the earth； is the concern of every man to whom nature hath given the power of feeling； of which class； regardless of party censure； is the author。
p。s。 the publication of this new edition hath been delayed； with a view of taking notice （had it been necessary） of any attempt to refute the doctrine of independance： as no answer hath yet appeared； it is now presumed that none will； the time needful for getting such a performance ready for the public being considerably past。
who the author of this production is； is wholly unnecessary to the public； as the object for attention is the doctrine itself； not the man。 yet it may not be unnecessary to say； that he is unconnected with any party； and under no sort of influence public or private； but the influence of reason and principle。
philadelphia； february 14； 1776
。。！
mon SenseI
＜小＞说？网
1； introduction
perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages； are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour； a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong； gives it a superficial appearance of being right； and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom。 but the tumult soon subsides。
time makes more converts than reason。
as a long and violent abuse of power； is generally the means of calling the right of it in question （and in matters too which might never have been thought of； had not the sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry） and as the king of england hath undertaken in his own right； to support the parliament in what he calls theirs； and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the bination； they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both； and equally to reject the usurpation of either。
in the following sheets； the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves。 pliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof。 the wise； and the worthy； need not the triumph of a pamphlet； and those whose sentiments are injudicious； or unfriendly； will cease of themselves unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion。
the cause of america is in a great measure the cause of all mankind。
many circumstances hath； and will arise； which are not local； but universal； and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind are affected； and in the event of which； their affections are interested。
the laying a country desolate with fire and sword； declaring war against the natural rights of all mankind； and extirpating the defenders thereof from the face of the earth； is the concern of every man to whom nature hath given the power of feeling； of which class； regardless of party censure； is the author。
p。s。 the publication of this new edition hath been delayed； with a view of taking notice （had it been necessary） of any attempt to refute the doctrine of independance： as no answer hath yet appeared； it is now presumed that none will； the time needful for getting such a performance ready for the public being considerably past。
who the author of this production is； is wholly unnecessary to the public； as the object for attention is the doctrine itself； not the man。 yet it may not be unnecessary to say； that he is unconnected with any party； and under no sort of influence public or private； but the influence of reason and principle。
philadelphia； february 14； 1776
。。
mon SenseII…2
；
2。2 of monarchy and hereditary succession
mankind being originally equals in the order of creation； the equality could only be destroyed by some subsequent circumstance； the distinctions of rich； and poor； may in a great measure be accounted for； and that without having recourse to the harsh； ill…sounding names of oppression and avarice。
oppression is often the consequence； but seldom or never the means of riches； and though avarice will preserve a man from being necessitously poor； it generally makes him too timorous to be wealthy。
but there is another and greater distinction； for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned； and that is； the distinction of men into kings and subjects。 male and female are the distinctions of nature； good and bad the distinctions of heaven； but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest； and distinguished like some new species； is worth inquiring into； and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind。
in the early ages of the world； according to the scripture chronology； there were no kings； the consequence of which was； there were no wars； it is the pride of kings which throw mankind into confusion。 holland without a king hath enjoyed more peace for this last century than any of the monarchial governments in europe。 antiquity favours the same remark； for the quiet and rural lives of the first patriarchs hath a happy something in them； which vanishes away when we e to the history of jewish royalty。
government by kings was first introduced into the world by the heathens； from whom the children of israel copied the custom。
it was the most prosperous invention the devil ever set on foot for the promotion of idolatry。 the heathens paid divine honours to their deceased kings； and the christian world hath improved on the plan； by doing the same to their living ones。 how impious is the title of sacred majesty applied to a worm； who in the midst of his splendor is crumbling into dust！ as the exalting one man so greatly above the rest cannot be justified on the equal rights of nature； so neither can it be defended on the authority of scripture； for the will of the almighty； as declared by gideon and the prophet samuel； expressly disapproves of government by kings。 all anti…monarchical parts of scripture have been very smoothly glossed over in monarchical governments； but they undoubtedly merit the attention of countries which have their governments yet to form。
render unto caesar the things which are caesars is the scripture doctrine of courts； yet it is no support of monarchical government； for the jews at that time were without a king； and in a state of vassalage to the romans。
now three thousand years passed away from the mosaic account of the creation； till the jews under a national delusion requested a king。
till then their form of government （except in extraordinary cases； where the almighty interposed） was a kind of republic administered by a judge and the elders of the tribes。 kings they had none； and it was held sinful to acknowledge any being under that title but the lord of hosts。 and when a man seriously reflects on the idolatrous homage which is paid to the persons of kings； he need not wonder that the almighty； ever jealous of his honour； should disapprove of a form of government which so impiously invades the prerogative of heaven。
monarchy is ranked in scripture as one of the sins of the jews； for which a curse in reserve is denounced against them。
the history of that transaction is worth attending to。
the children of israel being oppressed by the midianites； gideon marched against them with a small army； and victory； through the divine interposition； decided in his favour。 the jews； elate with success； and attributing it to the generalship of gideon； proposed making him a king； saying； rule thou over us； thou and thy son and thy sons son。 here was temptation in its fullest extent； not a kingdom only； but an hereditary one； but gideon in the piety of his soul replied； i
