The T E ST I MO NT of the People
called Qu akers, given forth by a Meeting of the
Reprefentatives of laid People, in Pennsylvania
and New- Jersey, held at Philadelphia the twenty-
fourth Day of the firft Month, 1775.
HAVING confidered with real forrow, the unhappy conted between the
legiflature of Great-Britain and the people of thefe colonies, and the ani-
mofities confequent thereon ; we have by repeated public advices and pri¬
vate admonitions, ufed our endeavours to diffuade the members of our religious
fociety from joining with the public refolutions promoted and entred into by
foine of the people, which as we apprehended, fo we now find have increafed
contention, and produced great difcord and confufion.
The Divine Principle of grace and truth which we profefs, leads all who attend
to its dictates, to demean themfelves as peaceable fubjecls, and to difcountenance
and avoid every meafure tending to excite difaffeftion to the king, as fupreme
magidrate, or to the legal authority of his government ; to which purpofe many
of the late political writings and addrefies to the people appearing to be calculated,
we are led by a fenfe of duty to declare our entire difapprobation of them — their
ipirit and temper being not only contrary to the nature and precepts of the gofpel,
but dedruclive of the peace and harmony of civil fociety, disqualify men in thefe
times of difficulty, for the wife and judicious confideration and promoting of fucli
meafures as would be mod effectual for reconciling differences, or obtaining the
redrefs of grievances.
From our pad experience of the clemency of the king and his royal ancedors,
we have grounds to hope and believe, that decent and refpecdful addrefies from
thofe who are veded with legal authority, reprefenting the prevailing diffatisfac-
tions and the caufe of them, would avail towards obtaining relief, afeertaining
and edablifhing the jud rights of the people andredoring the public tranquillity ;
and we deeply lament that contrary modes of proceeding have been purfued,
which have involved the colonies in confufion, appear likely to produce violence
and bloodfhed, and threaten the fubverfion of the conditutional government, and
of that liberty of confcience, for the enjoyment of which, our ancedors were in¬
duced to encounter the manifold dangers and difficulties of eroding the feas, and
of fettling in the wildernefs.
We are, therefore, incited by a fincere concern for the peace and welfare of our
country, publicly to declare againd every ufurpation of power and authority, in
oppofition to the laws and government, and againd all combinations, infurredii-
ons, confpiracies, and illegal affemblies : and as we are redrained from them by
the confcientious difeharge of our duty to almighty God, “ by whom kings reign,
“ and princes decree judice,” we hope through his affidance and favour, to be
enabled to maintain our tedimony againd any requifitions which may be made
of us, inconfident with our religious principles, and the fidelity we owe to the
king and his government, as by law edablifhed ; earnedly defiring the redorati-
011 of that harmony and concord which have heretofore united the people of thefe
provinces, and been attended by the divine bleffing on their labours.
Signed in, and on behalf of the faid meeting
у
James Pemberton, Clerk at this th??e.
