Religion & morality > Cloud of witnesses, for the royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ, or, The last speeches and testimonies of those who suffered for the truth in Scotland, in the years 1681-1688, with an appendix, containing the Queensferry paper, Torwood excommunications, &c

8
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.
every citizen of the United States claims as his inheritance.
But, while he claims the inheritance, let him not be unmind¬
ful of those, who have been the means of handing it down
to him. On the North and on the South, of the United
States, colonies have been settled also ; these, however, pre¬
sent a very different picture, from the former ; they are far
behind, not only in arts and science, but in the knowledge
of religion and principles of freedom. The reason of this
lies in the fact, that Canada and the South American States
were colonized by emigrants from France and other popish
countries, where the principles of liberty had not, and has
not, even yet, made any great progress. The United States
owes its moral and political superiority, over its less favored
neighbors, to the origin from which it has sprung. It
would be ungrateful then, for the citizens of the United States
to look on with indifference, or treat with neglect the mem¬
ory of those whose example taught them the principles of
liberty, and from whom they have, inherited their unconquer¬
able love of independence. To such as love freedom of
thought, independence of character, high moral worth, and
Christian excellance ; and who cherish civil and political lib¬
erty as an invaluable boon, we recommend this volume.
It presents a graphic delineation of these ennobling charac¬
teristics, in the testimonies, and sufferings, and trials of men,
who overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony.
Albany, August Ath, 1840.
David Scott.