Wesley Corpus

A Word to a Smuggler Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 11 (Zondervan) Author: John Wesley --- I. “WHAT is smuggling?” It is the importing, selling, or buying of run goods; that is, those which have not paid the duty appointed by law to be paid to the King. 1. Importing run goods. All smuggling vessels do this with an high hand. It is the chief, if not the whole, business of these to bring goods which have not paid duty. 2. Next to these are all sea Captains, Officers, sailors, or passengers, who import anything without paying the duty which the law requires. 3. A third sort of smugglers are all those who sell anything which has not paid the duty. 4. A fourth sort, those who buy tea, liquors, linen, hand kerchiefs, or anything else which has not paid duty. II. “But why should they not? What harm is there in it 2 * 1. I answer, open smuggling (such as was common a few years ago, on the southern coasts especially) is robbing on the highway; and as much harm as there is in this, just so much there is in smuggling. A smuggler of this kind is no honester than an highwayman. They may shake hands together. 2. Private smuggling is just the same with picking of pockets. There is full as much harm in this as in that. A smuggler of this kind is no honester than a pickpocket. These may shake hands together. 3. But open smugglers are worse than common highway men, and private smugglers are worse than common pick pockets. For it is undoubtedly worse to rob our father than one we have no obligation to. And it is worse still, far worse, to rob a good father, one who sincerely loves us, and is at that very time doing all he can to provide for us and to make us happy. Now, this is exactly the present case. King George is the father of all his subjects; and not only so, but he is a good father. He shows his love to them on all occasions; and is continually doing all that is in his power to make his subjects happy. 4. An honest man therefore would be ashamed to ask, Where is the harm in robbing such a father?