First:  There are few people so weak or mean, who have it not sometimes in their power to be useful to the public.  Solomon tells us of a poor wise man who saved a city by his counsel.  It hath often happened that a private soldier, by some unexpected brave attempt, hath been instrumental in obtaining a great victory.  How many obscure men have been authors of very useful inventions, whereof the world now reaps the benefit?  The very example of honesty and industry in a poor tradesman will sometimes spread through a neighbourhood, when others see how successful he is; and thus so many useful members are gained, for which the whole body of the public is the better.  Whoever is blessed with a true public spirit, God will certainly put it into his way to make use of that blessing, for the ends it was given him, by some means or other:  And therefore it hath been observed in most ages, that the greatest actions, for the benefit of the commonwealth, have been performed by the wisdom or courage, the contrivance or industry, of particular men, and not of numbers; and that the safety of a kingdom hath often been owing to those hands from whence it was least expected.

But, Secondly:  It is often in the power of the meanest among mankind to do mischief to the public:  And hence arise most of those miseries with which the states and kingdoms of the earth are infested.  How many great princes have been murdered by the meanest ruffians?  The weakest hand can open a flood-gate to drown a country, which a thousand of the strongest cannot stop.  Those who have thrown off all regard for public good, will often have it in their way to do public evil, and will not fail to exercise that power whenever they can.  The greatest blow given of late to this kingdom, was by the dishonesty of a few manufacturers; who, by imposing bad ware at foreign markets, in almost the only traffic permitted to us, did half ruin that trade; by which this poor unhappy kingdom now suffers in the midst of sufferings.  I speak not here of persons in high stations, who ought to be free from all reflection, and are supposed always to intend the welfare of the community:  But we now find by experience, that the meanest instrument may, by the concurrence of accidents, have it in his power to bring a whole kingdom to the very brink of destruction, and is, at this present, endeavouring to finish his work; and hath agents among ourselves, who are contented to see their own country undone, to be small sharers in that iniquitous gain, which at last must end in their own ruin as well as ours.  I confess, it was chiefly the consideration of that great danger we are in, which engaged me to discourse to you on this subject; to exhort you to a love of your country, and a public spirit, when all you have is at stake; to prefer the interest of your prince and your fellow-subjects before that of one destructive impostor, and a few of his adherents.