Either the means in your power are insufficient, or the measures ill planned; either the execution has been bad, or the thing attempted impracticable; or, to speak more emphatically, either you are not able or heaven is not willing.
Paine challenges the British government to account for its lack of success in the American war, presenting a comprehensive list of potential causes for their repeated failures.
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More from Thomas Paine
As to what are called national religions, we may, with as much propriety, talk of national Gods.
Why may we not suppose, that the great Father of all is pleased with variety of devotion; and that the greatest offence we can act, is that by which we seek to torment and render each other miserable?
But as religion is very improperly made a political machine, and the reality of it is thereby destroyed, I will conclude this work with stating in what light religion appears to me.