prudence and diſcretion. Now the conſequence of this is, that unlimited and paſſive obedience, is no more enjoined in this paſſage, under monarchical government; or to the ſupreme power in any ſtate, than under all other ſpecies of government, which anſwer the end of government; or, to all the ſubordinate degrees of civil authority, from the higheſt to the loweſt. Thoſe, therefore, who would from this paſſage infer the guilt of reſiſting kings, in all caſes whatever, though acting ever ſo contrary to the deſign of their office, muſt, if they will be conſiſtent, go much farther, and infer from it the guilt of reſiſtance under all other forms of government; and of reſiſting any petty officer in the ſtate, tho' acting beyond his commiſſion, in the moſt arbitrary, illegal manner poſſible. The argument holds equally ſtrong in both caſes. All civil rulers, as ſuch, are the ordinance and miniſters of God; and they are all, by the nature of their office, and in their reſpective ſpheres and ſtations, bound to conſult the public welfare. With the ſame reaſon therefore, that any deny unlimited and paſſive obedience
- ↑ or in different perſons;—whether in one perſon, whom we call an abſolute monarch;—whether in a few, ſo as to conſtitute an ariſtocracy;—whether in many, ſo as to conſtitute a republic; or whether in three co-ordinate branches, in ſuch manner as to make the government partake ſomething of each of theſe forms; and to be, at the ſame time, eſſentially different from them all. If the end be attained, it is enough. But no form of government ſeems to be ſo unlikely to accompliſh this end, as abſolute monarchy—Nor is there any one that has ſo little pretence to a divine original, unleſs it be in this ſenſe, that God firſt introduced it into, and thereby overturned, the common wealth of Iſrael, as a curſe upon that people for their folly and wickedneſs, particularly in deſiring ſuch a government. (See I Sam. viii. chap.) Juſt ſo God, before, ſent Quails amongſt them, as a plague, and a curſe, and not as a bleſſing. Numb. chap. xi.
