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A PEOPLE, really oppreſſed to a great degree by their ſovereign, cannot well be inſenſible when they are ſo oppreſſed. And ſuch a people (if I may allude to an ancient fable) have, like the heſperian fruit, a DRAGON
- ↑ worſhip and diſcipline) of a pure and divine religion, brought from heaven to earth by the Son of God, (the only King and Head of the Chriſtian church) and propagated through the world by his inſpired apoſtles. All commands running counter to the declared will of the ſupreme legiſlator of heaven and earth, are null and void: And therefore diſobedience to them is a duty, not a crime. —Another thing that may be aſſerted with equal truth and ſafety, is, That no government is to be ſubmitted to, at the expenſe of that which is the ſole end of all government,—the common good and ſafety of ſociety. Becauſe, to ſubmit in this caſe, if it ſhould ever happen, would evidently be to ſet up the means as more valuable, and above, the end: than which there cannot be a greater ſoleciſm and contradiction. The only reaſon of the inſtitution of civil government; and the only rational ground of ſubmiſſion to it, is the common ſafety and utility. If therefore, in any caſe, the common ſafety and utility would not be promoted by ſubmiſſion to government, but the contrary, there is no ground or motive for obedience and ſubmiſſion, but, for the contrary. Whoever conſiders the nature of civil government muſt, indeed, be ſenſible that a great degree of implicit confidence, muſt unavoidably be placed in thoſe that bear rule: this is implied in the very notion of authority's being originally a truſt, committed by the people, to thoſe who are veſted with it, as all juſt and righteous authority is; all beſides, is mere lawleſs force and uſurpation; neither God nor nature, having given any man a right of dominion over any ſociety, independently of that ſociety's approbation, and conſent to be governed by him—Now as all men are fallible, it cannot be ſuppoſed that the public affairs of any ſtate, ſhould be always adminiſtered in the beſt manner poſſible, even by perſons of the greateſt wiſdom and integrity. Nor is it ſufficient to legitimate diſobedience to the higher powers that they are not ſo adminiſtered; or that they are, in ſome inſtances, very ill-managed; for upon this principle, it is ſcarcely ſuppoſeable that any government at all could be ſupported, or ſubſiſt. Such a principle manifeſtly tends to the diſſolution of government: and to throw all things into confuſion and anarchy.—But it is equally evident, upon the other hand, that thoſe in authority may abuſe their truſt and power to ſuch a degree, that neither the law of reaſon, nor of religion, requires, that any obedience or
