to diſpatch him—For a nation thus abuſed to ariſe unanimouſly, and to reſiſt their prince, even to the dethroning him, is not criminal; but a reaſonable way of indicating their liberties and juſt rights; it is making uſe of the means, and the only means, which God has put into their power, for mutual and ſelf-defenſe. And it would be highly criminal in them, not to make uſe of this means. It would be ſtupid tameneſs, and unaccountable folly, for whole nations to ſuffer one unreaſonable, ambitious and cruel man, to wanton and riot in their miſery. And in ſuch a caſe it would, of the two, be more rational to ſuppoſe, that they that did NOT reſiſt, than that they who did, would receive to themſelves damnation.
And,
THIS naturally brings us to make ſome reflections upon the reſiſtance which was made about a century ſince, to that unhappy prince, KING CHARLES I; and upon the ANNIVERSARY of his death. This is a point which I ſhould not have concerned myſelf about, were it not that ſome men continue to ſpeak of it, even to this day, with a great deal of warmth and zeal; and in ſuch a manner as to undermine all the principles of LIBERTY, whether civil or religious, and to introduce the moſt abject ſlavery both in church and ſtate: ſo that it is become a matter of univerſal concern.—What I have to offer upon this ſubject, will be compriſed in a ſhort anſwer to the following queries; viz.
