legiſlature againſt one;—two, which had law and equity and the conſtitution on their ſide, againſt one which was impiouſly attempting to overturn law and equity and the conſtitution; and to exerciſe a wanton licentious ſovereignty over the properties, conſciences and lives of all the people:—Such a ſovereignty as ſome inconſiderately aſcribe to the ſupreme Governor of the world.—I ſay, inconſiderately; becauſe God himſelf does not govern in an abſolutely arbitrary and deſpotic manner. The power of this Almighty King (I ſpeak it not without caution and reverence; the power of this Almighty King) is limited by law; not, indeed, by acts of parliament, but by the eternal laws of truth, wiſdom and equity; and the everlaſting tables of right reaſon;—tables that cannot be repealed, or thrown down and broken like thoſe of Moſes.—But king Charles ſat himſelf up above all theſe, as much as he did above the written laws of the realm; and made mere humor and caprice, which are no rule at all, the only rule and meaſure of his adminiſtration. And now, is it not perfectly ridiculous to call reſiſtance to ſuch a tyrant, by the name of rebellion?—the grand rebellion? Even that—parliament, which brought king
- ↑ to allegiance then ceaſes of courſe: and to reſiſt him is no more rebellion, than to reſiſt any foreign invader. There is an eſſential difference betwixt government and tyranny; at leaſt under ſuch a conſtitution as the Engliſh. The former conſiſts in ruling according to law and equity; the latter, in ruling contrary to law and equity. So alſo, there is an eſſential difference betwixt reſiſting a tyrant, and rebellion; The former is a juſt and reaſonable ſelf-defenſe; the latter conſiſts in reſiſting a prince whoſe adminiſtration is juſt and legal; and this is what denominates it a crime. Now it is evident, that king Charles's government was illegal, and very oppreſive, through the greateſt part of his reign: And, therefore, to reſiſt him, was no more rebellion, than to oppoſe any foreign invader, or any other domeſtic oppreſſor.
