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Show ( 34 ) . ( 35 ) founding forth in the ears of the.* People, as» I am content to judge of things 12413 by the prrfivzr, leaving to others all better rules of 'vernment, I fhall, with fome advantage I trufl, and in as few words 2131 can, make ufe of judging; and inafmuch as example goes before precept; fo the preterit {late ofAmerica afford-- the infiance. ing not only much notable information on this America, having declared itfelf independent head, but fervingr to illul'trate the whole of what has been here laid on the {object of Go- of Great-Britain, returned to that {late of Nature, or {late of Society, where Government was to be infiituted; and being {0 circum4 fianced, whilll it proceeded to form itfelf into feparate Commonwealths, or States, each Com- * See a Sermon preached before the Univerfity of Oxford, on Friday, December 13, 1776, being the day appointed by proclamation for a general Fall. By Myles Cooper, LL. D. Predident of King's College, New-York, and Fellow of @een's monwealth or State provided a Conflitution or College, Oxford. Publilhed at the requelt of the Vice-Chan- Form of Government of its own; which, al- cellor and Heads of Houfes, and printed at the Clarendon prefs. This Doélor lays, p. [2. " It is diflicult indeed to aflign any though difi'ering in mode and manner, agreed "‘ reafons that will iullify the Rebellion'of Subjects againft the i" {oversign Authority." " Submiflion to the higher Powers" " is enjoined at Iealt upon Chrif‘tians, under the feverelt penalty. " But were Chriltianity altogether out of the quellion, yet the 5‘ infurreélion of {objects againlt their rightful Governors, is " condemned by thofe Laws which are fundamental to fociety." He lays too, p. 22. " When men's principles are wrong, their " praé‘tices will feldom be right. When they fuppofe thofe in ftibflatice and effect. The Precedent thereibre of one Conf'titution anfwering for every other, I thall here avail myfelf of fuch extracts from the COnltitution of the State of Mafia-a c/asz‘fs, as are neceflary to my purpOle. This Conl‘titution then, or Form of civil Govern- " Powers to be derived folcly from the People, which are or: ment, confit'ts of forty-three Articles, and is 7‘ dained of God, and their heads are filled with ideas of ori- entitled, " An Aé‘t of the Gmemi Corzoem‘z'ozz of " the Commonwealth, orState ofMaflachufetts, " declaring the fame to be a free State, and ‘A ginal Compacts rte/Biol: nervrr exifled, and which are always ‘‘ explained to as to anfwer their prefent occafions ; no wonder that they confound the duties of rulers and fulijeéts, and are ‘ perpetually prompted to dictate where it is their bufinefs to " ob: y. - When once they conceive the governed to be fuperior " independent of Great-Britain, and ef'tablifh- " to the gout/mart, and that they may let up their prawn/ea? ‘ naiural Rig/11‘: in oppolition t0 the I'm/{titre Law: Of the State; " ing a new Conltitution and Form of civil " Government; which General Convention ‘ they will naturally proteed to " defpife dominion and {peak " evil of dignities," and to open a door for anarchy, confufion. " and every evil work, to enter." What more did Sacheverel Lay? And yet Sacheverel was. impeached, whilfi Doritor Cooper my expet'l prefertnent. ' - s. " was elected by the whole People for this [0/6 " pzzrpzye, die." It next recites thole (but too much to be lamented) arbitrary and defpotie ineafures of this country, which occafioned the VCl‘D [1161] t, C 2 Declaration |