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Show [8] have alfo in feveral places of the new-tefiament; firongly enjoined upon chrifiians the duty of fubmiflion to that government under which providence had placed them. Hence we find, that thofe, who defpife government, and are not afraid to fpcak evil of dignities, are by the apoftles Peter and Jude, clalS'd among thofe prelumptuous {elf-willed finners, that are re- in order therefore, that we may form a right judgment of the duty enjoin'd in our text, I lhall confider the nature and delign of civil. government, and {hail fliew, that the fame principles which oblige us to fubmit to govern- ment, do equally oblige us to reiilt tyranny ; or that tyranny and iriagiitracy are fo oppm fite to each other, that where the one begins, the other ends. I {ball then apply the prefent ferv'd to the judgment of the great day. And the apoflle Paul judg'd fubmiflion to civil go- tlifcourl'e to the grand controverfy, that at this vernment, to be a matter of fuch great impor~ American colonies. day fubfilts between Great-Britain and the tance, that he tho't it wbrth his while to charge gamma: Titus, to put his hearers in mind to be fubn jett to principalities and powers, to obey man gillrates, to be ready to every good work : As much as to fay, none can be ready to every good work, or be properly difpos'd to perform thofe actions, that tend to promote the public. good, who do not obey magiitrates, and who do not become good fubjefts of civil governa THAT we may underftand the nature and delign of civil government, and difcorer th: foundation of the magiltrates authority to com~ mand, and the duty of fuhjecls to obey, it is neceflhry to derive civil government from its, original 5 in order to which we mint confidcr what " flute all men are naturally in, and that 5‘ is as (Mr. Lock obferves) a {late of perfect ment. If then obedience to the civil magiftrates: - " freedom to order all their aétions, and dif- is f0 eflential to the eharafier ofa chriftian', that without it he cannot be difpofed to " pofe of their poll'eflions, and perfons as they perform thofe good works, that are necefl'ar " nature, without allting leave, or depending " upon the will of any man". ltis a flat: wherein all are equal, no one having a right to for the welfare of mankind ; if the defpifers of government are thofe prefumptuous, {elf-xvii». led finners, who are relhrv'd to the judgment, " think fit, within the bounds of the Law of controul another, or oppole him in what he: of the great day; it is certainly a matter of does, unlefs it be in his own defence, or in the utmoit importance to us all, to be thorougl» the defence of thofi: that being injured {Land 1y acquainted with the nature and extent or our duty, [ha we may yield the obedience requir'd , for it it it; in‘ipollible that we fliould properly dilighargc a duty when we are iirunu 1 gen; to the nature and ‘fifl'tCIlt of it. in need ot‘his alliltance. liAD men perfevered in a Rate of moral refria rude, every one would have he. n dizpolcd to £5 {,‘1, <rr |