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Show E 10 :l follow the law of nature, and purfue the genes ral good; in fuch altate,the Wifel‘t and molt experienced would undoubtedly be. chofen to guide and direfl thole of leis wrfdom and tn] from a Rate of licencioufnefs ; the law of na‘ ture gives men no right to do any thing that experience than themfelves; there being no- is immoral, or contrary to the will of Gun, thing elle that could afford. the leatt fliewer appearance ofany one's havmg the luperiority and injurious to their fellow creatures ; for a .ltate of nature is properly a {late of law and or precedency over another ; for the dictates oi government, even a government founded up- confcience, and the precepts of natural law be- ing unilbrmly and regularly obey d, men would only need to be informed what things were molt lit and prudent to be done in thoie cafes, where their inexperience, or want of acquain- on the unchangeable nature of the Deity, and a law refiilting from the eternal fitnefs otthings ; fooner {hall heaven and earth pals away, and tance, left their minds in doubt what was the the whole frame of nature be dillolved, than any part, even the imalleft iota of this law lhall ever be abrogated ; it is unchangeable as the Dei- wifelt and molt regular method for them to purfue. In fuch cafes it would be necefiary tions. A revelation pretending to be from GOD, for them to advile with thofe, who were wner that contradicts any part of natural law, ought and more experienced than themfelves. But thefe advifers could claim no authority to compel, or to ufe any forcible meafures to oblige any one to comply with their direction, or ad~ vice; there could be no occafion for the excr- tion of fuch a power; for every man being under the government of right reafon, would immediately feel himlelf conltrain'd to comply with everything tha, appeared realonable or lit to be done, or that would any way tend to promote the general good. This would have been the happy ftate of mankind, had they clol‘el}.r adhered to the law of nature, and pers fevered in th ‘ir primitive llate. Tues we fee, that a {late of nature, tho' it be a Rate of perfect treedom, yet it 15 very far from ty himfelf, being a tranfcript ot‘his m ral perfec- immediately to be rejected as an impolture; for the Deity cannot make a law contrary to the law of nature, without acting contrary to himfelf. A thing in the iti‘ifieft {enle impolli- ble, for that which implies a contradiction is not an object of the divine power, Had thin fubjefl been properly attended to and under- itood, the world had remained free iron; a multitude of ablur'd and pernicious principles, which have been indultriouily propagated by artful and deligning men, both in politicks and divinity. rl‘he doctrine of non-rcliliance, and unlimited pallive obedience to the word ot tyrants, could never have found credit among: mankind, had the voice of reafon been hearhen; ed to for a guide, becaule iiich a doctrine would immediately have been difecrned to beeontrarv to natural law: |