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Show [15] Stine any perfon to tyrannize over, and enflave [I4] penalties for the violation of their laws, and invefl: a fuitable number of perfons with autth rity to put in execution and enforce the laws of the Rate 3 in order that wicked men may be reftrained from doing mifchief to their fellow creatures, that the injured may have their rights reflored to them, that the virtuous may .HIHIII be encouraged in doing good; and that every member offociety may be protected and fecured in the peaceable, quiet polleflion and enjoy. ment of all thote liberties and priviledges, which the Deity has befiowed upon him, i. e. that he may fafely enjoy, and purfue whatever he choofes, that is confiltent with the publick good. This fliews that the end and delign of civil government, cannot be to deprive men of their liberty, or take away their freedom ; but on the contrary the true defign of civil gove i'nm inent 18 to proteft men in the enjoyment of liberty. . FROM hence it follows, that tyranny and arm bitrary power are utterly inconfiftent with, and iiibverfive of the very end and delign of civil government, and directly contrary to natu ral his fellow creatures, or to do any thing con- trary to equity and goodnels. As magittrates have no authority, but what they derive from the people, whenever they act contrary to the public good, and purfiie meafures deftruétivc of the peace and fafety of the community, they forfeit their right to govern the people. Civil rulers and magiltratcs are properly of human creation ; they are fet up by the people to be the guardians of their rights, and to fecure their perfons' from being injured, or oppreffed ; the I'at'ety of the publick being the fupreme law of the ltate, by which the magiftrates are to be governed, and which they are to conlult upon all occalions. The modes of adminifiration maybe very diflbrent, and the forms of govern. ment may vary from each other in different ages and nations ; but under every form, the end of civil government is the fame and can:iiot vary : It is like the laws of the Medes and l'ei‘lians, it altereth not. THOUGH tnagiltrates are to confider thcma {elves as the fervants of the people, feeing from vmd; for as no man can have. a right to them it is, that they derive their power and authority ; yet they may alto be confidered as the miiiil'cers of Goo ordaiii'd by him for the good of mankind: For under him as the fuprcnie magittrate of the univerfe they are to act ; and it isGoo who has not only declared in her ohnien, can confer a right upo n another, his word, what are the necellai‘y qualifications ot'a ruler, but who ah?) raifes up and qualifies men for tuch an important Ration. The ma- law, which is the true foundation of civil no- vernment and all politick law : Confeque iitl the authority ofa tyrant is of itl‘elfnnl l and, act contrary to the law of nature, it is iiinpotiible that any individual, or even the grea telt nun» of which they tliemlelves are not potl' eflial i. ci no body of men can juftly and lawfull‘,‘ auth or 154*; gii'trate |