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Show [I9] whatever. Perhaps alfo fome cafes of intolerable oppreflion, where compliance would [18], bring on inevitable ruin and dellruclion, ma' d or not: In fuch cafes it becomes us, as goo th members of foeiety, peaceably and conleien reafonoufly to fubmit, tho' we cannot fee the ablenefs of every law to Wthll. we fubmit ; r and that for this plain reafon, that if any‘numbe o‘ of men {hould takeit upon them to oppole auth for y flar nece rity for acts, which may be really the public fafety, only becaule they. do not fee . the reafonablenefs of them, the d1re€t conf quence will be introducing contufion and anar» chy into the itate. IT is alfo necefi‘ary, that the minor part fliould fnbmit to the major ; e. g. when legilla~ tors have enacted a fet of laws, which are high ly approved by a large majority of the commu» nity, as tending to promote the publick good, in this cafe, it a finall number of perfons are to unhappy as to View the matter m.a very,d1flc~ rent point of light from the public, tho they have an undoubted right to lhew the rcafons of their dillent from the judgment of the publick, and may lawfully ufe all proper argu- ments to convince the publick of what they juftly warrant the few to refufc fubmidion to what they judge inconfiltent with their peace and fafety ; for the law of {elf-prefervation will always jultify oppofing a cruel and tyrannical impolition, except where oppolition is attended with greater evils than fubmillion, which is frequently the cafe where a few are oppi‘eflecl by a large and powerful majority. * Except the aboyemamed cafes, the minor ought always to fubmit to the major ; otherwitethere can be no peace nor harmony in fociety. And belides, it is the major part of a community that have the fole right ofeltabliflling a conftitution, and authorizing magiltrates ; andconfequently it is only the major part of the community that can claim the right of altering the conltitution, and dilplacing the magiltl‘ates ; for certainly common fenle will tell us, that it requires as great an authority to fct afide a confiitiititiri, as there was at firlt to el‘tablilh it. 1 1‘5. tfizt we in The col- body, not a few individuals, ought to ‘ Ct, ilitute the fuprerne authority of the'ltate. THE judge to be an error, yet if they fail 1n their attempt, and the majority {till continue to ap- ‘1 Thin thaws the realm, why the primitive rhrifiians did not prove of the laws that are enacted, 1E 15 the duty of thote few that dillent, peaceably and for confcience fake to fubmit to the pubhcli judgment ; unlefs fomething is required or nppofe the cruel pelfcculi'ms, ihat were irfl um upon them them which they judge would be fintul for them to comply with; for in that cafe they ought to obey the dictates of their own con-- 1 feiences, rather than any human authority whateverc by the heathen rmgiftrmes: They were few Compaged wuh sl'e heathen w-uld ; and lor 2‘: (m to have attempted to refit! U155! enemie: by force, wtulzl have item like a (mall parcel of %:ep endeavoluing to t;ppc& a urge runnber of ravening wolvel 8rd lavage bealls (=f p:ey : It w:.m:d wiihcu! a miracfle have brought upouxhtniinyvhiblc ruin and drfixzflicn licnccthe wihrand prudentadvue olour SauiourtJ Hutu fl Winn :l‘ty pirfcum )Uu it. one my, flzrjc to anciluro |