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Show [29] E28] THIS account of the nature and defign of but what they derive from the peOple, yet as civil government, which is f0 clearly iuggvefi- they are ordained by men to promote the ge-‘ iieral good by punifliing eVil doers, and by rewarding and encouraging the Virtuous and ed to us by the plain principles of common {cute and reafon, is abundantly confirmed by the facred fcriptures, even by thole very texts, which have been brought by men of flavifll principles to efiablifh the ablin‘d doflrine, of unlimited paflive obedience, and non-refifiance : As will abundantly appear, by examining the two molt noted texts, that are commonly bro't to fupport the l‘trange doétrine of paflive obe~ dience. The firlt that l ihall cite, is in 1 Pet. 2d _c. ver. 13, 14. Submit yourfelve: to (very prdmance of man, or rat/yer a: tlJe words ought to. be rendergdfrom tlJe Greet, fulmzit your/clue: to we- ry lumzazz creation, or human cmylitullon for the Lord'ifm‘e, whether it 11.: to the ting aJ/iqbreme, or unto governan, ax unto them, that arc/wit by bin; for the puni/lmzeut of evil dam, and for the prafl: 'qf t/Jem, t/mt do well. Here we fee, that the apol‘tle aflerts, that magifiracy is of human creation or appointment, that is, that magiflrates have no power or authority, but what they derive from the people ; that this power they are to exert for the punii'hment of evil doers, and for the praife of them that do well, i. e. the end and defign of the appointment of magiflrates, is to reltrain wicked men by proper penalties from injuring fociety, and to encourage and honor the virtuous and obedient. Up» on this account, chrillians are to fubmit to them for the Lord's fake, which is, as it~ he had {aid ; obedient, you ought to fubnut to them out of a {acred regard to the divme authoritygfor as they in the faithful difcharge of their 'ollicc do fulfil the will of GOD, [0 ye by fiibmitting to them do fulfil the divine command. If the only reafon allign'd by the apoltle, why inagifirates {hould be obey'd out of a regard to the divine authority, is becaufe they punifh the wicked and encourage the good : It follows, that when they punifh the virtuous, and en- courage the vicious, we have a right to rcfufe yielding any fubmiflion or obedience to them ; i. e. whenever they act contrary to the end and defign of their infiitution, they forfeit their authority to govern the people; and the reafon for fubinitting to them out of regard to the divine authority immediately-cafes ; and they being only of human appomtment, the authority which the people gave them, the publick have a right to take from them, and to confer it upon thofe who are more worthy. So far is this text from favouring arbitrary principles, that there is nothing in it, but what is confiftent with, and favourable to_ the highell: liberty, that any man can with to enjoy ; for this text requires us to fubmit to the ma- gifirate no farther than he is the encouragei: tho' mag-hunters are of mere human appointu and prote€tor of virtue, and the puniflier or vice ; and this is confiltent with all that liber- went, and can claim no power, or authority, ty which the Deity has bellowed upon lils‘i'iz but |